The Request (1)

Jayden looked at both Sherly and Joyce. Both girls lifted their shoulder as in saying they don't know what happened and told him to go.

"Wait for me..." Jayden said to Joyce and Sherly and then went to Mrs.Chua.

Jayden went to Mrs. Chua and they talked in private for awhile... They saw Mrs. Chua was holding Jayden's hand and talked to him in an extremely serious manner. Jayden looked like he was in a dilemma.

What happened? both Joyce and Sherly looked at each other, trying to guess what they were talking about. Guess they would need to wait to find out.

However, when they were on the way back Jayden kept the conversation to himself. He revealed nothing and stayed contemplatively silent.

Even though both girls were dying to find out but both just secretly looked at each other, silently sighed and decided to hold their tongue.

After sending Joyce home, Jayden and Sherly both went home in silence.

Finally, no longer able to hold her silence longer, Sherly asked Jayden the question. "What did Mrs. Chu said?" She asked with eyes full of curiosity.

"Do you know that curiosity killed the cat?" Jayden replied by answering question with question. Then just walked away, ignoring her....

Going akimbo, Sherly point her finger to Jayden, but unable to said a word since she was too fed up with him. She just stood there moving her finger and mouth without a single word. Realizing she must have looked a little crazy she decided to go after Jayden.

"Hey! What's so secretive...?!" Sherly pulled on of Jayden arm to stop him. Totally curious now.

Jayden simply replied"I cannot tell you. I haven't decide what to do yet."

"What is wrong with him?" Sherly asked herself quietly but decided to let it off and followed Jayden. Both went home quietly and it was the first time Sherly was extremely quiet during their walk home.

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The next day, Joyce came down from the bus after school and started walking to her place when suddenly two men came towards her with a smirk on their face.

It was a quiet afternoon. Not many passers-by was around. Sensing that both men were somehow up to no good, Joyce immediately tried to walk passed them. However, one of the taller man blocked the way.

"Hey... What's the hurry, cutie??" the taller man who blocked her said.

"Yeah... What's the hurry...? Can't we make friend?" His friend looked at her from head to toe while touching his chin as if assessing her. Joyce quietly looked at them; she was trembling inside but refused to show the two hooligans how scared she was.

"Wow... We've got a fierce one here..." the other man laughed like a hyena, sending goosebump onto Joyce's arm.

Joyce darting glances, looking for a way to escape the two men. However, one of them started to touch her shoulder.

"Come on, cutie... Let's go have fun together..." The taller one said.

"Don't touch me!" Joyce said. Her voice shook involuntarily. "What do you want? I have no money. I am only a student!" She looked at them fiercely. Trying to hold herself. Refusing to cower.

"Wow.... Hold your claws, cutie. We just want to be your friend." He carressed her cheek degradingly. Pretty sure they had managed to scare her.

"Let go of your hand!!" Joyce hit his hand from her face. Even though she was shaking violently now, she still would not give them the satisfaction of scaring her.

The man who touched Joyce was irritated to the point of raising his hand and was going to slap her. "Why you proud little...."

However, before he hit her and finished his sentence, a voice shouted,: Hey! What are you doing! Police! Help! Over here!!!"

The two men quickly ran away. They did not want to get risk of being caught.

Looking at their retreating figure, Joyce's legs finally lost their strength and she slowly sat on the pedestrian.

"How are you, Joyce?" She looked at the person dazely and realized it was Jayden. So it was Jayden who saved her just now. She could not imagine what would happen if he did not arrive on time.

"Let me sit for a while." He hold both of her shoulder. Feeling them trembling slightly. He realized that if he came a bit later worst things might happen. Joyce was lucky. He was glad he went to her place.

"It's okay. Everything is fine now..." He said soothingly; rubbing both her shoulder in a consoling motion hoping to calm her down.

After Joyce had felt better, Jayden helped her to stand up. Then they both walked to Joyce's place. They sat near the entrance because Joyce still felt anxious and needed some time to clear her head.

"Thank you for chasing those men away." Joyce said to Jayden. She was grateful that he came at the right time. " But how come you are here today?" she asked him confusingly.

"I actually have something to discuss with you. However, since you were attacked just now, I don't think you are in the right condition to think clearly at the moment." Jayden reasoned. "So, maybe I'll come back tomorrow. When you feel better."

Looking at him intensely with a thousand questions on her mind, she decided to just let it go and nodded her head.

"Let's meet at the bus-stop tomorrow. I'll walk you home. It's not safe for a young girl to walk alone especially when there's nobody around in the area."

"Sure!" Joyce agreed.

They chatted for awhile amicably and then when Joyce felt better she entered the elevator to her place and Jayden went back to his own place.