THE ENCOUNTER

It's been six years since the death of Justin. I got discharged a month after his death and immediately, I was sent to Juvenile and was charged for being an accomplice of the killer of Justin which wasn't actually true.

My family heard about it and abandoned me. Even my family found it hard to believe my words. I wasn't an accomplice and I loved Justin so much. So, why would I kill the one I love? It totally makes no sense.

Now, I'm out of juvenile with nowhere to go. Just roaming the streets with no direction or destination. My life has been a mess and I think at this point, I might sincerely go nuts.

As I walked down the street, I kicked a little rock which accidentally hit a fine looking young man. I'm sure he was in his mid 20s. I looked up and squinted my eyes due to the reflection of the sun which was really bright. He was tall and that was so evident that I had to tilt my head up just to get a glimpse of his face.

He wore a black suit and his shoes, God! They were so shiny that I could see my reflection on them. He looked rich judging from his looks and how he was dressed.

After my short observation, I moved sideways and apologized for hitting him with a stone which obviously wasn't intentional.

"Uhm....I'm sorry" I apologized.

He smiled at me and a flashback of when Justin would smile at me popped up in my head.

"It's alright" He said.

I just stood right there, staring at his face as I got lost in my thoughts. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I shivered.

"Miss? You're good?" He asked.

I let out a fake smile and responded, "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry by the way".

I left his presence and as I walked down the street, I reminisced on the times I spent in Juvenile. Times I was being bullied in Juvenile before I was taken to the adults' prison. I was treated worse. While cleaning, some older looking women would come and just beat me up for no reason. There was a time I had a physical fight with one of the inmates and while we were at it, she stabbed me with a pocket knife.

It was a really traumatic experience and I wouldn't wish that on anyone to go through what I had gone through.

I felt a presence from behind and as I tried to attack the unknown presence, I paused for a while because I figured it was the handsome dude from earlier. Turns out he had been calling and trying to get my attention but I was deeply immersed in my own thoughts that I didn't realize that not until he got to me.

"Woah! Easy lady" He screamed.

"You don't do that to people. That was creepy!" I yelled as I was filled with fear and shaking.

"I'm sorry" I apologized.

"I'm also sorry for walking up on you like that" He said.

"So?" I questioned and gave a stern look.

He looked a bit intimidated by the look on my face because I wasn't smiling. I don't think I've ever smiled since Justin's absence.

I admit that I actually got scarier than I used to and that's totally my fault. It's just how the world has treated me and what the world has taught me, that's what made me who I am and I'm not in for a change. Never.

"Uhm....I...I....was...uhm....I was wondering if you'd be down for a uhm.....you know, grab a coffee or something?" He stammered and I swear I could feel the tension in his voice.

I stared at him blankly before I could open my mouth to at least say something, he butt in.

"I understand if you can't. It's weird, a stranger asking you for coffee and all.....I.... it's okay" He said and looked down.

I wondered why a handsome young man like him would actually stammer while talking to an ordinary girl like me. I should be the one to stammer not him. At least he's the good looking dude who's nothing like my looking wretched self.

Okay, I guess I'm talking too low of myself but at least it's the truth. With how I'm dressed like a peasant, you can't think otherwise. The black trouser I wore had a hole in it and it was really obvious that even a blind man could see it. I wore an oversized white shirt which had some Chinese words imprinted on the front. Don't ask, I have no idea of what those words meant because they were boldly written in black in Chinese characters. Well, I got the clothes from a warden who actually kind of liked me a bit than the other inmates back when I was in prison.

I stared at this guy's fancy clothing and all I could think of was "Wow" repeatedly in my mind. So fine and clean.

I thought for a moment and I admit, I actually need this coffee because my throat was dry as heck. It felt like I swallowed a heap of sand and needed water to gush it all down. I hadn't eaten anything all day.

"Where are we grabbing the coffee?" I asked.

"Uh? Oh! It's just down the road there. It isn't that far" He said as he pointed to his left.

"Okay" I shrugged.

As I was about to take a step forward, he held my hand.

I glared at him and he immediately apologized and let go of my hand.

"Sorry....just wanted to ask about your name" He said.

"Cassandra" I said.

"I'm Kelvin" He said as he stretched his hands for a handshake.

"You should probably just keep those hands to yourself" I said and walked out.

"O....Okay.....that's fair enough" He said as he walked behind me.

I stopped in the middle of the road and turned to look at him.

"Can you stop walking behind me like you're some sort of stalker or something. You're being creepy"I said with an eye roll.

"I apologize" He said.

He looked cute with how he acted and I couldn't resist the urge to smile. And I must say, this was the first time someone made me smile in a long time. Unbelievable right? I know.

As we walked down to the cafe, I sighted a guy who looked like Gabby. I tried to get a clearer view and yes! It was bloody Gabby! Fucking Gabby! That crack head who put me in this misery for no goddamn reason.

As expected, I was supposed to scream out his name and punch him severely in the face and probably just end his life. But I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I shivered in fear and froze. Kelvin, noticing everything had to hug me and pat me on the head. It was honestly nice and comforting and I actually became calm at that moment.

I have never felt safe like this in a long time. Suddenly, I bursted into tears and shivered. I lost consciousness and that was it.