Something shifted between me and Zack after that day. He didn't demand for anything else from me since that last mission. At least not yet. He was just... bonding, with me, I guess? And the worst part is, I think I've started to naturally fall for it.
It was another plain evening when I was startled by a car's honk as I walked down the road on the way back from a class. I looked at the slow car with an annoyed face. The windows moved down, revealing Zack.
"Care to join me?" He invited.
"Nah I'm good." I said with a tight-lipped smile.
"Oh c'mon."
I looked around worrying if there were vehicles that was bothered by his super slow driving as he followed my pace. Eventually, I gave up.
"Fine."
He stopped the car by the road as I moved to get in. To my surprise, I no more felt uncomfortable or awkward to be in that close space with him. And I honestly didn't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
"Have you taken your lunch?" He asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
He nodded and started driving. I let him focused. That is, until he passed my college without stopping.
I gapped, brows creased, my index finger pointing to the building. "Hey that's -"
"I'm not taking you to your room. I'm taking you elsewhere." He cut me.
I squinted my eyes. "I can charge you for kidnapping me, you know?"
He chuckled.
Damn that's cute.
Okay what the hell, Rae. My brain vs heart dilemma as usual.
I faced back to the front with a frown face. From the corner of my eyes, Zack glanced at me.
"Don't make that face. It's you who chose the place, not me." he said.
Then I got it.
"And why do you care about my 'goals', Mr.?" I raised a brow.
I had these personal goals written in my laptop about things I'd like to do before graduated from this uni. That quiet road and this place we're going? They're a part of it. Nobody knew though. Well, nobody but him now.
He just gave a quick glance with a half-smile but not answering. We stayed quiet until the car reached the isolated, serene part of the uni. No building in sight. There were just trees and a lot of trees.
It was the uni's private forest.
Legally, we're allowed to go there. But it wasn't often for students to come. Many preferred the outside city. I only went here once and that was during orientation days. New students weren't walked deep inside the forest to see the water. Perhaps to avoid issue of newbies getting lost or something. That's why it became one of my goals.
Zack stopped the car. "Do you wanna rest here first or go straight to the river?" He asked.
"I've rested enough during the journey. We can walk now." I answered.
He gave a flat smile before we both got out of the car almost simultaneously. Zack led the way as I didn't know the track. Honestly, I didn't even know where my rationality goes as I followed the guy who's threatened me into the forest.
After like 5 minutes, the sound of the flowing river was heard. We went a few steps deeper before I could finally see it. My lips automatically curved into a smile. I went to its side and felt the water.
Cold. I got chill but it was nice. If Zack wasn't here, I would've taken my socks off and played it with my feet.
Remembering him, I turned my head to see the already shirtless Zack.
"Oh my God what the hell!" My hands automatically covered my whole face. I couldn't see anything but hear his laughed. "Not freaking funny! Wear your damn shirt would you?!" Yeah I shouted every single word.
His laughter just got louder.
Bastard. I was annoyed.
But after a few moments I heard him sobered up. I peek through my fingers to see he's still without his shirt and walked towards the river. Then he jumped, causing a splash. I brought my hands down.
Zack resurfaced from the water. "Wanna join me?" Rhetorical question.
"I'd rather play with mud, thanks." I answered and sat on a rock. Not nearby him. I didn't trust him to not splashing the water or pull me into it with him. I was so not taking the risk.
Okay that was a little hypocrite.
"So you just gonna sit there and watch?" He smirked.
"Did you even bring a towel?" I asked instead.
He shook his head. "I could use the wind, Alhamdulillah." He said with an over-pronounced Arabic and quite a sarcasm tone.
I rolled my eyes and let him swam as long as he wanted.
After around 15 minutes, he got out of the water and sat on a rock next to me. We were just silent for what seemed like forever. My eyes looked at his tired ones. His expression was hard, but sad at the same time.
I watched back the flowing river, mind wondering what went through his, but I was reluctant to ask.
"My mother..." He coughed a little. "Mother died when I was 14." He said eventually. His tone was low.
We were jumping onto stages too fast for me but I kept quiet and let him continued.
"She had cancer." His voice cracked a little but he controlled it to be as his usual seriousness. "My dad was a businessman. We were that happy rich family. But, it all feels so short for me."
I glanced at him to see his brows furrowed, his eyes distant, as if his mind was travelling all the way back to the past. I wet my lips and gather my courage to ask. "What happened?"
He darted his eyes to me, lips were a frown. He then turned back in front, covered his face and sighed out of frustration.
I bit my lips, hesitated again. "You know you don't have to force it if-"
"I have to, alright." He cut me with a slightly rising tone. His hands were no longer covering his face but at both of his sides on the rock. "His business was ruined because of Ed."
I had that stupid butterflies as usual when hearing his name, but this time with a rapid heartbeat as I linked their stories.
"The virus?" My tongue slipped and I regretted it immediately. I thought he'd surprise that I knew but he didn't. His expression was just like before. Then I figured he must've dug deep on my and Ed's past, that he knew that I knew.
"Yeah. Then we're corrupted, father couldn't pay for mother's meds and her therapy and now I have to take care of my father while studying and working because my siblings are a piece of shit." His jaw clenched as he spitting those out.
I was totally speechless.
The guy who everyone thought was dangerous, actually did those risky jobs to take care of his father.
"And you think Ed was the reason for everything that happened." I concluded.
"I don't think, Rae. I know." He emphasized.
I just gave a small nod of understanding.
"I swear to God if you run back to him or betray me in any way, you'll regret it." He said more seriously. "He won't be able to help you." He shook his head while still looking at the river.
I quiet for a while and thought ahead. "And then what?" his eyes darted to me. "You destroy me, then what? How are you gonna ruin Ed without me?" I asked.
His expression gave away a hint of exhaustion. He looked back to the front. "I'll wait a few more years and figure other weakness. Will prolly be harder since he already knew me and will be more careful then ever - that is, if I'm lucky enough to live as normal as now without him trying to ruin me back." His tone was low.
My heart ached for him. Living in a grudge sure sucks.
I let the flowing river filled our silence. Not long after, he stood up and wore his shirt.
"You have a good day to do another goal?" He asked.
My brows creased immediately. "You know... I don't understand one thing." I said while standing up. "Why do you...act like..." I took time to find the right word. Like you wanna be my friend? Instead of hacker and victim?
He shrugged. "Like we're friends? Because I need to trust you." He answered. "I know it's not easy for me to get one back, but this is a very big thing for me, Rae." It seemed like there were other things he wanted to confess but his sentence stopped there.
I understood, though. After years doing all the works by his own, he finally needed someone to 'cooperate' with. Someone whose heart was still indecisive.
Also, I knew he wasn't stupid. While building his own trust, it's building mine too as I believed he knew me enough to know that I appreciate and reciprocate.
"Well. I don't have any day in mind yet." I replied his question. "Or which goal I should complete." my hands automatically went to my chin. It was my habit when I thought of something.
Zack curved a half-smile. "It's alright. Maybe I can help planning about it and ask you later?" He suggested.
"Sure." I smiled.
He then led me back to the car, changed his trouser with me being awkward than ever and drove back to my college. It wasn't near. During the journey, I thought of something.
The plan.
He never told me anything about it except that he needed me to execute it. And why does he need to trust me? I wanted to ask but the atmosphere was positive there I didn't want him to change to his cold revengeful mode again. Maybe some other time.
The car stopped at the front of my college.
"Thank you for today." I said. Sincerely.
He gave the 'ok' sign with that half-smile.
I got out of the car and stood beside it. Giving a small wave, Zack drove away and lost from my sight.
