Later that day, while Mike was walking down the pathway from his calculus class, he was heading back home after a long day. He is a transferee, so he had to deal with many things today. He had to familiarize himself with the school map of where and which buildings and rooms he should go to. It wasn't draining his energy, but it consumed so much of his time walking around and introducing himself to his professors. It was already mid of the first semester, so he had to come forward to them to get into their classes and be recognized, as well as to make sure his name is on their records. But a group of well-built men surrounded him. He tried to ignore them and avoid getting into a fight, but they seemed to purposely block his way. They don't look like students, but Mike cannot tell what and who they are exactly. He tried to get through them. Turned to walk to his right, blocked. To his left, blocked. He tried to turn around. There was also someone blocking him from the back. He paused and looked around him. There were five of them blocking him. He checked their postures. He can tell if anyone is a combat fighter by looking at how they stand. He is a Hapkido fighter. He can take them down with his bare hands and whatever weapon the surroundings can provide. But as these kinds of skills require discipline, Mike did not want to start or to easily jump into fights like this. Patience is next to discipline. As much as possible, staying out of trouble is always the best solution.
"Who are you?” Mike stood firm on his ground. He made them aware that he was not intimidated by their presence in any way, not even in the slightest.
The guy right in front of Mike was equally unyielding. "You don’t need to know. You just have to come. Now it’s up to you if you wanna walk or we drag you to get there”. The guys started to roll their sleeves. Letting Mike know they will actually do as they said.
They were Nicole's security team, her bodyguards. Being the only child of the Parker's, she is also in constant danger that her parents had hired a security team to protect her. It was part of their contract to bend on her every wish. And now, just two of their team members were with her while the rest of them were ordered to bring this guy, Mike Wilson, to where she is right now.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I have somewhere else I better be." Mike declined. He is not a pushover. Never. New school or not that isn't even have anything to do with everything.
"I don't think you understand." The guy answered again. He must be the leader of this group as he seems to answer and talk for all his comrades all the time. "We are just sent to get you, and we cannot disobey, so you choose. Do you wanna walk by yourself, or shall we all drag you there?" His iron-willed countenance clearly tells that he is not playing around.
“Just tell me first, where are you taking me?” He asked in a "don't-give-me-bullshit" tone. He wasn’t scared if they get into a physical fight, he may not win because there are five of them, but he is damn sure they will go home with equally bruised faces and broken bones if they try to provoke him.
“Gym." That was the only answer he got. Then a beautiful face flashed his mind. That girl told him to meet her at the gym and said she would make his life a living hell if he even made her wait for a second.
“Is the girl still waiting for me there?” With eyes wide, he stopped from his steps and ran to go to the gym.
The guys who came to get him were flabbergasted. Wasn’t he so eager to die? Why did he run to where Nicole is? Did he know wrath is waiting for him there? They couldn’t wait to watch what’s gonna happen, so they ran after him.
“Hey, I told you I still have a class at three. Why did you wait for me?” Mike came rushing to Nicole, who was caught off guard by his sudden intrusion. She frowned when she saw the five bodyguards she ordered to get this new guy. They look stupid to her sight. They looked like boys who were waiting for a good show.
“Get the hell out of here!” She ordered them out of the gym. “I want you to guard the entrance five meters away from the door! Do you understand?”
The bodyguards felt disappointed. They won't get the chance to see what is going to happen to this stupid guy. They can only comply with Nicole's orders. So with heavy feet, they headed out of the gym.
“And you!”. She grabbed Mike by the collar. “Didn’t I tell you I will make your life a living hell? Do you want me to prove you my words?”
“I am sorry, but you can’t blame me, it’s my first day at school. I can’t cut on my classes just like that.” He tried to apologize, holding Nicole’s grabbing hands. Nicole felt like she has touched a live wire for a moment and quickly let go of his collar in her hands. She even thought, ‘did he have a stun gun with him?’ But she was sure there wasn’t anything in his hand.
“How about I buy you dinner as an apology?” Mike was so sincere that Nicole couldn’t help laughing. A laugh that conveyed contempt and mockery. She gave him a sardonic look from head to toe. This guy seems to humor her. She was enraged, waiting for almost three hours, but she actually needed time of her own, or else she would end up barking at everyone that pricks her sight.
“Are you dumb? I ask them to bring you here to face my wrath. Why would I eat dinner with you? Do you think you can afford what kind of meals I eat?” She shook her hands in disgust, belittling him.
“Oh, so you’re a super-rich girl, huh?" Mike quickly realized and understood that she was, in all awareness, bullying him. "I can see why you are so dominating, bull-headed, and painstakingly stubborn," Mike stated his words like he was explaining a basic math equation. So calm. Nonsarcastic and straight to the point. He even nodded while saying all those words to her. As if he realized something Nicole didn't know about.
Nicole’s blood boiled in anger. Nobody has ever dared and lived to tell any of those words he just said to her. Her right hand lifted to slap his left cheek, but Mike caught her hand in the air.
“I don’t hurt women. Especially not a lovely lady like you. Regardless if polite or rude.” He held her firmly by the wrist and drew his face close to hers as he said those words ever so slowly, as if she won’t understand if he said them a beat faster. She hated Mike for what he said, and her anger hasn’t been fully expressed yet, so she lifted her left hand to strike again, and Mike was caught off guard. He underestimated the little girl’s will to slap him.