Let your eyes not make a final judgement. Let your ears be more discerning.    

 

 

Now that they were sitting under the bright light of the office, Jamie could finally check the man’s features.

 

His skin was fair and he had black hair. His eyebrows were straight and his eyelashes were thick and dark. His nose was tall and his full lips were pink. His jaw and chin were chiseled to perfection. His face was shaved cleanly showing his smooth skin. He had a broad chest and wide shoulders. And when the man lifted his hand as he wiped Jamie’s forehead, he could see his thick muscular arms.

 

Jamie hissed when the antiseptic touched the wound on his forehead. He leaned away from the offending q tip.

 

He blinked his eyelids innocently when he felt the man’s glare.

 

Jamie slowly sat down properly and let the man apply medicine on his forehead. He bit his lips occasionally when he felt the pinching pain on his wound.

 

It was quiet inside the room apart from the gentle hum of the air conditioner.

 

“Kids like you should be at home sleeping.” The man’s deep voice broke the silence.

 

“Not a kid.” Jamie pouted.

 

“Oh, sure you are not.” The man raised a beautifully shaped eyebrow.

 

“What’s your parent’s contact number? I’ll contact them to fetch you here.”

 

Jamie fidgeted on his seat. He could not give Jared’s number to the stranger. Jared would be worried and he would be busted for lying.

 

Seeing as the boy was quiet, the man offered another option.

 

“Or you could tell me your address and I could send you there.”

 

Jamie perked up at the suggestion. But he couldn’t help but feel suspicious. If he gets on the man’s car who knows if he would truly arrive home safe and sound.

 

Jamie looked at his watch. It was getting late. It was almost 11 o’clock.

 

Right at that moment he was startled when his phone rang.

 

He looked at the screen and hesitated but eventually answered the call when he felt the stranger’s irritation.

 

He turned away as he listened to the caller.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Jamie! Where are you? I went to Daphne’s place but you weren’t there. I looked for you at Janine’s apartment but you weren’t there either. I come back home only to find the apartment empty.”

 

“I… I sorry, Jar.”

 

Jamie could feel the disappointment on Jared’s tone. He couldn’t help but cry. He was tired and hungry. His feet were aching. His knees were filled with bruises and now he was being scolded. He was not a sensitive person. Such things were nothing to him, but he could not understand the twinge in his chest.  

 

“I sorry.” He cried.

 

“It’s alright. Just tell me where you are.” Jared felt guilty when he heard his nephew’s sobs.

 

Jamie turned around to the tall stranger. Slowly he stretched his arm to hand over his phone.

 

When the stranger did not do anything but stare at his phone Jamie sniffled.

 

“Uncle want know where Jamie is. Where this place?” Jamie’s lips were drawn to a pout.

 

As the man listened to the boy speak, he was suddenly filled with remorse. His cold aloof face showed a brief discomfort. He was too rough with his actions a while ago when he dragged the kid. The boy looked no younger than 14 and seemed autistic too.

 

He took the phone and listened to the person on the other end of the line.

 

“Hello? Jamie! Jamie?” He heard the man’s frantic voice.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Who are you? I swear to God if you did something to my nephew, I’m gonna kill you!” Jared’s eyebrows were knitted when he heard an unknown man on Jamie’s phone.

 

“I assure you I mean no harm, Mister –“

 

“Andreas. That’s Mr. Andreas to you.”

 

“I’ll send you the address. It’s much better to talk in person.” He cut the call off.

 

15 minutes later Jared arrived in front of a building. There was nobody around apart from the patrolling guards. He was met by one and was escorted to the top floor of the building.

 

Along the way Jared wondered who the person he talked to could be. He was most likely a rich man if he could afford an office in a high-rise building. At some point Jared was slightly scared. What if he offended someone important?

 

The security guard knocked on the wooden door.

 

It was opened by a tall handsome man.

 

“Thank you, Marcus.” Spoke the man in a three-piece suit.

 

“At your service, Sir. I’ll be outside.” The guard tilted his head.

 

The man gestured for Jared to enter the office. What he saw upset him.

 

His nephew was sporting a wound on his forehead that was covered by a gauze.

 

“What happened Jamie? Did this man hurt you?” Jared glared at the man.

 

“No, Jar. He help me. He beat bad men.” Jamie pulled his uncle’s arm to prevent him from attacking his savior.

 

He still did not know the man’s name. They never got to that part.

 

“I don’t want you going out very late at night Jamie.”

 

“But it accident. No bad happen.” Jamie whimpered.

 

Jared looked at his nephew’s wounded head. To him the injury was already serious enough.  

 

“I’m sorry for being too harsh on you Mister-“ Jared looked at the man.

 

“Song.” The man supplied.

 

“Mr. Song. I am just very protective of my nephew. He has been through so much and I do not want him hurt.” Jared explained.

 

“I understand Mr. Andreas.”

 

“Call me Jared. I’m sorry for being rude on the phone.”

 

“Don’t bother with it.” Mr. Song nodded in understanding.

 

“We better go. Again, thank you Mr. Song for helping my nephew.” He extended his hand to the man.

 

Mr. Song shook hands with Jared.

 

Jared gestured to his nephew.

 

Jamie stood up from the couch.  His lips were pursed as he walked. The stabbing pain on his thighs and legs were starting to act up again. It spread faster than before.

 

Cold sweat formed on his forehead and his breathing became labored.

 

He couldn’t take the crippling pain on his thigh that radiated to his back anymore.

 

The moment he took the next step, his legs failed him.

 

He fell down.