I could finally rest my mind at 4 o’clock in the morning, exhausted from my loads of assignment to be passed up the next day. I hopped right onto my bed that was next to the table I was sitting down and doing my work. The air conditioner wasn’t working so I had to on the fan to the highest speed to feel comfortable in this warm temperature room. Since I had to wake up in four hours for my 8 o’clock in the morning class, I had to put two alarms with my hand phone. Normally when I lie down on my bed, I would cover myself with my big and soft comforter but this time I felt my body was very hot and could felt a slight fever coming. I have no idea why I would have fever at such time of the day. Due to the uncomfortable feeling, I kept moving and I couldn’t fall asleep. I could hardly feel sleepy because of the rising feeling of fever. At that point, I knew I wasn’t going to get enough sleep.
When I finally fell asleep, my phone rang minutes later and thought it could have been my alarm. I felt that it wasn’t even an hour of sleep but when I checked, it was a phone call. No name appeared on the handphone screen but what appeared was a number that I didn’t recognize at all. Without hesitating further, I quickly answered the phone with an annoyed tone because of the timing of this phone call. Still feeling heavy-eyed and a slight fever, I couldn’t determine who was on the phone but it took me a minute to find out it was my friend Guai Lan, who is a year older than me. It was really unusual for him to call me because we didn’t meet for few months and moreover at this time of the day. I thought he wanted to ask me to go out for a drink but he sounded very anxious. He said, ‘Aaron, I’m in serious danger and I need your help’. He also said that “the Brunei people” had found him. I didn’t understand what he was saying at first but then I remembered that he used to live in Brunei and had somewhat involved in a gambling issue with a gang there. I could hear through the phone that the sound in the background seemed like he was in a club. He then said that he was at a friend’s birthday party in a club in Kuala Lumpur. He saw the gang looking like they were looking for someone and also he parked his car right outside the club. I felt really scared for him and I could sense fear in his voice. My stomach felt very uncomfortable. All of a sudden, I could hear very loud noises of glass breaking in the background on the phone and he hung up the phone.
It was like his fear transferred to me through the phone call and it took me over like I was the one in serious danger. I wanted it to be a dream. I pinched myself really hard hoping that this was a dream and I would wake up from it. For me to hear glass breaking noises and he right away hung up was a very bad sign. I tried calling him back many times but I was constantly led to voice mail. I didn’t know what to do so I just sat down on my bed, holding my phone tight in my hands hoping he would call me back. I couldn’t sleep anymore thinking of what could have happen to him if the gang caught him so I just sat down on my bed for almost an hour.
After an hour or so, he finally called back. By that time, I was so drown in fear and I was sweating profusely. He said the gang was walking towards him but not exactly to him so he quickly hung up and ran to the bathroom to exit the club through the window. While he was walking towards his car, one guy from the gang was standing at the entrance of the club where his car was parked. As soon as that particular guy was distracted and talking to some people, he quickly unlocked his car and took off. When he looked back through the rear mirror, that guy from the gang didn’t even notice and he was coming over to my place. I was still worried of him driving his car off because the gang would know that he was around so I told him it is not safe for him to come over to my place in case the gang were to follow. So, I told him to meet me at McDonald’s as soon as possible and he told me to call the police if he didn’t show up.
With that in mind, I quickly changed to go out. I put on my jacket, 3-quarter pants, Converse shoe and left. What I had in mind was taking the car parked outside to drive to McDonalds in case Guai Lan doesn’t want to drive then. As I was walking, hoping that my parents wouldn’t be awake and I thought of an excuse I would have to use if I was caught. I saw my brother playing games on the computer and I told him to keep it a secret about me going out now. Just when I opened the front door, someone pat my back. It was my mum with a cynical smile asking me where I was going. Normally, this type of situation would scare me but I the only thing I cared about was getting to Guai Lan. So, I said I just finished my assignments and I didn’t want to sleep because I would wake up late for my 8 o’clock class so I was going for a morning walk. Then, she said morning walks don’t involve cars and even if I was running away anyway. Well, I guess I am a bad liar so she didn’t buy my story. She grabbed the car keys off my hand. Instead of me arguing with her, I just dashed off and thought to myself, I have to get to my friend, no matter what.
The distance from my house to McDonald’s was quite far-off, especially for an injured knee from sports and a sick person like myself at early hours in the morning. I ran as fast as I could at first but stopped halfway because I couldn’t stand the pain on my knee and the fever I was having. I started walking but in a fast pace movement. Minutes later, I had to stop. I was really exhausted and I became very dizzy. As much as I didn’t want to waste more time, I had to push myself and keep going.
It felt like it was already hours since I left my house. The sun began to rise as I was reaching McDonald’s to meet Guai Lan. I could hardly walk anymore. My legs hurt and my whole body felt weak, physically. I was sweating but at the same time feeling chill by the cold morning air. When I was just minutes reaching to McDonald’s, it really felt like a dream. I felt like I was crawling my journey because it was simply the longest black top I have ever run.
Finally, when I got to McDonald’s, I didn’t feel calmed at all after that long distance but I felt very anxious because Guai Lan and his car were nowhere in sight. I stood at the parking lot waiting for him. I was really scared and at the same time, feeling very sick. Just when I thought that I wouldn’t see my friend that called me hours ago alive, I wanted to call the police. When I looked around, I saw his car going through the A&W parking lot across the street. I thought to myself, he wouldn’t have gone to A&W because he agreed on McDonald’s and maybe the gang had caught him and was driving his car. At this point, I felt very afraid and I didn’t know what to do. I just stood at where I was, trying to see the driver if it was Guai Lan.
I crossed the road and walked towards A&W. Just by pretending to be an ordinary customer, I stood from a distance looking towards Guai Lan’s car. The driver opened the door and stood out from the car. I was really curious of who he was. Then, he turned around and I knew for sure it was definitely Guai Lan. I felt so relief but then I realized after all the trouble I went through, I felt angry. I ran over to him and I said we were supposed to meet at McDonald’s but he thought A&W would be a better place. I didn’t get this part and I could have yelled but I was just too glad to see him.
I told him that he owed me big and advised him to stay out of trouble for awhile because I will not go through the same as what I did today for him. Of course I didn’t mean it but it was something needed to be said to make him understand.
All this is just my made up story assignment.
I'm glad its all done. Phew.
It was tiring, typing all these.
