Ambushed

Later that day.

While Mike was walking down the pathway from his calculus class, heading back home after a long day, a group of well-built men surrounded him.

He tried to ignore them and avoid getting into a fight, but they seemed to block his way purposely. They don’t look like students, but Mike cannot tell what and who they were, precisely.

Mike tried to get through them, peacefully. He turned to walk to his right, but one of them blocked his way. Then Mike turned to his left, also blocked. So Mike tried to turn around. Apparently, there was also someone blocking him from the back. Mike paused and looked around him. There were five well-built men, unwilling to let him walk whichever way he wished to.

Mike discreetly checked their postures. He can tell if anyone is a combat fighter by looking at how they stand. He is a Hapkido sports fighter. He can take them down with his bare hands and whatever weapon he could find in the surroundings. But as these kinds of skills require discipline, Mike did not want to start or easily jump into fights like this.

Mike is a student and a transferee, to top it all. 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. His day didn’t drain all 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 and make sure his name was on their records. But if he gets into trouble on the very first day of school, it would ruin him. Besides, they don't seem worthy of his time. He chose to keep his virtue.

Patience is next to discipline. As much as possible, staying out of trouble is always the best solution. Without a sign or a hint of intimidation on Mike's aura, he asked.

“Who are you?”

Mike stood firm on his ground. He made them aware that he was not scared or fazed by their presence in any way, not even in the slightest.

The guy right in front of Mike was equally unyielding, he replied coldly.

“You don’t need to know."

Mike snorted sarcastically.

"I wasn't even going to ask, but you keep blocking my way, smartypants," Mike retorted.

"You just have to come with us," the guy sneered at Mike. 

"It's a shame, I am not interested," Mike snickered.

"Well, 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.

"Well, I guess you have to tell whoever sent you that your invitation wasn't so inviting and so I declined," Mike scorned.

Mike saw the guy who spoke to him earlier give a quick nod to the guy behind Mike. But he could see from his peripheral vision every move the guy behind him was doing. 

"Aggghhh!" 

The guy who was ordered to make the first move to attack Mike groaned when he felt a sharp blow of Mike's back kick that landed on the guy's navel. He felt like he was pushed back with massive strength and the guy fell with his butt to the ground and curled in pain.

They were Nicole’s security team, her bodyguards. Being the only child of the Parkers, 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 to 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'd 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 to 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 into 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 was going to 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 to 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 had 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 scathing 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.