The Crush

Chapter 1

It was another typical day in class at National University, School of the Sciences. The lecturer was droning on and on, causing half of the students to fall asleep but not Jayden.

He sat ramrod straight, in an oversized blue plaited sweater over a white T-shirt. His sleek black hair was gelled neatly, complementing his boyish good looks. He couldn’t understand why people were not interested in molecular switches and abstract theories like gene splicing.

He elbowed his best friend Omar in the ribs, waking him up from dream land. “You’re disgusting, drooling all over,” Jayden said. “Anyway, do you think Alicia has a boyfriend?”

“I’m not too sure,” Omar said, rubbing his eyes. “Can you stop talking about her for once?”

Jayden stared hawk-like at Alicia who sat a few rows ahead on the other side. “I want to ask her out later. Catch a movie or something.” He couldn’t wait to feel her tight body.

Omar eased back into a drooping head position. “Whatever man.”

---

Jayden splashed his face with cold water in the restroom and closed his eyes to meditate for a few minutes. The class was going to end and he planned to intercept her as the students left the lecture hall.

“I can do it. She digs me.” He chanted the mantra cooly, sucking in deep breaths. As he stepped out of the restroom, voices echoed along the corridor. “Alicia is mine.”

He thrust his shoulders back as Alicia came into sight. His heartbeat thumped against his chest like a hammer pounding. He loved her big hazel eyes, small upturned nose, long flowing locks of hair and also her shapely figure. She reminded him so much of her…

Jayden cursed as a fat boy slammed into side, knocking him over and his spectacles flew. He scrambled frantically as students brushed past nonchalantly for their lunch break.

He couldn’t miss her, not now! He recognised her perfume scent - orange tinged with lavender.

“Is this your spectacles?”

He looked up to see Alicia holding it. She was always so kind and it made him excited.

“Thank you,” Jayden replied with an over-sized broad smile and wore his glasses. Alicia was standing next to a lanky guy. Standing closer than Jayden would like. Was his name David or Daniel?

“Hi...Alicia. Can I talk to you...now?” Jayden said. She looked so pretty close-up and his breathing grew faster.

Alicia smiled. “Yeah sure. And you are?”

“Jayden.” He looked at the guy suspiciously. “David is it?”

“Daniel,” Alicia interjected. She glanced at her watch.

“I want to talk to you alone. If you don’t mind David?” He used David on purpose just to rile him up.

Daniel shrugged and said to Alicia, “I’ll see you at the cafe later.”

Alicia nodded.

Jayden rubbed his hands slowly. “I’m an admirer of you Alicia. I want you to know that...that I…” He had to say it perfectly.

Alicia’s handphone started ringing and she fished it from her bag. “Sorry, my mum’s calling.”

Jayden couldn’t believe it. The whole atmosphere was crushed like a punctured balloon and he felt like taking her handphone and stomping it to smithereens. But he knew that wouldn’t go down well with Alicia, though he relished the image in his mind.

Alicia spoke a short while and kept the phone. She said, “And you were saying earlier?”

This was the moment of truth. Jayden grabbed her shoulders and blurted, “I love you so much and I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Alicia was stunned to the core and Jayden knew something was wrong when she pushed him away. She took a step backward and said in a cracking voice, “I’m sorry, this won’t work. I don’t even know you.”

“Remember the time I bumped into you when we were in first year? You dropped your books and I helped you pick it up.” A feeling of desperation swept over him.

She shook her head, stepping further away. “I don’t recall that. I really got to go. Sorry Jayden.” 

“Wait, we can get to know each other better,” Jayden cried out but she was gone. His sense of loss gave way to unbridled anger. He couldn’t accept her answer. He couldn't accept NO.

Jayden screamed and punched the wall till his knuckles bled. He then entered the restroom again as hot tears streamed down his face. It was supposed to be their special moment.

Gripping the sides of the sink, he stared at the mirror. Why did she say no? Was it his tone or his cologne?

No, it must be the Daniel guy. It must be. Jayden would deal with Daniel and Alicia would be his for the taking. His frown turned into a smile then he burst out laughing.

 

Chapter 2

Alicia pushed away her half-eaten pasta. Daniel asked, “That’s all you’re eating? Such a waste.”

“You can have it.” Alicia stared listlessly as Daniel gladly wolfed down the remaining pasta. That was the weirdest thing that happened to her in years. She had admirers but never anyone as scary as Jayden. She now vaguely recalled the incident about her hitting someone in the library but at that time, she had no idea who she had bumped into. That was two years ago.

“Hello? Earth to Ms. Alicia?” Daniel waved his hand in front of her.

She snapped back to reality.

“What happened to you? Did that guy earlier charm you with a love spell?”

Her brows furrowed as she said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Daniel laughed. “Hey, no need to get angry. I’m not your boyfriend so you don’t need to report to me what happened.”

Alicia said, “I think that Jayden guy is a stalker and a looney bin.” Her voice became a strained hush. “He declared his love for me and asked me to be his girlfriend.”

Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise. “This shows that your popularity is rising. Who knows? You might win the upcoming beauty pageant too.” He put his hands on his hip and struck a pose.

“Can’t you be serious for once?” Alicia snatched her bag and stormed off.

 

Chapter 3

Daniel got on the bus and headed home. Alicia was rejecting his calls and ignoring his apology text messages. She must have been really pissed with him.

Soon he alighted and felt a hard shove from behind. He tumbled forward but caught his balance. Turning around, he saw Jayden with a vengeful scowl plastered on his face.

Not him again? Was he interested in guys too?

Before Daniel could say anything, Jayden punched him squarely on the jaw.

Daniel crumpled on the ground, a sharp pain radiating across his face. He tasted coppery blood in his mouth.

“What the heck are you doing? You’re crazy!” Daniel shouted.

He looked around for help but his house was located in a private estate where few people passed by.

No one was around.

“You listen to me you fool. I, Jayden, will get Alicia as my girlfriend and you will not stand in my way.”

“I’m not her boyfriend. This has nothing to do with me.” Daniel saw Jayden’s fist caked with a film dried blood and felt his blood turn to ice.

Jayden grabbed Daniel’s shirt and slammed him forcefully against a rusty metal fence. “Don’t deny it, you maggot. I’ve seen the way you look at her with those lustful eyes. Who knows what sick fantasies you have in your corrupt mind.”

“The only one sick is you! Help!” Daniel yelled. He elbowed Jayden’s gut and his grip loosened for a moment. Daniel broke into a run as fast as possible towards his home.

Jayden gave chase and he heard his footsteps pounding the asphalt pathment just a few metres away.

Daniel saw his house in sight, the big red terrace bungalow at the end of the lane.

That’s when he tripped, landing awkwardly on his ankle with a sickening crunch. He groaned in pain as Jayden kicked his ribs repeatedly.

“When I’m done with you, Alicia...no, no one would want you anymore.” Jayden sat on Daniel’s chest and flicked out a small switchblade.

Then Jayden started cutting.

 

Chapter 4

By dinner time, Alicia’s appetite had returned and she ate her curry chicken dinner in record time. After that, she helped her little sister with her Math homework.

It was around 9:15 pm when she got an email. It was from an unknown sender. She clicked open.

It was just a photograph without any message.

Her face drained of colour when she saw a photograph of Daniel, in all its gore and blood. She rushed to the restroom to puke out her dinner.

What did she just see? And who sent that horrible photo? When she returned to her room, she tried to call Daniel but his phone wasn’t turned on. Sweat broke out on her forehead as dreadful thoughts crept into her mind. Was this a prank? Daniel liked to joke but this was too far.

Her handphone beeped and she received a private message.

It read:

“Alicia, seen the picture? Your sister is next unless you do what I say. Meet me at our school’s cafe at midnight alone. You will exchange your life for Daniel’s pitiful life.”

“It must be Jayden,” Alicia thought as she ran over to her sister’s room. Her sister was playing with her dolls and Alicia let out a sigh of relief.

She called Omar, one of the few guys she knew hanged out with Jayden.

Chapter 5

Omar was surprised when Alicia called him on the phone. She told him what had happened.

“Are you positive that Jayden sent it?” Omar asked.

“I know it. I shouldn’t have ignored him. Look what happened to Daniel.”

“It’s not your fault. Jayden liked you because you looked like his ex-girlfriend.”

“Who is she?”

Omar issued a heavy sigh. “She was killed in a hit-and-run accident last year and since then, Jayden has been acting weird.”

Alicia grew silent for a few moments.

“Hello, still there?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I better call the police.”

“No you can’t,” Omar demanded. “Jayden is unpredictable. Who knows what he might do to Daniel. We need to settle this ourselves.”

“You’re right. I need your help please.”

“Sure, meet you at the train station later.”

Omar ended the call and dialled another number.

“Hi bro, change of plans.”

 

Chapter 6

Alicia waited at the train station. It was quiet and empty except for a few labourers after a hard day’s work. She saw Omar approaching from the other end of the train. He was decked out in black and he carried a small bag.

“Thanks for coming,” Alicia said, trying her best not to let her nervousness show.

“We’ll try to negotiate with Jayden first. Then when his guard is down, I’ll rush in to take him out.”

“That sounds dangerous. I don’t want more people to get hurt. I think we call the police.” Alicia took out her phone but Omar gripped her wrist like an eagle’s talon. She winced in pain.

“No police. Do you want Daniel to die?”

Alicia rubbed her wrists as she was shocked at Omar’s fierce outburst. Maybe he was as mad as Jayden. They didn’t speak for the rest of the walk into the school compound.

The cafe loomed into view. Most of the school was dark but it was lit in a greenish ghastly hue.

“There’s the cafe,” Alicia said hurriedly. “Here’s the plan. While I keep Jayden occupied, you find a way to catch him off guard.”

“Okay, you go ahead,” Omar said, fumbling in his black bag.

“What are you doing?” Alicia asked. “It’s almost midnight.”

Omar fished out an object and it glinted in the moonlight. She gasped in feral fear. Omar wrenched her arm behind her back roughly and held the cold steel blade against her neck.

She stammered, “How could you do this to me?I trusted you.”

“Shut up,” Omar grunted. “I can do anything I want to you. Move.” His breath stuck warmly to her back of her neck.

She edged forward into the cafe and saw Jayden and Daniel in the center.

Daniel was sitting in a plastic chair, his head drooped. His arms were tied up with ropes.

Jayden stood beside his chair, grinning from ear to ear. His shirt was splattered with blood.

 

Chapter 7

“Very good Omar,” Jayden said. “I did not expect Alicia to contact you but what a stroke of luck.” He yanked Daniel’s head up for Alicia to see. It wasn’t something she could see for a long time.

“Sweet cuts won’t you say?” Jayden said. “Now for the deal in exchange for Daniel’s life.”

“You won’t get away for what you did,” Alicia said through clenched teeth.

“If Daniel breathes a word about me, I will not show any mercy to his family or yours. But if you become my girlfriend, I will let Daniel go.”

“You’re mad. I’ll never accept it.” Alicia’s eyes bore into Jayden. “Who knows whether you’ll keep your promise or not?”

Jayden let out a guffaw. “You’ll have to trust me. Every relationship is based on trust and love.”

She spat at him and Omar twisted her arm harder.

Jayden lashed out with a slap across her cheeks and a jolt of pain exploded in her jaw.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” Jayden whispered in concern as he stroked her reddish cheek gently.

Suddenly, Daniel awoke from his stupor and lurched forward on the chair, ramming into Jayden’s back. Jayden stumbled as Daniel’s skull slammed against the concrete floor with a sickening thud.

Omar tossed Alicia aside and started pounding Daniel’s body.

“Run Alicia.” Daniel said between blows to his bloodied face and body. “Call the police.”

Alicia raced out of the cafe and pulled out her phone. She dialed the emergency number but her fingers were trembling violently and she kept hitting the wrong numbers.

“Come back Alicia,” Jayden shouted as he chased her down the corridor. “I won’t hurt you.”

Alicia ran up a flight of stairs. She finally managed to dial the emergency number and a voice answered, “This is the police. How may I help you?”

“Someone’s trying to kill me,” Alicia said hurriedly as she climbed the stairs, her legs burning with exhaustion. She knew it led to the open air bridge that connected the teaching blocks.

“Where are you now?” the voice asked.

Jayden’s footsteps echoed below.

“National University. Please -” Her sweaty hands fumbled with her phone and it slipped out, cascading down the steps. She cursed and realised she couldn’t get it in time.

The footsteps were getting louder. He was closing in.

Alicia ran to the bridge and threw all caution to the wind. She climbed up the side of the bridge ledge and hung her legs outward. The cool night breeze whipped her hair around and she shuddered at the height below. Below was the asphalt carpark. If she fell, it would be the end of her.

Jayden appeared at the bridge entrance, panting heavily. “What are you doing? Get down from there right now.”

Alicia had to stall for time before the police came. If they managed to get her message earlier. Alicia warned, “Don’t come any closer or I’ll jump down.”

Jayden looked genuinely worried as he laid his switchblade on the floor slowly. “Please don’t hurt yourself. I love you so much.”

“If you really loved me, you won’t have hurt Daniel.”

“I’m sorry,” Jayden said. “What do you want me to do? Just come down. I beg you.”

“The police are coming as we speak. I want you to surrender to them.”

Jayden frowned, his mouth twisted with rage. “Surrender? Let’s escape Singapore. You and me. We still have time.”

Negotiating with this lunatic was impossible. Alicia knew she had to mess with Jayden’s mind. “You want me to die just like your ex-girlfriend did? You caused her death didn’t you?”

Jayden’s face drained of all colour. “No, it was an accident. I was supposed to bring her home but…”

“It was all your fault!” Alicia screamed. “You’re a useless scumbag who can’t do anything right. No one will ever like you.”

Jayden gritted his teeth and clutched his head as if in extreme mental agony. He kept on mumbling incessantly, “It wasn’t my fault.”

She heard police sirens in the distance and saw the flashing blue-and-red entering the carpark below. Just in the nick of time.

“Help!” Alicia shouted, waving her hands over her head frantically. Hope rose inside her like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

“If I can’t have you,” Jayden said. “No one will ever have you.”  

Then he lurched forward and shoved her off the ledge.

Alicia fell.

 

Chapter 8 

Alicia saw her life pass by.

So slowly as she fell.

It felt like a dream.

Like time slowed down. 

Like eternity.

All her hopes dashed in a single -

Moment.

She saw Jayden peering at her from the ledge above as it grew smaller and smaller.

Goodbye world.

Hello God.

Her back slammed into something rubbery, like a cushion.

Her mind blanked out for a few seconds.

“We got you girl. We got you.”

Policemen’s heads bobbed up and down.

“Take deep breaths.”

Alicia inhaled the fresh night air and exhaled. Her heartbeat slowed down.

“You’re safe. You’re experiencing shock as it’s normal.”

Everything was still in a haze.

Medics helped Alicia to the ambulance nearby and laid her on a stretcher.

She saw the policemen with the large cushion under the bridge that broke her fall. Other policemen entered the cafe with pistols ready.

“Relax miss,” a medic said. “It’s all over.”

Alicia sighed in relief.

Love can’t be forced with a knife on your neck.