Jack was a medical student at the University of Noya. He was one person who was seldom seen walking outside because he was either in his class or in his house. He never left his violin-like instrument behind wherever he went as that was plausibly his best friend. A lone wolf he was that being where people were seemed to bite. The number of times in a month he was seen in a group could be counted.
He was a handsome man in his mid-twenties. He had a thewy build with a height towering over most of the students. He was the cynosure of all girls but his cold disposition made him unapproachable. For the three years he had been in the university, he had never had a lady to call his girlfriend and he seemed not to care, well, except for one single girl who had always made his heart beat strangely whenever he saw her. If he was not too scared to approach her, maybe she would have been his by now. Eddie liked teasing him about the girl.
Jack loved martial arts and only his love for his instrument could match. The course he was taking at the university was only because he had learned the way of medicine from his teacher and since he was already adept in martial arts and playing the instrument, medicine and surgery was the only choice he had. It was strange to Eddie how a man who was so strong and could take ten armed men in a matter of seconds could not approach a girl he liked because of fear. He had once walked to where his friend trained and after he had seen what Jack did to maintain his physique and martial arts skills, he completely failed to understand why Jack and fear could co-exist.
Jack had met Eddie in their high school. Although the former was just a class ahead of the latter, they had become inseparable friends. Jack had been a total orphan since he was seven. His martial arts teacher had been his mother and father since then until he was almost out of high school when he lost his master to a strange illness. When he had nowhere to go, Eddie had welcomed him home and since then, Eddie's home had been his. Although they now lived in different places due to what they did outside class, hardly a day elapsed before they talked if not meet.
In a room inside his house, he was seated on an armless chair plucking the strings of his musical instrument. As the tune escaped the strings to dab his ears, he nodded his head with the rhythm of it. The tune also evoked emotions that he had tried burying since the passing of his mother without success. The more he played, the more he got carried away and tears welled from his eyes. Fortunately, a phone call dragged him back. He ran for it.
The person who had called was the least he had expected. "Loreen." He smiled though his face showed surprise, "You have called."
Loreen was not in the mood to entertain his surprise. She only asked if Eddie was okay and after he said he was going to check, she urged him to do it quickly and give her feedback. He searched Eddie's name and called.
"Eddie, you finally picked your phone."
"Sorry, I went to meet Anna and forgot with it in the house. Did you have plans with me?"
"No, I was just checking on you and to remind you of the concert. And, are you really okay?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"It is fine if you are. Though you sound like you have been saved from the clutches of death."
"Jack, it is also the reason why you have not received my call yet. I came home tired and all I did was to find my bed."
"Okay brother. I hope I will see you at the concert tomorrow."
"You will."
When Eddie hanged up, Jack immediately called Loreen to assure her that Eddie was fine in his house. He heard the lady heave a long sigh of relief. When he asked, she told him that it was nothing before she ended the call. This left him lowering his head to wonder what could be wrong. He decided to go see Loreen personally. He had to be sure about what was going on. After all, his brother's safety was his number one priority.
Since he was left as an orphan, he had learned to be independent. Even when he was under his teacher, he mostly hunted for food and clothing by himself. His teacher tried to stop him but he was obstinate. The teacher only gave up hoping that he would one day grow to become a great man with his attitude. His life could not be said to be smooth sailing but he had learned to survive.
Meeting Eddie had been a huge source of relief withal. While he still hunted food and clothing for himself, being with Eddie had taught him things that with his master or by himself, he would have been oblivious to for the rest of his life. It is those things that made him comfortable since he joined the university. Eddie to him was more than a brother. He would forgive one for touching him but not for touching Eddie. That had been his slogan and many had made sure that that was stuck in their heads.
Jack found his flying car and took the direction of the university. His speed was not allowed, but he used it anyway.