The Nick's Life
Wounded

THE PLAQUE!!

A slap landed on Abe's face. Sharif was really angry with his son's behavior. Just now she gets a call from Beni saying Sansan canceled the wedding plan he had designed. Even Sansan spoke directly to her the reason for canceling this marriage. Eni was only able to see in silence the husband's anger at his youngest child.

“Basic kids don't know they're lucky! When do you want to tarnish the family name?!”

“Sorry pa. I told you I didn't agree with this marriage. But papa still forces.”

“You promised! When you come to papa asking for help, you have promised to obey your wishes.”

“Yes. papa is always like that. To help the child alone, papa asked for a thank you.”

Sharif grew furious. The man raised his hand again, but Eni immediately prevented her husband from hurting her son a second time. Seeing Eni begin to cry, Sharif undoes his intention. He threw his butt on the sofa to reduce the emotions that were blowing in his chest.

“Is it true that you often visit nightclubs like Sansan said?”

“Iya pa.”

“It's been expected, your friends nothing is true!”

“They never asked me to do anything. I decided to do it myself.”

“Including sleeping with other women?”

“Ngga.. Abe couldn't have done it. Aren't you a kid?” Eni looked at the child expectantly.

“Ngga. I may drink a lot of liquor but I have never been in contact with the opposite sex.”

Eni breathed a sigh of relief hearing the child's answer. But not with Sharif, the man still considers what Abe does is a disgrace that tarnishes his good name.

“Please leave this house. I wouldn't have a child like you. Just make it a shame.”

“I'll go, pa. Ma.. I will try to see my mom more often.”

“You're all right, son. Do not be too tired to work, take care of your health. Don't delay eating.”

“Iya, quiet mom aja.”

Abe grabs Eni's hand then kisses the back of her hand. After that he turned around and headed for the exit. Abe had no intention of saying goodbye to Sharif, but his father would still ignore him. Syarif was upset to see the child who remained stubborn. Abe should plead to stay at home instead of easily leaving home as he did a few years ago. When he was about to reach the door, Sharif's voice was heard holding the child's steps.

“Do you feel you can live without support from papa? Do you think what you have achieved so far is purely the result of your hard work?”

“What does papa mean?” Abe stopped his steps and looked at the father.

“Do you think you received you work where you are now no interference papa? The bank's chief director is papa's friend. Papa asked for his help to get you out. So is your promotion, you think it's purely because of your own hard work?”

Abe's blood boils at hearing all the words of Sharif. Indirectly the man had broken all his pride and hard work. Sharif's successful statement made him inflamed. Without saying a word, he immediately walked out of his parents' house.

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All of Abe's co-workers were shocked when Abe suddenly submitted his resignation letter. Moreover, in a matter of weeks the man will be appointed to a new position as the head of the assistant branch office (KCP). Bagas, who had been friends since they took the recruitment test, approached his colleague who was enjoying a cold drink at a tavern near the office after their work hours.

After ordering the same drink, Bagas sat down next to Abe. A few days ago, an uproar broke out at her parents' residence when Sansan decided to cancel the wedding. Both parents were also quite surprised when Sansan explained all the reasons for canceling the marriage. Including the reality about Abe's football so far.

As a person, Bagas never judged what Abe did badly. Although it is not a good thing and violates religious norms, spending time in nightclubs and drinking liquor has become commonplace lately. Bagas was just trying to think from another different angle. It is possible that Abe did so to relieve fatigue and stress at work. Outside of his friend's bad habits, Abe remains a good man for him. But it seems like the sister disagrees with him.

“Be.. lo why ngundurin yourself?”

“Ngga. I just want to find a new atmosphere. Doing more challenging work. I'm kind of saturated with work now.”

“Lo want me to believe your reason? I know exactly how hard work elo to achieve a rich position now. And now you say saturated and want to get rid of all. Come on man, you better give me another good reason (come on, you have to give me another better reason).”

“Gue feels what I have been doing all this time is in vain. It turns out that I received in the company and my achievements during this time because of bokap interference. Mr. Salim was bokap. And my entry because of my share of bokap included the position I reached now.”

Bagas was silent for a moment trying to understand what his friend was saying. Between believing and not hearing all that. Because Mr. Jonathan, their superiors say anything that is the subject of consideration and judgment of someone is appointed as the head of the KCP. And he thinks Abe deserves that position.

“What does this have to do with wedding cancellation?”

“Means lo?”

“Yes aja bokap lo angry and said it all to make you kelin or angry. Because I absolutely do not believe that you can get this far because of nepotism.”

“But that's the reality right.”

“Be. I'm sorry about Sansan. He should not have to expose bad things about lo to bokap. Understandably, his name is still young, his soul is still unstable.”

“Casual aja bro. He's not wrong anyway, I'm a jerk,” Abe chuckles.

“Gue unplug first yes.”

Abe patted Bagas on the shoulder and then walked out of the store. The man entered his vehicle and then drove away. Bagas just looked at the departure of his friend. If only Sansan had seen the changes that happened to Abe, maybe his sister would not have branded the friend bad. Lately he has seen significant changes from Abe. The man had already begun to carry out his duties, establishing the prayer. Things Abe hasn't done since he knew her.

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Abe stopped his vehicle when from the rearview mirror he saw a suspicious incident. Three men surrounded a girl. The man got out of the car and walked up to the three men.

“Hey!! What are you doing?!” shouts Abe.

Abe's shout distracted the three big men. They looked straight at Abe and were used by the girl to escape. But alas, one of them managed to hold him back. He pulled roughly the girl's body. Abe was surprised to see the girl being bullied by the thugs.

“Sansan.”

Abe quickly moved forward. Sansan was also surprised to see the person who came to help him was Abe. As much as possible the girl broke away from the clutches of one of the men nearby, but her efforts were in vain. The man's energy was too strong.

“Please him!” abe's word.

“Emang you ready him, huh?!"

“He's my future wife, what do you want? Release!!”

The two men coded their friend to hold Sansan, while they approached Abe and struck him. Abe quickly dodged the attack. Even a fight is inevitable. Abe, who indeed mastered martial arts, can avoid attacks and even hit back at opponents.

Seeing that his two friends were lost, the man who was holding Sansan immediately came to help. The fight continues. Abe's situation began to be desperate, but he continued to fight back. One of the men pulled out a folding knife and then attacked Abe again.

All three continued to pound Abe, and so far the man has survived. A knife-wielding person pointed the sharp object into Abe's stomach. And at the same time, there was the sound of police car sirens. The three immediately ran away from the fighting ground.

Sansan was able to breathe a sigh of relief as his trick worked. He turned off the siren sound from his phone and walked over to his helper. Abe tidied up the jacket that covered his body.

“Still,” Sansan said without looking at Abe.

“Sama-sama. Thanks for the siren too. Can I take you home?”

“Ngga.”

Sansan watched for a moment Abe who had just put his hands in his jacket pocket. Then the girl rushed away towards the big road not far from where she was. He stopped a passing taxi and got into it.

Abe's body began to drift, his back leaned against the body of the car and slowly his body fell into the street. There was a ringing from his mouth when he felt such a pain in the left part of his stomach. A red liquid seeped from the white shirt he wore. The thug managed to hurt himself. Abe reached into his pants pocket to retrieve his phone. With trembling hands, he contacted Arnav.

“Halo.”

“Ar...” Abe's voice sounded weak and his breath was slightly wheezed.

“Be..”

“Please me.”

“Gue piercing. Please me. I share location now.”

Abe disconnects the call, then his finger taps on the share location icon and sends Arnav his current location. Abe's hand drooped as soon as he finished doing so. His left hand continued to press against the wound to hold the blood that was unceasingly coming out.

Ten minutes later Arnav came, and Fahrul and Nick were with him. The man shouted to call his best friend's name. He was shocked to see Abe drowning beside the car. There was a lot of blood coming out of his body.

“Be!! Abe!!”

Hearing Arnav's scream, Nick and Fahrul come closer. They rushed to get Abe in the car. Arnav immediately hit the gas, followed by Fahrul and Nick from behind.

“Be.. lo must survive.”

While driving his vehicle at high speed, Arnav continued to invite his best friend to talk. Don't let Abe lose consciousness. It didn't take long, the car Arnav was driving arrived at the hospital. He did choose to take Abe to a nearby hospital. The nurse at the IGD immediately led Abe into the action room. Arnav, Nick too Fahrul waited with anxious feelings.

Two hours passed, finally the doctor who handled Abe out of the operating room. Due to Abe's critical condition, IGD doctors sent Abe to the operating room. The middle-aged doctor was immediately visited by Arnav, Nick and Fahrul.

“How are my friends doing doc?”

“Alhamdulillah operation smoothly. The wound wasn't really deep, but a knife puncture hit one of the veins until he lost a lot of blood. It's too late for you to bring her here, maybe she can't be saved.”

All who hear can breathe a sigh of relief because the friend can be saved in time. Luckily they were all gathered together when Abe called and Abe's location was not too far from Nick's tavern.

“We can see him now doc?” ask Nick.

“Don't first, we will still monitor the state of the patient. If the condition is stable, we will move it to the hospital room. You can see it.”

The three did not ask much more and let the doctor continue his work. A few moments later, the door of the operating room opened. A nurse came out pushing a blankar with Abe's body on it. They followed the nurse. His third step came to a halt in front of the entrance of the intensive care room.

“Lo has her family called?” ask Nick to Arnav.

“Not yet. Just go to phone.”

“Denis already told?” exciting Fahrul.

“Udah. but he can't come. There is a job that cannot be left, he said.”

“Tumben, usually he gercep if the horrors of one of us hit a disaster,” Fahrul look confused.

“Maybe he can't go anywhere,” said Nick.

“Iya. He asked to be interviewed about Abe.”

Fahrul did not ask again, he threw his butt in one of the waiting chairs. If Denis can't come, then there's something important he can't leave. Nick pulled out his phone and called Abe's family. Although his best friend never get along with the father, but at a time like this, Syarif has the right to know the situation of his son.

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After Abe regained consciousness and was monitored for 1x24 hours in intensive care, the man has now been moved to the treatment room. He was only silent when Syarif accused him of being injured from drunkenness and fighting with nightclub visitors. With a head motion he forbade his companions from telling him where they had found him.

Arnav and Fahrul get out of the treatment room. Nick stayed there to calm his friend. Although upset to hear all the unfounded accusations Sharif, but the man tried to remain calm. Moreover, Abe also seems not to care about all the accusations of the father.

Eni did not stop crying, especially when Nick conveyed everything the doctor said post-surgery. Over and over again the woman gave thanks in her heart, Nick and the others were able to find Abe in time.

“Look at. This is the result of your wild deeds,” Sharif said.

“Enough!! Is this how you deal with our son who just escaped death? What kind of parents are you!!”

Both Abe and Nick were shocked to hear Eni's anger. Likewise with Sharif, the man did not expect his wife who used to be silent and obey him now dare to shout at him.

“Is it not enough for you to see him hurt and instead you add his wounds with your words? Rather than you blabbering around, you better find out who made your son like this. Just once you use your power for something useful!”

“Ma.. I have nothing.”

Abe rubbed the back of his hand. Eni came back crying, sadness and disappointment mixed into one. At the same time, Ambar, Abe's brother came. He went straight to the hospital as soon as Arnav gave it to him.

“Be... You have nothing?”

“Alhamdulillah, I'm fine brother.”

“How did it go like this? Nick do you know something?”

“Ngga brother, Abe hasn't told me anything.”

“I'm nothing. Brother, please take mom home.”

“Mama want to be here.”

“There's Nick the same other ma. Mama's coming home, mama's got to rest. Mama can come here again tomorrow.”

“Iya ma. Better mom go home with me.”

With a heavy heart, Eni followed Abe's will. He kissed the boy's forehead for a while before leaving. Sharif also chose to go home because his presence was not expected by the child.

“Who are you here with? Where's your husband?”

“Papa just ask himself where he is now. He would rather hang out with his party mates than visit his sister-in-law. How kindly a daughter-in-law papa.” choice

Sharif just cleared his throat to hear the insinuations of the child. This eldest daughter was indeed forced to marry one of his colleagues who are both involved in politics. Without the man realizing the princess was never happy with her chosen husband. This made Abe hate his father.

After Abe's family died, his three best friends came in. They need to know what really happened to this friend. As far as they are concerned, Abe is not the type of person who seeks trouble with others.

“Be.. What exactly happened?” ask Arnav.

“Pas home from work. I saw a girl being bullied by thugs. Yes I helped, and it turns out that the bullied was Sansan.”

“Which sansanya?”

“Rome.”

“She doesn't know that you got hurt because of her nolongin?”

“Gue told me to go home. Udahlah do not need to be discussed, the important thing is I have survived.”

“Says your wedding is off,” exclaims Nick.

“Hmm..he's the one that's off.”

“Ngga knows himself very well girl. Udah aided, even menggejelekkin elo to his parents the same family lo,” upset Fahrul.

“Lo know where?”

“Kak Ambar the story. You shouldn't have to help a girl. Let him be Vicky's prey. I swear I'm the same kid. Aja closed head, minimal behavior akhlak.”

“He said what he was, let me be a jerk,” Abe chuckled.

“So he feels better than you? He's a bego girl who can't be different where a good guy is a jerk. Just because you go to nightclubs, he's the same as Vicky. Very shallow of his mind. Fortunately, he did not marry her. Mending looking for other women who can accept you as you are.”

Abe only responded to Fahrul's lengthy remarks with rarity. Nick and Arnav choose silence even though they also feel the same frustration with Sansan's attitude.

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**Sorry a few days not up because of the busyness at RL.

Happy Eid Al Fitr, Minal aidin wal faidzin, Sorry born inward🙏**