THE BATTLE OF LOVE AND DESTINY

CHAPTER EIGHT - GRADUATION WITHOUT GOODBYE

"Kate, wait inside," he said firmly. He barely said it when two masked men jumped out of the vehicle. David, in a bid to protect her, had quickly shut the metal door to prevent the men from gaining access to her. In the process, one of the men slashed him on his arm with a sharp object. He groaned as blood spilled from his forearm.

Upon seeing this, Kate screamed loudly, and this prompted the security guards around to flee to the scene. However, before their arrival, the men fled off. Davies was rushed to the hospital that night and Kate stood by him throughout. Although he was groaning in pain, he refused to let go of Kate's hands. He whispered into her ear and passed a message to her that someone was giving them a warning by scaring them.

Kate saw the deepness of the wound and perceived that their bond was a threat to some people, even as love had made them stronger. The Doctor administered painkillers to Davies, and he eventually slept off.

Kate started sobbing beside him, blaming herself for not listening when she sensed danger. She started brainstorming who could have sent the men, but couldn't suspect anyone.

At one time, she was thinking it could be Rita or probably one of her father's enemies who could want to pass on aggression to her. She eventually made a resolution that nobody could separate her from Davies, and anyone working towards it would definitely make a fruitless effort.

Kate was with Davies throughout his admission in the hospital. She was responsible for the bills, food , drugs and all expenses. Davies was discharged after a week and he returned to the hostel.

Kate and Davies have become the talk of the campus as they are usually seen flocking together everywhere. The final examination is just a few weeks ahead. Davies thanked Kate for the assistance rendered to him and promised Kate that he would unfold his plans about their future to her after the exams. Kate was so happy to hear this and kept hope alive.

Davies went about his routines on campus, unaware that dangers lurk ahead after surviving the last manhunt. He focused on his future and upholding the promise he made to his parents to graduate with good grades.

This time, Thompson launched an attack, a day to Davies’s final examination, which he could hardly survive. The attack came without warning. He was returning from Kate’s residence outside the campus, where he had gone to prepare her for the final examination, which kicked off the next day. Thompson had hired two men who were at his trail.

As the cab he took from Kate's house dropped him in front of the campus, two fierce-looking men overpowered and attacked him immediately. They gave him sharp blows on his face and chest. He was blindfolded, brutally assaulted, and forced into a waiting van. His fate became uncertain as the van sped off to an unknown destination.

He was dumped at a bush in the remote part of a nearby city, barely conscious. He ran for his dear life even as he abandoned the campus and left behind all his belongings. He escaped and flew the city for safety without informing Kate.

Within a short time, the news of the attack spread across the campus and its environs, and the police were seen patrolling the University's perimeter.

When Thompson realized how brutal the incident was and how Davies was left battered and barely alive, he was greatly panicked. Fearing exposure and the police's investigation, he vanished into Shanghai's maze, missing his final examinations.

Kate received the news with a shock. She knew that Davies had not fully recovered from the initial attack before being attacked again. She suspected Thompson, who had initially threatened her of betraying him. The whole campus was filled with stories and an investigation into the incident. Kate wept profusely and was unable to be consoled.

At the examination hall, Davies was conspicuously absent and his seat was vacant. Kate was devastated and depressed, but she managed to write the examinations. At the end of the first paper, she went to his hostel room but couldn't find him. She searched the whole campus but all in vain. His mobile line was switched off, and every attempt to locate him failed. He left behind all his belongings, and his whereabouts after the attack had become a mystery.

Kate completed her examinations with heartbreak and fear as she mourned Davies’s absence. She graduated with improved grades, but sadness overshadowed her joy. Nobody knew Davies’s whereabouts.

The graduation was a bittersweet ceremony for her because the absence of Davies left her with mixed feelings. The event saw parents waving from the crowd, students screening in celebration, and laughter filling the air. Alexander was also present to share in the joy of the occasion.

At the height of the celebration, Kate stood still as she was adorned in her flowing graduation gown with her certificate held tightly in her hand. She turned away from the camera lights and the congratulatory hugs because her heart was not in it. This caught the attention of Alexander, who asked her what the matter was. "Today should be your best and happiest day, Kate, but you looked indifferent, lukewarm, and tense, what's the matter?"

"Nothing. I'm okay Dad," Kate replied with a forceful smile. She forced herself to be happy, but her countenance betrayed her. She said in her mind, "I can't believe that Davies had vanished a few weeks ago without a letter, word, or even saying goodbye." She would have loved to thank him not just for recovery but for showing her who she could become and lifting her up from the verge of academic collapse.

Rumors of his absence flew among every graduand. To some, he dropped out. Others believed he was expelled, while some believed he was dealt with by some powerful forces who wanted to take revenge for his relationship with Kate. To Kate, he left her when she needed him most.

Kate's name was announced from the podium. She walked across the stage without enthusiasm, and the applause she received felt like noise in her ears. In fact, the whole moment was a waste of time to her because Davies wasn't in attendance. The graduation ceremony eventually ended.

Will this be the end of their relationship? Will she ever meet Davies again? Will she just discard the whole incident and move on? To what extent will this incident affect her psychological well-being? These and many questions keep coming to her mind, even as she reluctantly waved final goodbye to her colleagues and departed the University. Alexander led her to the car surrounded by escorts, and she returned to her family estate.

Back at the mansion, Kate sat alone by her bedroom window, still in her graduation gown and reflecting on the graduation ceremony. The laughter from the celebration echoed faintly in her mind, but her heart was heavy. Her thoughts were trapped on one name, Davies. She closed her eyes and whispered, “If you’re still alive, please, give me a sign.”