The Disguised Protector

It was a scene right out of a Greek tragedy: Jackson and Madison, locked in a tense tête-à-tête, their once-jovial demeanor replaced with a cold fury. Despite the raucous revelry of the cafe around them, they were anything but amused. Herman, their hapless compatriot, had once again proven himself to be the thorn in their side. A self-described nerd, Herman's style was a cross between "military school" and "library assistant". He wore his hair slicked down with a dollop of gel, and his glasses were as thick as the bottom of a Coca-Cola bottle. But he wasn't without his charms; despite his quirky appearance, Herman had a heart of gold and a willingness to help others. Unfortunately for Jackson and Madison, his eagerness often led to disaster.

"Can you even believe it?" Jackson fumed, his frustration palpable.

Madison, equally incensed, nodded vigorously. "He completely ruined our plan."

"Oh, he should’ve just taken the hike by himself," Jackson griped, his frustration boiling over.

Madison nodded, his lips curling in a sly smile. "Let's just keep our next adventure on the DL. Oscar's in, though!"

Thankfully, fate intervened in the form of a new friend. It was a stroke of luck that they'd met Oscar, really. Both Jackson and Madison were keen runners, and they'd stumbled upon him at a marathon. He was a local news reporter and something of a local celebrity, with a sharp wit and a keen eye for detail. He was worlds away from Herman, who seemed to exist solely to ruin their fun.

Herman, the ultimate buzzkill, had dashed Jackson and Madison's plans for fun not once, not twice, but three times. The first offense occurred on a beach day, when the trio had planned to hit the sand and soak up some rays. They'd agreed on a quick route and a paid parking spot, eager to make the most of their time. But when Herman got wind of their scheme, he had other ideas. Suddenly, the group found themselves meandering down a winding road, with Herman promising a "breathtaking" view. As it turned out, the only thing breathtaking about the view was the stench of the nearby landfill. And the gratis parking spot Herman suggested was packed with screaming children and litter. Suffice it to say, their beach day was a total bust.

"Unbelievable," Jackson muttered, still fuming at the memory.

Madison nodded in agreement, the frustration etched on his face. "I mean, who does that?"

The answer, it seemed, was Herman. 

The second strike was a real doozy: Jackson and Madison had been looking forward to seeing their favorite band, The Search, in concert for weeks. They'd envisioned themselves dancing and singing along to every song, letting loose and forgetting all their troubles. But when Herman learned about their plan, he had other ideas. Suddenly, they found themselves with three tickets to a stuffy philharmonic orchestra, the kind where the crowd only claps between movements and the sound of violins and cellos lulls you into a stupor.

"Ugh, I can still hear it," Jackson groaned, rubbing his temples.

Madison nodded in agreement. "And what was with that one guy who kept coughing? It was like he was trying to ruin it even more."

They'd tried to make the best of it, they really had. But the more they tried to enjoy the music, the more stressed out they became. And as they watched Herman nodding along contentedly, they couldn't help but feel a little resentful.

"I mean, we should have just gone to see The Search," Jackson muttered, his regret evident.

The third and final strike had come when Jackson and Madison had decided to hit the trails at Botak Hill. As avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, they knew that Botak Hill was the perfect spot to test their limits and soak up some natural beauty. They could practically feel the adrenaline coursing through their veins as they imagined themselves conquering the steep inclines and taking in the panoramic views from the summit. But when their plan came to Herman’s attention, he had other ideas.

"You guys should try Kopungit Hill," he'd suggested, his voice dripping with false enthusiasm.

Jackson and Madison, still reeling from their previous disappointments, had foolishly agreed. And boy, were they sorry.

"It was like hiking a speed bump," Jackson groaned, his disappointment tangible.

Madison nodded in agreement. "And the view was just...meh."

Gone were the lush greens and sweeping vistas they'd been dreaming of. Instead, they were treated to a lackluster panorama of generic office buildings and parking lots. It was as if they'd hiked to the top of their own office building--not exactly the escape they'd been hoping for.

"We should have known better," Jackson muttered, his frustration mounting.

As the clock kept ticking, the two men began to sit in silence, nursing their cups of coffee and scrolling through their phones like zombies. But just as the boredom was about to overtake them, a voice rang out. "Hey, guys! Sorry for keeping you waiting!" In walked Oscar, their new cool friend, sporting a grin that could light up the whole cafe.

Jackson and Madison practically leaped out of their seats to welcome him, gesturing for him to sit down and calling over the waiter to take his order.

"Sorry about that," Oscar said once his drink arrived. "I was busy covering a news story at Tanjung Lipat. There was a gnarly car crash--did you guys hear about it?"

Madison gasped. "Oh my God, I saw that on Facebook. Everyone died, right?"

Oscar nodded solemnly. "Yeah, it's definitely the worst part of my job. Having to report on tragedy like it's just another day at the office."

Jackson and Madison listened intently as Oscar regaled them with stories of crime scenes, fires, and other disasters he'd covered. It was all pretty traumatizing stuff, but they couldn't help but be impressed by his quick wit and razor-sharp memory.

"You remember all that?" Madison marveled.

Oscar grinned. "Yep, down to the dates."

Not wanting to be left out of the boasting game, Jackson chimed in with a self-deprecating laugh. "Oh, I remember all the dates too--but only the ones when Herman ruined our plans."

Madison chuckled along, grateful for the chance to escape the mundanity of their everyday lives--at least for a little while.

Oscar cocked his head, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, spill it. What's this whole Herman thing about?"

Jackson and Madison couldn't contain themselves, their laughter spilling out like soda from a shaken can. As they recounted all the disastrous activities Herman had foiled--the beach trip, the snooze-fest of an orchestra, the pathetic excuse for a hike--they didn't even care that their mirth was turning heads. It felt good to vent to someone else who got it, to let out their frustrations and laugh until their sides ached. Oscar just listened, his eyes growing wider with each date they spouted off.

"So July 3rd, August 5th, and September 9th?" he asked, seeking confirmation.

"Yep, you got it!" Jackson crowed, high-fiving Madison.

And just like that, they had a new ally in their war against Herman. "Look, we're planning on going fishing at Melangkap River next, but we can't have Herman finding out," Madison said, shooting Oscar a sly grin. "Want to come with us instead?"

But Oscar seemed distracted, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hang on," he said. "I feel like those dates mean something to me..."

Madison leaned in. "What's up?"

Oscar hesitated. "I don't want to sound crazy, but...I think I might have reported on those incidents."

Jackson's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Do tell, Oscar. Was there anything significant that happened on those dates?"

Oscar's fingers flew over his phone's screen as he searched for the information they were all dying to hear. Jackson and Madison leaned in, entranced by the spectacle of the sunset--the sky blazing with hues of red and orange, birds swooping back to their nests, the sun resembling a giant yolk. It was the kind of view that would normally leave them speechless, but not today. No, today they were all in on whatever Oscar was about to drop on them. The anticipation was killing them. 

Suddenly, he let out a gasp. "Guys, you're not going to believe this."

Jackson and Madison were practically bouncing in their seats with anticipation. Oscar's silence was deafening, the clanging of dishes and chatter of the cafe patrons seeming to grow louder with each passing second.

"What? What is it?" Madison practically shouted.

Oscar finally looked up, his eyes soft with compassion. "On July 3rd," he began slowly, "there was a murder case at Lot 19. A whole family was killed by a serial killer who happened to be in the area."

Jackson's jaw dropped. "Lot 19? That's where we were planning on having our picnic!"

Madison's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my goodness," he breathed. "We could have been there."

Oscar didn't miss a beat. "And on August 5th, there was a heavy downpour that flooded the auditorium where The Search was playing. I remember it well, because I was the one who broke the story."

Jackson grimaced. "Yikes. That would have been a total washout if we had gone."

Madison nodded in agreement. "Thank goodness we were at the chancellor hall at UMS for the orchestra."

Oscar's eyes lit up. "And you won't believe what happened on September 9th!" His two new friends leaned in, rapt with attention. "There was a landslide at Botak Hill."

Jackson and Madison shared a look, their minds racing as they processed all the new information they'd just been given.

"So, let me get this straight," Oscar said, his grin widening. "That nerdy guy you've been gossiping about--he's actually saved your lives multiple times!"

Jackson and Madison hung their heads, chastised. All this time, they had been complaining about Herman and his supposed "ruining" of their plans, when in reality, he had been inadvertently steering them away from danger.

Madison hung his head in shame. "I feel terrible," he admitted.

Oscar's face softened with compassion. "Why don't you give him a call and make it right?"

Jackson was quick to agree, pulling out his phone and dialing Herman's number. He put the call on speakerphone, so that both Madison and Oscar could listen in.

Herman answered, his voice laced with excitement. "Hey buddy!"

"Hey man," Jackson replied. "Are you free on September 25th?"

Herman confirmed that he was, and Jackson extended an invitation for Herman to join them on their fishing trip at Melangkap River.

Herman hesitated for a moment before offering a counter-suggestion. "Actually, I have a better idea," he said. "Why don't we go to the Nelayan Jetty instead?"

Jackson and Madison exchanged a look, then agreed in unison. Oscar beamed with excitement, even greeting Madison over the phone.

"You're our angel, Herman!" Jackson exclaimed gratefully.

Madison agreed. "Indeed!"

Herman was clearly confused, but the trio knew what they meant. Oscar grinned and suggested they head home.