THE FOLLOWING MORNING, the sky is dull and dark as the rain poured down the city. Near the cemetery, a man wearing black clothes with an umbrella walked up to a grave and looked at it with grieving eyes. He sighed heavily as he tried not to let his tears fall once more for how many times today and the other days. He clenched his hand that was holding the bouquet of flowers before looking away, having a hard time controlling his emotion.
He deeply sighed before looking at the grave again and bending down to put the flowers down. He closed his eyes as his heart tightened. (Forgive me. It was all my fault why... why she ended up like this.) He clenched his jaw as he looked at the tombstone of Fatima’s father.
After spending thirty minutes talking to the grave, he went back to his car and wiped the rain that dropped on his shoulders. He rubbed his eyes with one hand before looking at the mirror inside his car. His former mesmerizing eyes look tired, with bags under them. His skin looks dead and his soul is almost dead as well.
He looked at the steering wheel and felt the nervousness enter his system. He turned on the engine before cautiously holding the steering wheel. He looked between the left side mirror and right side mirror before driving away from the cemetery. He looked at the road and when he thought the memories of his accidents are long forgotten in his memory, they came running back to him like a sick nightmare.
[Flashback Starts]
After Athena left their house and broke up with him, he spent his time drinking in a bar. He can’t count how many times he’s drunk alcohol since it’s too many to count. He called the bartender for more drinks and the person hesitantly gave him more. He looks so fucked up.
A couple of minutes later, his friend, Grian, arrived at the bar to talk to him. He hit the back of Christopher’s head before sitting down. “What the fuck happened?” he asked while he grabbed the alcohol away from Chris’ hand. He sighed heavily as Chris looked at him with annoyance.
“Give it.. back!” Christopher complained but he slid the glass to the end of the counter. “Fuck you,” Chris said before closing his eyes and laying his head down on the counter before sighing. Grian rolled his eyes before turning to the bartender.
“How long has he been here?” he asked and the bartender shrugged.
“A while,” he answered. Grian sighed heavily, not knowing what to do with his drunk friend.
“Tell me what’s wrong. I saw Fatima earlier running down the road as it rained-“ Grian’s words got cut off.
“She broke up with me,” Christopher mumbled and looked at his friend while his eyes blinked slowly. Grian looked at him in disbelief and he blinked a couple of times. “B-broke up? What?” he tried processing the situation.
“I know,” Chris said before putting his head back on the counter.
“Why? It doesn’t make sense why she would do that,” Grian said, knowing Fatima deeply loves Christopher. Even though he likes Fatima, he knows she loves his friend.
“My mother,” he said and Grian’s lips parted before nodding.
“What happened?” Grian asked as he stared at Christopher.
“Shit happened, that’s what happened!” Christopher shouted in anger.
“She told her she looks like a slut! And many more...” he whispered, falling asleep from the alcohol. He slammed his hand on the table and he felt like vomiting.
“I love her, man!” he said as the first tears from his eyes fell.
“I want to fix things,” he said as he cried, thinking about his girlfriend- rather, ex-girlfriend.
“Chris..” he murmured and patted his back. Chris cried harder as he held an empty bottle of beer. Grian looked at his friend in pity.
“Come on, I’ll drive you home,” Grian offered like a good friend and helped Christopher get up from his seat since he looked so drunk, he could barely function normally.
“I need.. to use the bathroom first,” Christopher said and pushed Grian away before heading to the bathroom.
Grian waited for him for a good fifteen minutes before he decided to check the bathroom and found him nowhere. He ran outside the bar and noticed Christopher’s car was gone. “Shit,” he whispered under his breath before going inside his car to find his friend that’s drunk driving.
CHRISTOPHER WAS DRIVING for seven minutes and the weather was bad. He was so tired and being drunk made him even more fucked up. His phone started ringing and it’s from Grian. He ignored the call and continued driving.
His body couldn’t take how much alcohol he consumed and he slowly passed out while driving. Upon reaching the intersection, cops saw him sleeping while his car was speeding fast. They started tracking him down.
It was too late, his car hit another car wherein Fatima and her father was in. Their car flipped over as Christopher’s car hit something. Christopher stayed unconscious as Fatima was shouting to save her father.
A WEEK AFTER THE accident, Christopher’s mother pulled strings to hide the accident. Police were paid and so were witnesses. Any evidence was disposed of. Christopher escaped maybe a lifetime in prison.
He woke up in the hospital with no one by his side. He looked around the room and the only person that came to mind was Fatima. He tried sitting up but his body felt sore and painful. A nurse came in and saw him awake. She called a doctor and his mother.
“Where’s Fatima?” No one answered.
The doctor checked him and his mother approached him. “What h-happened?” he asked with a rough voice, not clearly remembering what happened to him.
“Where’s Fatima?” he asked once more but to no avail.
His mother slapped his face and both the nurse and doctor were shocked. He turned to his mother and yelled, “Mom!” He looked at her with confusion and a little bit of anger.
“You got in an accident a week ago, you idiot!” He couldn’t determine if his mother was just angry or also concerned. Either way, he has no idea what she was talking about. She explained the details of the accident but left out the part where he got in an accident with Fatima and her father. “I also flew you to Canada,” she said and his eyes widened.
IN A HOSPITAL in New York, there lies Fatima's body who’s slowly healing. She is still unconscious and her mother is taking care of everything. Philippe was also there, sitting next to her bed. “The boy’s mother paid me a huge amount of money to keep quiet,” she said to the person on the phone.
“I’m glad he’s dead,” she whispered with a smirk but Philippe heard her and his eyebrows furrowed.
She heard shouting outside her daughter’s hospital room and she went outside to check for the commotion. She came face to face with a tall man that’s roughly the same age as her daughter. “You have to let me in!” he argued with the guards guarding her daughter’s room.
“Who are you?” Her mother raised an eyebrow.
“I’m Grian, I heard what happened to Fatima. I’m her close friend,” he introduced himself and her mother squinted her eyes as she eyed him up and down.
“We’re not accepting visitors.” She coldly turned around and entered the room as Grian tried to go past the guards blocking him from entering. “Please! I need to know if she’s alright, I’m begging you-“ He was pushed to the ground. He frustratedly grabbed his hair, worried about his friend. He held his forehead, thinking of the worst-case scenarios.
Little did he know, that’ll be the last time he’ll ever hear from her again since she was moved further from the city because it was the order of Christopher’s mother.
A MONTH AFTER Fatima was nowhere to be found, Grian’s frustration grew as he tried looking for her everywhere and even set up flyers to find her. He’s unsure if she’s dead or alive and it’s slowly killing him inside. “Fuck!” He punched a wall and cried. He loves her, as a friend and a woman. He can’t believe she’s gone.
His closest friend, Christopher, moved to Canada to continue his studies there. It was abrupt and it left Grian alone. His mother wants her son to lay low so they stay in Canada for a while, not even Grian knows that he got in an accident. He just knows he’s there to continue his studies. Both his closest friends suddenly vanished at the same time, leaving him confused.
“Please, Fatima.. be safe,” he whispered to himself as he tried his best not to let his emotions get to him even if it’s hard. “Please let me see you again…” he mumbled, wishing to see her, as he passed out.
[Flashback End]
GRIAN LEFT THE OFFICE when Christopher arrived. He told Grian to check on the coffee shop while he works in the company. He noticed that Chris was acting strange and not himself. He tried confronting his friend but to no avail. Christopher just won't open up to what’s going on with him, even to his closest friend. Since he was being stubborn, Grian decided to ask him another time.
While he was walking to his car, he bumped into Hannah who was about to enter the building. Hannah’s face lit up as she clung to him. He removed her grasp and pushed her away. “Hey, Grian. Where’s your boss?” she asked in an excited tone and he furrowed his eyebrows.
“You mean Chris? He’s in his office,” he answered and sighed.
She smiled and twinkled her eyes before walking inside the building like a model as she maneuvered her way to the elevator. She clicked the floor where Christopher is in. She cleared her throat and smiled to herself to get ready in facing him.
Once she was sent to the top, she walked past some employees that stared at her once she walked by, knowing they shouldn’t mess with her. The last time an employee messed something up, the employee got fired. Being the CEO’s fiancé gave her the power to belittle others even if she shouldn’t do so.
She arrived at his door and opened it without knocking. “Not now, Hannah,” he said as soon as she opened the door. She laughed before walking inside the room and approaching his desk. Christopher is busy typing on his laptop while paperwork surrounds the desk. “Did your employees tattle-tale on me, huh?” she joked and he sighed, not having it.
“So... how are you? Haven’t seen you for a while ever since that Fatima gi-“ She got cut off.
“Leave me alone, Hannah. I’m working,” he explained calmly, trying to distract his mind by the use of occupying himself with work. Instead of listening, she walked further and sat down on his desk.
“I don’t get it, what’s so special about her?” she asked before sighing and grabbing some of his paperwork. “I even did research about her, turns out she doesn’t have any parents. Well, she has her mom but she’s a dru-“ She got cut off again.
“Hannah,” he warned her as he tried to compose himself.
“She’s poor, ugly, and doesn’t have a father either! Can you believe it? Her father died in an accident caused by a dru-“ Christopher stood up from his seat and pushed his laptop off the table, including the paperwork that was there.
“Get out.” He clenched his jaw and she blinked a couple of times.
“Chris..” she said and tried holding him but he looked at her dead in the eyes.
“Get out, Hannah!” He grew more furious, making her a tidbit scared. She stood up from sitting on the table and looked at him before turning around. His eyes looked furious yet grieving for something.. or someone? She has no idea what.
AT THE COFFEE SHOP, Fatima was serving the table of the same people from yesterday but there’s only two of them this time. They still have a hard time remembering who she was so they decided to make another visit to take a look at her. Their visit this time isn’t about Christopher, it’s about Fatima.
“Something about her makes me a little.. frustrated,” one of them said as they watched her work.
A couple of seconds later, Grian entered the shop and smiled happily the moment he saw Fatima. He raised and waved his right hand as he walked to the counter. “Hey, Fatima!” he greeted and her eyes widened and she looked up and saw Grian. The girl that was eyeing her came to a realization.
“Fatima..?” The girl in the red dress asked.
“The girl from college!” The one in yellow exclaimed a little too loudly and Fatima and Grian looked at them. (Shit..) Fatima thought to herself.
“Tiffany and.. Coleen?” Grian asked as he examined their faces and the two smiled. The girl in red waved at him and raised her eyebrows. “Fancy seeing you here,” Tiffany said a little teasingly and Fatima looked at her with her eyes squinted.
“You’re Fatima from college, right? How come you ended up like.. this?” She asks as if she’s only concerned and curious instead of being judgmental of her but in reality, she wants to make fun of her but Grian is standing next to her.
“Uhm.. hi?” Fatima greeted awkwardly and Coleen, the one in yellow, raised an eyebrow.
“Too broke to afford a real job?” she asked and Tiffany immediately covered her friend’s mouth and laughed awkwardly. “Silly her, how have you been, hmm?” Tiffany asked Fatima who turned to Grian before looking at her again.
“Good,” she answered and Tiffany nodded before letting go of her friend who seems a bit confused as to why she’s being nice.
“Are you friends with Grian again?” Tiffany asked with a fake smile and she nodded as her answer. Grian looked at Fatima and raised an eyebrow before asking, “We’re just friends?” Fatima hit him on the arm and Tiffany laughed.
“I see, you still like her, huh?” Tiffany asked and her voice sounded pissed.
“You’re his ex, why would you ask that?” Coleen asked Tiffany and she looked at Coleen with daggers for eyes. Fatima raised her eyebrows and her lips parted before looking curiously at Grian who’s shaking his head. “Ah, uh, we dated for a couple of months 4 years after you uh.. left,” Grian informed Fatima and she eyed him up and down before looking at Tiffany again.
“It’s nice seeing both of you again,” Tiffany said with a smile. (I would’ve preferred if both of you weren't together.)
“We’ll get going now,” Tiffany said even if she hasn’t even eaten her food before standing up and holding Coleen’s arm, and dragging her outside of the coffee shop. Fatima and Grian looked at the door as the two left.
“Ex, huh?” Fatima asked teasingly and he scratched his head.
GRIAN HELPED HER with cooking, preparing, and serving customers till the night came. As they were about to close the coffee shop, he noticed stains on her clothes. He went to his car and grabbed a spare polo shirt before going back inside and handing it to her. “Huh?” He pointed at the stains on her clothes and her lips parted.
“Ah, it’s fine-“
“Go change, okay?” Grian insisted and she sighed before taking the clothes and going to the back to change. She’s a bit worried about Tiffany and Coleen as they didn’t like her much back in college since Grian liked her but Tiffany liked Grian. It was a bit chaotic back then.
After she changed her top, she went to the front and saw Grian outside, getting ready to close the shop. She went outside and he smiled as he looked at her clothes. “Looks good on you,” he complimented and she rolled her eyes.
“It’s big on me, what do you mean?” He laughed before he closed the coffee shop. Both he and Fatima went to his car so he drove her home. He started the car before saying, “You should have a phone,” he said.
“Just so I can call and text you,” he said with a grin and she scoffed. He laughed lightly before putting on his seatbelt and driving the car. When they arrived at her house, they both went outside to bid goodbye.
The landlady approached the two with worry in her eyes. “Philippe hasn’t come home,” she uttered and the two looked at each other in confusion. Fatima knows he always goes home after school, and if he is late, he’ll tell her before he goes. “Is Timothy with you?” Fatima asked and the landlady nodded.
Her heart started beating faster as she breathed heavily. “Maybe he’s with Nikki?” Grian wondered and Fatima looked at him with hope. He pulled out his phone and called Nikki. After a couple of seconds, she answered the call. “Is Phil with you?” He asked and Nikki answered no.
“I thought he was already home earlier?” she asked in confusion. Grian looked at Fatima in worry before he cleared his throat and ended the call. “He’s not with her,” he answered slowly and Fatima almost collapsed but Grian caught her.
A car pulled up behind Grian’s car and Christopher got out of the car and approached her. He took a deep breath before saying, “Fatima, about the accident six years ago..”
“What?” She turned around and looked at him.
“Why are you here?” she asked as her eyebrows furrowed.
“The accident six years ago-“ she frustratedly groaned before turning to Grian, ignoring Christopher. She doesn’t want to hear whatever he’s about to say since her brother is literally missing. They have no idea where he is.
“I don’t know where he’ll go at this hour,” she said in a panic and Grian sighed before calling someone on the phone again. “Can you figure out where this person named Philippe Mendez is? He’s wearing a school uniform and was last seen by his school after classes ended,” he explained and after a few more explaining, he ended the call.
“What’s.. happening?” Christopher asked in confusion.
“My brother is missing, fucking hell!” she shouted before frustratingly walking to her house to check on her brother, Timothy. She looked around the house and saw him sleeping in the bed. Christopher followed behind her while Grian talked with the landlady outside.
“Fatima, listen-“
“Shut it, okay? I don’t want to hear anything from you if it’s not about Philippe,” she said, frustrated. Her mind is going to the worst-case scenarios that can happen to her brother.
“Oh god, my mother might’ve taken him!” She sat down on a chair and covered her face with her hand as she wiped tears of frustration from her face. Grian walked to her and kneeled down as he held her back. “Shhs, Fatima. We’ll figure things out, okay?” he said, reassuring her.