237: PANICKING? ARIEL’S POV 1 frantically looked around the parking lot, my heart racing in fear. “Janice? Janice” I called out, hoping she would answer. But there was no sign of her. 1 ran up to a couple getting into their car, “Excuse me, have you seen a little girl around here? She was wearing a pink dress.” They shook their heads, “No, we haven’t. Sorry.” I felt a lump form in my throat. Where could she have gone? I turned to another person, an old man walking towards his car, “Excuse me, sir. Did you see a little girl around here?” He gave me a sympathetic look, “I’m sorry, I haven’t seen anyone like that.” “Okay, thank you,” I told him, and he nodded before walking away. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Where could my daughter have gone? I ran back to my car, my heart pounding in my chest. Why did Janice have to act like this now? It wasn’t nice, wasn’t cool, wasn’t fun either. She might be with Luke right now. Yes, she must probably be with him. But I didn’t think Luke would still be around. Even so, I decided to go check. I rushed to that location, and I spotted Luke about to enter his car. I didn’t waste any time running to him. “Luke! Have you seen Janice? Is she with you?” “No, she isn’t,” he replied. “But have you seen her?” He looked at me with concern, “No, I haven’t. What’s wrong? Is she missing?” “I can’t find her. She was right here, and then she disappeared.” I felt my voice break as I could feel myself about to burst into tears. “Okay, you mean she just vanished?” “Yes, she left, and I have no idea where she is right now.” “Why would you let her move like that?” “It’s not my fault, okay? I was searching for my keys which fell in my car.” “Okay, great. It’s not your fault. The whose fault is it?” “I can’t find my daughter here. I’m in no mood to joke right now.” Your sign–in rewat. Come to claim your free coins. C “Who said I was jok “Please, no jokes, alright?” Luke chuckled, “I’m not joking, I’m just trying to lighten the mood. Let’s think logically, where could she have gone?” I sighed, “I don’t know. Maybe she ran off to the ice cream truck.” “Oh no, not the ice cream truck!” Luke exclaimed, mockingly. “We better call the FBI, she must have been abducted by the ice cream man.” I rolled my eyes, “Very funny, Luke. This is not the time for jokes.” “You told me that already, and you think I’m cracking jokes right now?” “If you’re not cracking jokes, what are you doing, huh?” “It’s simple, I’m just trying to lighten your mood. You worry too much, Ariel.” “I worry too much? It’s my daughter we’re talking about here.” “Uhmm, you think I don’t know that?” “You know what? I don’t have time for this. I just need to focus on finding my daughter.” “Our daughter,” Luke told me and I glared at him slowly. “What? I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?” I let out a sigh, not giving a fuck about him. “Now, where could Janice be?” “Maybe she went back to the car?” He suggested. “Nah, she’s not there,” I replied, not glancing at him. “Why do you feel so?” “Don’t ask me that, okay? She’s not there!” “Take it easy, Ariel. No need to tell like that.” “What? I wasn’t even screaming.” “Oh, is that what you think?” “Luke, please. No more jokes.” “Do I look like I’m joking?” “Oh gosh,” I spoke underneath my breath. “For the love of God, do not ask me that.” “You remind me of someone right now,” he said. Who exactly?” I asked, giving him a curious look. “Oh, you’re that eager to know? I thought the only thing on your mind right now is finding your Oh sorry, our daughter. “Are you even thinking straight right now? Your daughter is nowhere to be four and you’re just here, talking nonsense. You’re not even concerned about “Don’t say that, Ariel. I am concerned about Janice. But you want to know why I’m not freaking out? It’s because I believe that my daughter is in safe hands. Nothing bad is v happen to her.” “I hope so,” I said lowly. “Okay, okay. Let’s think. Where would Janice go if she got lost?” Luke asked. “Knowing her, probably to the nearest candy store.” “Candy store? She loves candy that much?” “Oh you have no idea. She loves candy, books, chocolate and so many stuff. Oh she’s just so wonderful.” “And she loves me too.” He grinned. I gave him a face that made it seem like he was crazy. “Please don’t.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s go check the nearest candy store then.” “Right,” I said and we both began to make our way to the candy store. “Don’t worry, Ariel. We’ll ind her. And then you can ground her for giving you a heart attack,” Luke joked while we’re both walking along the road. “Grounding her won’t be enough. I’m thinking about sending her to military school,” I joked back. “There there, that’s the spirit!” “Oh my gosh.” I covered my mouth immediately. Luke laughed. “Come on now. You have to smile. Janice is okay, she’s in safe hands.” “How are you so sure about that?” “I’m just being optimistic, just the way I am in all of my business projects.” I shook my head, deciding not to say anything. We arrived at the candy shop, and we got in, but didn’t see Janice anywhere. 15 “Great, she’s not here.” Luke looked at me. “I thought you said she was at the candy store.” “Excuse me sir, that was not what I said.” “Oh yeah, I totally remember,” he responded, looking around. “Where could she be now?” “I genuinely have no idea. What if she’s been kidnapped?” I whispered, my voice trembling. ‘Come on, Ariel. Don’t jump into conclusions. You worry too much.” “She’s my daughter. I have every right to be worried about her.” “What about me? Isn’t she also my daughter? But do you see me being worried or saying negative things?” “Oh gosh, this girl is going to give me a heart attack,” I uttered lowly. “Follow me to my car. Luke left the store. I turned around and my eyes caught the cashier. She was just staring at me. “Can I help you?” She asked, chewing a gum. “No,” I replied, faking a smile. I left the store forthwith. I spotted Luke a little bit far from me. How was he that fast? “Hey, hold on! Wait for me!” I managed to reach him, he did slow down, but he didn’t stop walking. The both of us advanced towards his car and he opened the door for me. I looked at him in surprise. “Oh….thank you.” I entered and then he shut the door before bursting in as well. We both put on our seatbelts. “You want to know something, Ariel?” “What?” He let out a sigh. “Nevermind.” I gave him a ridiculous look and then he started the car. He drove slowly, as the both of us were looking through the windows. Going further, I saw some people gathered along the road, not too far from us. “What’s that?” My eyes were still fixed on the crowd. And my words caused Luke 238: DON’T DO THAT LUKE’S POV With my hands fixed on the steering wheel, I had my eyes on the people around. I was really curious to know why there was a crowd around there. I knew we shouldn’t be distracted in our search for Janice, but my mind was telling me to go and check out what was happening around there. “What do you think is going on out there?” I asked Ariel who was as curious as I was. “I don’t know,” she answered. “Don’t you think we should go check it out?” I suggested, although that was the feat going on in my mind. It was something I was going to follow through with anyway. Ariel’s opinion didn’t matter in this one. “We have to find Janice. We can’t waste any more time.” I laughed softly. “I knew you were going to say that. Don’t worry, okay? We will find Janice.” She took her eyes off me, setting them back on the road. “Right after I’m done checking that out,” I added and drove in that direction, where the people were. I got out of my car and these folks were close to a three–story building, which stood tall and proud, its brick facade shining in the warm sunlight. It was at striking sight, with its height reaching up to about to sixty feet, I’d say. It was extremely tell and on top of that building was a familiar face. A person that I would hate and love at the same time. It was my mother. She stood at the edge of the building, looking ready to end her life. People were pleading with her to come down, but it was like everywhere was mute to her. No one’s words were going through her ears. “Ariel stood close to me, not taking her eyes off the scene as well. “Luke, isn’t that…” “My mother? Yeah, I know,” I cut her off. “Is she trying to kill herself?” “That’s what we’re seeing right now.” “I think you should go and stop her,” Ariel suggested. I glanced at her immediately. “What’s with that face, huh? She’s your mother.”
