Chapter 3

My eyes were still folded as I heard some noise that surrounded me. I felt a soft cotton blanket that touches all over my body, a cold bleezing air touching my skin and a trembling hand touches mine. I opened my eyes and start scanning. I saw a white curtain along with the wind blow, white chairs, and white bedsheets. 

Am I dead?

"Sweety!" A happy scream I heard.

It's Mom.

"M-mom, why am I here?" I ask, as soon as I found out that I am in the hospital.

"Hilary's father found you lying on the floor. As soon they realize that you were unconscious they start calling the ambulance. Then they contacted me after they bring you here. Are you okay, sweety?" I can see in her face, how concerned she is. Damn, I'm so lucky to have my mom. 

"I'm fine, mom. Thank you." as we talk a little more about what happened the doctor came inside my room. 

"You're daughter is fine, Ma'am. Maybe she's just shocked or tired that's why she lost her conscious but you can go now. Just take some rest." the doctor said. 

"Thank you, doc" as the doc smiles and left.

---

"Sweetie, do you want a rib-eye steak or a pork barbecue?" my mom shouted from the kitchen.

"I'll have the pork barbecue, mom. Thank you!" I shouted out.

'Hilary is missing'

'Hilary is missing'

'Hilary is missing'

The line keeps repeating on inside my head. I feel anxious, worried, and confuse. "Where is she?" a whispered sentence escape my mouth.

There's a lot of possibilities why she's still not home. Come on Celestia, you can't declare someone missing if they're not lost for 24 hours. Maybe she's on a solo vacation and didn't ask her parents for permission.

Or maybe someone kidnapped her, ask for ransom because they know that her family is rich and known.

"No Celestia! Stop thinking about a negative thing!" I said inside my mind and hit my head multiple times.

"Sweetie! Your barbeque is ready!" 

She goes out in the kitchen holding a plate with the dish. I close my eyes as I smell the melted butter, the smell of rosemary, and a burnt pork barbeque. She now put it down in front of me. The plating and the little bits of sprinkled parsley made it more appetizing. She then grabs vinegar with chili and a reddish creamy barbeque sauce.

I then grab a fork and knife, start slicing a small piece of the meat, and took it with a fork. The pinkish color shows how it is not raw and well-done. The juicy moist of the combination of melted butter and juice comes from the fats of the barbeque. I take a bite and enjoy the savory meat inside my mouth. It's a slice of tender and delicious meat, and the savory-sweet marinated pork gives a flavor to the barbeque. The burnt part makes it more delicate.

I slice a piece of meat and dip it in the creamy barbeque sauce. I scooped a great amount of sauce and put it in my mouth. This sauce is God-made! It is so delicious and flavorful!

"This is delicious, mom! You're the best cook ever!" She just smiles and eats with me.

The next morning, everyone is talking about Hilary.

"Who would do that to her?"

"Maybe some stalker, you know how perfect that girl is."

"Celestia!" I turn my gaze to one of my classmates named Darrel.

"Hilary is indeed missing?" he asked with a worried face.

"Y-yes."

"Dang! Whoever kidnapped her should die!" he's Hilary's groupmate in Science. I mean who can't resist Hilary's charm? She's so friendly.

"Class! Be seated!"

Our teacher starts discussing our topic which is "Snake as Eve herself."

"We all know that the snake tempted Eve to eat the fruit but what if the snake itself is Eve? Eve's curiosity about the tree of knowledge and why they can eat everything except that fruit. The snake might not be physical or literal but the curiosity tempts her to disobey the rule."

After she discusses it, she pulled test paper from her bag. "This is the result of your exam, kindly walk forward when I call your name and when the owner is absent, his or her friend will get it.

"Celestia Amber." I took my test paper and look at my score. I get thirty-eight out of fifty, I passed! She also handed Hilary's test paper.

We're next to each other in alphabetical order, my surname is Amber while her is Brooklyn. It is the reason why we start talking because she's my seatmate.

I look at her test paper and finds out she got a perfect score. She is intelligent and I'm just an average boring girl.

The school ended and I got home riding a bus. My car still doesn't work that's why I left it in the school garage.

"Mom! I'm home!" I shouted while removing my school doll shoes.

"Sweetie! How's school?" My mom comes out in the kitchen wearing a yellow duster, red apron, and lace turban making her look like an anime mom. My mom is so cute and caring, I love her.

"As always, boring." I come closer to kiss her on the cheek.

"Hilary?"

"No sign, no shadow, I miss her mom." I pouted. She opened the television for me and goes back to the kitchen. I can smell the aroma of Sinigang, my favorite!

"Breaking news! Brooklyn's Shoe Collection owner Helene Brooklyn, report about her daughter missing." I turn my gaze on the television and Hilary's mom is on T.V.

"If you see my daughter please inform us! We are willing to give a reward! I just really want to see my daughter!" she said while crying in front of the camera.

Hilary and I are best friends for like two to three but she never tells stores about her parents or family. Maybe she wants it to keep private and I respect that. It is understandable to cry when you're daughter is missing like you don't know if they are still alive or what.

"If ever someone kidnapped Hilary, what is his or her motive?" I asked myself.

It could be money, in telenovelas, kidnappers ask for ransom. Hilary is the only offspring of Helene Brooklyn, the owner of one of the famous and biggest shoes company.

"Honey! Food is ready!" mom shouted while carrying a pot.

I then sat at the dinner table and look at the food in front of me. My eyes sparkle as I see the 'Sinigang na Hipon'.

Sinigang na Hipon is a Filipino dish, a sour dish and shrimp is the meat used to it. I grab my spoon and scooped a great amount of its soup. I start slurping it and omg! This is so sour which makes it more delicious!

The tomato, green beans, spinach, and the powerful flavor of tamarind! I then grab the shrimp and remove its coating. As I finished removing its coating I bite it. The soft meat of it is unbeatable! This is so delicious!

"Finish your food honey, I will just wash the dishes." my mom says.

I am in my room now, preparing each school supply and book I need to review because the midterm is near. I then go to the kitchen to make an instant coffee.

As I mixing all the ingredients with the hot coffee I remember something.

Coffee..

Coffee..

Cafe..

School..

Abandoned Building!