Chapter 4: The Mall

I tightened my grip on Leira’s little fingers when he was about to walk towards us, and stepped my foot backward as a signal for us to walk away from him, when he instantly grabbed my hands, making me heave a breath. 

“Euphoria, wait. Why are you avoiding me?” he asked out of nowhere. 

I slowly diverted my gaze to him with a grim face while still holding Leira who is now oblivious about the happenings. I bit my lower lip and sighed.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Freion,” I replied casually while staring at him, but not in his eyes. 

“You’ve changed...a lot.” His smirk appeared and took his hands off me before giving Leira an eye. “So, you already have a child, huh. Good for you,” he added and patted Leira’s head, making her giggle with a smile on her face. 

“What’s your name, little fella?” he asked her, but I can sense that he is watching my every reaction in his peripheral vision. All I could do is to press Leira’s fingers while watching them.

“My name is Leira MacMilla—”

“What do you want?” I cut her off when she was about to answer him, and diverted my gaze to Freion who is surprisingly staring at me with amusement.

“So, you married that asshol—”

“Watch your mouth, Freion,” I warned with gritted teeth, but he only replied with a smirk on his face. 

“Oh please, Euphoria. Why are you acting like that to your old FRIEND?” he asked in a sarcastic tone, making me hiss and took a deep breath. 

“And I’m begging as well, don’t mess with my life. I’m already living peaceful—”

“You’re ain’t kidding, right?” He shrugged in disbelief. “Oh come on! You’re not like that, Euphoria! You’re not stupid—” I slapped him hard for that is the only thing I can do for him to stop talking. But I almost slap myself upon roaming my eyes around the mall. 

Oh goodness! I should not let my emotions burst out like that! we are making a scene in the freaking public! There are lots of people who are curiously staring at us, and unfortunately, some took videos. 

I cussed under my breath and was about to move my body away from him when he grabbed my right arm where my bruises are located, making me silently cried in pain, for I don’t want to create another scene. 

This will be seen by Steffano for sure.

“P-Please, get off me,” I pleaded. That’s the last thing I can do right now. I can’t be hard-headed like before. Screw me for having a helter-skelter personality.

The new version of Euphoria sucks. 

“W-What happened? I didn’t even hur—” he stopped and loosen his grip on my arm when he realized a thing and stared at it without a hint of a smile on his face, but I could see his concerned face. “What the fuck did he do to you?!” he shouted with anger and held my arm again, making me almost heave a breath. 

He’s just making the situation more complicated! I tried thinking of a better way to escape from this mess when he grabbed me once more. I sighed and tightened my fist.

“If you still cherish our memories before, please respect me as a person. I’ve had enough, Freion. I am so tired of everything...” I uttered like a whisper enough for him to hear it, without giving him an eye. I felt his hand slowly losing its grip on my arm, making me sigh in relief. 

I gestured my hands, trying to hold Leira’s hand, when I held no one, making me divert my gaze to her direction. My heart began to accelerate its speed upon realizing that Leira is nowhere to be found!

Damn this!

Without further ado, I ran as fast as I could to look for her, without giving Freion an eye. I need to find her! 

“Fuck, fuck this. Leira!” I shouted in the midst of people and activated my senses to look for her.

‘You are so fucking careless, Euphoria! You should be playing with Leira instead of arguing with that dumbass! Now, you’re in so much trouble!’ I scolded myself in my mind while running tremblingly in the hallway. 

I stopped for a minute to think of a place where she could possibly go. I need to calm my senses for me to think clearly because the last thing I want is to be killed by the man I love!

He will surely beat me to death, and I will surely die, eating the guilt for not taking good care of my precious gem. 

“E-Excuse me. Have you seen a little girl wearing a sunflower clip with a yellow top and polka dot skirt? M-Maybe she went here,” I asked the saleslady here in a chocolate shop. My hands are now sweating and I even took off my stiletto heel to run freely. 

“I am sorry, Miss, but we haven’t seen on—”

“Can you ask the others? Please, I badly need to find my daugh—”

“I really am so sorry.”

“Fuck! Fuck this! Leira!” I started shouting, hoping that she could hear me even though it is way far from possible. I eventually left the store with disappointment, fear, and guilt in my heart. 

All I could do is to mess with my hair with frustration and start running around to look for her. This mall is so freaking huge! I have been running for almost an hour, but I haven’t felt any drowsiness.

“Attention, everyone. Attention, everyone.” My eyes landed on the big speaker near the second floor when it echoed all over the mall, and an idea came to my mind, making me move my body to go to the announcement area. 

But I stopped when a voice appeared. 

“A father is currently looking for his 5 years old kid. She’s wearing a sunflower clip on her hair, partnered with a yellow crop-top and black polka dots.” My heart pounded triple times due to what I heard. 

A-A father? No freaking way! The first thing that comes to my mind is...

“Steffano!” I accelerated my speed to run towards the announcement area, never minding the consequences of my action. 

I don’t care if he will beat me nonstop after this. All I want right now is to find Leira. 

It is difficult to run with trembling knees, but I still managed to do so, slammed the door, and instantly stepped inside. But to my surprise, I saw no Steffano... Instead, it is Freion who invaded my sight. 

I don’t know if I should be happy that Steffano is not here to look for his precious Leira or just feel so anxious due to Freion’s appearance. 

He is the reason why Leira is nowhere to be found, but I know I am also at fault for being so careless and dumb. 

Instead of giving him an eye, I instantly walked in the announcer’s direction. 

“Miss, you’re not allowed to ente—”

“I am the mother of the kid you are looking for right now. Please, can you check the CCTV? She could b—”

“We’ve already done that and already went to  where the footage saw her, but she’s not the—”

“I am sure she’s just hiding or something!” I stopped Freion from talking and diverted my gaze to the announcer who is now looking at us. 

“Where did you last see her?” I asked, trying to calm myself. I know, we can’t fix this if my mind is being tangled. 

“At the elevator...” It is Freion who answered it while staring intently at me. I didn’t give him a chance to add his words and instantly ran to where he said they have last seen her. 

I almost got stumbled when a handheld my wrist, making me almost forget how to breathe... Even though we are running, I still could see Freion’s serious face while his hand is being placed on my wrist. Instead of complaining due to him being so close to me, I ignored it and ran with him. Gone the awkwardness and anger. 

All I want right now is to find my little Leira.

I didn’t mind those people who are looking at us weirdly, and I even left my stiletto somewhere I don’t know. 

We immediately entered the elevator he was talking about, the reason why tears started to pool in my eyes. I will accept being beaten or slapped by Steffano’s words, but I couldn’t bear losing Leira who’s the reason why I keep on fighting every single day. 

I will never forgive myself if anything happens to her. Not by chance.

I sobbed upon watching the button move, heading to the parking lot. 

“I’m sorry. This is all my fault...” Freion instantly uttered. I didn’t give him an eye and just let my tears fall. 

She’s not my daughter but I love her like she’s from my flesh.

I just ignored him and held my chest to control it from pounding nonstop, and instantly maneuvered my body when the elevator got opened, making me ran as fast as I could. 

“Leira sweetie?! Momma’s here now!” My voice echoed all over the place. I am now sobbing while calling her name... “Sweetie, please come out now. I know you want to play hide and seek, but this is not the right time for us to play it. M-Momma’s now scared, Leira baby. Please, come out now...” I 

added and sobbed once more.

“M-Momma? Momma!” a little voice echoed from behind, which made my heart jump with mixed emotions.