Finding Lika

An Ocean Away

Having nothing else left to do, not knowing where her life was going from here on out, Lika chose to fulfill her aunt's wish.

Staring at her internet banking user interface, Lika had never felt so small. For the first time in a very long time, she felt clueless. The girl with a backup plan, whose backup plan has a backup plan, she remembered Chris Kingsley joked about her once. A small, heartbroken smile appeared on her face at the memory. Now, that girl with the plan was no longer here. Now, she felt dumb and clueless.

Lika entered her pin number and the screen flashed, notifying success fund transfer. Checking another bank account she opened specifically for her trip to Indonesia, Lika nodded in satisfaction. She had transferred all her money to the new account successfully. Now all that was left to do was drop her car to Emily Pearson's house.

An hour later, Lika entered Emily's house, her friend back in college. The sounds of Emily's two kids running around the house filled the atmosphere.

"Kids! Behave! We have company!" yelled Emily back towards the second floor of her house before turning to Lika, "Sorry about that. My husband fed them sugar this afternoon and now my kids are buzzing and driving everyone insane. Care for a London Fog? Brian just bought this amazing Earl Grey tea–"

"–I'm not staying long. My flight's in three hours," Lika forced out her voice, hoping to sound normal, "Thank you so much for taking the car. Please feel free to use it whenever you need it. I just filled the tank for you."

Her redhead friend had a grin on her face. "You are the best, Lika," she said as she took the key from her. "So where does your hunk of a boss taking you now?"

"I'm going alone this time," swallowed Lika.

"Oh okay..." Emily mumbled, noticing something off about her friend. She continued, "So how long are you going to be away? I can pick you up when you return," offered her. She was happy to if that was what Lika needed.

Give and take.

After all, Lika having Emily take care of her car everytime she was out of town helped Emily travel with more ease with her children. It was so much less hassle than having to take public transportation as the redhead didn't have her own car.

Lika shook her head. "I don't know. This time I might be going awhile."

"What about your Aunt Mercy? Want me to pay her a visit?" offered Emily kindly.

The impassive facade that Lika put up quickly crumbled at the mention of her beloved aunt's name. In a split second, her expression changed and Lika broke to tears, shocking Emily.

"Oh dear. Lika!" Emily pulled the woman into a tight embrace. Her own heart broke at seeing her sudden mental breakdown. "When?" she queried softly, knowing that Lika's Aunt Mercy was gone. The signs were there.

Anguished sobs wracked Lika's shoulders. "I don't know," Lika supplied between her sobs, "A week."

"I'm very sorry, Lika."

Lika nodded and pulled away from her friend's embrace.

"Why are you going alone? You shouldn't. Where's Henry?" asked Emily, knowing that Henry would never let Lika be alone in difficult times.

Lika was unable to answer.

"Oh no. What did he do?"

"Nothing. It's me," Lika explained, "Someone messed up his fiancee's meal and caused her severe allergic reaction. All evidence points to me," Lika broke into another fit of cry, "I'm not working for him anymore."

"What?" Emily practically spat, her voice raised an octave, "That's ridiculous, you could never–"

"He didn't want to listen to me. Didn't return my calls," Lika sniffled, before shaking herself, "Look, my taxi is here. I gotta go."