The morning sun crept through the gaps in the pavilion's wooden shutters, but it brought no warmth. Inside, the air felt thick, heavy with the weight of the video they had just unleashed into the digital void.
As soon as the 'send' button was pressed, Alma dropped the phone onto the table as if the small device had suddenly turned into a ticking time bomb.
Dominik clapped his hands loudly, the sound echoing sharply in the quiet room. "Alright! Now... we play the waiting game. Just like waiting for a lottery draw," he quipped, casually reaching for a piece of *wingko babat*.
"Dom, can you be serious for one second?" Bara snapped, his nerves frayed to a breaking point.
"I am serious. Believe me, waiting for a reply like this is way more nerve-wracking than waiting for a crush to text you back," Dominik replied nonchalantly.
Alma offered a thin, fragile smile, though her heart was hammering against her ribs. She leaned her head against Bara's shoulder. "If Papa actually goes through with that press conference... I'm scared, Bar."
Bara stroked her hair, forcing himself to look calm. "That's why we gave your mother this weapon. If your father tries to force his narrative, she can leak that video to the media. No one will believe I kidnapped you when they see you speaking for yourself."
Minutes ticked by. Silence followed. The only sound was the rhythmic creak of the old ceiling fan on the porch. Alma stared at her phone; the screen remained dark.
"Has it been delivered?" Dominik asked, leaning in to peek at the screen.
Alma shook her head. "No... it hasn't even been delivered yet. Still just one gray tick."
Dominik let out a low whistle. "Well, maybe the signal is doing laps around a satellite somewhere."
"Dom!" Bara glared.
Alma let out a small, stifled laugh. The tension in her chest loosened slightly thanks to Dominik's relentless chatter. Still, she gripped Bara's hand tighter.
Five minutes. Ten. Still nothing.
"What if Mama is too afraid of Papa to even open it?" Alma whispered.
Bara stared blankly ahead. "Or... what if she's with him right now?"
The air in the room suddenly went cold. Even Dominik, usually the loudest person in the room, fell silent, swirling the half-empty tea in his glass.
***
Later that morning, Alma sat on the porch, her eyes glued to the phone, when Bara approached her. The air was still crisp, but the tension was rising with the sun.
"Any word from your mother?" he asked, holding out a plastic bag.
Alma shook her head, her face clouded with gloom-until she opened the bag.
"Boba? This early?" she exclaimed, her face lighting up instantly. "Where did this come from?"
"Dom went out to grab some breakfast. He found a place that was already open. Figured you needed a sugar hit."
Alma took a sip, the sweetness bringing a genuine smile back to her lips. "He's actually very kind."
Bara smiled, watching her. "Happy now, Al?"
Alma nodded, but her expression shifted just as quickly. "But I have a bad feeling, Bar." She stopped drinking, stirring the pearls in her cup as if trying to stir away her anxiety.
"Why?" Bara sat beside her on the wooden floor.
"I know my father. He doesn't take threats well," she replied softly.
YOU ARE READING
Kidnapping the General's Daughter
Storie d'Amore"He thought he was rescuing their love. He didn't know he was just driving her escape." Barra is a brilliant law student, a high-achiever who built his future on a prestigious scholarship. He plays by the rules and carries the weight of his mother's...
