"Irin, hi! Uhm. It's Freen. I don't know if you still remember me, but I'm Becky's best friend. I was just wondering if you saw her or at least talked to her the past few days?"
The girl who the question was directed to was visibly confused seeing the other, because to be honest, they are not close. They only saw each other a couple of times because of Becky. That's why, it's kinda off seeing the older in front of her dorm room's door. How'd she know where she lived?
Her curiousity flew out the window tho, upon seeing the desperation in Freen's eyes and her current state. She looks... bad. It's like she hasn't showered for days or slept even. She is also visibly thinner. This is so unlike her.
Because of this, she decided to answer the question.
"I'm sorry, Freen, but I haven't seen her or been in contact with her for a while. It was hell week for us, as graduating students, that's why we haven't really got to hang out. Why? What happened? Why are you looking for her?"
She saw how the girl's shoulders slumped and hoe she frowned deep upon hearing her response. She wonders what the hell happened to them. As far as she knows, Becky has been head over heels for this woman, so why does it seem like she's hiding from her. Something's amiss.
Sigh.
"Well, sorry to have bother you, then." Freen turned and was about to leave when Irin, stopped her by holding her arm.
"Wait. Please, tell me what's happening. Why are you looking for Becky? Is there a problem?"
"I actually don't know too. She just disappeared. We weren't in good terms for a while. So, I tried reaching out to her a few days ago, only to find out that she was disowned by her parents and now nowhere to be found. I don't know what to do anymore. I tried looking for her in her college dorm, asked her classmates and teachers in the university, I tried calling and texting her, even resorting to emailing her, leaving DM's on all her socials, but to no avail. I also can't report it to the police, because technically, she's not missing. She left on her own accord."
"What do you mean disowned? How the hell did she go missing?" Panic and worry struck Irin with what she just heard.
Gosh. What kind of best friend was she? Irin felt so guilty thinking of how Becky would've felt when she obviously had been going through some big problems when she wasn't around. Becky doesn't have a lot of friends, so she would have no one to share her worries with, seeing how she was also not in good terms with Freen. Irin should've reached out to her. She should've tried to get updates from her friend, no matter how busy she was. She felt like such a bad friend.
"How long has she been missing? Have you tried going to everywhere you know that she might have gone to?" Irin quickly asked. Thinking of places she knows and people she could probably ask.
"Unfortunately, yes. I even resorted to going to all her close relatives to look for her. I even went abroad to check if she flew to her grandparents, but to no avail."
"Shit! If that's the case, she must only be in Thailand. We just have to keep looking. Don't worry, Freen. I'll help you find her. I won't stop until I'm sure that she's safe."
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Irin. You don't know how much this means to me. Please... Please, update me if you get a hold of her. I beg you. I need to talk to her." The teary-eyed older girl, held her hand with high hopes before leaving to, as she said, continue looking.
---
True to her word, Irin has been looking for Becky for two weeks now, still unsuccessful. So, she had to go back home first to think of other possible places the girl could go to.
The ringing of her phone has disturbed her thoughts. An unregistered number. Who might this be?
Imagine the shock of her life when she heard the voice of the person she was looking for in the other line.
"Irin..."
"Becky! Oh my gosh! Where are you? I've been looking for you for weeks. What happened? Please tell me you're safe."
---
"Freen... You're here again." Irin said, visibly uncomfortable.
"Yeah. I was wondering if you have found leads?" A hopeful Freen asked. She looks much better than the last time they saw each other, but she still is not the same as she used to be.
Irin looked down, avoiding the woman's eyes.
"Uhm... I'm sorry. I still haven't heard from Becky and I did try searching for her, but I did not find her. Also, unfortunately, my board exams are coming, and I have to focus on them, so I don't think I can help anymore. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Is that so? Alright. Cool. No problem. Still, thank you for trying." Freen replied sadly before bidding farewell.
She was about to leave when Irin spoke again. "Maybe... Maybe, you should stop looking for her already, Freen. Give her time. When she's ready, I'm sure she'll be back. It's impossible to find someone who doesn't want to be found."
