Obsessed

Chapter 22: Wished to Know

Lloyd

11 High Point Road, Toronto: July 23rd, 2022 6:08 AM

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My legs began aching. I looked at the paved floor as my white leather Prada sneakers walked over it. My feet were sore too now. I had been wandering the entire city searching for Cole, both by foot and car. Not only me, even Keith and Ash had been taking turns staying home and going out.

I stopped in front of his house, looking at the tall black door. I opened the door, walking in.

I stepped in, pulling out my phone from the pocket of my black three-quarter trousers. I looked down, slipping out my black socks from my Adidas slippers. I went out in a rush this morning. I didn't have time to wear proper shoes. I turned my white cased phone towards myself, looking at my parted blonde bangs on the black screen before I tapped my thumb on it to view the time.

It was still early in the morning.

I sighed, beginning to walk down the long hallway in Cole's house. I slid my socks over the white tiles with black diamonds at their junctions. I unlocked my device with my six-digit passcode. I lowered my brows, seeing my messages open in front of me. It was the last app I had used before turning it off.

I pursed my lips, seeing my own blue bubbles. I scrolled down, skimming through the messages I had sent Cole.

'Where are you?'

'Cole, are you okay?'

'Please call me back.'

'Say anything. Anything.'

'At least read my messages.'

'Cole?'

'Please...'

But there wasn't a single response.

I shut my eyes, squeezing my iPhone in my hand.

I looked up, turning my head to my right to see Cole's mother sitting on the beige leather couch which faced me. She sat in front of the large TV screen. Her white silk pajamas gleamed from the light of dawn from the huge window in front of me which extended into the entire room. The fancy black lace on the rim of her collar, shirt and trousers swayed just like the white transparent curtains did by the wind flowing in through the open glass. She was crying, biting the long nail of her left index finger while she spoke on the phone.

"Uhuh." She nodded. "Checking the hospitals?"

I raised my brows to look at her, noticing the sudden change in her tone. It became more concerned than it already was. I walked towards her.

"Wh-Why the hospitals?" She bit her nail harder, staring at the blank television screen in front.

"It's just a precaution."

I stopped next to the couch, overhearing Cole's father on the call.

"I don't want to find him in a hospital any more than you do, hon. But, just to be sure, I'm gonna check all the hospitals in the area, alright?"

She clenched the phone, closing her quivering lips as she moved her digits away from her pink lips. She covered her eyes with her trembling hand.

"Okay," she muttered. "I'm gonna head out too, now."

"No, don't. Keith told me you have a fever."

We all looked at Keith who sat next to his aunt, watching him avert to hide his reddened eyes. He hadn't slept all night either. I stared at him while he fidgeted his left index on the rim of the plate in his lap, listening to the rest of the conversation.