Enrico
It's been over 10 minutes, but Cari still hasn't come out of the restroom. I checked on the hallways but she's nowhere to be seen.
Confused, I took my phone from my pocket and messaged her.
She's not on her period, and most importantly, she never takes that long in the restroom. Even if she does her makeup in a public restroom, she never takes that long.
A little over three minutes has passed, but she hasn't seen my message yet, and lots of women has been coming in and out of the restroom but still no sign of her.
I'm getting worried. What's happening in there?
"Stay here, I'll check Cari," I told my bodyguards. "Be on the lookout for my wife."
I raced to the women's restroom, and when I noticed a woman approaching, I decided to stop her. "Excuse me?"
"Yes?"
"Uhm, my wife entered in there. It's been almost 20 minutes but she still hasn't come out yet. I'm getting a little worried. Can you check if she's in there? Her name's Cari," I requested calmly even though I'm panicking already.
My nerves are tensed up and if I could, I would've already bursted in every cubicle in there.
"Sure, sure," she agreed before walking inside.
Carisia Ignacio, where are you?
I kept on checking our chat message but she still hasn't seen it. Decided to call her instead.
"Damn it! Why aren't you answering??!"
Frustration and worry are already controlling me because I feel helpless. She never does this. She always answers my calls and messages!
Something's not right.
"Excuse me, Sir?" the same woman I talked to, earlier, came out of the restroom.
Her negative expression is already distinguishing the only spark of hope left in me, much more when she spoke.
"There's no one inside. I was just alone," she said.
My stomach was in knots, and without any care in the world, I walked inside and checked every cubicle myself.
"Cari!" I yelled while pushing open all of the restroom stalls.
Only my footsteps and my loud voice echoed within the walls of the room.
She's f*cking not here!
I held my phone up to my ear and I kept on calling her even if she's not answering.
"Look for her. Ask for a CCTV footage if they have any. Wala si Cari sa restroom. Look for her! Go!"
My bodyguards dispersed all around the mall, and though I've already given them orders-- it's me who doesn't know what to do.
F*ck! This is my wife we're talking about. I'm blanking out!
While looking around, desperate for help, something in the restroom hallways caught my attention.
There's an emergency exit to the parking on the very end of it.
Wasting no time, I ran towards the emergency exit, pushing the heavy doors open, and I was lead to the parking lot.
Helplessness wanted to win me over, but I'd rather break a hundred laws chasing her down the streets than let her go without putting up a fight.
I headed straight to my car, roaring up the engine and leaving the parking lot without a care in the world.
