Broken [l.p.]

Chapter 7

Since that day, my relationship with Kirsten was getting better. Even though she was like keeping the distance between us, but it didn't really matter. The fact that she wanted to talk to me was enough. I always tried to make her smile when she was around, maybe it'd make her forget that she'd been hurting.

In the first week, the way Kirsten treated me was different than before. At school, we always had lunch together. I started to make Kirsten new friends by asking my friends to help me. At first they'd rejected to let Kirsten in our group, but they finally accepted her forcefully. I knew it was only about the time they’d like her again. We also had texted each other back and forth few days. Although her replies were very short, but at least she always replied to my texts.

Everything became better in the second week. Kirsten and I went out for lunch for the first time on Saturday afternoon. After that, I took her to the art gallery—my favourite place. But she didn't look that interested, that's why I quickly brought her to the amusement park. When I saw the light in her eyes was back, I couldn't help but smile. I wish the time stopped ticking so I could stare at her forever.

Kirsten. Her eyes were the most beautiful things ever. Her smile was the most adorable thing ever. Her voice was the most peaceful thing ever. Her laugh was the cutest thing ever. I loved everything about her, especially when she smiled and laughed with me.

I'd thought the relationship between Kirsten and I would be so much better in the third week, but I was wrong. Kirsten didn't show up at school this week. She also didn't reply any texts from me. I tried to call her, but it directed me straight to the voicemail. I came to her house, but it was like nobody was home.

I totally had no idea what was happening to Kirsten and I was so worried. In the past few weeks, we'd talked about anything except her family. I never mentioned them either. I didn’t want to because I knew their parents-daughter relationship wasn’t really good.

And now here I was, driving my car to Kirsten's house on Friday night. I knew it might be pointless like yesterday or the last two days, but I got a feeling I would see her today. If I didn’t, I’d come back to Kirsten’s tomorrow.

I turned to the reflection of an Eeyore doll—the one I’d bought for Kirsten from Japan—on the back seat from the rearview mirror. A pink ribbon with a little card saying "I love you" tied around the doll's neck. Today I was going to confess my feelings to her. I couldn't hold them anymore. I just wanted to tell her everything and made her mine tonight.

But all of a sudden, my eyes rested on a blonde girl walking alone in this cold October night. I stepped on the brake. My eyes boggled.

"Kirsten??"

A long, annoying horn from the car behind me made me jump. I heard the driver order me to pull over. In a hurry, I directed my car to the side of the road then climbed out of it.

I trotted to the place I'd seen Kirsten but she obviously wasn't there anymore. It was hard to find a blonde girl on this street because there were too many people walking here like usual. But even in a crowded place, my eyes kept searching for her.

I bit my lips, started to panic because this night was getting colder and darker. Where's she going? To Stan's? To the club? Or somewhere else? My hands kept shoving people away from my way, while in every breath I took I hoped that she was fine. God, please protect her.

Then I spied a shoulder-length blonde girl turning at the corner. I fastened my pace to chase after her. After the corner, the street was totally empty. There were only two street lamps alive. The old buildings silently stood there, as if there were a thousand cringey eyes watching me as I passed by.