Destined ||EDITING||

6. Misfortune

. . .

Once again, I headed to the forest-like area in college and laid down on the bench, just as I had last time when Mina stopped by. I always end up staring at the trees every time I come here. The wind was blowing and the leaves up in the trees made a sound that became music to my ears. Out of the blue I found myself humming a song I once sang for a talent show back in high school called Inori; yes it's Japanese but I sang it in the English version so everyone could understand. I slowly closed my eyes and got lost between my humming and the sound of the leaves.

- "Why do you hide your voice?"- said a male voice.

I jumped and almost fell from the bench. He simply chuckled as I managed to get a glimpse at him...It was Ash. He had managed to find me and probably had been hearing me hum all this time.

I didn't even notice him...

-"I...I don't have talent for that. I just hum out of boredom"- I replied as I looked away a little embarrassed.

-"I don't think so. You must be hiding that beautiful voice of yours for no reason. You should sing to me someday"- said Ash

Is he kidding me?! Me?!! Sing to him?!! I haven't even known him so well and he already expects this level of confidence from me?!!

-" I don't know..."- I had so much in my mind and I always end up saying shy things that make everyone misunderstand me.

-"It's okay, whenever you feel like it, be sure to tell me and I'll come by with my guitar."-

-"You play guitar?"-

THIS...This isn't so bad.

-"Of course. If I want to be a music teacher, I must at least know some sort of instrument, shouldn't I?"-

He laughed as I blushed and smiled.

He is soothing. When I'm around Ash I seem to forget about the recent problems.

Ash just has this peaceful aura that makes me feel at ease. Suddenly, my cellphone rang. I looked at the screen and the name I saw took me by surprise. It was a call from my mother. I quickly answer and what I hear is an unexpected and, of course, unknown voice.

-"Hello?" -I answered a little scared as I realized it was a male voice.

-"This is Officer Robert Lawrence speaking. Is this Riki?"- asked the male voice

-"Yes...?"-

-"I'm calling to confirm if you are related to Mrs. Archer?"-

Mrs. Archer?!

-"Which Mrs. Archer?!"-I asked desperately as I stood up from the bench.

Ash just looked at me shocked and froze on the spot. He realized something was wrong and simply decided to stay and listen.

-"Hilda Archer"- the officer clarified it to me.

-"I'm Hilda Archer's daughter"- I spoke while clenching my left fist as tightly as I could.

-"Ah... yes. And I suppose you also know Ricardo Archer?"-

-"Officer, please tell me what happened to my parents! I must know!"-

-"Please show up at the main park in Alba City and we'll continue with the details. Ask for me and they'll let you pass"-

The officer hung up and I stood there motionless...I had no idea what was going on, I just knew something wasn't right at all.