The clock was ticking monotonously. Yuri's eyes followed the second-hand of the clock in concentration. Her hands were folded on the metal desk, ready to grab the phone that was just a few inches away any moment. She sat there, motionless and tensed, until the three hands of the clock finally formed a straight line, connecting XII and VI. Yuri's hands shot to the phone automatically. A number was dialed in a brief span and after the usual second ring, a familiar voice was greeting her on the other end of the line. Yuri took a breath before talking.
"Hello Ms Han, here's Yuri. Could you please tell the president that I'm not able to come to the meeting tonight? No, no, he will understand. Thank you, Ms Han. Yes, thank you, have a nice evening, too. Goodbye."
Yuri put the speaker down before leaning back into her chair. She sighed, partly in relief. At least, there's one thing she had finally settled now. Yuri took out her cell phone, checking for missed calls and new messages. As she saw nothing, another sigh escaped her lips, but this time it was a disappointed, worried sigh.
After sending Jessica to sleep yesterday, Yuri didn't get to talk to the girl again. In the morning, when Jessica didn't pick up her wake up call, Yuri had thought the girl was too tired and just wanted to sleep. But she had been trying to call Jessica all day long, and the girl never picked up again, nor did she call Yuri back once.
Yuri punched a different number in her phone. She put the cell to her ear while her other hand was on the desk, the fingers tapping impatiently on the surface.
"Krystal?" The finger tapping stopped as the other end picked up.
"Yuri unnie?"
"Yes, it's me. Krystal, I've been trying to call your sister since morning but she didn't pick up. Do you know where she is?"
"I--I don't."
Yuri paused briefly. There was something weird in the girl's voice.
"Really?" She asked, careful to not sound offensive or doubting. "I... I need to see her. She can't just disappear like that. I mean, I was still putting her to bed yesterday. I--"
"Unnie..." Krystal cut her off. "I understand. I'll tell you immediately if I know where she is, okay? So you can come at once, because I know she needs you too."
"What? Why do you sound so--"
"Oh gosh I need to save my life now! Bye unnie!"
"What? Krystal? Wait, Krystal!"
But the line was already dead. Yuri couldn't help but to worry. The young girl sure sounded like she had something to hide. And the fact that Jessica didn't pick up her calls couldn't mean anything good, either.
"Taeyeon?" Yuri dialed another number, her last hope. "It's me Yuri. Do you and Tiffany know where Jessica is?"
"Isn't she home the whole day? I thought her dad didn't let her go out. Fany was talking to her like two hours ago."
"What? But I tried calling her the entire day, she never picked up." Yuri nervously loosened her collar.
"Really?" Taeyeon's voice sounded clueless. "Let me ask Fany. Hang on."
Yuri heard Taeyeon's voice calling Tiffany 'my sweety little pupsie mushroom' on the other end faintly. She missed Jessica even more, having to witness her two friends being all sweet to each other. While waiting for Taeyeon and Tiffany's conversation, she clicked on her desktop and it showed the wallpaper picture of Jessica and her, slurping on two ends of a noodle. Yuri's lips formed a small smile - something that happened everytime she saw Jessica's squinted eyes and the girl's cute blushing face on the picture. A small chuckle escaped her lips as she spotted Taeyeon in the corner, staring unobtrusively at her behind. She wondered if Tiffany had picked up on that when she sent her the picture. A feeling of bliss slowly floated her heart as she remembered all the good times they had together, amongst other things that little party Sooyoung, Sunny, Jessica and she had at Taeyeon and Tiffany's apartment. However, this only increased the wistfulness and regret and fear inside of her. She wasn't sure if she could handle living without what she was appreciating the most right now - those friends, and most importantly, Jessica.
