A Four-Letter-Word Called LOVE (COMPLETE - ENG Translation On-Going)

Act Twenty-Five

Chris:

"Don't be, Ate. Just keep phoning Markus until you reach him."

"But our signal's dead. How could I possibly contact him?"

"We have to, okay?" I uttered cooly. "We'll be fine. We—We got this."

- - -

Or so I thought.

I tried to be as calm and collected as possible while trying our best to find the way out of this thick fog. I thought we could finally get in touch with Markus and Bella and know where they are. But I was wrong. I mean, way over wrong.

It's been thirty minutes since I reassured Ate Mhairi that 'we got this'. Thirty-hell-long-minutes has passed, and yet, we're still cruising in the middle of this thick fog. I've been driving carefully and using all my instincts so that we stay safely on the road. Ate Mhairi's still and has been trying to contact Markus and Bella for umpteenth times, although her aura exudes with fear as she continually taps the screen to make a call.

'Mr. Big Man Up There', please tell me,

Please tell me this is not happening.

Why do we have to be in a frightening and horrendous situation like this?

I'm begging you, please, make the fog go away. I swear, I won't do anything stupid to ha—

"Why, why, WHY?!"

Mhairi's loud yet, angry tone immediately reverberates. She furiously shoves her phone in front of her. Her shoulders are trembling while tears are now streaming down on both her cheeks.

"A-Ate Mhairi..."

Stil petrified, she genially put her feet up and curls herself by hugging her thighs and legs while sobbing inconsolably.

"I—I-I'm so, so scared, Chris," She uttered in between sobs. "I-I want to go home."

I want to utter a word to reassure her that we'll be okay. But my words failed me. I want to comfort her right now, but I couldn't think or do anything just to make her feel safe. I'm with her and yet, I feel so useless. Couldn't help but feel so angry and hurt simultaneously, blaming myself over and over for being so incompetent of handling our situation.

Stop with these rebuking nonsense, Chris. Mhairi needs you so please, be a man and stop being so pessimistic, eh?

"Don't be scared, Ate Mhairi." I paused for a bit and glances at her. "I'm—I-I'm here. I'm here to, t-to protect you, okay?"

Still sobbing, Ate Mhairi stood her face and looks at me. A reassuring yet, comforting smile beams at her to let her know that everything will be alright as long as I'm here. I'm about to turn my focus on the road when her hand suddenly slips on my palm and squeezes it. I put my gaze back at her. Her teary face is down while her chin is resting on her knees. I squeeze hers in return while stroking the back of it with my thumb to make her feel that she's safe with me. A hint of sheepish smile peeps from the corner of her mouth that's why I couldn't help myself but to smile in return. The thick fog starts to clear the moment I put my focus again on the road.

"Ate, look outside!"

She immediately stood her face and gazed outside the window. A glimpse of hope quickly peeps from the corner of her eye as fog continues to clear out until the road and the surrounding turns visible. She hastily searches her phone and immediately makes a phone call as soon as she found it. I felt a sigh of relief and focused myself on the road. I thought everything would be back on track until a horrifying turn of events suddenly daunts right in front of me;