Chapter 52: The Search

BREANA’S POV

“We still haven’t gone to that place.”

Sunny’s voice interrupted as I was trying to make sense of what Alex might have been meaning to say in her cryptic messages to Ari and Sunny and why am I not been told anything.

“Where?” Ari asks Sunny as I look up.

“Xerxes’ bar.”

My eyes widen in realization. The look we gave each other signals our collective agreement to go the place and so we did. We immediately asked the staff for their manager.

“Is there any problem? Maybe we could help you out first instead of calling the manager.” The male staff suggested. He gave us a plastered wide fake smile on his face, trying to be as welcoming but failing to do so.

He must be new.

“No. We just need to talk to your manager. We know him.” Sunny expressed in a hurry.

The guy looked at us questioningly. He sure aren’t convinced we know his manager. He’s definitely new.

Ari sighs as she loses her patience. I had to intervene before they both goes havoc.

“Please, just tell Xerxes, your manager that Mitchelle, Breana and Maria are here. We’ll wait here. Thank you!” I flashed him a pleasant smile, the one that always does it when I want a favor to be granted. I tried to be as amicable as I could, even using Xerxes’ name without honorifics to convince the guy we know him.

“O-okay.” Hesitantly, the guy finally agrees.

It didn’t even take five minutes before the owner appeared himself, followed by his worker.

He’s in a more casual clothes today compared when we always see him but he’s impeccably clean-shaven and handsome as usual.

“Ladies, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He gave us a loose group hug which actually is just patting us lightly on the back. I realize things didn’t work out the last time he tried to get too close.

He tried to offer us a table but we settled on standing since we’re just going to ask him if he knows Alex’ whereabouts.

“Alex? She stopped working here a few days ago.” Xerxes explained to us. “Well, if you’re looking for her, I think she’s with her fiancée.” He added.

We all turned to him in shock. Ari’s mouth is hanging. I’ve never seen Sunny’s eyes get as big as now.

“Fiancée?” We said in chorus.

Is this the family stuff she said she was sorting out?

“Wait, what?! You didn’t know? I thought you know she’s engaged to Jea. You all came here together the first day. I thought you knew.” Well now, everybody is in shock.

I felt a hand squeeze mine and realized Sunny is holding me. Sensing her distress, I looked at her.

“What does this mean, Bree?” Her trembling lips articulated.

Her thanks and requests to Ari to take care of me. ‘…I maybe faraway…’ is what she said to Sunny. ‘...they need you for the final fitting.’ is what I heard from Jea yesterday I called her. Plus, the fact that they’re engaged. No, but this could possibly mean…

“As I remember, today’s the big day. Her younger sister, Yves from abroad even came home to celebrate with her. She’s been talking about this party at a hotel they’ve rented.” Xerxes notes.

Ari has her face crumpled. “What the h*ll is happening?”

“We need to go there.” It was all I could answer to her. Sunny nods at me in agreement.

Ari, despite not understanding, pulled Xerxes by the collar. “You have to take us there.” She half demanded, half threatened the guy.

“At the Executive Hotel? Okay.” Xerxes was confused but decided to agree. He took us in his BMW, with me and Ari at the rear seats and Sunny riding shotgun.

As we are on the road, Xerxes slowed down. “It’s not your lucky day today.” The car halted.

I tried to see ahead of us from the back seat. All the lanes are lined up with almost unmoving cars. Traffic.

“There might be an accident or they’re repairing something on the road.” Our driver said who is unusually calm at this moment.

“What should we do?” Sunny’s worry is evident in her tone. She turned to me for an answer.

I think we both have the same idea on what’s happening. If my hunch is correct, we’ll be too late if we will wait for this traffic. “Sunny, you have to go and stop them.”

“What?” Xerxes questions in surprise.

Before we could answer him, Sunny is out of the car already, pacing the stretch of the road ahead of us.

---

MITCHELLE/SUNNY’S POV

Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. My lungs feel like burning as I chase after each and every breath. The sun was high up. Good thing I wasn’t in my high heels or I would have tripped already.

Why am I in a rush?

Ah.

The determination in Bree’s tone when she said I must stop whatever’s going on could only mean one thing. Marriage.

So I would take no for an answer when I asked the reception where there was an event going for the Song’s and they said it was private so they couldn’t disclose any information unless I am an invited guest.

I searched on my own. How I got access inside, I do not remember. I found the venue by the ground floor.

Why am I so desperate to do this? Why do I feel so determined?

Before I could find an answer to the questions, I pushed the double doors and shouted.

“STOP!”