Chapter 36: Where is she?

Monday morning arrived, and it was time for school. As usual, Charmel, Leo, Kai, and Chika made their way to the respective schools.

The journey to the schools was a familiar routine – a mix of banter, gossip, and occasional silence as we all got lost in our thoughts.

Charmel and Leo walked side by side, their playful energy bouncing off each other as they walked to their school.

Charmel, as usual, was spouting a stream of complaints about her mother, while Leo listened patiently and offered empathetic nods. In the middle of Charmel's rant, Kai decided to chime in, his voice laced with mischief.

"Still complaining about your mother, Charmel?" he teased, a smirk on his face as he fell into step beside Charmel and Leo.

Charmel scowled at him, her annoyance evident. "Yes, Kai, I am," she replied, her tone sarcastic. "And do you have a problem with that?" Kai chuckled, unfazed by Charmel's annoyed expression. "Not at all," he retorted, his smirk widening. "I just find it entertaining, watching you go on and on about the same thing every day."

Just as Kai was about to continue his tease, the sound of the school bell pierced through the air. It signaled the start of classes, cutting off Kai's words and ushering in the school day.

Charmel shot him a final glare before they all hurried off to their respective classes. The morning classes passed by in a blur, filled with lectures, discussions, and the occasional test. Chika, Leo, Charmel, and Kai all sat in their classes, half-listening to the teachers, and half-engaged in whispered conversations.

Finally, the lunch bell rang, signaling the start of the break. Students poured out of their classrooms and made their way to the cafeteria or outdoor spaces to enjoy their lunches. Chika, Leo, Charmel, and Kai found each other in the bustling hallway, all holding their lunch boxes or bought food containers. They settled into a quiet corner, away from the main hustle and bustle, and began to unwrap their lunches, chatting as they ate.

As they sat together, enjoying their lunches, the conversation soon turned to Lila's absence. With her usually lively presence conspicuously missing, the others couldn't help but express their concern.

"Do you think something's wrong with Lila? She hasn't been in school for quite a while now," Kai remarked, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"The last time I saw her was at the cafe where she works on Saturdays." Chika said with a worried expression. Chika's revelation prompted a wave of surprise among the group. Charmel raised an eyebrow, her food momentarily forgotten. "Wait, she works at a cafe? I had no idea," she said, sounding genuinely surprised.

"Yeah, she mentioned it in passing a few weeks ago," Chika chimed in. "She said she needed some extra cash, so she started working part-time as a waitress at a small cafe near the city center."

"I guess she's been busy lately, no time for school" Leo's response drew nods from the others. "Yeah, it sounds like it," Kai agreed, munching on a potato chip. "Maybe she's just really tired from juggling school and work together."

After lunch, the group returned to their classes. The remainder of the school day passed by swiftly.

As the final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of classes, the four friends gathered in the school courtyard. "I'm exhausted," Charmel complained, stretching her arms out and yawning. "School just sucks the energy out of me."

"I'm sorry guys, I won't be going home with you because I have something else to do in our club," Chika's announcement caught the others off guard, and they all looked at her with expressions of curiosity and surprise.

"Club?" Charmel echoed, frowning slightly. "You've never mentioned joining a club before."

"it's not my fault, you been busy with your hobbies" Charmel seemed taken aback by Chika's blunt comment, but she couldn't exactly deny it. She had indeed been immersed in her hobbies lately, neglecting to ask about her friends' lives.

"Right," she admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.

"ummh me too, the teacher wants me to help to the library" Leo's declaration came next, catching Charmel's attention. She raised an eyebrow, wondering why Leo was suddenly needed in the library.

"And why does the teacher need YOU to help in the library?" Charmel questioned, a hint of skepticism in her tone. Leo shrugged, his nonchalant attitude on full display. "She just said she needed some extra help organizing the books and sorting out some stuff," he replied, sounding rather unbothered by the task.

"Sounds like a boring job if you ask me," Charmel scoffed, her typical bluntness surfacing again.

Kai chuckled at Charmel's remark. "Well, at least he's doing something productive. Unlike someone just sitting around complaining all day."

Charmel shot Kai a venomous glare. "Hey, I do other stuff, you know," she retorted defensively. "Besides, who wants to spend their time shelving books and sorting stuff? That's so mundane."

With Kai's suggestion, it was decided that he and Charmel would head home together. Chika had her club activities, while Leo would be busy in the library.

"I guess it's just the two of us then," Charmel huffed, still slightly miffed by Kai's teasing earlier.

Kai chuckled at Charmel's grumpy attitude. "Don't sulk like that. You know I don't mind hanging out with you," he said, his tone teasing as usual.

Charmel rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her annoyed expression, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Together, Charmel and Kai made their way out of the school, bidding farewell to Chika and Leo. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the surroundings.

As they walked through the streets, Charmel and Kai fell into a comfortable silence. Occasionally, Kai would throw in a comment or tease Charmel, but for the most part, they enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere that fell around them.

Charmel waited outside the convenience store, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. Kai had gone inside to grab some drinks and snacks, leaving her alone with her thoughts. As Kai browsed through the snacks aisle, picking out the chip flavors he liked, his mind lingered on Charmel.

He couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that he enjoyed these moments spent with her. Despite her grumpy exterior, he found it endearing and entertaining. He chuckled quietly at the thought. After grabbing a few bags of chips and a couple of sodas, Kai made his way towards the counter. He paid for the items and left the convenience store, making his way back to where Charmel was waiting.

Just as Kai emerged from the store, he saw Aaron, a classmate known for his aggressive behavior, grabbing Charmel by the collar. Kai's heart skipped a beat as he heard Aaron's demanding question.

"Where is she?" Aaron demanded, his grip on Charmel's collar tightening. Charmel looked startled and slightly frightened, her eyes wide with surprise and fear. She struggled to find her voice to answer.