April ducked behind a pillar as she shivered in fear. What the hell was Lana doing here? Her mind raced as she watched her. She held up her phone to whoever she stopped to talk with, and each time she did, they looked around in a way that made April feel and wonder if they were looking for her. Those bags of hers which were next to Lana were dear to her, or she would starve to death before she saw her grandma. The money she had on her was solely for transport and other miscellaneous expenses. She was still contemplating on what to do when someone tapped her from behind. It was Kyle. His sandy brown coloured hair seemed to gather in a heap at the centre of his head, and kinda nodded towards different directions; to the east, west, north and south. April thought it gave him a kind of cute appearance. But none of that mattered now. Not now when she seemed to be in bigger trouble. Someone might have sighted her and tipped Lana of her presence here, which must have warranted her coming.
"Searching for this?" Kyle held up her bags to her with a delightful smile.
She returned the smile with her whole being. "Hell yeah. Thanks plenty." she received it happily, trying to find a reason in her head for his sudden gesture. Or does he know her story?
"Don't thank me yet. Just make sure she doesn't see you." he warned. The smile didn't leave his face.
April was about to say something in reply. To ask him what he was talking about, so she could be sure. But instead, a familiar voice boomed behind her from the pillar.
"Hullo, young lady. Can you turn around, please? You look like someone I seek."
She could bet her bottom dollar that the voice certainly belonged to Lana. April stopped breathing, and her head felt like it was swelling.
"Rita, stop delaying, come on. Don't keep dad waiting." Kyle quickly told April, taking hold of her free hand, and grabbing one of her bags which he had just dropped at her feet. April was too stunned to move and rather remained still, as Lana was circling to her front already. But Kyle managed to stand in Lana's way and pulled April along. "Dad would be so mad you missed your music practice again. Don't make him regret putting you in music school." he scolded on as she quickly hastened along with him, head bowed. Lana halted at once and let them be.
Kyle didn't stop till he got to the other side of the road, which was around the exact spot where Frank's car had been in the morning. April grew uncomfortable. What if her dad or any of them returned to that spot since that was where Frank lost her? And besides, why was Kyle being so helpful like he knew something about her?
"Please, can we not stop here?" she asked with pleading eyes, looking around uncomfortably till she sighted a car that looked like her dad's, coming their way. It was like Kyle read her mind and totally understood her plight that he pulled her along to the gas station right next to them, and walked up to a red open convertible parked by the side. It took him less than a minute to let the cover down and throw her things in. April didn't wait to be told to hop in. She would rather become a frog now, than get caught. As Kyle pulled out of the station, she saw her dad and Ned step out of his car, which was parked right in front of the gas station. She quickly averted her gaze as he drove past them. Then when she looked back, she saw some men in uniform speaking with Lana, and watched them approach her dad till they were out of sight. She inhaled a deep sigh of relief. That was so close. She was so grateful she still had her important items and food with her.
Kyle nodded intermittently to the music playing from the radio he had just turned on.
"Thanks a million, Kyle. You just saved my life." she almost had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, did I?" his tone was light, and he didn't stop nodding to his music.
"Didn't you? Though, I can't help wondering why you did it." she muttered, as they hit the traffic.
Kyle blew air in his cheeks and clicked his tongue as he looked out his side of the window. "Let's just say you looked like that was what you needed."
"Hey, come on. I mean it. I'm serious, please." she desperately needed to know.
"Alright, fine. I saw the trending article early yesterday, about the billionaire doctor and an ordinary young girl, when he is supposed to get engaged to the love of his life, next week. And as we both know, the love of his life was the one who came seeking you, isn't it?" he arched a brow along with his question.
April nodded in relief. "Yeah. Exactly. You got it right." She really hoped he was right. Being sought for murder was not going to be a funny charge against her, and she sincerely hoped deep within her that Adrian was still alive and didn't die. To think of it, that fall was a really light one, and wasn't supposed to be something serious, except there was a sharp object where he had landed. But when she thought again, she remembered the blood that appeared on his face when the bald guy turned him over and it made her sick again. She began to feel drowsy as the traffic moved gradually and Kyle drove on. She tried hard to fight it.
"Where are you heading to?" she managed to ask him, but never got a reply whatsoever till she drifted off to sleep.
When she finally opened her eyes, she realized they were still in the car. With Kyle. In a dead quiet street. Kyle was busy snacking on one of the dinner rolls and iced tea she made Frank buy. It was night. Everywhere and everything was dead still, dark and quiet. "Where are we? What are we doing here?" Her stomach growled as though it was a response to her question.
Kyle chuckled. "Poor girl. I doubt you've had nothing else in that pathetic stomach of yours since morning, after that bad tasting fruit juice was passed round to us." he threw the last bit of the roll he held, into his mouth, and April watched his mouth swell like a balloon. Next, he picked up the second nylon, which still held one more dinner roll and wheat bread, which he handed to her.
"Eat this and live." He said as she collected it meekly, not bothering to ask why he was snacking on her food without her consent and then offering it to her like he had bought it himself.
Her eyes went to the car's stereo which was still playing. The time was 12:45am. How long had she been asleep? Wasn't it around six they set out? Kyle interrupted her thoughts. "One piece of advice. Don't dispose your bottle just yet. You never know when it will come handy. Big sis gave everyone a carton of cereal as a bonus for a good job. But you only got half a dozen because you are a volunteer and not a full-time worker. I saved it for you, along with mine. Notwithstanding, we can always share, just as I shared your delicious tasting roll with you. Tell me your dad got it for you in the morning from that cool cafe right next to our promo spot. Or, maybe he isn't your dad, huh? Boyfriend?" he paused for a reply. Not getting any, he continued. "So, if he isn't your dad, then who is he? And why did you evade him? Are you running away from home? Or did you do something pretty bad?" he rambled on.
April merely stared at him, like he was a beautiful bird entertaining her ears. "Uhm... I don't like him. He didn't seem to have good intentions." she simply said. Kyle nodded as though he understood.
"Ooh... I see ... Then how about now? I mean this evening. Why did you evade your dad?"
Her brows went high. "My dad?!" she never pointed her dad to him while they hurried off. So how did he know that was her dad, and despite how busy they seemed to have been with their promo advert, how was he able to observe her and Frank so closely. What if it was Adrian who sent him? It couldn't be impossible. "Did you really see my dad?" she wished he would tell her the truth.
His phone rang that moment, and he excused himself from the car. April felt goosebumps on her skin as he stepped out. What if Adrian indeed sent him, or the baldy guy? As much as he wasn't creepy at all, but rather smart, cool, free and easygoing, she wasn't sure she could trust him. Two thoughts popped up in her head. It was either she sneaked out before he returned, or she went to eavesdrop on his call where he stood, a few metres away from the car. But the more she thought about it, the weaker she felt. On a last thought though, she grabbed her bags, not forgetting her food. Luckily, he had spared her enough and had not eaten greedily.
She took one last look behind, where he was still making his call, gesticulating wildly. She opened the door quietly, glancing around. No one was present, neither was anything in sight, save the fenced houses that lined the area. Taking a deep breath, she finally stepped out, stooping low, to avoid being seen. She didn't want to think or care about her destination, not minding the time. All She needed was to get out and save her life. She was about to take another step after taking one last look at Kyle, to be sure he was still there, when she suddenly bumped into a big sturdy body. Her heart stopped.
"Where do you think you are heading to?" the deep gruff voice bellowed. His breath stank of alcohol and cigarettes. She whimpered and struggled not to wet her pants. Could life be any easier for her?
"Are you deaf?!" he pushed her back roughly. She staggered back, hitting the car as her bags dropped to the floor. He proceeded to hurt her further but Kyle intervened. He caught his arm and twisted it round, just like Adrian did to one of the street bums back then. He didn't let go of the man till he groaned in pain, before finally pushing him off as he staggered back and landed on the floor, still groaning, and writhing.
"Never mind. He is just a drunk." Kyle spat. "By the way, where do you think you are headed? You know your way around here or something? Or let me guess. You don't trust me, do you?" He leaned so close towards her that she could feel his breath. She sniffed back her tears. She couldn't even wish she was back home because they were losing it already, and though her dad claimed he had found another apartment, she doubted it was true. Now, she felt stuck in the middle of nowhere with a strange friend.
"Come on, say something." Kyle urged, still in his usual smiley, friendly demeanor, which she didn't know what to make of. Because unlike that baldy, he wasn't creepy one bit. She just felt something felt off, but she couldn't place a finger on it.