Chapter 25: Six Years Ago pt. 19

"Xander, turn left." Rian said in a serious tone.

She has now gotten a hold of herself. It her first time being under such situation but she hose to remain calm ang guide Xander to the road which she is familiar.

Xander without wasting any moment steered the wheel to the left.

Rian looked back to check and saw the van that is still tailing them.

She pointed her finger in a dark alley that they are approaching telling Xander to drive that way.

When they reached the said alley, the van failed to go after them because it was too big for the narrow alley.

Finally, both Rian and Xander got to breathe in relief now that they have escaped the eyes of their pursuer.

"Let's continue going this way." She said leaning her back. "This alley will bring us to a highway of the nearby town."

"That's great." Xander glanced at her. His worry about her lately is now gone. He thought she will be disoriented by what happened but she quickly managed to pull herself together.

"You did great earlier. We wouldn't able to get away without you." He praised her which caused a slight smile on her face. She said nothing in reply.

They are now hitting the highway. It was already past seven in the evening and Rian's stomach started to grumble expressing it's emptiness.

She was embarrassed and looked down but in the corner of her eyes, he saw him smirk.

"What would you like for dinner." He casually asked.

She turned her head toward his direction. "Anything would be fine."

"Then let's have Pisto tonight."

*Pisto is the Spanish version of France’s ratatouille, Italy’s caponata or Turkey’s imam bayildi. It's a hearty vegetable stew cooked with tomatoes, red and green peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, and loads of olive oil.

"How about some steak then?"

"Why, you don't like Pisto?" He asked. "Oh, is it because it's mainly vegetables?"

Rian pouted, since she was a kid she was never a fan of vegetables. But Pisto, the Spanish dish that Xander mentioned is a ratatouille dish. Meaning it is composed of stewed vegetables, commonly, seasoned with a good amount of herbs and spices, onions and garlic.

Xander already knew this but he still suggested in case that she wouldn't know what is Pisto since it is a foreign dish for her. He planning on tricking her on eating it so that she would get to eat something healthy besides the calories, carbohydrates, and sugar that she always always intakes.

He have no choice but to agree to her request since he doesn't to force her on doing what she doesn't want to.

"I guess we'll be having steak then."

"Alright", she grinned.

"But I'll also make some Pisto." He said making Rian look at him. "You should at least eat the eggplant there. You eat eggplants don't you?"

"O—okay." She pouted but agreed to his idea.

"Goodness you, you should watch out for diabetes." He said and looked at her who also looked back at him.

She smirked. "If I ever acquire diabetes, then I'll die because of sweetness." She giggled.

"You're crazy", he scoffed at her.

"Why? I think dying because of sickness is more better than being killed bu those guys who's after my life." She said nonchalantly but it made Xander flinch.

"You won't die." He said firmly. "Not when I'm here." He assured her, their eyes locked at each other. Both were taken a back by what he just said. It was his job to make her safe but it sounded like it was more than a duty he needed to fulfill.

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It was a slip of a tongue or rather a pent up feeling I was dying to tell her.

I saw it in her eyes that she also felt the underlying meaning behind my words. It too late to take it back now nor do I regret uttering those words.

She already suffered enough and still suffering without anyone truly encouraging her.

Those were the last words I said to her before hearing a loud crash that took away my consciousness.

"You're awake?" I heard a unfamiliar female voice by mi side as I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry and all I can see is the white ceiling of the unfamiliar room. I felt that I was lying, I tried to sit down and felt dizzy.

"You can't move too much yet." The female was alarmed when I forced myself to sit at the bed's corner.

I looked at her, she was dressed with a white scrub. I looked at the surroundings and saw other bed's in the room with patients in them. When I looked at my right hand, it was pierced by a catheter connected to an ivey drop that is hanging by my bedside.

"A hospital?" I murmured. My head feels like spinning in drowsiness.

"Please lay at you back." The nurse assisted me to lie. "Do you feel any discomfort besides the lethargic feeling you're having?"

I shook my head in response to her question as I remained in a supine position.

"Then, do you remember anything before losing your consciousness?"

"That's right! Rian! Where is she?" I became excited and jumped out of bed and was about to storm out of that room.

The nurse stopped me. "Please calm down. Calm down first."

People were staring at me. The nurse then guided me back to my bed.

"You were in a car accident last night." She started. "You were sent here by an ambulance that responded after receiving a report about an accident last night." She explained.

"How about Rian?" I asked frantically.

"You were sent here alone so I don't know about that Rian person you are talking about." She responded.

My shoulders dropped as I felt weak. I was left in a daze.

They got her. Fuck! They got here while I was right beside her! Shit!

I grabbed my hair in frustration and anger. I saw my phone at above the bedside table and quickly took it to call Rian.

It was ringing but no one's picking up. I dialed and dialed again, but to no avail.

I was huffing in anger. My chest felt like it was gonna explode because of the mixed emotions I am currently feeling.

I don't know where she is or what happened to her. I don't know where to find her. How could I let her disappear out of my sight when I was just next to her?

I was so disappointed at myself when my phone vibrated from a notification.

My soul jumped when I saw that it was a message from Rian's number. My heart was pounding as I read her text.

*'Yo Xander, are you out there? How have you been dude? Man, you really gave our brothers a tough time finding you. But I think you're doing great since you're hanging with this beautiful girl that's beside me. I didn't know you were into young bitches. She looks kinda pretty though but I thought she'll look more prettier with tied up with some blood on her face.

I was breathless in anger as I was reading it. That greeting is familiar. I only know one person who calls me dude and greets me with 'yo frequently.

**"Pablo Bardales" I gritted my teeth as I clenched my fist.

So he has come personally to kill me.

*Come at this address if you want to save your little whore.

Below this last message was a photo of Rian tied in a chair, he mouth taped and her forehead have traces of blood pouring from it.

Upon seeing the picture, my blood surge to my brain. I felt like my veins are about to explode.

**"I'm going to fucking kill you Pablo!"