My Missing Girl

13. that's time

In Alex's car, it felt like he was trapped in a cave in the winter. How not, along the way the fierce stare of Fred was so intimidating to him. When Alex looks at that from the front rearview mirror to sees Hannah in there. He gets a terrible stare from Fred sitting next to Hannah.

 Alex is a little sorry for taking Fred home together. It shouldn't be this what Alex wants, all he imagines is just going home alone with Hannah and on the way, there will be sweet moments like in the romance movie. But, it's only in Alex's imagination.

 It's the opposite of what happened, he feels like he's a private driver now. How can Hannah and Alex sit together in the passenger seat? and Alex drives the car.

 It happened a while ago when they were about to slide home. Fred arrives and says  unwilling to sit alone in the back seat because he is uncomfortable sitting alone in a stranger's car,

"Hannah"

 Fred called Hannah when she was about to get in the front passenger seat, by which time Alex had opened her car door and let Hannah in. But Fred's call stopped Hannah,

"Yes, Fred?"

"Can you keep me company?"

"Keeping your company?" asked Hannah.

"Stay with me in the back, I don't dare"

Hannah laughs at her place for not being able to stand Fred's funny behavior, while Alex stares cynically at Fred for reasons he doesn't get into.

 "I'm serious, Hannah. Why are you laughing at me?" asked Fred with his sad - cute face.

 "I'm sorry because you're so cute Fred. But why don't you dare?" Hannah approached Fred and asked him.

"I'm not used to getting in other people's cars, I'm uncomfortable."

"Ahh, like that."

 Hannah glanced at Alex at a glance, then Alex nodded there. Because he understands what Hannah's stare means.

"Okay, I'll sit with you."

 If Alex imagines what has happened, it's like he wants to get angry. Especially when Fred smiles at him when he can persuade Hannah, the boy feeling to win from Alex.

 The state of the car becomes more and more recessed when Alex and Fred face each other from the front rearview mirror. Hannah didn't realize that because she was just starting at the car.

Hannah called Alex to stop the tension.

"Yes," Hannah replied and turned the attention from outside the window forward to stare at Alex.

"We'll go tomorrow?"

"Of course, we're going to buy some necessities on our assignments."

"Do you have another job after that?"

 "No, I should have a picket at the hospital. But I've got permission, so it doesn't matter."

"Will you go with me after that?"

From Alex's rearview mirror, he saw Hannah thinking there. Alex hopes Hannah doesn't refuse to take him.

"Not a bad idea,"

Alex is very happy when he hears Hannah's answer, and he turns his back on Fred and shows off his proud smile for getting Hannah's approval.

"You're just little boy, not my rival " murmured Alex there and smiled fiercely at Fred.

               ***

After delivering Fred to his house, it's Alex's turn to take Hannah to her house. Literally and the original plan should have been Hannah who got home first. But Alex deliberately crossed the route he used to take, so Hannah's place didn't pass, so had to turn around to get to the place.

 "I'm sorry, Hannah. I forgot that this road doesn't go through your house, "Alex lied about what he said because he did it on purpose so he could be alone with Hannah.

"I should have apologized, Al, because I bothered you."

"I don't feel bothered, Hannah."

"Hannah!" Alex calls Hannah more.

"Why?"

"Aren't you hungry?"

 "I'm not too hungry. Why?"

"If you want, I'll take you to dinner. I'm a little hungry."

Alex has a lot of reasons and is good at stalling. He just wants to be with Hannah longer. Hopefully, Hanna will. Alex said it as he had it in his heart.

"Okay, what do you want to eat?"

"What do you like?"   

"Whatever I like, just don't seafood I'm allergic to seafood."

"Do you like Japanese food?"

"Like it!!"

"I have a good restaurant subscription, let's go there."

***

Upon arrival, Fred was angry was not clear. After laying down the bag and changing his uniform into a home dress, Fred headed to the living room following his mother.

Fred's mouth was comatose – Thursday was not clear because he was upset by what happened today. Where the old man (read Alex) manages to take Hannah away, Fred is annoyed that the old man is cleverly playing tactics, the proof is that he deliberately took a path opposite Hannah's residence, so that Alex could throw Fred (driving Fred first) and he could just be alone with Hannah.

"What are you doing, boy?" asked Jessica to her son.

"I'm angry, Mom!"

Jessica was confused, feeling that this morning her son was fine. Did something happen at the school that made him angry like this?

"What makes you angry? Did you get in trouble at school?"

"No"

"So?"

I'm bad because of the old man who took Hannah from me.” Fred complained to the mother.

Jessica's getting confused there. What does the son mean? Old man? Hannah? who are they?. Jessica has never even heard the name from her son's mouth.

"Who are they? Why don't I know"

"Hannah was a friend of mine, she helped me this morning."

"Help? What do you mean? "

Seriously, Jessica's getting confused by her son's behavior.  It's only been Fred's day in Vancouver but he's been acting weird like this. Jessica needs to talk seriously with her son. Otherwise, there will be a misunderstanding between them.

"Can you tell me the details? I don't mean, boy."

Ahh, yes. Fred forgets if his mother doesn't know Hannah or the old man (read Alex). So even if he's babbling at length the mother won't understand.

"So Mom, Hannah is..."

Fred recounted the details of this morning's incident and expressed his frustration to Alex to his mother. Everything Fred told me without anything he did today and what him off.

"I don't think there's anything wrong, Fred. It's his right to be alone with his friends."

"But Mom, that old man sucks. He deliberately crossed the main road to throw me away."

Fred doesn't accept his mother's defense of Alex's behavior.

"You like Hannah?," asked Jesica to the point, because she was fond of her son's behavior.

Shamelessly Fred replied, "Yes I like Hannah, she is kind and sweet when smiling."

"I love her smile,"

"But you're the first time you've seen it, Fred. It's that easy?"

Fred nods "Falling in love knows no time, mom"

Jessica froze there, the son's behavior just got weirder but it looks so cute. Without planning or anything Fred immediately said if he fell in love with a woman. All that's to say is that she's a stranger because Fred just got to know her.

But stop it, let it go. Jessica doesn't want to think about it, but her son is still a teenager. It's worth it if he feels that way, the feeling of adolescence towards his pre-adulthood. So Jessica did what her son said. Later also forget yourself, it is known that young people are thrilled with the name of first love at first sight, such as the story of the story that there is an Asian drama.

"Is she pretty, boy?"

"Of course, Hannah is very pretty."

Jessica smiled because of it, her only son turned out to be big. And understand about beautiful women and romance. But Jessica hopes it's only temporary because she doesn't want Fred to fall in love with any woman.