Missing You

Unknown Past

Your own memories can lie to you, no one is sure what happened. They buried everything and act as nothing happens. You're afraid to know what happened that night, but digging it was the only choice to find the answers to your what-ifs.

There was a young lady named Ryleigh Garcia also known as Lei, who have trouble sleeping. Every time she sleeps, her dream is always showing the guy with no face. Every night, different scenarios but with the same guy. It's not new to her because it started when she was 18 years old. But it still gives her the chills because she's curious about the guy in her dreams. She's scared of being alone because her parents are not with her, her younger sister is dead because of an accident and her parents are abroad. They're far from Lei but they still support and gave her the money that she spent on her everyday expenses. Her parents leaving in the country's reason was unknown, her parents just said that they want a vacation but it's almost 9 years and they didn't come back for Lei. Lei has so many questions in her mind that need answers but she's afraid of knowing the answers herself. Ryhlei has a problem with interacting with people, it all started when she was 18. It was the time when her younger sister died, everyone was blaming her for her younger sister's death. Lei was the only one who's clueless about the accident of her younger sister.

Everyone was looking at her, judging her, calling her a murderer, and even her parents are mad at her. Lei was also mad at herself because she's clueless, she doesn't even know anything. Everyone thinks that she's playing an act and acting like a victim. Lei thinks that it was the reason why her parents suddenly leave her without telling her.

At first, she was scared being all alone at their house but she got used to it and now she thinks that being alone is also at peace. She can only talk to her parents when it's her birthday. And her friends visit her every Christmas so that she can be happy even once a year. 

Lei trusts nobody. She knows that everyone around her is suspicious of her. She promised herself not to trust anybody, even her parents. She's hiding resentment from everyone. And the most painful feeling for her is that she feels that she's all alone even she's with her friends. 

Until Lei decided to live like she's dead. She blocked all of her friend's numbers and locked herself in the house, living at peace. 

One day while she was cleaning her parent's room she accidentally drop her mother's favorite book. When she picked it up, it was a heavy book that can feel like backbones can c***k anytime. Many questions came into her mind when she saw a photo at the end of the page of the book. The photo was old as the page of the book of her mother. There were 2 girls and a boy in the photo, and it shows the love they had for each other. Lei smiled when she saw the photo, but she feels jealous because her mother told her that her childhood days were boring, she never go out of their house. The photo was taken at the Hundred Islands located at Pangasinan. Lei flipped the photo and she saw 3 letters at the back of the photo. "S&W" was the only clue she has in this photo and she even got more curious when she suddenly saw the ring in the girl's hand. It was the same ring that she has and it's from her father.

Curiosity is troubling Lei, when she's looking at the photo, she feels like it was one of the answers she's looking for.

The curiosity brought Lei to the Pangasinan, she asked the way to Hundred Island. And after the long ride, she finally arrived at the Hundred Island. Lei was excited but afraid at the same time because it was her first trip alone.

Everyone was welcoming her at the beach, but she ignored them because she was blinded by the beauty of the sea. The sun was bright and Lei feels like the sun is greeting her. The smell of the sea feels like it can hypnotize you. And the trees were dancing and swaying with the wind. Lei was happy and it can see through her eyes that it was worth it. She decided to stay in the hotel near the beach for 1 week. She always wanted to go to the Pangasinan, but before, something was stopping her. This time, the curiosity brought her, and finally, she's ready to dig what and where did it all start. 

She went to the nearest hotel to book a room. She took a shower and went outside for a walk. 

She don't know where she'll start and what questions will she ask, until someone approached her. He asked her if she's okay or being lost at the beach but Lei ignored her. He followed her secretly so that Lei won't feel uncomfortable, but it was the opposite. Lei noticed that he followed her, she stopped walking to talk to the guy who keeps following her. The guy smiled awkwardly and introduced himself "Hi, I'm Crhys Smith or you can call me Rhys".

. Lei ignored him again and started walking to her room. When she arrived at her room, she locked the door and started to think about how she can find the children in the photo without asking for help. She took a glimpse outside to see if the guy followed her. But she saw that there is no one out, she went outside for a walk. 

While walking, she was startled when the guy suddenly appeared in front of her 

"Are you avoiding me? Why is tha--" He's sentence cut off when Lei punched him because she's surprised. 

"Oh, I--I'm sorry," Lei said with the guilt face. 

But Lei was more surprised when Rhys said "I didn't expect that you're quite strong" 

Lei feels responsible for what happened, she runs to her room to get something and Rhys thought that she was avoiding her again. But surprisingly, Lei brought medicine and give it to Lei to treat his self. 

Rhys smiled and thought that Lei will treat her, but it turned out that she'll leave him with the medicine. 

Rhys smiled and shouted for Lei to hear him, " Ahh, yes, I'm gonna treat myself because IT'S MY FAULT TO FOLLOW A GIRL WHO NEEDS HELP". 

Lei laugh and went to her room to rest. 

The next day, Lei went to the Island without getting bothered by Rhys. She was looking at the guy he bumped into or also known as Rhys. Lei suddenly run into that guy named Rhys.

"Are you looking for someone? or are you looking for me"

 She avoided eye contact with him but he suddenly grab Lei's hand and told her to run as fast as she can. They run happily while holding each other's hands. Lei didn't notice that she was smiling when they finished running. Then Lei's eyes were shining like a diamond when she saw where she was taken by Rhys. Rhys brought her to his favorite spot, the top of the mountain where you can see the beauty of the island. Rhys was happy to see Lei's reaction. But Lei suddenly asked him why did they run all of a sudden. Rhys answered her and told her that the big cat was after him. Lei laugh for the first time in front of a guy and Rhys cut the mood. Out of nowhere, he seriously said that Lei was the second girl he brought to his favorite spot, first was his childhood best friend. Rhys told Lei that he don't know the name of his best friend because they call each other Summer and Winter. 

"Why? Why are you telling this to me? I'm not interested in you or anybody" Lei said to cut the mood.

Rhys laugh and replied, "Oh, I thought you're interested."

Lei asked Rhys why did he bring her there to his favorite spot when he doesn't know her name. Rhys avoided the question and he asked Lei a question, he asked why is she at the beach.

 She answered Rhys and said, "I'm here for answers". To avoid further questions, Lei asked Rhys where is her best friend. Then Rhys make a serious face and said that her best friend vanished a long time ago and no one knows where she is.

After the chit-chat, they decided to go down the mountain and enjoy the fireflies they saw. Lei seat on the bench while Rhys sits in front of her. In the middle of their conversation, Rhys complimented her ring, Lei smiled and told Rhys that it was from her father. Lei suddenly got a glitch from one of her dreams about the faceless guy. Her head starts to hurt and she suddenly feels dizzy. Rhys asked her if she's feeling unwell, then Lei asked Rhys that she wants to go home early.

When she got home, she think of what happened. A sudden glitch of her faceless guy in her dreams when he's with Rhys? Lei talked to herself.

"It doesn't make sense Lei, Rhys can't be the faceless guy in my dreams. Maybe I'm just tired." 

She took a shower and sleep. 

Next Morning.....

She opens her bag and looks into the photo to study the details. She decided to ask a question to the neighborhood because she has a feeling that the old resident can answer her questions.

Lei asked every single person she run into. Until one old lady approaches her to help her out. The old lady invites her to come for lunch and Lei has no choice but to come for answers. In the middle of eating, Lei asked her immediately who's the 2 girls and the boy in the photo. The old lady smiled at her and told her to listen carefully. 

Lei was nervous and excited at the same time because she will know what happened. When the old lady started to tell the story. An unknown number popped up on her notification and tries to call her. She answered the call and she was surprised that it was her father. She run into the hotel and went to her room for good internet. They talked through the phone. Lei was smiling ear to ear while talking to her father. They talked about each other's day. It was her first time, talking to her father that long. 

Lei didn't tell to her father that she's not home. Because when her father knows that she's at Pangasinan, her parents will send her abroad.

After they talk, Lei went outside to have dinner at the nearest store. While walking, she saw Rhys sitting on the bench. 

"Rhys, what are you up to? Do you have time?".

Rhys answered and tease Lei, "Excuse me? Do I know you?" 

Lei looks upset, she leaves Rhys on the bench and continues to walk. Rhys laugh and followed her. 

They went to the nearest store and had instant noodles. They eat, tease, and laugh together like they were close friends. 

After they finished the noodles Rhys invites her to his house for lunch.

"Do you have time tomorrow? Let's have lunch tomorrow at my house."

"Ahm, Yes.. I have time for tomorrow, of course"

Rhys walked with Lei before they went home.

When Lei closed the door, she was smiling ear to ear and looked into the mirror, "This was the best vacation I ever had. I talked to my father about my day and I had instant noodles with my very first friend. I hope this isn't a dream, if it's a dream, I hope I don't wake up anymore." 

......

Lei took jogging and lie down on the white sand to rest.

 She get up when she heard Rhys coming, "Oh you're in love with the beach"

"Of course. This was the best vacation I ever had, I mean look at the view it's so beautiful"

Rhys stared at Lei like she was the most beautiful girl in the world and smile ear to ear. "Yes, beautiful, but why can't you just stay here? and stay..with me?" 

Lei was surprised by what she heard. She slowly looked at Rhys and she found him staring at her.

"Why? What was that? I mean, yo-you said were having lunch together. Let's go, Rhys"

"But it's still early Lei"

"Let's just go, I'm uncomfortable here."

"Already? Okay."

Rhys brought Lei to his house. Lei was surprised when he saw how clean and organized he is in his house. 

Rhys told her to sit down and wait for him. Lei took a look around his house while Rhys is cooking their food. 

After cooking, Rhys prepared their food on the table and look for Lei. He was surprised when he found her in his bedroom, reading his favorite book. 

He grabbed Lei's hand as he enter the room and push her gently to the wall. "Lei, I thought you're not interested?" Rhys said and smiled. 

Lei accidentally dropped the book because she was surprised. She's speechless and her body was stuck, she can't move. She feels like she was under the hypnotize of Rhys. When she dropped the book, Rhys grabbed her waist and pull her closer to his face. Lei closed her eyes when Rhys was about to kiss her. 

"Why did you close your eyes?" Rhys teased her. And Lei never open her eyes until she saw Rhys leaving the bedroom. She pinched herself because she was embarrassed. She went to the kitchen with her hand covering her face. 

Rhys laugh and smiles, "Don't cover your face, don't be embarrassed. I think it was the cutest thing I saw"

Rhys give her the food and they started eating. Lei can't hide her shyness because of what happened. Rhys loves to tease her because he knows he always wins.  

After they eat, Lei washed the dishes and Rhys took a shower. Lei takes a nap and rests her body.

The heavy rain wakes her up. She's worried about how she can go home with this weather. Rhys was done showering and went to his bedroom with no shirt on and only wearing a towel. He was about to put on a t-shirt when he heard Lei screaming. He went outside of his room and Lei run into her. Lei hugged Rhys and cried aloud. Rhys was surprised because of the hug and because he forgot to put on a t-shirt. 

"Lei, what happened? are you okay?"

"No, Actually.. to be honest, I'm afraid of lightning."

"Me too, I mean, I'm not okay too because I need to put on clothes. because you know, I'm only wearing a towel."

Lei stopped hugging him and was shocked by his body. She didn't realize that she was hugging a shirtless guy. Rhys runs to his room and puts clothes on. He took three deep breaths before he go out to calm Lei. 

He went outside of his room and looked for Lei. She found Lei hiding under the table. Rhys put his hands on Lei's ears to cover them and calm her. Lei can't hear anything but only her heart, beating fast as Rhys helped her to calm. Lei's fear slowly disappeared, her heart was beating faster like a drum when she saw Rhys looking at her eyes. She cried because she felt safe in Rhys's company. 

Rhys get her hand and put it around his neck to lift her and put her in his bedroom. While walking, Lei's eyes are only looking for Rhys. Rhys slowly put her down on the bed and told her to get rest. 

But Lei grabbed his hand and said "Can't you just stay here? with me? I'm really scared--" 

Lei's sentence was cut off when Rhys suddenly grabbed her waist and kissed her forehead. It was the sweetest. Lei was speechless, the only word that come out of her mouth was "Rhys.."

After he kissed her forehead, he kissed her lips and smiled. Rhys looked into Lei's eyes and hugged her tight. 

"You don't need to worry, I'll never leave you. Okay?" 

Lei smiled and went to sleep with Rhys. They sleep together, Lei hold onto Rhys's shirt to make sure that he'll never leave her. Rhys never sleeps until he can feel that Lei was sound asleep.

 Rhys's suddenly cried and went outside to cry all of his heart. "Sorry I can't keep my promise to you. Iloveyou, Lei" After he cried, he went inside the bedroom and sleep beside Lei.

Morning at 8 am .. 

Lei woke up without Rhys in her side. She went to the kitchen and saw Rhys's note that he went outside for a walk. Rhys prepared breakfast for her. After Lei eat, she went outside to look for Rhys. 

While walking she saw a whole family having breakfast at a simple restaurant, a simple breakfast that Lei wants. She smiled and continue to walk and she bumped into the old lady. It was the old lady before, Lei smiled and the old lady invites her again to her house. The old lady's house was old as she was but it was clean and it smell like a flower. 

The old lady prepared a coffee, Lei was excited and nervous at the same time because it sound like the old lady was the only answer she has. 

"If you want to know what really happened in your past, I need you to be strong and ready. Listen carefully, you need to be ready." The old lady's warning. It's not even starting but Lei feels like she was the reason for her sister's death.

TO BE CONTINUED...