Secondhand Memories (Pioneer English Cell Phone Novel)

Phone Call

Chapter 19

Phone Call

I stood there in shock, numb for a few seconds.
My body wouldn't respond.

Like the sound of automatic gunfire,
only thoughts shot through my head.

Who was he?
What's going on?
What does he mean?
Was she in danger?
Was this a kidnapping?
What was he doing with her?
Was this a joke?

Come alone?
The police was not an option.
What did he want with us?

There was no way this was happening to me.
A dream. It must be a dream.

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Chapter 20

Phone Call

I was sweating.
Whether it was the heat or not, I didn't know.

The longer I waited,
the more certain it was.

It was no dream.
It was no nightmare.

My muscles tensed.

What if something happened to her?
Could I live without her?

Like a kick in the back,
I stumbled forward.

I realized I couldn't let that happen.

I had to find her.

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Chapter 21

Phone Call

I raced through the neighbourhood into the school.
The sun flashed by, scattering its rays through the windows.
In a few minutes I was speeding through the deserted hallways.

The windows were only source of light,
a merciless light, searing my flesh,
every time my shadow flitted past.

Thousands of memories flooded back.
I could see Aoi and I on the rooftop together
eating our home made lunches.
I could see my friends laughing and joking.
I could hear the voices of the students.
They were echoing, echoing through the dark stairwells,
filling empty classrooms with chairs in disarray.

But I brushed away the thoughts.
Memories couldn't affect me now.

I didn't know who he was,
but I knew I was going to do everything I could to save her.

If I had to fight, if it meant to protect her, I would.
I knew I would even die for her if I had to.

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Chapter 22

Phone Call

I got up on the rooftop in record time.

We always used to eat here. 
My friends and I would climb over the frayed fence 
and like delinquents, hang our feet off of the roof edge. 

Three years ago, 
it was here that I gave Aoi a present on White Day, 
another day abundant with sugar and sweets,
pastel colored blue, pinks and whites,
exactly one month after Valentine’s.

I had received a mountain of presents from girls in my classes, 
for the first time, I realized people were actually paying attention to me. 
And for the first time, I made a decision.
I confessed to Aoi.

Emerging out of the stairwell, the sun was bearing down hard. 
I tried not to squint as I scanned the rooftop. 
It was in the same state as it was years ago.

But with one glance I could tell it was empty.

She wasn’t here.