How Things Changed Forever.. PART - II

CH 57: Couple Complement Cup-Cakes

Hillary drew in a shaky breath, forcing herself to focus. "It was... a normal day. My father had left for a business trip a week ago. Some emergency had come up at my mum's workplace too, she had also left a day ago."

Hillary shrugged then, "They usually make sure at least one of them is in the city at all times, but things do slip up sometimes. So, I was home alone for two days. I went through my usual routine. Had swim practice early in the morning. Then school. It was a hectic day, just a day before the fundraiser."

"I stayed back for an hour and a half after school hours, but everyone in the club did that day. I didn't get time for some personal practice that day, so had to go straight to evening practice again." She glanced up briefly to make sure he was still following.

"Cassie told me it was a test day. And an important one, as the nationals were just a fortnight away," Kai added quietly.

"You talked to Cassie about this?" she asked, frowning.

Kai shook his head. "No, we were talking in general. She was telling me how the coach said you did better than her as subtly as possible."

Hillary's lips twitched but she couldn't bring herself to smile. "Yeah, it was testing day, but I don't remember what the coach told me. I remember that the coach wanted to talk to me after practice, but everything's hazy from there. I think she wanted to talk to Cassie too. I remember passing her outside the main office when she was stepping out of the coach's cabin."

Kai gave the tiniest nod, encouraging her to keep going. "I went in after her. I remember sitting across from the coach. I remember her saying something, but..." She swallowed. "It's all foggy after that. I can't remember the actual conversation. Just... pressure in my head."

Kai's grip on her hand tightened ever so slightly. He didn't interrupt.

"I think I went to the locker room after that. It was empty. I must've gotten dressed... I have flashes of pulling my sweatshirt on, drying my hair... but it's a big blank after that."

Her voice grew quieter. "The next clear memory I have — I was in that alley. I had been gazing at the stars but not really seeing them for a long time. The first thing I registered was that I was cold. I couldn't feel my legs properly. My head was pounding, my throat was raw. My whole body was sore... and my cold urticaria had already set in."

"The rashes... they were worse than I'd ever experienced. I must have been in the snow for a long time. I didn't even know where I was when I finally got up. I just wanted to go home. I was just trying to find the main road when you found me." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And then I blacked out, again. You know the rest."

The silence between them was no longer awkward. Kai's thumb brushed against her knuckles once, then stopped.

The waitress returned with their food, forcing a pause in the conversation. Hillary pulled her hand back slowly, letting go of his warmth. She quickly wiped her tears.

"We're still missing something," Hillary said after the waitress left.

Kai stared down at his steaming noodles, not answering right away. "I think," he said finally, "whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. No hesitation. No trail." He looked at her again, his voice tighter.

Hillary was playing with her food now. "What makes you think it was a 'he', Kai?"

Kai blinked, then let out a quiet breath and rolled his eyes—not out of irritation, but like someone who found the question oddly timed. "Seriously?"

Her gaze didn't waver. "You just sound so sure. Why a man?"

He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in thought before answering. "Because that's what statistics suggest Hillary. Most acts of violence, especially street violence, are carried out by men. That's not a guess. It's just fact."