Chapter 14: Where are you?

(Jairo POV)

We got under the basement. That troublesome girl! Did she really want to die?!

"Jairo! Shun! Where are you?" I could hear Shinsui’s voice.

“Press the button in Hashimaru’s table, Shinn!” I shouted for him to hear me.

“Jairo? Are you under there?” Wasn’t that obvious?

“Hurry up and pull us up!” I was really furious.

“How come that you’re under there?” Nee-chee asked.

“Jen locked us up in there!” I answered.

“So, where are the other girls?” I asked them.

“We locked them too. They wanted to go after the soldiers so Nitsuji ordered us to lock them.” Nee-chee explained.

“Shun, where are you going?” Shinsui asked.

“I’m going to rescue Jen! You guys just stay here.” He then vanished.

I was off guard. I let her vanish in front of my eyes. Not doing anything was what I fear the most. Knowing her, she would gradually sacrifice herself for other people. I was getting ready to rescue her but then...

“Where do you think you’re going, Jairo?” Nee-chee asked.

“Don’t tell me you’re going after—?” I slammed the wall.

“It’s my responsibility to look after her!” I was supposed to.

“But—!” Shinsui was cut off.

“So, why does it feel like she was the one who’s looking after me?” She just saved us just now by giving herself up.

“Calm down, Jairo.” Shinsui tried to calm me down. 

“Nitsuji, let us go! Get us out of here!” The other girls kept shouting. They were really locked up in a cell.

“I’ll beat you to pulp after this, Nitsuji!” Ken warned him.

“Why, Nitsuji?” Shy started crying.

“Why did you let Jen go alone? She is our friend, right?” It was the first time I saw Nitsuji waver. He was a very tough guy. He’s also the best leader anyone could hope for. He never showed regret in his actions but this time, I could really sense sadness in his words.

“I’m sorry, everyone.” He covered his face. He was really crying. He never really wanted to do it. It’s just...

“Please, Nitsuji. Run away with them. I know you’ll do it.” She really showed trust in him.

I knew from the start that Jen really respect Nitsuji. I didn’t know her reasons. She’s not someone who would easily trust someone. That’s why, Nitsuji did that.

It was then that Hashimaru and Hashiko returned to the base.

“Is everyone alright?” Hashimaru asked.

“You’re alive, Hashimaru?” I asked.

“Jen gave us a healing pearl.” Hashiko explained. “So where is she now?” He added.

All of us were silent.

“Okay. I understand.” Hashimaru closed his eyes for a moment.

“Can you locate where Jen is right now, Hashimaru?” I asked him deliberately.

“I’m sorry, Jairo. I can’t do that. The tracking control system was already broken.” It was then that Shiru got back from his search.

“Shun? So? Did you find her?” It was then that he presented Jen’s bloody clothes on us.

“That’s Jen’s clo—!” Nee-chee was cut off when Shy started to sob.

“What happened to Jen?” She’s crying.

“Please Shun. Did you find her? Where is she?” Ace asked Shiru.

“I found her clothes on the mountain. It was tattered and there’s blood in it.” He explained.

“She’s not dead, right? Jen’s not dead, right? Please tell us!” Ken exclaimed.

“No way. Is Jen already...?” Nee-chee teared for her.

I couldn’t just accept that. I couldn’t do it.

“Jairo...” Shinsui was worried about me.

“She’s alive.” I said.

“But, Jairo—!” Shinsui insisted still.

“Don’t you dare say that she’s dead, Shinn!” I glared at Shinsui.

“Jairo, stop it!” Hashimaru stopped me. “Your animosity is already leaking out! Calm down!” He added.

Nitsuji tapped my shoulder.

“I understand what you feel right now, Jairo.” He tried to calm me down.

“We will definitely find her. Just believe on us.” I know. I know. It’s just that I couldn’t stop blaming myself. I was there with her. I was so close to her that time yet...

***

“You guys don’t need to sacrifice yourselves to protect me, okay?”

***

I couldn’t protect her. Damn it!

We didn’t have any clue of what happened to her. She didn’t return to the university. It was also found out that the agency didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance.

It was almost six months that we didn’t hear anything about her.

Of course, Ace and the others were saddened by it. But we didn’t lose hope to find her and see her again.

We investigated her backgrounds. All of the possible places where she might be. We looked up to it but she’s nowhere to be found.

I refused to accept the fact that I won’t see her again. Even if it’s just a glance, I never stop believing that someday I’ll be able to see her again.

“I will find you. I’ll definitely find you.” I said to myself.

I really want to see her so bad.

**

“Do you have any leads of Jen’s whereabouts, Hashimaru?” Shy asked him.

“I’m sorry, Shy. I still couldn’t say if she’s alive or not.” Hashimaru seemed also saddened about it.

“Now that you mention it, Shun just disappeared the other day.” Nee-chee said.

“Maybe she’s also searching for her.” Shinsui added.

Jen, where the hell are you? If you’re alive, why won’t you come back to us? Everyone was worried sick about you.

It’s almost one year since that incident happened.

“I’m sorry. Jen already died.” Shiru said right on us.

“What are you talking about, Shiru? She’s not dead!” I grabbed Shiru’s shirt.

“Stop it, Jairo!” Shy was stopping me.

“What? Are you okay with this, Shy?” I turned and looked at them only to find all of them crying.

“I’m sorry.” Ace excused herself.

“I also didn’t want to believe that, Jairo! But it was already been a year!” Shiru explained. 

I couldn’t accept it. I won’t accept it.

I didn’t attend the classes. I was searching for her.

“You can’t die!”

***

“I promise you. I’ll find her. I’ll keep her safe.”

***

Sister, please...

Guide me to her.