The lights of the small town of King City, the lights bright and shiny. I was at a gas station in the city, trying to buy a snack for dinner. They had burritos today, but they were just left over breakfast burritos but I'll take it. I bought it and started to hang around the gas station for when I finished, and to buy a dessert when I was done.
I ate the food I had. I didn't have a place to sleep tonight, Mango is working a night shift and I had forgotten my key when I left the apartment. I would have to find her car and sleep in there until she comes back. I have an extra pair of keys for her car on me at all times. But I still tend to forget my house keys. It's crazy.
After I had finished my dinner, I walked back into the gas station. I got stares from the employee there, typical. It might seem strange that I do that but I just don't want to walk more than I have to. I went to the freezers and looked at the ice cream options. I decided on cookies and cream. I have had chocolate chip chunk ice cream for about three days now, and I'm getting tired of it. I bought the ice cream with the stares of the cashier. I just stared back nonchalantly, I didn't care at this point. If he can't figure out that this is the closest gas station from school then that's his problem.
I paid and left. I started the long walk to Mango's job as a barista in a Starbucks. It's not a lot but it pays the bills. Maybe I should get a job to help her, but I don't want her to feel like she isn't doing enough for me. She does a lot, she even still has good grades too and she works everyday. She's just crazy smart. She helps me with my homework most of the time, and helps me actually understand it better. She would be an awesome teacher, but she's always dreamt of being an owner of a cafe somewhere in a place far from here. I love that she dreams and I think she could actually do it with how much money we save. Whenever we even just see a penny on the ground we pick it up so that we can save it. At the end of the week, we count every nickel, every penny and every dollar and every tip she gets, and then we put it into the bank. It would help if I got a job but like I said, I don't want her to feel like she isn't enough.
I guess I'll just ponder upon the idea, just to make her happy. Maybe I could even apply where she works. Or nearby.
After thirty minutes of walking, I got a call from someone. It was Mango, and I had missed a call from her earlier. I picked up the call and she had a panic in her voice.
"Val, where are you? I need to pick you up." Mango gasped.
"I'm a few miles away from the gas station. Why? What's wrong?" I asked.
"I-I-I. You know what? I can't explain it, I've been trying to get a hold of you for hours." She seemed really upset, like she was crying.
"I'm sorry, my phone was off. I'll just keep walking until I see you, I'm close to that creepy motel near the fancy apartments. "
"Good. Bye, love you."
"Love you too," I hung up.
I wonder what's so urgent, is she getting Chayton and Catori? If it's family urgent then she should totally go get them, I mean, unless it's about Nox's parents, then I don't care.
I saw her car pull up on the side of the road. I hopped in the front seat and looked at her. She had been crying.
"Where are we going? What's the matter?" I asked, patting her shoulder.
"We're gonna go get C-Chayton and Catori, they need to come with us." Mango sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"Oh, where are they?" I smiled shyly.
"They're at A-Aunt Aponi's place." She weeped.
"Is Aunt Aponi coming too?"
She nodded slowly. I looked at my ice cream. I was just trying to live my poor life in the best way I can, and now this. I don't even know what this is, I wonder what happened. Is someone hurt? I can't imagine anyone getting hurt. I hope everyone is okay. But, now the only question is who got hurt? It's not my parents, I would've been called first. It's not Aunt Aponi or Mom. At least I don't think so. What about Aunt Hyun? What would've Aunt Hyun thought about her son? But, I would've gotten a call from Nox's step-mom first and I would've gotten a call from Nari too. Nari would be devastated, I wonder how she would react.
I seriously don't know who it could be. I've only crossed out two people.
My leg started to shake, without me even knowing. I soon grew anxious. All those people I listed I care about. It kills me not knowing who it was.
Before I even knew it, we arrived at the trailer park where Chayton and Catori were waiting. They hopped into the backseat. We watched as Aunt Aponi came out crying herself. She got in the car and wiped her tears. Seriously, what was going on?
"If you guys know something we don't, you can tell us, we're big kids now. I can handle whatever it is, well, we can." I smiled with my wide eyes at them.
"No, it's t-too hard to explain. We j-just want you to see, it's too sad to e-explain" Mango cried, her voice cracking.
I looked back at Chayton and Catori and they just shrugged. They didn't even know what was going on either. They were confused just as much as I was. I was scared. I hope everyone is okay. I hope they're not dead at least. I hope no one is dead.
Now that I think about it, how could any of us die? Nox can't because he's locked in his room all day. And Nari is happy and is friends with everyone, Nari loves her college clubs. I'm so happy she got full financial aid, she really deserves it. I mean, valedictorian? And juggling a job? And being in tons of sports and clubs in high school? She's amazing like that. She does more than I ever could.
I looked toward Aponi again, toward my cousins. Aponi was weeping quietly and my cousins were on their phones, playing games. This was an adventure for us, but it won't end well. I wish they would just tell us! It's not that hard. I mean, it looks devastating but I need to know.
I texted my cousins on our group chat.
Val 🇬🇭
Hey, yall what the heck is going on???
ChayChay
Idk, but mom has been crying for like 20 minutes before you guys got here
Val 🇬🇭
really? did you guys hear something???
Tori ⚡
I just heard her get a call and then after like three minutes she started crying. I could hear her through the walls,
Val 🇬🇭
Mango won't say anything about it, she just called me and said that she needed to pick me up immediately.
ChayChay
is that why you have ice cream in your lap, that is most likely melting.
Tori ⚡
Oooo, ice cream can I have some?
Val 🇬🇭
No, but i'll buy yall some later
Nothing. But it's something sad and it kills me to not know. My stomach was hurting from all the stress happening. My cousin Chayton started praying for whoever was hurt. I bit my lower lip, thinking about whatever happened.
I realized we were rolling up to where Nox lived, I knew it because I walk there everyday. I knew the route but I got scared. I'm just praying that it isn't any of my cousins. I saw Chayton and Catori look outside, realizing we were pulling up to his neighborhood. I could almost read their thoughts. "What happened to our little cousin?" I was thinking that too.
The panic set in. I saw ambulance lights and police cars. I got close to the car window, staring as we pulled up to the driveway. Mango started to cry with Aponi as we got out. I could see that Catori panicked and almost started to hyperventilate. The nurses were blocking the way so I couldn't see anyone. I got closer, my cousins followed close behind. I stopped halfway to the nurses, and tried to see past them.
They moved out of the way and I saw it. Nox, on a stretcher with his parents surrounding it. His siblings were standing around, not knowing what to do. I looked toward Nox's father, Rome.
I don't know what got into me but I knew how bad Rome treats his kids, and that made me upset. I loathe that poor excuse for a father. I ran toward him, ready to punch him. The police got me and pulled me back. Aponi yelled for me to get back and my cousins stood in shock. I tried to break away from them, I wouldn't let him get away with this, he probably hit him, or tried to hurt him. The police had me cuffed and sat me down on the ground. I yelled Nox's name, only to see him not respond. I looked around. Where is Nari? She would be here.
Aponi sat next to me and cried on my shoulder. Mango hopped in the ambulance to keep him company just in case he woke up. Chayton and Catori sat beside me as well.
"Where's Nari?" I asked in a huff.
Aponi cried more. "She's gone, Val! She died hours ago! Her body was never found" She shouted in agony.
She was gone.
It's all his fault. Nari is dead because of him, Nox is injured because of him. It's all him, this would've never happened if he was a good dad. I stared at him the whole time as he just watched his son get taken away in an ambulance, no emotion at all. What would Hyun think? Does she know? What will she think?
My two cousins are gone, who will be next?