It's been a week. It's been a whole week since I last saw Forest. She completely abandoned the project which is due in two weeks and she's the only one who knew the right formulas for the code. I fidget my fingers as I anxiously wait for her arrival during chemistry class.
I've been to her father's house, to the hospital, to the shop she works at – but she wasn't in any of them for the past few days. I was getting so worried, I couldn't focus on my class. I almost flunked every quiz for thinking about her but at that time, nothing mattered but her.
After class, I immediately headed to the laboratory expecting her to be there already trying to finish what she started but she wasn't. Ms. Khan sat there hopeless as we both waited for Forest's arrival.
"You're her friend right? Did she not tell you anything?"
I looked down. My heart shattering at every minute she wasn't showing up. "I can't find her anywhere, Ms. Khan." The thought of her father killing her terrified me. The last time I saw Forest was when her father told her to hide well. I'm not sure if her father is actually capable of murdering his own daughter but it was a possibility I had to consider.
"What about the father? Did you ask? Other relatives?"
"Ms. Khan, they don't have that kind of relationship for them to care about each other in times like these. I doubt his father would much care less about her." I replied in frustration. Ms. Khan didn't see him torture Forest – only I knew that. "She mentioned an aunt but I don't know about her."
Ms. Khan touched her head grunting in fury. She shakes her head. "That's it. We won't make it to the festival. It's over." I sighed in disappointment. We already worked this much for the project and for Forest to bail like this didn't make sense.
"I don't think Forest is backing out, Ms. Khan. Let's at least trust her." Forest needed the money more than I did. She worked for this harder than anyone because she needs the money for her sister. She can't turn away just like that.
"Okay." Ms. Khan nodded and clapped her hands together enthusiastically. "Go finish what you can. If she doesn't come back, I'll just have to pull another student you can work with."
Someone else I will work with? Forest is the reason why I'm here. I can't stay longer if she's not here – it defeats all my purposes. The project meant nothing to me but it mattered to Forest and that's the only string I was holding onto for staying here.
The next day, I went back to the hospital. I always lacked the courage to walk up to the information desk thinking they might kick me out if they find out I'm being a fraud but today, I'm desperate. I need to know where she is or whatever information I can get from here.
"Can I please see the records of Polar Young? I'm her older brother." I bravely said to the nurse that was appointed there. I furiously tapped my fingers over the desk unable to keep my nerves calm.
The nurse seemed hesitant at first but says, "I'll check sir." The nurse proceeds to the computer next to her and starts typing. She frowns and turns back to me so I smiled innocently. "Sir, I'm afraid the patient you're looking for is—"
"Sorry sir. You came here before already right? Asking for the same patient?" Another nurse suddenly appeared and makes the nurse that was helping me to stop. "I'm sorry sir. We can't give you information about a patient unless you're a guardian. If you may…"
I shook my head. "No, please. I really need to find—"
"Security!"
I turned around and saw a police officer walking towards my direction. I gulped in fear, turning back to the nurses hoping they'd make this guard not take me away. "Please, I need to find where Forest is! Please help me out!" When the officer got to where I was, he grabs my arms. "No, please!" I begged at the nurses but they didn't care. "Please!" I exclaimed as the officer starts dragging me out. I'm definitely banned from going here.
"Officer, please release the young man."
Huh? I looked around and saw a middle-aged woman at the back of the officer holding a big box. I stared at the woman confused and thankful at the same time.
"He's with me." The lady smiled, gesturing me to go to her. I quickly released myself from the officer and ran towards the kind lady. I almost wanted to stick my tongue out to the ones that almost dragged me out shamelessly but I didn't want to appear immature and childish after being saved by a complete stranger.
"M-Ms. Jones. We didn't know. I apologize."
"Oh, it's okay." The lady chuckles and leads me to the same room Forest's sister was placed. I was surprised because the room was already empty. I looked around tempted to ask the lady if she knew anything about the sisters. "So tell me, young boy." She started as she starts folding the white sheets that were in the bed. "What is it that you're asking about Forest?"
I turned to the lady. "It's just that she's been gone for a week and everyone's worried. We also have a project coming up and—"
"Oh dear," The lady exclaimed. "You must be that boy she's working with."
I blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry?"
She chuckled. "Felicity. I'm Forest's aunt."
My lips parted. I immediately pulled her hand to shake. "Ah, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to barge in here like that. I'm—"
"It's okay." She smiled warmly. "What's your name?"
"Mark." I replied. "Mark Lee."
"It's a pleasure to meet one of Forest's acquaintances." She nods.
"I'm sorry to ask, but her sister was here days ago. Did they transfer hospitals?" I asked trying to sound as polite as I can. "Or is her sister okay now? Was she discharged?" I added. Judging from her happy expressions, I can only conclude that she's been discharged and is already okay.
She froze for a moment before she looks at me again with a faded smile. "Polar died."
My heart immediately sank. S-She…
"She died a week ago."
Oh my god. I can feel my heart beating so fast. My knees weakened at the terrible news. It was heartbreaking even for me to just hear it. I can't imagine how Forest would feel.
"She didn't survive the last surgery she went through."
"I-I'm so sorry to hear that."
She nodded weakly. "I assume you're here to ask about Forest's whereabouts." My mind was still too shocked by this I can hardly comprehend everything else. "She made a scene here after she learned her sister's death. She didn't come back afterwards. I wish I knew where she was so I can tell you, really. She needs to properly send her sister off and her wake's ending in two days."
My stomach clenched. I've never felt this kind of pain.
Ms. Felicity looks down and scrunches the sheets she were trying to fold a few seconds ago. "I hope she's fine."
I stared at her in pity. I almost wanted to hug her to comfort her from all of this but I didn't. I was too preoccupied by everything I just found out. Now her absence made much more sense.
"I'm afraid that she might be in a dark place again." Dark place? "She tends to cut herself whenever she gets her episodes and I just can bear to lose her too after her sister." What, episodes?
"W-What do you mean, Ms. Felicity?"
She looks at me in worry. If there was a good time for me to learn everything about Forest, it was this time. Normally I would be happy but everything's too depressing to be happy. Right now, I just wanted to understand her and be there for her at a time when the world feels like it's turning against you. "Every now and then, she would have episodes about her tragic childhood."
"T-Tragic childhood? I-I don't understand. Can you please tell me more about her? I truly want to understand her but she doesn't let me know things about her."
She nods slowly. "I've met a few boys that asked about Forest," Oh. "Everyone ran off the moment I tell them about her mental state." She smiled at me and I felt my heart raced. "Forest was involved in a very tragic childhood — some would even consider it as depressing. I'm just thankful now that she's strong enough to get through everything she have been through in the past slowly." She paused. "When she was six years old, her father raped her."
I was taken aback. She was raped by her father? Her father?
"She was still so young back then to know what it meant and how it will ruin her. She couldn't talk for how terrified she was of the threats. She doesn't know what was happening. She lost her mother then so she didn't have anyone else to lean on but her father. No one to trust and talk to. She was ten when her father died leaving her with her younger sister." Polar.
"Forest was too young to be responsible of her sister even if she wanted to so they were sent to the foster care system then. And they were under the care of someone who is equally brutal as their paternal ones. Her foster dad molested her the same way her dad did, even sold her for money – for other's self-pleasure and just like then, she couldn't do anything about it. They had their hands over her neck, telling her it's going to be her sister otherwise if she protested."
I felt my chest tightening. I'm not sure I can still hear all of this without breaking down. "What? How—"
"Then her foster father died of drug overdose. She was left with her foster mom who isn't taking care of her children the way she should. When her foster mom married another man," That must be the man that I— "He was just as bad. He physically abused her, tortured her any way possible. He was just terrible. Not long after, her foster mom left the man but the man just wouldn't stop bothering them, her and her sister."
How come none of these never occurred in public?
She lets out a motherly smile. "I would have taken care of her if she didn't push me away but she insists I shouldn't."
Then again, society's cruel to everyone's pasts, especially if it's something like Forest's. "I never knew."
She shakes her head with a small smile. "Forest doesn't like sharing her past. She thinks it's a burden to people who find out. She doesn't want people to get involved worried that they might get hurt for even knowing."
"M-Ms. Felicity, did you not report the abuse?"
"Believe me, I tried. But Linda's just…" I can tell she was as devastated as I am. "She's just horrible." I can see the pain in her eyes. "Right now, Forest's just waiting for her to be twenty-one so she can move away from her foster family. She was supposed to be her sister's legal guardian after that so they'd stop suffering but then this happened."
My fists are tighter than before. "Ms. Felicity, do you have an idea where I can find Forest?" I asked.
She shakes her head lightly in dismay. "If you do find her, tell her to see her sister for the last time," She begged. "Before we send her away…'
At that moment, I grabbed Ms. Felicity's hands and gripped them tight. "I'll find her, Ms. Felicity. I'll bring her back to you and her sister. I promise."