CHAPTER TWENTY -SEVEN
"Someone I idolize just vanished from my memory? That's bizarre," Cherry thought.
"Ramsen?" she murmured, testing the name. But it didn't feel right.
"Ugh," Cherry surrendered.
"You're a fan of someone? That's cute, Miss Amy. Especially considering you're an idol yourself."
Cherry just sighed and gazed out the window, her sigh misting the glass.
She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"Oh, I'm in Amy's form."
Memories of her crush flooded her mind.
She recalled secretly cutting out Rafael's pictures from magazines and plastering them on her wardrobe door.
Every available space in her room showcased his captivating smile, with its signature twin dimples.
That smile had left her breathless, and Cherry's heart skipped whenever she thought of it.
She had dreamed of marrying Rafael, envisioning a fairy tale romance.
But reality had tempered her fantasies.
Cherry was a year older, and societal expectations made her feel like it was an obstacle.
Still, she clung to the phrase: "Age is just a number." But had long left her interest in his stories.
She fell drowsy after her fancy thoughts and opened her eyes to her city.
She smiled at every bit of the sight. A place she hadn't seen for close to two months.
"Home," she muttered under her breath.
"We are here Miss Amy! Where should we begin our search?"
Meanwhile, Rafael lounged in his room, scrolling through his Instagram notifications.
Fans congratulated him on the upcoming series, and his eyes scanned the comments.
But his smile faltered as he saw Cherry's face alongside his in the promotional posts.
Fans gushed about it:
["I'm excited for this series as it features the two of you, especially my idol Amy!"
"I just can't wait to see how it plays out!"
"I want to see you two get married in one of the scenes, or rather get married for real you two!"
"I want you two to be single cause I'm crushing hard on you Rafael!"]
Rafael's frustration boiled over. "Has she sealed the deal with them too? Why is her face everywhere?"
He tossed his phone aside, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.
He decided to pay Amy a visit as he rationalized that Amy would expect a welcome-home visit, especially after her prolonged absence.
He instructed a staff member to fetch flowers, intending to feign a token gesture.
He looked at the mirror and splashed water on his face, Rafael's thoughts betrayed his actions.
"I hate her so much," his jaw clenched as he muttered with resentment that simmered beneath his polished facade.
He grabbed a towel and dried his face.
Rafael's staff member appeared at the doorway holding out a bouquet.
"Sir, the flowers you requested."
He collected it and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Rafael stepped onto the mansion's grand porch, flowers in hand, and pressed the doorbell.
The maid's eyes widened as she opened the door, her composure momentarily shaken by the unexpected visit from a celebrity.
She bowed her head, suppressing a squeal.
"Good day, sir!"
Rafael flashed his famous smile, though his eyes betrayed a little irritation in his eyes.
"Hey, is Amy around?"
"I'm afraid she's not home at the moment, sir."
"Do you know where she went?"
The maid shook her head, her eyes darting nervously.
"No, sir. She left without informing anyone of her destination."
Rafael's lips pressed into a thin line.
He produced the flowers from behind his back, a calculated gesture to maintain the facade of a romantic visit.
"Here, give these to her when she returns," he said, handing the bouquet to the maid.
"Of course, sir."
She accepted the flowers.
Rafael nodded curtly and turned to leave.
_ _
Cherry's gaze lingered on the cityscape, nostalgia washing over her.
"I'd like to visit a place first," she said softly.
"Where?" Carlos asked.
"I'll show you. Let's keep driving." Cherry's eyes sparked with excitement.
She directed Carlos through the familiar neighborhoods.
Finally, they paused in front of a charming, flower-adorned house.
"It's here!" Cherry breathed, her voice barely audible.
Carlos frowned. "This is someone's home. How will it help us find the cat?"
Cherry's finger pressed against her lips, silencing him. "Shhh."
Her eyes shone with a deep longing as she gazed at the house.
That was her childhood home.
"He'll come out now," she whispered, anticipation building.
Right on cue, her father emerged, wearing his signature yellow shirt, brown shorts, and gardening hat. Cherry's heart swelled.
"She'd be out too," she whispered again to herself.
But as she scanned the yard, her mother was nowhere to be seen.
"Why?" she thought, her brow furrowing.
Carlos broke the silence.
"Miss Amy, what are we doing here? We need to hurry. Lady Yo mustn't know about our disappearance."
Cherry snapped back to reality, shaking off her concerns.
"Oh, yeah! The pet store! Let's go!"
As they drove away, Cherry cast one last glance at her home, she thought of her mother's absence.
They arrived at the pet store, and Cherry's excitement grew.
She pushed open the door, and the bell above it rang out.
"Welcome to Pet Haven!" the owner greeted, smiling.
"Hi," Cherry said, her eyes scanning the store. "We're looking for our lost cat. May we search?"
The owner nodded.
"Of course! We've had a few strays brought in recently. Take a look around."
Cherry and Carlos searched.
They passed by playful puppies, rabbits, and colorful birds.
Cherry's hope began to dwindle moments later.
She peeked into every cage.
The store owner approached them. "Any luck?"
Cherry shook her head.
The owner nodded.
"Don't worry, we'll keep an eye out. Leave your contact info, and we'll reach out if anyone brings in a matching cat."
As they turned to leave, a woman entered the pet store, carrying a bag and wearing a crisp uniform.
Cherry's eyes widened in shock.
"Mamá?" She whispered softly.
It was her mother.
"I'm ready for work!" her mother announced, smiling at the receptionist.
Cherry's gaze remained fixed on her mother
What was she doing here?