Chapter 3: His Polaroid

Both of them was enveloped with awkward silence after that. The boy was first to come back to his senses and forced his body to come down. Eleonna just looked at him puzzled and unsure if she heard him call her 'Eleanor'. 

As soon as the boy got down, the smell of medicines invaded her senses as he carelessly grasp both of the girl's shoulder tightly. 

"Where the heck have you been?!" the boy said distraughtly as he faced her. 

Eleonna watched his eyes filled with mixed emotions. 

"Why did you do that? Do you know how mad Audella is at you right now?!" her eyes widened as soon as those words came out from his mouth. 

She chose to ignore what the guy said and removed his hands to move backwards and create a more comfortable distance between them. 

"Did you call me Eleanor?" she muttered that made his forehead crease in confusion as he feels raged at the same time. 

"Did you hit your head or something while you were away?" the boy sarcastically said, disappointment visible in his eyes. 

He couldn't believe that the girl would look at him like the way a stranger would. 

"By Eleanor, do you mean Salvelle Eleanor?" the girl asked again to confirm. If she and the boy is talking about the same person, then he might know something before her sister left.  

"Why are you being weird?" the guy couldn't help it but to feel puzzled. The way this girl in front of him look at him, it doesn't feel right. Did she seriously forget about him? Or did his eyes malfunction after the beating that he had received from those guys? 

Nevertheless, he scanned the girl's face down to her uniform. He was sure about her. She may have a different hair style now but it didn't make her face look different from before, but that was all before his eyes landed on her ID. His forehead creased even more as he read the name written on it. 

Eleonna Rielle Salvelle

He looked up to the girl's face whose still waiting for his answer. Neither of them understands their current situation, but one thing's for sure, they thought of the same person. 

"Who are you?" the girl interrogated when he fell silent. 

If this guy in front of her is one of Eleanor's friends, then she should've known him, but no, this guy is completely new to her.

The guy paused for a minute. 

"Are you perhaps Eleanor's sibling?" he asked instead. 

"She's my twin sister, and you are?" 

The guy looked at her in a stoic way, different at what he had shown earlier. He let out a sigh of disappointment and embarrassment as he diverted his attention to anything but the girl in front of him. Just like earlier he paused. Silently processing what happened and thinking of how to answer her. 

When the guy seemed to have made up his mind, he slid his hands inside his pockets as he side-eyed her. 

"It doesn't matter, just forget what happened earlier." was all he said before turning his back and making his way out. Feeling his cheeks heat up as he cringed of the way he reacted earlier. 

Eleonna was albeit taken a back by the sudden change of demeanor around the guy. Before he could even disappear from her sight, she ran towards him. 

"Hey wait! I have something to ask!" the girl shouted that made him stop in his trance. He doesn't want to seem rude to Eleanor's sister, does he? 

Eleonna stood beside him while catching her breath. 

"You seemed very close to my sister, can you tell me anything you know about her?" 

She couldn't help it but to grab this opportunity, this guy might have a clue of her sister's whereabout. From the way he acted earlier, she could tell that her sister did something. 

"If you think that I have something that could help you, then you're wrong. Like you, I'm clueless as to what she's doing or where she is." he straightforwardly said, not wanting to waste more of his time in this place. 

He continued to walk and to his surprise the girl followed beside him. She sure is persistent. 

"But you mentioned something earlier, Audella was it? Why is she mad at my sister? Did she do something?" desperation can be seen and heard from the girl, but can you blame her? This guy might be the answer to her problems. 

When the guy didn't respond she stepped in front of him that made him stop him from walking. Dark eyes met her desperate eyes. He understand how the girl feels but he couldn't bring himself to tell her anything. Her sister must've a reason for not telling her. 

"Please help me. I need your information to find her."

The guy looked away. Not knowing how to handle the whole situation. A part of him wants to talk to her and help her out as they have the same objective, to find Eleanor. It's a win-win situation to exchange informations with her, but something inside him is telling him to not act reckless too. 

"Look, I have to go somewhere important so please make way." he asked nicely which she ignored. 

"Do you have a clue where she is?" 

He clicked his tongue in annoyance "I don't." 

Eleonna sigh as she look away frustrated. She get that the guy didn't want to share information with her. God forgive her for wanting to punch this guy's face. 

"Fine, but can I get your name?" 

He raised his brows at her. 

"I just want to know your name atleast, Eleanor didn't introduce you to me so I'm just curious about who you are." she reasoned. 

The guy left a sigh of defeat and decided to just give it so that he can go now. It wouldn't be a problem, right? 

"Yuan Salazar" 

The boy walked pass her. A mischievous smile formed on her lips as she looked at him walk away over her shoulder. He was wearing the same uniform her school has that confirmed her suspicion. Now that she got his name, there's a chance that he can find the boy again. He looked like someone her age too so he must be on the same year as her. 

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Eleonna walked home still thinking about the guy named Yuan. No matter how hard she thinks, her sister didn't mention anyone with that name. This made her wonder what relationship the two has. 

She was only two steps away from her uncle's house when she suddenly felt the urge to visit her old house. It wouldn't hurt to see her once home, yes? It was only two blocks away from her uncle's too so it wouldn't take her long to get there. 

She stopped in her trance as soon as she saw the dirty white painted two-storey house. The sun's afternoon rays hitting its exterior, revealing  visible dirt. She walked closer towards their rusty gate and rummaged her bag to get her keys. Even though she no longer live here, she'd always keep it with her in case they come back. Even though her mother passed away, she still hopes for a miracle to happen and would turn back the time so that she can prevent it from happening. Wishful thinking, isn't it? 

The smell of old woods welcomed her as she entered their door. Her eyes wandered around as memories plagued her mind. All of the good things that had happened inside their little home is just a memory now. 

Her steps echoed around the corners of the house as she walked towards their living room where it happened. She could still see her mother laying there, covered in blood with her eyes open but lifeless. By the looks of it, she could tell that her mother fought for her life. Only if they came home earlier, they could've saved her. 

She looked away and turned her back towards the stairs. Even though the tragic incident happened months ago, she's still hunted by the sight of it like it all just happened yesterday. 

She went straight to Eleanor's room. It was still the same as before but her things were now covered in dust. As she was about to leave, she caught a glimpse of the perfectly cleaned vanity that stood out from other furnitures. It was odd since no one can enter their house aside them. 

She walked towards it and scanned it. It looked like someone had cleaned this just moments ago. When she looked at the mini cabinet beside it, it was just as clean. Due to her curiosity, she opened the first row of it but saw nothing. When she opened the second row, a yellowish paper welcomed her sight. 

She took the old envelope and stared at it curiously. It looked like the paper would tear if not being held gently. She carefully opened the envelope to see an old polaroid. It was a picture of 4 young men. It looked like it was taken from a festival due to the colorful light around the side vendors and occasionally dressed people.

The four of them was standing in the middle of the crowd, their smiles outstanding the colourful lights around them. The two of them has a lame matching blonde hair while both arms are wrapped around each other, the other one had a neat combed hair, and the last one that she immediately recognized as her father. Her father had a long messy hair in the picture. She couldn't help but to be amazed at how handsome her father was back then, she could say that he aged like a fine wine. 

The picture of the four men looked very happy and carefree. She couldn't help but to smile as well too. She flipped the picture only to see a words written in a cursive way. It was taken in year 1990.

Written there was their names.