MIGUEL'S POV
Back at my house twenty four hours later and I still hadn’t heard from June. The worry had me pacing the floor, leaving voicemails like a broken record. Confusion and devastation were my only companions in this silent house. I decided to dial Bryan, the possible that June could have reached out to him did not elude me.
“Get over here now," I demanded without mincing words, the urgency in my voice palpable. This could be serious, maybe a kidnapping. I shook my head at that notion, thinking it rather extreme. I contemplated involving the police but doubted they were going to be of any help.
"What’s up? Is everything alright?" Bryan voiced out groggily, still heavy with sleep. I placed my head on my forehead, attempting to quell the rising migraine.
"Everything's peachy, that's why I'm blowing up your phone at the crack of dawn," I shot back sarcastically, sleep deprivation making me cranky. I resumed my pacing across the room, worrying gnawing at me as I ran my hand through my hair multiple times
"Relax, man, I'm on my way! Looks like someone got their period today," Bryan muttered, attempting to make a joke but it flattened in the gravity of the situation.
“Hurry up!” I simply said, abruptly ending the call. I groaned out in frustration, perplexed at the entire situation. I headed out of my room, seeking for a distraction while I waited for Bryan.
While waiting for Bryan, I whipped up some scrambled eggs and toast , attempting to distract myself. As the smell filled the kitchen and the food got ready, Bryan knocked, signaling his presence.
“What smells so delicious?” He inquired, hanging his coat on the rack as soon as I opened the door for him. He went straight into the kitchen and took a seat by the kitchen island.
"Glad you made breakfast, I'm starving!" Bryan exclaimed, reaching for a piece of toast.
"It's hot!" I warned, watching him drop it like a hot potato which caused me to giggle.
“You look like you need to sleep,” Bryan muttered, picking on his food gently this time.
“I barely got any sleep last night,” I answered, rubbing the back of my neck and stretching it out. I needed to lie down because my body hurt so bad.
“Why?” Bryan queried with a mouth full of food, causing me to exhale softly. I shut my eyes momentarily, not knowing how to answer that.
"So, spill it, why did you summon me so early?" Bryan asked, curiosity in his eyes, as I braced myself to unravel the mystery of June and Lily's disappearance.
"Coffee?" I offered, trying to ease the tension that hung heavy in the air. His nod signaled acceptance, and I handed him the steaming cup along with his food.
"Where's June?" I inquired, my voice steady but my eyes searching for any hint of the truth. He paused, taking a deliberate sip of the coffee, his expression clouded with confusion. He scoffed, eliciting a nonchalant shrug.
“How the hell would I know?” He retorted sharply, his gaze faltering a bit as he took a sip of his coffee, not displaying.
“You are her friend and I would like to believe that she confides in you,” I stated, looking at him intently with food in his mouth.
"What do you mean? Why are you looking at me like that?" Bryan's voice held a note of concern, but I could sense his unease.
"June is gone," I stated plainly, my fingers tapping nervously on the table.
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?" Bryan's eyes widened as he choked lightly on his food, his tone shifting to match my growing anxiety.
"Are you playing dumb with me now?" I snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface, my patience wearing thin.
"I need more than cryptic messages, brother," Bryan shot back, his gaze unwavering as he took a bite of his toast. His calm composure further increased my growing agitation
"I've tried reaching out to her, but she's nowhere to be found," I confessed, the weight of uncertainty heavy on my shoulders.
"And you thought I'd have the answers?" Bryan's skepticism was evident, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"Don't you?" I challenged, a mix of desperation and accusation in my voice, my hand raking through my hair in exasperation. This was not how I imagined this conversation unfolding.
"Why would I know where the fuck she is if you don't?" Bryan's retort came between bites, adding to my growing sense of urgency.
"If you're clueless, then where could she possibly be?" I posed the question rhetorically, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Bryan's nonchalant shrug only fueled my rising panic.
"Have you checked her place?" Bryan's suggestion cut through the tension, a glimmer of hope in his words as we grasped at any lead in the mystery of June's disappearance. He gazed into space, not looking at me and I kept mute, giving him a pointed glare. I could not believe he was asking such a pointless question.
“Yes I have, Bryan!” I grunted, my anxiousness growing rapidly.
"No, I haven't dialed her up yet, just sitting here, letting my worries run wild," I quipped with a hint of sarcasm, watching as his eyes narrowed in response. Leaning in, he rested his elbow on the table, propping his head up with a hand, briefly shutting his eyes.
"Careful how you talk to me, I'm not the one who lost her," Bryan retorted sharply, his tone laced with rudeness. His eyes met mine challengingly as he continued, a mysterious edge to his words that piqued my curiosity.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked somewhat recklessly, feeling my confusion intensify, almost tangible in the charged atmosphere. I was determined to unravel the enigmatic undertone I sensed in his demeanor.
"You were the one that was supposed to be watching over her, keeping her safe," Bryan accused, his sudden outburst leaving me bewildered.
"What on earth are you insinuating?" I snapped back, my frustration evident as I clenched my fists, the anger simmering beneath the surface.
"Exactly what you're thinking - you didn't care for her, and now she's bolted from you and your mess," Bryan's words dripped with disdain, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Why are you so worked up about this? I confided in you last night, and you dismissed my concerns!" I raised my voice, the tension between us escalating as we stood face to face, locked in a battle of wills. The forgotten food grew cold on the table, a silent witness to our confrontation.
"How was I supposed to know June would flee from you?" Bryan shot back, storming off towards the living room, prompting me to follow in haste.
"How do you know she ran away?" I demanded, a shiver running down my spine, every nerve on edge.
"Did you really go to her place and find it empty?" Bryan's voice cut through the tense air as he slouched on the couch, legs crossed and arms spread wide. His intense gaze locked onto mine as I stood there, hand on my hip, studying him carefully.
“Of course I did! It was empty and few clothes were missing,” I said, my mind becoming a mess.
“Are you sure?” Bryan taunted, making me question myself. Ignoring his inquiry, I started pacing restlessly, my fingers repeatedly raking through my hair in a futile attempt to calm the mounting anxiety gnawing at my core. Where is she? Where could she have gone? Series of questions danced restlessly in my mind.
"Fuck!" I muttered in frustration, sinking into the nearby couch. My legs jittered nervously, a clear sign of my escalating unease.
"Take it easy," Bryan urged, sitting up attentively to fix his gaze on me.
"Should we involve the authorities?" I questioned, feeling my options dwindle. Doubts crept in – what if my worry was baseless, and she was fine after all? What if she just needed a break? But the thoughts felt flimsy. We had been on good terms recently, and she had promised not to leave my side again. I hadn't upset her, and if she needed time off, she could have easily told me.
I groaned, shutting my eyes at the realization that I missed June and Lily dearly.
"And what would we tell them?" Bryan countered, his stare piercing. His anger simmered, though its source remained a mystery to me. This was my fiancée missing, not his.
"Why the hostility?" I probed, seeking to ease the tension swirling in my mind.
"Why wouldn't I be hostile?” Bryan shot back, his sudden outburst catching me off guard.
"It's my fiancée that’s missing, not yours," I stated casually, prompting Bryan to rise defiantly. Mirroring his stance, we stood at an impasse, the unspoken tension crackling between us.
"She was supposed to be mine," Bryan growled through clenched teeth, his eyes ablaze with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
"Is that what this is about?" I hissed, my voice dripping with disdain as I locked eyes with him, trying to decipher the storm of emotions raging within him.
"Yes! You stole her from me! She was meant to be mine!" Bryan's voice thundered, echoing through the room, a raw mix of anger and heartbreak in his words. I couldn't help but understand his pain; June had a way of captivating hearts effortlessly, including mine.
My gaze softened with empathy as I reached out to touch his shoulder, but he violently shrugged off my attempt at comfort, his eyes clouded with anguish and accusation.
"Bryan..." I began, my voice a mere whisper, but before I could say more, he shoved me aside with unexpected force, his actions fueled by a torrent of emotions I struggled to comprehend.
"If she was with me, she wouldn't have vanished. She would be safe, right here. Now June is out there, vulnerable to who knows what!" Bryan's words cut through the charged air, his frustration palpable as he wiped away glistening beads of sweat from his brow.
"Don't even go there!" I snapped, my own emotions bubbling to the surface, fighting to maintain composure in the face of his escalating anger.
"Don't what? Speak the truth?" Bryan retorted, his gaze piercing mine with a venomous intensity that made my blood run cold. The weight of his accusation hung heavy in the air, a bitter reminder of our shared love for June and the turmoil it had brought between us.
"Don't act like I don’t love June or like I was lackadaisical in my care for her. I raised my concerns, I reached out to you, but what did you do?" I fired back, frustration lacing my words as I confronted the painful truth that lay between us.
In that charged moment, enveloped by the shadow of June's absence, our shared love became a battlefield of conflicting emotions, each of us grappling with the haunting question of what could have been done differently.
We were both devastated by the same woman we both loved and our emotions were taking its toll on us.
"You told me not to worry, that I was just being paranoid. You, Bryan, urged me to let it slide. It was all you!" I screamed, my voice dripping with anger, the tension thick in the air. My breaths grew heavy, and tears of frustration welled up in my eyes.
"Don't you dare pin this on me!" Bryan's shout echoed through the room as he shoved me forcefully, causing me to stumble. I shot him a glare, my eyes blazing with fury, the struggle to contain my emotions becoming increasingly difficult.
"Of course, I blame you! I would have left earlier if you hadn't convinced me to stay and work!" I retorted, pushing him back, the tears of anger now streaming down my cheeks.
"If you were truly concerned, my persuasion wouldn't have stopped you. Deep down, you were seeking validation for staying at work, and I provided it. So, don't shift the blame to me," Bryan uttered before storming off, leaving me to ponder his words.
Maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of truth in his words. Frustrated, I let out a groan, grabbing the nearby flower vase and hurling it into the air in a fit of rage. It crashed to the ground, shattering into countless shards.
Ignoring the glass pieces scattered around me, I sank to the floor, my mind consumed with thoughts of June.