Manny sighed, "I went to the concert with him just this morning. I went out for a few minutes and when I
got back, he was gone. I don't know where he went but he told me over the phone that he would be
here. But it's been half an hour since his check-up and he's not even answering his phone." Manny
sounded exasperated.
Harrow knitted his eyebrows and took out his phone to try and reach Spark too. But as expected, his
call was only transferred to voice mail too.
Manny just watched him with a disgruntled look on his face. Harrow sighed in helplessness too. "Did
something happen during the concert this morning?" he asked.
"Nothing in particular," Manny said. Manny furrowed his brows as he thought for a moment, "I mean,
you know what's happening now, right? Spark promised Brian before that he would play with Wing. But
with what he's going through right now, it seems like he won't be able to do it. So I thought it might be
better if he just joined another troupe instead of you know, hanging around Wing and being reminded of
Molly. The Sasha Music Troupe leader was there at the concert this morning so I thought I would talk to
him, you know? So I left Spark for a few seconds." He kept anxiously looking at the elevator as he
spoke.
He was shrouded with tension because he had worked with Spark for so many years now and he knew
Spark better than anyone. He knew for a fact that Spark hadn't touched his violin ever since Molly
came to see him that day in the hospital. Even if he had to play for someone, he never completed a
whole piece. Every time he ended up with either a broken string or he just stopped playing himself.
They also knew that it wasn't just because of his pneumonia. It had more to do with his depression.
Harrow sat wordlessly for a while then he looked up at the clock, "I'll go out and try to look for him. Can
you wait here and call me if you see him or hear from him?" he suggested.
"Okay," Manny nodded.
Harrow just drove his car aimlessly along the streets of A City. He didn't know where to start looking for
Spark. He was just secretly hoping that he would bump into him. Somehow, he crossed his fingers that
Spark would just be wandering on the streets expecting to bump into Molly. He continued to drive
around the busy city. He would have asked Molly but things were different now so he couldn't do that
anymore. Especially with everything that had happened between them, he highly doubted that Molly
would even know about Spark's whereabouts. So he just continued to drive with no destination in mind.
After a while, he passed by South Street Alley which was jam-packed with people. There was nothing
about this street that drew his attention. He just made a quick sweep of the entire street before focusing
his attention back to driving. He knew that with Spark's popularity, he couldn't ever be in such a
crowded area because he would draw too much attention.
What Harrow missed was a black Audi R8 coming up the corner of the street and Spark stepping out of
it. He was inconspicuous in a slipshod of an outfit with his cotton white shirt and blue ripped jeans. On
his face were a pair of dark and giant sunglasses that covered almost half of his face. He walked
briskly among the sea of people. His hair was fluttering in the gentle gust of the wind. Even disguised in
such a manner, you could still tell that he was an attractive and charming man.
Spark walked along the street trying to blend in with the crowd. He recalled the time when he forced
Molly here so that they could try the street food here after they had just come from Wing's concert then.
The feeling of the anguish and sorrow was beginning to return to his consciousness again, he sighed in
helplessness and smiled vaguely and hollowly at his sluggishness. Then he remembered the stall that
Molly and himself went and had snack together. Like missing Molly, he suddenly felt a strong want of
that food within himself. And then after a moments' hesitation, a determination light lit up in his eyes.
He stepped forward and walked on, for the stall.
*
Meanwhile, Molly lingered at the stall looking odd among the people enjoying their time. She stood out
as she didn't have anyone with her, which made she feel not hungry anymore.
It was the lunch hour and the temperature was scorching and sultry. Beads of sweat were dripping
down from her forehead. It seemed like she had no other option but to go home even though that was
the last place she wanted to be. She didn't ever want to leave and go back to her real life, into the cold
reality she had with Brian.
For a few moments, she stood motionless with an empty look on her face. She couldn't decide because
she didn't know where else to go but home. Everyone seemed so busy and happy with their lives
except for her. A bitter smile played on her lips, sighing.
"Mol?"
A familiar voice came from her behind. She turned around and noticed that Spark was hurrying towards
her.
"How had I guessed out that you would be here?" he exclaimed with vivid delight and a touch of flaunt
in his voice as he walked up. Although half of his face was covered with sunglasses, she could still
sense his excitement of seeing her. To Molly, it was like the Spark she'd always known - sweet and
young at heart, just like a little boy.
"Spark..." Molly asked him, dazed. Her voice sounded distant, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you," he said hesitantly. His face looked uncertain or perhaps scared as if he was a little
boy that being scolded by his teacher.
"Find me?" Molly echoed his words. Her brows knitted together in wonder.
"Yes," Spark said more confidently this time. He gazed at Molly who was sweating profusely. Her face
was soaked in sweat and her cheeks were flushed. He felt a sudden burst of affection, "Come on, it's
hot, let's go find somewhere else to talk," he offered. Then he dragged her by her hand and walked
towards his car.
When they had gotten in the car, Spark closed the door and turned the air conditioner on. He took off
his sunglasses and turned to look at Molly, "Did you apply for a job at the Sasha Music Troupe?" he
asked in a tone that said he had already known the answer.
"How did you know?" Molly asked, surprised.
Spark smiled lightly, "I was there with Manny this morning and I chanced upon your resume," he
paused for a moment then said, "Were you hired?"
Molly nodded excitedly, her eyes shining and a smile appearing on her face, "Of course. I'm good at
what I do. I will be reporting for my work tomorrow," she said joyfully.
"That's so good to hear. I always believed you," Spark said, smiling back at her. Even though Molly
looked happy, he felt a bit suspicious because he knew that Molly had the tendency to hide what she
was feeling. He didn't push it though. Instead, he just decided to keep the tone casual. "I think you're
doing the right thing. I think it's better to keep your hands busy than do nothing all day. What are your
plans for today?" he asked innocently.
Molly smiled awkwardly, "Actually, I don't have any plans for today," a glint beaming in her eyes as she
spoke.
Deep down inside Spark, Brian's words that day at the hospital still rung through his head as clear as
day yet he chose to ignore it. "I'm free too, actually. Maybe, we can hang out somewhere," he offered.
He started his car and started to drive out of the South Street Ally with Molly in the passenger seat.
As soon as they drove off, a man appeared from behind the flower bed. His eyes were fixed on the car
as it vanished into the distance. A sly smile slowly appeared on his face as he took out his phone and
dialed.
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