Chapter 1 - Death
Im going to kill her I thought to myself. Here I was on my to Korea, finally, to find my sister and get somework done. I re-adjusted the headsets to the latest model of iPhone that hadn't yet been released, listen to Korean grammer and culture tracks my tutor had downloaded for me for extra practice, but I couldnt focus so I thought about everything that had happen in the last three months.
When my sister had disappeared.
-----------------------------------Flashback------------------------------
"Hello?"
"Good Morning Sussy!!!"
"Hey rugrat, mornin. Are you at the airport yet?" - I yawned away from the phone
grr what time was it?
"Yeah Im just arriving I still have to go through baggage and security, but my flight should take off on time and Ill be in Korea around 3pm; So hows work?
I sighed I never understood how she could be so cheerful in the mornings, but then again it was morning here not in Japan where she was. I hated time change, I hate mornings.
"Its real good. We got the new product done and ready for marketing. Hopefully we'll finish ironing out the kinks in the contract with the SM today so we can get the boys to do the commercials. If so they've decided since Ill be the one to go work in our Korean office for 2 months since we're in March I should be there in June at earliest, but I gotta go sweety we're having our teleconferenced at 5am so it it'll be 6pm in Korea and we can get this done. Call me when you land I dont care what time it is"
"Ok, I will promise, and hey tell mom and dad I love them."
"Que dios te bendiga, and Ill let them know, but their going to Puerto Rico for two weeks and then a cruise around the world they'll gone for about 2 months maybe more knowing them"
"Cool, alright gotta go, LOVE YA!!! MUAH!!!"
I stared at the phone as I heard the beeping saying that she'd hung up. Turning it off I rolled over to look at the alarm clock. It was 3am. Perfect I mudered and got out of bed and headed for the shower. It was going to be a long day.
I arrived on time to work with my usually extra large white chocolate mocha latte from Starbucks, and was heading to my office to drop off my purse and get my files for the meeting.
"Good Morning Miss Santiago." a gental voice said from behind me. I stopped and smiled it was Mr Sean Chi, the senior marketing director and my boss, and also my favorite person. He reminds me of Mr Mieagi from Karate Kid.
"Good Morning Mr. Chi." with a smile "How are you feeling today?"
Mr Chi had a heart attack a few week ago which is why I was going to Korea and not him. He was my mentor and a great friend.
"Im feeling well but all this excitment is making me edgy." he said with a sad smile.
"Dont worry Ill take care of everything after all you taught me most everything I know."
He laughed "Come on the meeting should be starting."
It was five pm local time before I made it home, but I felt good and I couldn't wait to talk to Mirell she was going to go nuts over the surprise I had for her. I glaced over at the photo of our graduation. We had had gone to a special school to learn Korean. We both mastered our courses and we're the top of our class but she fell deeper in love the Eastern world and decided to travel. She had worked hard to continue to study a broad and took all the jobs she could find to help pay her expenses, I had taken a part of my retirement money and paid for her flights and the apartment she had rented in Japan. I smiled she was great friend and even if I never told her over the phone I missed her.
I frowned as I looked at my watch she should have landed hours ago and she hasnt called. Problably too excited, I picked up my cell and called her phone. It went to straight to her voicemail. So I left her a quick message in my accented Korean and hung up. I had a strange feeling. It wasnt the first time she forgot to call when she was supposed to so it wasnt that
Just a funny feeling in gut.
I pushed the thought aside and went to order some take out from the Chinese place down the block. Best thing about moving to California was the chinese, I can get it any where and its always good. I placed my order and went to hit the shower I would be working late tonight, at least Mr Chi was coming over to help and to tutor me in Korean, so everything would be ready for me to leave at the end of April. SM wanted to get this done fast and my bosses agreed, but they were crazy if they thought they were going to push the boys to breaking point. This would also be a mini vacation if I got my way, and since I usually did.....glancing again at the photo of her sister i pushed the thoughts of work away and went to take a shower, and waited for Mr Chi and the food to arrive.
I tried to call Mirell but no answer; I was really worried now. Why hasnt she called? I got home and decided to skip cooking dinner (this was going to cost me if i kept ordering out) but I called and ordered take out from a Japenese Sushi House for me and the Chi's who were coming over since Mr Chi decided I need to practice everyday so he was coming over with his wife who was a teacher.
After ordering, they still hadn't arrived so I unlocked the front door and went to call the landlady who was renting the apartment to Mirell to see if Mirell was home and her phone just didnt get signal. It was as about 7am over there I hope they didnt mind me calling so early. I crossed my fingers and hoped I didn't something wrong with my accent.
"Hello" a soft woman's voice answered in Korean.
"Good day, my I speak with Mrs Namgung?"
"Yes how may I help you?"
"Mrs Namgung, my name is Sussy Santiago, my sister Mirell leased your apartment."
"Oh, yes Miss Mirell. Is she well she hasn't made it here yet and I though she was arriving yesterday."
"You mean she hasnt made it their yet? Here flight was supposed to arrive at 3pm."
"Im sorry but she has not been here."
"Thank you Mrs Namgung, Ill will call you later if I hear anything but if she arrives before I have called please ask her to call me."
"Yes Miss Sanitago. Good-day"
"Good-day"
Oh my god she wasn't there! I started to panic and I could feel my blood pressure going up. No I have to stay calm I have to find her. The airline they should know if she got on the plane! I rushed over to the fridge where I had her flight information and called the airline with a quick prayer that my accented Korean would be understood as my anxiety made my accent more pronounced.
"Thank You for calling Korea Air my name's Bo-Bae Mi, how may I help you?"
"Yes I need to know if my younger sister got on her flight yesterday."
"Yes madam, may I please have the flight number."
"Yes, It was flight number K7482 from Tokoyo to Taegu"
There was silence on the phone
"One moment while I get a supervisor"
Supervisor why a supervisor? My blood went cold cold and I heard a male voice on the line.
"Madam, may I please have your name and that of your sister."
"Im Sussett Santiago and my sister is Mirell Santiago. What's going on?"
"Miss Santiago Im sorry to inform you that flight number K7482 did not make it to Taegu. There was a storm and the plane crashed in southern China a little after 5pm yesterday local time. I am sorry the report show that there were no survivers."
I hung up the phone without saying good bye, "Crashed?!" then all went black.
