Rita Quinn

The sound of my blaring alarm pulls me out of my deep slumber, and I force my eyes open.

Staring up at the ceiling, I smile warmly as I run my fingers through my hair tiredly. Thinking of last night with Felix, I giggle softly. It has been one week since we got married, and these days have been the best days of my life. Felix is so sweet and gives me all the love and attention.

I'm resuming work in his dad's company today, and I have to get ready early enough for work. Tilting my head to my right-hand side on the bed where Felix slept, I smile widely as his handsome face welcomes me. He's sleeping peacefully, and he looks extremely cute when sleeping. Loving him is what I will never get bored of.

I lean in on him and place a soft kiss on his forehead, before I finally get off the bed, and stride into the bathroom.

One and a half hours later...

I glance at my reflection in the mirror for the last time, before I finally amble out of the room, not after picking up my handbag.

"Finally, you're here," Mr. Orlando welcomes me into the living room. I guess he has been waiting for me.

"Good morning, dad," I greet him politely.

"Good morning my dear. Aren't you going to have breakfast?" He questions.

"No, I'll eat later," I reply to him. I don't usually eat on my first day of going to a new place. I'll have indigestion because of nervousness.

"Alright. Shall we?" He asks, and I nod my head. We both stride out of the living room and heads straight to the parking lot.

Felix is not going to the office this morning, as he's having an appointment with someone. He's still in the house and will be leaving maybe in an hour or two.

Mr. Orlando's driver drives us to the company...

Thirty minutes later...

Mr. Orlando finally show me to my office after introducing me to the staffs of the company.

It feels weird, working as a manager. I think I'll get used to it as time goes by.

Mr. Orlando took his time to teach me how things are done here, and in just a few hours, I've learned so much many things.

"I'll leave you now," Mr. Orlando says to me and leaves afterward.

I had a hectic day today. I thought working as a secretary was stressful, but turns out that managers always have more work to do, than any other person in the company.

After I'm done with my work, I pick up my bag and stride out of my office. Stepping out of the building, I stop abruptly at the sight that welcomes me. Felix is just in the parking lot, leaning against his car. Did he come to pick me up?

"What are you doing here?" I ask confusingly as I amble over to where he is standing.

"I came to pick you up. Get inside the car and let's go home," he answers casually, pulling the door open without even glancing at me. It's as if he was forced to come to pick me, up or something like that. Why's he acting weird?

I sigh briefly and hop in the car. I was going to take a cab home since I didn't come to the office in my car. We all came in Mr. Orlando's car earlier.

"You look gloomy, are you OK?" I ask him worriedly, as I fasten my seatbelt.

"I'm fine," he replies to me casually, not even sparing me a glance.

"Uhm... Did anyone get you angry? You don't look like you're fine..."

"And I told you that I am fine, Rita! Just stop getting me pissed," he sneer at me, as he finally glances at me through the rear mirror. Anger is written all over his face.

For the rest of the drive home, I sit in the backseat sadly. I'm not angry because he yelled at me, but I'm worried about him. He hasn't acted like this ever since we got married, and it's disturbing that he's like this. Maybe I'll be able to comfort him if he gives me the chance to.

He steps out of the car and walks ahead of me as soon he parks in the parking lot.

Stepping out of the car, I trail behind him. The sound of my ringing phone brings me to an abrupt halt. I search my handbag and bring my phone out of it.

"Hello, dad," I speak up as soon as I slide the answer button.

"Hello, princess. I have to leave for Seoul now for a business appointment. I'm on my way to the airport," his voice sounds through the phone.

"But dad..."

"I'm sorry. I know I was supposed to come to see you before I leave. I promise to make it up to you when I get back. I'll be back in less than two weeks," he explains to me, and I sigh.

"Alright, dad. Make sure you call me before leaving the airport," I'm sad that he's leaving. I have seen him just twice since I got married. He's always busy with work. He always ends up spending more than three months, each time he tells me that he'll spend less than a month.

"I will. Alright, I gotta go now," the call drops dead, and I sigh. I amble to the entrance door and step into the living room. Felix is sitting on the couch.

"Felix, I..." The sound of my ringing phone disrupts me, and I check the screen of my phone. It's Mr. Orlando.

"Rita, I'm on my way to the airport. I tried calling you earlier, but there was no reception. I'm traveling to Seoul for a business appointment, and I'll be back in three days. Take care of yourself," his voice sounds through the phone as soon as I slide the answer button.

"Alright, dad. Be safe," I say to him before the call drop dead. Why's everyone traveling?

I crash on the couch tiredly, rubbing my forehead. Felix already left the living room while I was on the phone.

Four hours later...

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I go through the emails one more time before I finally shut the laptop down. I need to get some sleep already. I've been on the computer for almost two hours now.

My phone suddenly starts buzzing, and I reach out to it. I had turned on the vibration mode, instead of ringing. It's Lisa, calling. I check the time, and it's already past 11pm. Why's Lisa calling me at this time of the night?

"Hey, Lisa. What's up?" I ask, as soon as I pick up the call.

"There's a problem, ma'am. You should check the internet," her shaky voice sound from the other end, and I pull a puzzled look.

Still holding the phone to my ear, the door suddenly burst open and Felix rushed in, looking all frightened. The look on his face depicts fear and pain. He's holding his phone in his hand.

"Lisa..." I slowly call, staring at Felix, but it seems like she ended the call long ago. What's going on?

"Felix..." My heartbeat increases rapidly as I stare at him cluelessly.

"The plane...it crashed..." His lips quivers as tears well up in his eyes. What's he talking about?

'You should check the internet' Lisa's words ring in my head, and I slowly bring down my phone from my ear. I gulp down the sudden lump that formed in my throat, as I turn on my data connection. My fingers trembles as click on the internet icon. Shortly, a notification pop on the screen of my phone, which reads 'just in, the plane heading to Seoul from Las Vegas airport, crashed'. The whole world stops abruptly as I stare at the screen of my phone. Wait! This isn't true! No! This is not happening!

Raising my gaze slowly to Felix, I realize that he's already crashed into the wall and clutched his hair tightly as if he want to pull it out forcefully.

"My dad... Your dad...they're dead. They died in the plane crash," he whisper the first two words but scream the last part, and my heart sink into my stomach. No! This is not true! My dad can't be dead, Mr. Orlando can't be dead. They called me a few hours ago, they can't be the one!