Antonio arrived at the restaurant early. Last night, he called Hinata to check on her. She made a promise to call him when she gets home, but he never got her phone call. That made him dead worried, so he called her instead. Surprisingly, she didn't answer her call. He tried countless times and to no avail. He was restless all through the night. Worried sick. Something must've happened. Hinata doesn't ignore his calls, even when she is angry at him. So he decided to make it to the restaurant earlier than usual, only a few of their staff were around at that time. He tried her phone number again at the restaurant, and it wasn't reachable, causing his anxiety to grow. “Where are you, Hinata? I am having a bad feeling about this”. He said to himself as his heart raced. He walked through the entrance, greeting the staff with his usual warm nods and smiles. Despite his outward composure, a knot of worry tightened in his chest. He headed straight for the staff area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hinata or get some news from his coworkers. In the break room, Antonio switched from his casual attire into his work uniform, the crisp white shirt and black apron. As he went back to the workroom, adjusting his apron, he noticed his co-workers glancing at him with curiosity. They could tell he was stressed out and worried about something. Maybe Hinata,he was the only foreigner among the staff. They also know that he was in a relationship with Hinata. And now, for the first time, they didn't come to the workplace together. “I think they had a misunderstanding and broke up”. One of them whispered to her friend in Japanese. “Possibly, she found a Japanese suitor”. Her friend replied. Antonio, unaware of their little gossips, approached them with concern filled on his face as he spoke in Japanese. “Has anyone seen Hinata? I’ve been trying to reach her all night, and she hasn’t responded to any of my calls or messages this morning, it's unlike her.” He asked politely. The room fell silent, the female staffs exchanging confused glances. One of the waitresses shook her head. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday, you two left. Maybe she’s just taking a day off?” Antonio’s anxiety spiked at the thought. “A day off? She didn’t mention anything about taking a day off, yesterday.” Antonio replied, frustrated. The ladies exchanged glances again and shrugged. “Maybe you should call her family and inquire”. Another suggested. Antonio nodded and sighed deeply. “I will do just that, Arigatou gozaimasu”. He thanked them and went away sadly. Hinata’s unusual behavior of ignoring his calls and sudden disappearance was like a heavy load of worry pressed on him. They didn't have an argument, in fact, he told her that she was his choice and ready for intimacy. “Why is she doing this? And if she is not doing it deliberately? What happened to her? I hope she is safe where she may be”. He rubbed his temple, trying to concentrate on his work.
*****
Hinata’s head throbbed as she was being dragged by people she couldn't see. It's only a few minutes ago that she regained consciousness and found herself blindfolded, and her hands bound behind her. And now she is being dragged along a hard surface, the cold of the metal stinging through her coat. Her limbs were heavy and weak, the effect of the drug leaving her disoriented. She could hear the muted hum of engines and the shuffle of footsteps, suggesting they were moving inside a confined space … .possibly a plane. Suddenly, she was forced down on her knees and the blindfold was roughly pulled from her eyes. She gasped as the sudden light overwhelmed her, and she squinted her eyes against its glare. Confused, she looked around her surroundings and realized that she was in a luxurious private jet. The plane was dimly lit, and the air was filled with smoke from a cigar. The pungent smell filled her nostrils, mingling with the faint odor of perfume and the low hum of soft, seductive music. That realization hit her and she panicked. “What…where am I?” Her lips trembled as her eyes darted around. She met the cold gaze of a man with a menacing appearance on an ornate leather. Smiling at her in a creepy way. He had two strippers who were totally naked crawling all over him like snakes. To Hinata ,that man looks like an imposing mafia lord. He had a cold, calculating gaze, and she felt chills of panic all over her body. “How did she get involved with this type of person? Could it be the anonymous contact that is interested to know about Angela?” Days ago, during her exploration about Antonio's background, she found a website with Angela's picture declaring her wanted. So Hinata contacted them to get rid of her. The anonymous said it was completely safe that she won't be killed, although Hinata cared less about Angela's safety, but she doesn't want to be involved in murder so she agreed. But if it was the case, why was she kidnapped instead of Angela? Her mind raced with numerous questions. Why was she brought here? What did they want from her? Where are they moving her to? Where is her phone? She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing as she faced the mafia lord, who now regarded her with an inscrutable gaze. “Hinata….,” he said like he was casting a spell. “I believe we have much to discuss.” “I don't know who you are…” Hinata replied, fearfully studying the men in dark shades and suits behind him, armed with dangerous weapons. She knew she had to be careful with this man. “You contacted us days ago, have you forgotten so soon?” The Mafia replied and exhaled a thick cloud of dark smoke. Hinata coughed loudly as she glared at the mafia lord. “This…this… wasn’t part of the plan… You had no right to drag me here, and where are you taking me to?” Her voice was shaky but defiant, her hands still bound behind her back. The mafia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by her pretend bravery. “The plan?” he said, taking a long drag from his cigar. “What plan are you talking about?” “How can he ask that question? Is he toying with me?” Hinata thought. She hesitated but decided to speak. “The plan about Angela. I was going to help you get some information about the lady, Angela. The one you put on your wanted person website”. She replied tightly. “I see…and how did you know she was the real Angela we wanted? Lord Damon had us search everywhere for this lady…how do we know that you are not trying to scam us?” “Scam you?” Hinata scoffed. “You will pay dearly for it”. He replied. “She is the one. I recognize her by the picture you provided on the website…she was Diego's ex before he lost his memory. I mean, my boyfriend's ex… He was involved with her. He lost his memory, and now we are together. Is this what this abduction is all about? Do you need some evidence?” The Mafia leaned forward, staring at her intently. “Diego? The Angela we need is not the ex of Diego…” Hinata's heart skipped, but then she remembered. “His real name is not Diego”. She replied instantly. The mafia’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening as he processed her words. “I see. What’s his original name?” he asked slowly with a grin as he relaxed back on his seat.