.htaccess file missing from WordPress install directory

whereis is not the right tool to find a file.

whereis – locate the binary, source, and manual page files for a command

You better use find /var/www/html/wptest2/ -name .htaccess to search for your .htaccess.
Try to create a new .htaccess (touch /var/www/html/wptest2/.htaccess) and see if it’s possible.