Chapter VII, Fateful Meeting

"Hey, Carlson. You are Emma Carlson right?"

A woman comes towards me. I look at her from head to toe. Her face does look familiar but I can't point my finger. Especially since this is my first day in college. She does look pretty but also can't be tamed. If you have watched the movie about a blonde who wants to be a lawyer, she kinda gets her vibes but with black hair.

"Anna, don't you remember me?! I'm Jan!!" She whispered enthusiastically to me.

Wait no one should know who I really am. Out of panic I shut her mouth and push her to the wall.

"What do you want?!" I said it angrily. 

I don't know what she wants. Money? Fame? Can't I just live normal like other people? I didn't notice it before, even though her face kind of looks terrified but her eyes staring straight at mine.

"I want nothing, chill out." 

She looks calmer and pushes my hand slowly out of her face. She takes a tissue out of her purse and wipes her face up. By her gesture I know she comes from a wealthy family with high status. She might one of the daughters from my parent's circle.

She looks at my hand and seems to notice the book that I brought. She taps the book twice.

"You also majoring this?" 

Also? She's in my class? This is going to be a drama. Before I have time to speak, she yelling and call a guy across the corridor.

"AARON! COME HERE!"

I can't help to look back. A guy walking towards us. He looks like a guy who is called a 'young master' by a butler. He's tall, handsome, with a nice body in an expensive polo shirt with curly hair. As he walks, almost all the girls and boys in the corridor look at him as if he's some kind of prey. 

Up close, he looks so innocent almost naive. His lips are so pink and his eyebrows also thick, his eyes also green which compliments her feature. His facial features make him look way younger than his age. 

"Aaron, meet my childhood friend, Ann-- Emma! Emma Carlson."

For a while I see him staring at me intently. He offers his hand to shake my hand. He is very polite. He bows a little bit to me.

"Aaron, Aaron Reinfred Hildebranrt.  It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

As someone who has been living in a similar environment, I know his smile is a typical business smile. Bright and charming. 

"Emma, Emma Hiromi Carlson."

I shake his hand back, with same kind of smile. I don't know whether is it okay or not to use my actual middle name but I can't help to say my middle name because he said his first and I think it would be rude if I don't say mine. 

"Ah! Let's go to our class now!"

She suddenly shouts while looking at her watch. This girl, whoever her name is pulls my hand. She really is energetic. Aaron follows us from behind.

As soon as we sit in the class, I look at my surroundings. The big whiteboard in the middle front of the class is very stand out. All of the chairs are like in the theatre. This is very interesting for me, especially since I have never attended any public school before. 

"Jan, did u bring it?" Aaron whispered.

I look at Jan who sits beside me and Aaron who sits beside her. Jan taking something out of her red bag. I keep assuming it is something illegal because they keep looking back and forth. My heart beating faster. I don't want to be a part of their trouble. I glance at her purse until suddenly an animal walking fast to Aaron's shoulder. 

"Eek!" I stand up, startled.

"Okay, what is your name, um... Emma? Can you answer what victimology is?" The professor looks at me.

I look at Jan and she giggled so hard she has to close her mouth, Aaron looking so guilty and apologize to me. The question is easy though, especially when you read a lot of cases and watch similar documentaries.

"To put it simply, it is a study of victimization. This study also learns about psychological effects on victims, relationships between victims and offenders, the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system."

Suddenly the class is very quiet. All of their eyes are fixed on me, including those who sit in the front. The only thing that breaks the silence is Jan's clapping hands that followed by others in the classroom. I feel shy and awkward. It is the same feeling as when people clapping and singing on your birthday while you standing in front of your cake.

"Oh, since you know already, I don't need to teach this class today. You can make a group that consists of three people to make a presentation about an example case of victimology. Class dismissed."

My surroundings suddenly change, from the look of admiration to the glare of my classmate at me. Like hey, it is not my fault I know the answer. Jeez. 

I feel a tug on my shirt. I look at Jan with pleading eyes. Behind her, Aaron also looks the same. I can't reject these people if they keep using that looks. I sigh.

"Yea. You don't have to say it. I know what you want. What kind of case we want to research?"

Aaron and Jan act happily, including a Sugar Glider that peeking from Aaron's collar. I should have realized it sooner that they won't be that stupid to do illegal things in the classroom on the first day.  

Later that day we hang out to talk about our project. Little did I know, they turn out to be nice people to hang out with. Days turn weeks. Weeks turn years. These people have become my support system.

"Emma! What are you doing?!" Jan shouts at me angrily.

Her hand bang on my desk. I look up and see her frustrated face. She cut her hair short a few days ago, it suits her to be honest. She also wears the black dress I gave her on her birthday last year. I'm glad she now has a reason to wear it. I shift my eyes back to my laptop. A CCTV video from that day is playing, again. 

"Emma, your condition is very concerning."

I feel the warmth of Aaron's hand on top of my hand. I can't help to look at his face. He really is concerned. He is also wearing black. I guess both just got back from my parents' funeral. I missed it this morning because I need to look something up about Grace's case.

Aaron pat my head and asking me to eat some food. I just sit there indifferent. I mean I don't feel hungry, why would I eat? By all the care that Aaron showered to me all these two years I already have a feeling that he is into me. Well... He is a good guy but I still have a lot on my plate. Having a relationship is just going to be a distraction to me.

Like hell, I'm talking about relationships as a distraction. I am now sitting inside a cheap apartment with thread all over the wall, the mugshot of suspects sticks here and there, and a board with all information of Grace's death just after the death of my parents. Ironic, isn't it?

A few days ago I came to my house late after going out with Jan and Aaron. Aaron driving at that time. After I arrived, I realized that night was very quiet. No lamps are on. I go inside and turn the lights on. Still nothing. I call my parents, once, twice but reply. I thought they were out like usual. I go upstairs to my room. The creak sounds on the stairs seem loud.

As soon as I passed the master bedroom, I smelt something like iron. Something familiar. I knock on the door but the door moved by itself. There, I saw it. My dad sitting in the middle of the room with a shotgun in his mouth and blood splatter behind him. I saw papers in front of his feet but I don't have any energy to walk there. I slumped. 

*ring* *ring*

Jan called me. I answer it while my eyes are glued to something that was my dad.

"Emma, your house seems suspicious. Aaron and I still in front of your house. Are you okay?"

"Help."

I can't say anything but it. In seconds, I heard the sounds of running steps behind me. Someone standing behind me. I don't know whether it is Jan or Aaron until the person hugs me from behind and covers my eyes with their hands. I smell Aaron's perfume. It is calming my agitated self.

"It is going to be alright Emma. Jan already calls police and ambulance downstairs."

All of the images of an ice queen with a high wall I made so far crumbled in front of me as Aaron hug me. I cried like a baby in his arms all night. I cried just like I did in the past. 

Later I know that my mom also commits suicide in the kitchen, downstairs. The police sure that my mom did it first and dad follows after. Both commit suicide due to bankruptcy. Yet they still left me enough money to live for a year or two. I ended up using almost all of the money to buy a coffee shop near Grace's. 

"Emma please, let's get some help. You can't be like this."

Jan half crying pulling my hand out of the desk. I feel empty. 

"Watching this shit thousands of times won't help you damn it!"

She stormed off to my laptop and pressed pause. There. At that moment. Somehow something has guided her to pause it at the right moment. The moment that couldn't be seen without looking at it from frame to frame no matter how much I have watched it. 

"JAN! YOU ARE GENIUS!" 

I kiss her cheek and Aaron's also. I stormed off to the police station, left them both there in shock. I glance at them one more time when I wear my shoes in front of the door. Jan slumped crying in my chair covering her face while Aaron looking at me with sad eyes. They don't understand how much this is meant to me. It's okay. They will understand later.