CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE: THE HIGHSCHOOL DETECTIVE

And finally, after ten years of staying in America, Raine decided to go back to the Philippines.

For the fact that she earned some coins from solving cases, she decided to continue her second semester in the Philippines.

She was in the twelfth grade and was taking the course of Computer Engineering.

At first, Vanessa didn't agreed for the reason that the sindicates might still be looking for her but at the end, she finally said her 'yes'.

"Hey, guys! Guess where I am!" she said to her best friends from the Philippines in their video chat.

"Hmm... Let me guess! Many people,"

Shaira, her best friend since she's studying in the Philippines, spoke. Having no clue where Raine's really is, "... and then?"

In their group, Shaira's the joker kind of girl who always tells funny jokes. At the same time, she's also into fashion.

I can't believe she doesn't know where I am right now, Raine thought. Deep inside of her, she was bursting with laughter.

"Crikey! What are you doing at the airport, Raine? Where Auntie Vanessa?" Lani, the daughter of her Dad's best friend, asked curiously.

Lani was the most diligent and most kind in their group.

 

"Auntie's not here," she replied.

"I know that airport! Wait, does that mean that you're back in the Philippines?" Zane asked. He was the half-brother of Lani.

At the time Lani's mother died, Zane's family treated her as their own daughter.

Among her three friends, Zane was the closest to Raine. It is because he's the first one he met and they made more happy memories than the others.

Among all of them, Zane's the most talented and most shy. He wants to write mystery novels and Raine's the first one reading his works.

"You're right!" Lani beamed.

"Indeed!" Raine replied, "So meet you at our house later?"

"At your house? But isn't it still dangerous?" Zane asked. "You can be hurt!"

"Zane, don't worry. I'm sixteen now and I'm not a seven year old kid anymore. I can protect myself," she replied.

Actually, I'm turning seventeen tomorrow, Raine thought.

"Zane, Lani, since you're the nearest to Raine's house, be sure to keep her safe!" Shaira spoke.

"What?!" the three asked in unison.

"If something happens to her, it's your fault!" she added.

"Uh... I think it's not necessary," Raine asked. Surprised about what just happened, "Please don't scare them."

"But seriously, guys! We have to protect Raine," Shaira spoke calmly.

"Wait, it's my decision to come home here in the Philippines and that means that it's my responsibility to protect myself. It's my decision and my own responsibility and my own responsibility," Raine responded.

The rest of the conversation became pretty much related to Raine and her staying in the Philippines.

Her Grandpa, who is the police chief in their city, met her at the airport to fetch her back to her house through his car.

Raine thought that her aunt must have said the news to him. Her heart began to beat fast, thinking about what he might said to her.

"Raine!"

"Yes, Grandpa?" Her eyes widened as she heard those words.

He sighed. "Are you sure about this decision?"

Raine froze for a while, not figuring out if he's angry or not. "Uhh... I really miss Philippines, especially my best friends," she replied sheepishly.

"If only you can live with me in my house," her grandfather spoke to himself, whispering.

"What is it, Grandpa?" asked Raine, pretending to not hear what her grandfather spoke.

"Raine, I heard that you're a highschool detective now. Are you certain about that decision?"

For now Raine realized what he really means to say. "Yes," she replied.

"You're father would not have died if only she didn't meddle with that case. I told him... I told him not to but his desire took over," he spoke, raising his voice.

Raine was reticent. Thinking about what her grandfather means.

"But, Grandpa, he just wants to save your life," Raine reminded.

"But I'm safe. He wouldn't have to interfere!!!" he added.

After a while, they finally arrived at their old house.

"Thank you for taking me here," Raine spoke as she went out the car.

"Raine, I'm so sorry if I can't visit you more often. But promise me that you'll take care of yourself," he reminded.

"Take this. Promise me that you'll take care of it and don't tell anyone that you have that," her Grandpa added. Handing off a brown envelope to Raine.

"Of course," she replied.

Raine quickly went inside their house. Hiding the envelope inside her backpack.

She thought that she might clean the whole house first before looking at whatever is inside the strange envelope. She put it inside the drawer in order for it to be secure.

It took hours for her to clean the house for the reason that it's quite big.

At the time she'll put the last book on the bookshelf, she was startled by the sound of their doorbell.

"Raine!!!" she heard familiar voices called.

Peeking through the window, she saw her best of friends smiling towards her. Waving excitedly outside their gate.

Raine dashed towards the window. Her heart pounding with unexplained joy.

At the time the gate opened, the four friends ran towards her and hugged each other tightly.

"Raine, you're even more beautiful now!!!" Shaira beamed. "I told you you can be definitely a fashionista and a blogger like me!"

"Even though we're not taking the same course, because mine is Accountancy, I'm still excited to be your schoolmate," Lani spoke.

"I'm certain that the BOYS will be so happy to see a famous girl studying in our school," Zane whispered. Stressing the word boys.

Zane turned pink in his jealousy. Raising one of his eyebrow.

"What's the matter, Zane?" Aren't you happy that Raine's going to be our schoolmate again?" asked Lani.

"... Or you're just jealous?" she added. Whispering in a mocking voice to her brother.

"Jealous? For what?" His blush grew even more. Losing her eye - to - eye contact with her friends.

"Oh, come on," Lani mocked, "you're just jealous that Raine's famous now."

"Uhh... Yeah! Yeah, maybe you're right," he replied. Sighing in relief for the reason that they misunderstood what he said.

Raine, seeing the nervousness on her friend's eyes, shoved his hand and hold it tightly.

"You know, Zane," Raine emphatized, "You should be proud of yourself. Because of your mystery books, I learned many things about solving cases."

"Well, not exactly because you mostly read Sherlock Holmes," Zane taunted.

"Yeah... Yeah," Raine spoke sheepishly. "But still, you're the one who inspired me mostly."

Seeing them talking with each other weirdly, Shaira cleared her throat. Crossing her hands in front of the two.

"Aww..." Lani teased.

"What's the mat-?" Realizing that she was holding her friend's hand, Raine quickly let go of it and averted her eyes to him. The same thing happened to Zane.

"There, there! We understand what you're doing," Lani reminded. "You two were just doing the things we used to before when we were young."

"Sorry," Raine whispered sheepishly.

"I- It's alright," replied Zane. Still blushing in embarrassment.

"Come on inside!" Shaira beamed. "We should celebrate Raine's arrival!"

"But I still don't have much food!"

"Don't worry! Mommy and Daddy gave me some money so that we can order food!" Shaira added.

"Can I have some mushroom flavored pizza with hot sauce?" Lani asked.

"Of course," Shaira replied. "How about you two?"

"As usual," Zane spoke.

"A hot drink made out of pure theobroma cacao or a hot camellia sinensis," Raine replied.

"Speak English... Please," Shaira said.

"Ha!" Raine hooted. "I'm just messing with you. I just want hot cocoa drink or just tea. It's up to you what order you want to add."

"Noted!"

Being the daughter of a billionaire, Shaira was indeed living in a life full of luxury. Her mother was a famous actress while her father was an inventor.