DAVE
"I just wanted to clear some things. When I found out that Sean may have been an accomplice of the photojournalist, I was not able to tell you my deductions because someone else might be listening to our conversation and our plan will be sabotaged again," I began.
"So? Dabid men! You made us look stupid. Did you know that?" Eroll said with disappointment.
I sighed. "That's why I am apologizing."
"Apology accepted."
We all turned to Chris who just seemed to be nonchalant about what he just said. My eyes blinked rapidly to confirm if I heard him right.
Reign and Arya glared at him while Eroll raised his eyebrows.
"What?" he asked innocently. "Guys, I understand Dave. I would have done that too if I was on his shoe last night. You know, the principle of confidentiality," he tried to explain on my side.
"That's still not enough to normalize what he did. He should have given at least a clue or som
DAVE"Don't continue the party so that no one will die," Arya suggested with a shrugged.That was probably the best solution Arya could think of."We can't do that. What will the whole student body say?" the president's response."That's Memento Mori."I turned to my right when Chris spoke."Come to think of it, that's a threat. But to whom? Who should die?" he continued.I remembered my dream again so I looked at Reign. She was currently staring at the letter. Could it be her? Was this a threat to us?"The images on this certificate are symbols of mortality reflecting the Latin phrase 'Memento Mori' which means 'Remember you must die', '' Chris added.I was the one who interrupted the conversation. "The hour glass is a symbol of limited time on earth, grave-digging tools and dead bodies suggest fresh graves and angels are associated with heaven.""That means, we have very little tim
ARYABefore the Acquaintance Party...I looked around from where I stood and inhaled the fresh air. We were now on the rooftop of the mall here at Zyfford Academy. We thought of going straight here after our last class to buy a dress to wear for the Acquaintance Party tomorrow night. And one more thing, we now have Angel with us who was really a blessing in disguise who could help Zanaya and I in choosing what to wear."So what, guys, let's go?" she urged.Zanaya glanced at her watch before looking at us."It's already 5 o'clock. Let's go."I knew that she was forced to join us again. She had been very bored a while ago and she really didn't like doing shopping. But I have also noted how she avoided Angel. I couldn't figure out what the reason was. She was really very anti-social. She even intentionally ignored her every time Angel talked to her.Angel was kind to us so I couldn't understand why
ARYANow's the most awaited time...I didn't say that. I just heard that from the MC. I will add that to my vocabulary though.Each section had its own table but our location today was quite special because we were one of those who would receive a recognition for our so-called heroic deeds. The four of us with Angel the frog sat at a round table in the front part of the hall. It was also the party to recognize us as the tournament representatives. The battle would be next week.The emcee talked a little more before we received the award. The applause could be heard even as we descended from the stage.."Wow! That was great, guys. Keep it up," the pretentious angel told us."This song is for everyone. Let's all dance, team Zyfford!" I heard the emcee say.I looked around. The people here today seemed harmless except for Angel and the photojournalist who was approaching us now. He seemed to be planning of
ARYAWol-la-cheeNo-da-ihBeTkinNe-as-jahGahNe-as-jahNe-as-jahNa-as-tso-si--Cherry BlossomsI'm sure anyone who read this code would definitely laugh and get confused. After all, you have no other idea what this code referred to. The clue given wass still confusing. And no other words could be formed except Cherry Blossoms."Hey! This code is unfamiliar. Are you kidding us?" Zanaya asked Terrence, her eyebrows were knitted together as she shot him a glare.The man just shrugged before he left the room. Now, Zanaya and I were the only ones here.She looked at me, "Do you know how to crack this code?"I've been wondering what kind of code this was because I'm familiar with its structure. I’m sure I’ve studied this.Zanaya approached me with her hands still chained. The chain was long enough so she was able to approach me.“I think
CHRIS"How did they know that we're here?" Dave asked in astonishment.The four of us looked at each other with confusion on our faces."Didn't you tell them?" Zanaya asked.Dave shook his head and looked at the student council members who were now approaching us."So it must be Terrence?" Zanaya speculated. "But why?""Impossible. Why would he do that?" Arya countered squinting her eyes at the group.We continued walking but I could feel something was up with what was happening especially since Zanaya's cousin was here again who was always present in all the cases we handled especially that Zanaya was always involved. He must be really concerned. But how did he know that we are here? Who told him? Or did he find a way to track down his cousin?He immediately approached Lopez and checked to see if she had an injury. When h was satisfied, he glanced at us."Why didn't you immediately tell
CHRISI glanced at Dave who still remained in his seat as if Arya didn't just drop the elephant in the room. I also felt Zanaya approaching us now and I could almost feel the dangerous aura she was emitting."What's the meaning of this, Zyfford?" she asked irritably, her eyes throwing fires to my friend.Dave, on the other hand, looked up like an innocent child and just shrugged. Zanaya almost kicked him but he managed to stop her."Did you include him on the list after what happened last night?!"Dave harshly closed the book he was reading and placed on the bookshelf before he turned his attention to Zanaya."What did he do last night? Do I have any reason to suspect him?" he retorted.Zanaya sat up and angrily stared at my friend. Even Arya was wondering as well. But knowing Dave, he had a reason why Zanaya's cousin was on the list."Why did you just show us the list today?" Arya asked, her tone
CHRIS"Well, that was unexpected," Dave said.Arya, on the other hand, suppressed a laugh.I looked at our client who was just staring at the outcome of the case she was solving for us."N-No... please tell me this is a bluff!""Don't call it a bluff, miss. My group mates made an effort just to solve that case. You must thank them," Zanaya said."Everything will be okay, Porsha. You can find a more sensible man there, well that is if he's breaking up with you which was not the case, I guess. Maybe he just wanted to let you know about his gender preference and we must respect that," Arya reminded, tapping the woman on the shoulder."The important thing is, he is far from danger. Though it breaks your heart, time would heal it," I added."Let's look at the bright side of everything, Porsha. You might be grieving for now, but someday, you'll get through this. Don't become a blind person who can't see
ZANAYA"You guys should win this battle," Mrs. Roque reminded us as we fixed ourselves inside the van that would take us to the train station.My companions and I looked at each other. The responsibility rested upon us today. The fate of Zyfford Academy and the reputation of the Zyfford family were in the hands of the four of us."We will. And we will also bring home the stones," Dave said emphatically.I am more determined to fight now. When I was just an ordinary girl living in a not so beautiful world full of greedy people, I didn't care about fighting for something because I could have everything I wanted except for one thing of course and that was, my freedom. But after how many months of staying here, I realized that there were more things worth fighting for--justice, fairness, love, friendship, and freedom. These were the things that would keep your hope alive and worth fighting for. No matter how hard the situation w
ZANAYAI repeatedly called Dave as he ran after the man wearing a hoodie.I could do nothing, but follow them too.We arrived at the airport near the victim's house and the chase took us all the way inside, to the comfort room of the airport. We saw the suspect went inside the CR, but he suddenly disappeared from our sight."Where is he now?" Dave asked. He was still gasping for breath.In the hallway of the CR, six people came out.First was a civilian-- a man, quite tall, carrying a suitcase and wearing a brown jacket, and eyeglasses, and he also looked sweaty.I immediately cornered him so that he wouldn't go away. I showed him my ID as a detective so that he would cooperate.Later, a woman also wearing a jacket, tall, somewhat stout, and somewhat dark, came out of the CR. There was another girl with her and she
ZANAYAI was running...Again.But this time, I was not running away from him. I am actually running towards him."Hey, Zyfford!" I called him.He immediately turned to me. One of his eyebrows was raised while holding the papers that had been scattered earlier on the floor."You got something there?" he questioned.I approached him and held my phone in front of him showing the evidence I captured from the crime scene.His eyebrows knitted in confusion. "And what should we do with a letter to a family?"I clicked my tongue. It looked like the great Dave Zyfford lost his touch on Detective works."Duh. It could be a great help for us to solve the case," I stated in a matter of fact tone."Babe, you've got to be kidding me," he said which mad
ZANAYAHe showed me his dazzling smile again. The typical silent-type guy who had his own way on making girls drool over him. That's Christopher Enriquez."Ah, here's my gift," he murmured shyly after a moment of just staring at each other.Arya let out a laughed as she nudged Monica on her side to which the latter just ignored and simply gave me an encouraging smile.I took it and stared at the box. "What's this?""Open it, quick!""Wow, ha! You're even more excited, Eroll," Arya commented. Eroll clearly ignored Arya's remark and just stared at the box as if anticipating it to explode or whatever. This better not explode or else I would throw it at Eroll's face."Open it," Chris urged with a smile.I shrugged my thoughts away and I began opening it. I was surprised when I saw a calculator inside. It
ZANAYAI stopped my car at the place where he currently stays. It's the place where I wouldn't even thought of visiting, but here I am inside the car, contemplating whether to get out or drive away and hide again.However, I kept on reminding myself for how many times that there was no room for cowardice. I needed to face my past so that I could move on towards my future.The things that happened to me a year ago were incomparable. It was an experience that was worth sharing as it had impacted my whole life to become the person I've become today. Life had made me tougher. It made me realized that truth always prevail no matter how much effort we exerted just to hide it. I've learned that trust was such a precious thing you could give to anyone. Trust was fragile too. It's delicate. If it was broke once, it would be hard to glue the broken pieces together.I let out a sigh. This is it.I pushed the door and got out of the car. Now,
CHRIS"Where are you after the defense?" Eroll fired the first question to a woman. Her wide eyes widened even more when she realized that the question was being addressed to her."I-I'm in the lobby, I'm about to go home that time..." she answered in a shaky voice."What about you?" Eroll inquired another student."My group and I are in the Cafeteria," the girl replied nonchalantly. She seemed to not care that she's one of the suspects and clearly unbothered by what's happening. Either she's not involved or she's just good at hiding emotions.Eroll continued to ask questions until he reached the frowning man who had been suspicious to me ever since I saw him."I'm in the lobby too," he replied sparingly. He and Eroll even held eye contact for a while before the latter averted his gaze to us.We sorted the students who we
CHRIS"Chris! Let's go. You're really slow," shouted Monica who was outside the headquarters with the others.I let out an irritated sigh when I failed to tie my shoe laces properly."Seriously?" someone blurted in front of me.I looked up and saw Monica's annoyed face.I got up and faced her. "I'm done!"After saying that, I pinched her nose and ran to the door while laughing so hard.She groaned audibly as she tried to catch up."Is everything complete?" Dave asked who was seemingly bored judging by his usual dull eyes."Aye! Aye! Captain," Eroll replied playfully.They started walking towards the car.Today, we were invited for a case. And guess what, everyone was excited since it's been a long time since we were able to solve real case
ARYAMonica sent a message first to Dave before we started walking towards the MRF. There were no traces of blood on our way anymore so we didn't know which part of the academy where Zanaya was taken. Our only hope was the MRF. I really she's safe there.When we saw the MRF, the two of us hid in an acacia tree to wait for Dave.Soon, we heard the approaching footsteps of the three men."We think Zanaya was right there!" Monica whispered to the them."Look, the MRF has a secret passageway out of the academy, and I think that's the reason why JDC decided to stay right there," Dave explained. "I asked my father's men to guard all the exits, including the exit in that MRF room, so Nico could not escape, unless he creates another chaos.""We also have back-up policemen, if we haven't gotten out of the MRF within ten minutes, they will come in and
ARYAWe hurried up the stairs to the second floor where the Control Room was located. Monica and I accompanied some rescuers to rescue Zanaya who was inside. Dave with Eroll and Chris were outside and were also looking for JDC aka Nico.Who would have thought that the venerable Student Council President was the mastermind of all the violence at Zyfford Academy? No one would expect him to be able to do that. His life was now tainted with black due to his past.As for Zanaya, I am happy that she still gave us her loyalty up to this point, though I am so worried about her current state as of the moment. I really hope nothing bad happened to her. She's my very first friend here in Zyfford and was also the reason why we became friends with Dave's group. If not for her, I am sure my blood would still boil for the E4.It was already smoky in this part of the building so the rescuers would n
DAVEIt seemed like the world had stopped from revolving that moment when we heard the explosive sound and found out that half of the Broadcast Room was now burning down."Zanaya is still inside!" Arya exclaimed with tears in her eyes.She had been hysterical when everything had sunk in her mind. A series of sobs from her could now be heard along with the shouts of commands from the authorities as they tried to put out the fire.I should have listened to them. I should have listened to her. This shouldn't have happened. I could have helped her. If only I didn't let my pride and ego get in the way. We could have made a better plan.I tugged at my hair while still staring at the burning part of the Broadcast Room.Why didn't I listen to her? She's trying to explain, but I refused to listen. I even started hating her. Damn, I think I hate myself