ARYA
"Ms. Dimalanta, you need to tell us the truth now," said the newcomer. I turned around and saw Eroll approaching us and was still mumbling. His aura was very different now. He really looked like a detective.
"Ah, Eroll! So you're here too. You also want to know the truth, I presume."
"Stop manipulating us, it was you who taught us the art of manipulation and told us to beware of manipulative people. I just couldn't believe that you're also one of them," he spat out as his eyes never left Ms. Dimalanta, aware that she was keeping a firearm with her.
"You don't know what you're saying," she replied and took a deep breath. She even looked around before she turned to us again. "Alright, let's go!"
Huh? What? Where are we going? It was as if the tension around suddenly disappeared when Ms. Dimalanta said that. I swear, I'm terrified now.
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CHRISAboard Zanaya's van, we simultaneously observed the traffic in the car window. Actually, we were also with the president of the student council who was Zanaya's cousin-- Nico. We could hear the relentless honking of cars due to heavy traffic and anyone would think that it would never move."Dave, do you think it's true when Ms. Dimalanta said that the former JDC was gone, and the young ones took over the organization?" Arya suddenly asked.We all looked at Dave who had been busy fiddling with his phone. He also avoided being too close with Zanaya who was next to him now.He looked up and shot us a glare."Hey! They're just asking," said the one next to him who was obviously irritated as well.He sighed before answering, "I think that's possible. He might have retired or dead."Indeed. Maybe he retired because of his
CHRIS"Is that why Ms. Dimalanta didn't show up because she was just playing with us?" Arya said and looked down. She probably felt bad now because she trusted Ms. Dimalanta in this."From the beginning, I knew this is a trap. The moment we stepped out of my car, I've noticed the silent atmosphere," Dave admitted, but he still held a determined look on his face as if he wasn't bothered at all of the impending storm."We shouldn't have trusted that old woman."“If you don’t want to come inside, I’ll go alone,” Dave insisted. There was not even a trace of fear on his face. He's always good at hiding his emotions, but as his friend for how many years now, the tension on his shoulders didn't go unnoticed by me."No, you can't go there alone. I'd rather go with you," said his sister. If Zanaya would be here, I'm sure she would say the same. Tha
ZANAYAWe were here at a time when crime was rampant. Thieves and corrupt politicians were all over the world who steal from the treasury. Everything started at home until it was shaped in school. Our activities in life whether good or bad begin with ourselves. So I understand people who have chosen to side with the evil.Our destiny was in our own hands and I molded with my hands every decision I made in life whether it was good or bad for others.I watched the receding green dot on my watch. It’s a high-tech gadget designed for us, aspiring detectives.Right now, I am tracking Dave's watch using the GPS of my watch. They were now going to JDC's fort. Unfortunately, I couldn't go with them because I have task to do in the student council office.I was bored watching the green dot so I tried to shake the watch again. I clicked on the notes instead. There we
ZANAYA"What?!"He smirked before answering, "My staff showed them who you really are, and I'm sure you won't have a hard time anymore pretending you're on the side of the Zyffords."I was shaken. That was not supposed to be allowed. This was definitely not part of our agreement. I only wanted to get rid of Dave and not my friends. I'm sure they wouldn't talk to me anymore as I am now painted black in their eyes."Why don't you go to your fiancé, I'm sure he is too broken now," he added, there was a glint in his eyes."You shouldn't have done that," I snapped, pertaining to what he did to my friends and showing them that I am working for JDC even before I had the chance to tell them first."Nah. You should thank me, Reign. Dave is in the basement now. Go to him and tell him that soon, he will fall down to his knees and beg for me to ju
DAVE"Let go of me, pricks!" I shouted at the two men holding my arm and dragging me into a hallway.My sister Darlene and I were ushered into a basement and tied to chairs. The men left us immediately after that.I couldn't just believe that we got caught, and most of all my mind refused to believe that Reign was one of them because it's just too impossible. She's a detective student and she had helped me with my problems. She couldn't be one of them. I am sure she was just being framed up by those bastards."Dave, I know you're confused right now, but Reign couldn't do that, could she?" my sister Darlene asked."No. And I am hoping that she's still with us."Darlene tried to shift on her sit despite being held down by the ropes that bind her."Dave, I think it's possible that JDC was the reason why mom died," I was shoc
ARYA We've been tied up for like three hours and my muscles really ached. I’m sure Chris felt the same way because he's been quiet since Dave and Prof. Darlene were taken somewhere by JDC's staff. "Have you thought of a way on how we could get out of here?" I asked him. "I'm trying to remove this rope on my hand," he replied. I tried to look at what he was doing and he seemed to be succeeding. He was trying to untie it. "It's loosening," I whispered just in case they could hear us. I just hope there's no hidden camera in here. "Good." Silence enveloped us again, not until we heard three consecutive knocks on the door. I looked at the door, waiting for it to open, but nothing. My forehead creased because of this. Who could it be? Was it JDC? Eventually, I saw a card in the doorway and someone pushed the card
ARYA"How did you guys manage to escape?" Dave asked with bewildered expression. Even Mrs. Roque was looking at us with confusion."Don't you believe in our ability, Dave? We're smart!" I boasted as I beamed at them.It was Chris who volunteered to break the rope tied on them."I'm glad that you're all safe," Mrs. Roque said.Dave looked at us. "You still haven't answered my question a while ago. How did you escape?"I just raised an eyebrow. Didn't I answer that already?"Zanaya gave this to us," Chris showed the card to Dave.His eyes widened when he saw it. It was as if he couldn't believe it."Impossible," he shook his head even more as he said this."We even talked to her earlier when we left the room," I revealed and I watched as Dave stared at us with i
CHRIS"Zanaya is currently inside the Broadcast Room," I muttered."What?! But there's a bomb there!" Arya exclaimed. Panic was evident on her voice.A sudden surge of worry attacked me too. What was she doing there? She told us a while ago that she didn't know the locations of the bomb. Was she given a task from JDC?"For sure she's aware that there is a bomb there. JDC might have warned her," Dave spat bitterly and began walking towards the door."But Dave--""We have more important things to do. I wouldn't waste my time saving a traitor like her," he drawled with finality in his tone.We followed him who was now on his way to the canteen to assist the police in diffusing the bomb."Isn't she important to you?" I asked him as I kept my pace with his long strides.Even with Dave
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