AEDRIAN
“Beware, L is there.”
A chill ran down my spine at the voice I heard, accompanied by a hand touching my shoulder. I immediately turned around, but there was no one there. Not a single student was in the corridor except me.
Who the heck did that?
Am I hallucinating?
“Aedrian!”
From a distance, I saw my seatmate running toward me.
“Wait for me! Let’s go to the classroom together!”
She was smiling at me. I couldn’t help watching her as she ran closer.
Good thing, she’s back.
“Nica…”
“Waaahhh! Did you really just say my name?”
“Y-yeah, why?” My brows furrowed.
“I don’t know. It just feels like it’s the first time. So why did you call me?”
I looked down, wondering if this was the right time to tell her. But I guess there’s never a perfect time.
“It’s about the person who killed your mother…”
Her smile disappeared the moment I mentioned the subject.
Definitely not the perfect time.
“Y-you already know about that?”
I nodded.
“H-how did you find out? What about him?”
I organized everything I knew about her mother’s killer. Even if the timing wasn’t perfect, she deserved to know.
“He’s ready to pay for his crimes in prison. Your mother’s death will finally get justice.”
A single tear fell from her right eye. Her lips trembled.
“N-no, Aedrian, that’s unfair. That’s not justice. He should die too. He took a life, so a life should be the price! He should die to make it fair! Help me get justice for my mother! Help me kill him!”
The anger in her eyes was unmistakable.
I tried to calm her.
She was probably saying those things because of her rage—because of emotions overflowing beyond her control.
“I’ll help you, Nica, but not in that way. That’s not justice. Let the law handle this. Let the police do their job.”
I tried to convince her, but I knew it would take time.
“If you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t be saying that! You’re not the one who lost someone, Aedrian, so you don’t know how I feel! A police officer killed my mother. How am I supposed to trust the police after that? Huh? I saw it with my own eyes—how he mercilessly shot my mother. I saw it!”
“B-but Nica… that’s not—”
“You’ll only understand me once you lose someone you love too!”
She shouted while staring directly into my eyes, as if she wanted me to suffer the same fate she had.
If only she knew.
Her cheeks were soaked with tears. I wiped them away, and then we entered the classroom.
“How’s Nica?” my father asked.
I sat across from him.
This was actually my first time entering his office. It was usually locked, especially since he also had an office at the police station.
“I told her Ronaldo is ready to answer for what he did to her mother, but she didn’t seem happy about it.”
“I see.”
“Why do you ask?”
“There’s someone who wants to know if she’s doing fine,” he said.
“Like who?”
He just laughed and didn’t answer.
“So, how’s school? Are you still taking care of your grades? Don’t tell me you’re getting too involved in solving cases and thinking about nothing else. Remember—you’re a student, not a detective.”
I sighed.
He was right.
Lately, almost all I could think about was finding the person responsible for the crimes. I hadn’t been paying much attention to my studies.
“I know there are a lot of questions bothering you right now, son. But you know, it’s just like taking an exam. The answers to your questions are underneath the desk where the books are. It’s up to you whether you’ll have the courage to look underneath and take them.”
His words confused me.
“But son, I’m happy to have you helping me solve these cases. I don’t know what else to say except that I’m so proud of you. Whatever you do, whatever decision you make, I’m on your side. I’ll be happy watching you from the other side of the road.”
He stood up and picked up his jacket.
“Where are you going? Do you still have work tonight? It’s already late.”
I checked the time.
9:30 p.m.
He laughed.
“You’re talking like you’re the father here, huh? Don’t worry, we’ll see each other soon. Always take care of your mother, and tell her I love her. Understand?”
He smiled and left, closing the door behind him.
I was on my way to our classroom when my phone suddenly rang.
I took it out and saw that Mom was calling.
I answered immediately.
“Mom?”
No response.
“Mom? Hello, Mom?”
“E-Edoy…”
“Mom, my name is Aedrian! Did you call just to tease me? I’m hanging up.”
I was about to end the call when I heard her speak again.
“Edoy… your father…”
My annoyance disappeared the moment she mentioned him.
“What? What about Dad?”
I heard her sobbing, as if she was trying desperately not to cry.
“Mom! Did something happen to Dad?”
I had no choice but to raise my voice.
I hated being left hanging, especially when I could feel that something terrible had happened.
Her voice broke.
And it felt as though my heart shattered too when I heard the news.
“Y-your father is gone. H-he’s dead—”
“W-what do you mean, Mom? Where is he? You’re lying, right? Tell me he’s not dead. Tell me!”