Partners

Ronaldo suddenly stood up from his seat. It looked like he had seen the man standing behind my father.

I froze when the man pointed a gun at Dad.

A shot rang out, and Ronaldo was the one who got hit.

I didn't know what kind of firearm the man was using. The glass didn't shatter, yet he was still able to shoot Ronaldo through it.

“H-how is that possible...?”

Dad stood up as well, probably wondering why the man he had been talking to on the other side of the room had suddenly disappeared from sight.

Then he looked behind him.

What was strange was the look on Dad's face. He seemed utterly shocked, as if he couldn't believe who he was seeing.

The man shot my father too.

My vision darkened.

I wanted to jump into the screen and strangle that man myself.

Why would he kill Ronaldo?

More importantly, why would he kill my father?

What crime had they committed?

Then I noticed what the man left on the floor.

An apple.

He walked out through the door. The only thing I could make out was his sinister smile beneath the long hair covering his face.

The clue he left behind was enough to identify him.

So this is how he plays.

Dirty.

Unfair.

He had declared war.

And I wasn't the type to back down.

He would pay for this. I guarantee it.

I looked at Leo, my determination burning stronger than ever.

“I'll take my father's place. He trained me well enough, so you can trust that I can help you find the person truly responsible for all of this.”

I guess the war between L and me had officially begun.

This was going to be interesting.

Leo smiled.

“Your smile looks just like your father's. I'm glad to be partners with you, Mr...?”

“Aedrian. Aedrian Alminario.”

“So I guess we'll start our investigation tomorrow?” he asked.

“We can start right now. I have a lot of questions to ask. Are you ready?”

I could feel my blood boiling.

I'm sure Dad would be happy once I solved this case.

I'll make him so proud that he'll climb out of his grave just to see it.

Leo sat across from me, looking prepared for my questions.

“I think that guy used a handgun fitted with a suppressor, which allowed him to shoot Ronaldo and my father without drawing attention,” I began.

“My question is this: how did that man get into the city jail after visiting hours were already over? Didn't anyone notice him? Did anyone see him enter or leave the jail?”

“I'm still talking to a witness. It seems she doesn't want to testify because she's scared.”

“Give me her name. I'll try talking to her myself.”

“Her name is Maria Janica Silvania, a Grade 12 student. Wait... now that I think about it, she's your friend, right?”

My brows furrowed when I heard my seatmate's name.

Holy cheese.

She's a witness?

How did that happen?

I DON'T understand.

There are too many questions in my head.

Why did Dad visit Ronaldo at that hour?

Why is Nica a witness?

What connection do they have to Ronaldo?

“Here.”

Leo showed me another piece of footage.

I watched as Nica visited Ronaldo.

When she left, she hid because Dad was approaching.

After Dad entered, she started walking again and crossed paths with a man wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

She glanced at him before continuing on her way.

“What are your questions?” Leo asked.

I didn't hesitate.

“Why did Nica and Dad need to visit Ronaldo? Do you know anything about it, Leo?”

“Would you mind calling me Sir?”

“Would it kill you?”

“Never mind.”

He sighed.

“You know what, Aedrian? Ronaldo and your father were friends. They used to be partners.”

I looked at the folder Leo had taken out.

“I know a lot about them because they were my seniors. Whenever they talked, I was usually around since they often sent me out to buy coffee.”

He handed me the folder.

I opened it and once again saw the case file of Mareth Silvania—Nica's mother.

“You want to hear a love story?” Leo asked.

“A love story? Right now?”

“About that case.”

My brows knitted together.

A love story? What does that have to do with any of this?

“Mareth Silvania and Ronaldo Villamor were lovers.”

I looked up at him.

He was completely serious.

A possibility formed in my mind.

Could it be...?

“Maybe Nica already found out the truth about her parents. That's probably why she visited Ronaldo.”

I thought about it.

Even the reason Ronaldo killed Mareth suddenly made sense.

I understood now.

It sounded impossible, but it was true.

“You mean...?”

“Yeah. Ronaldo is Nica's real father. But he discovered that Mareth Silvania had another man in her life. One night, Ronaldo shot his wife.”

I eventually excused myself and left.

I hadn't even realized how late it had gotten.

It was almost dark.

I got on my bicycle and thought about visiting Nica.

I wanted to talk to her, but when I saw what was happening, I decided to wait until tomorrow.

What I witnessed only confirmed what Leo had told me.

“Why are you only getting home now? Where have you been?” I heard Nica's father ask.

“At school.”

“You're so stubborn! You're wasting your time studying! You should just get a job! Your education won't help us escape poverty! You're wasting your life, I'm telling you!”

“Dad, how am I supposed to find a decent job if I don't have an education?”

“What? Do you think you'll become rich by being a teacher? Money comes easier at bars! Sell your body there and you'll get rich fast! Starting tomorrow, you're not going back to school. Just work!”

“Dad! How many times do I have to tell you? I want to study! Why are you trying to stop me even from this?”

“Education is nonsense! When I say stop studying, you obey me unless you want me to throw you out of this house!”

I don't know why, but at that moment, I didn't have the strength to defend her.

All I could do was stand there and watch.

I remembered my first day at Laguna University.

Is this why she always sleeps in class?

Does she stay awake at night because of her father?

When she's at school, she makes it seem like everything is fine.

You'd think she has no problems at all.

But behind every smile, there was hidden sadness.

I got back on my bicycle.

When I arrived home, I noticed that the entire house was dark.