Arriving at his home, still a little worried about what would happen, Lukas went upstairs to his room, completely ignoring his sister. When he got to his room, he turned on his computer and searched for the latest news.
"Where is... Where is..." Among the many other news items of the last few hours, he found the news item he was looking for.
[ Body found inside a barrel on the outskirts of Jacksonville. ]
Lukas opened the news story and read a little about what they had written. They hadn't mentioned his name, but they had said that it had been an anonymous tip. The authorities were going to investigate the murder.
"Investigate... Will they come after me? Even if that happens, Karen will help me, won't she?" Lukas looked at the ceiling and thought for a while. He then turned off his computer and took a shower.
After putting on some clothes and a hoodie, he went downstairs.
"Are you going out again? Mom will be worried."
"I'll be back before dark, don't worry."
"..."
Lukas slammed the door to his house and then set off toward the park for a little run.
When he got there, he found a few people running as usual. However, he found a familiar person this time. Raquel was running next to two friends. Lukas would have approached her if she were alone, but he decided not to talk to her since she was in company.
But to his surprise, Raquel separated from her friends and ran toward Lukas. As she approached, Lukas removed the hood from his head. "Good afternoon, Raquel."
"Ah, good afternoon. You had told me you ran in the park every day, but I didn't imagine I'd find you here at this hour. Don't you usually run earlier?"
"Oh yes, but I had some problems."
"I see. Would you like to run along with me?"
"What about your friends?"
"Don't worry about them." Raquel gave a bright smile that made Lukas' heart flutter. She was a beautiful woman, and Lukas had always been attracted to her, although he never dared to invite her to eat anything.
She was an older woman, and she was in college. What would her friends think if they saw her eating with a high school boy?
"I guess it's okay. But I run fast." Lukas said.
"Don't worry, I run pretty fast too, even though I'm a little overweight." Raquel put her hands on her belly and squeezed it. Lukas looked at her for a few seconds before he said something.
"I don't think you are overweight. You look beautiful."
Hearing Lukas' words, Raquel's face turned red. "Don't say that kind of thing; I get embarrassed." She scratched her face, embarrassed by Lukas' words.
"I'm just saying what I think. So, shall we?" Lukas stretched his legs a little and got ready; Raquel beside him did the same thing.
Then the race began.
Of course, Raquel could not keep up with Lukas' speed and tired herself out in a few minutes. An absolute defeat.
####
After they finished running, Lukas and Raquel sat down on a bench in the park. Raquel's friends had come up to her and said goodbye, but they ignored Lukas completely.
"Your friends didn't like me."
"It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"It doesn't matter." Raquel was breathing hard because of fatigue. "When you said you ran fast, I didn't think you were that fast." She giggled.
Lukas also laughed and replied. "I'm part of the track club, so it makes sense that I run fast. I was part of the club..." Unlike Raquel, Lukas was feeling well.
"You left the club?"
"I haven't been going to school for a few days."
"What? Why? You can't do that, Lukas!" Raquel exclaimed in surprise.
"I just don't feel like being in that place."
"You need to finish high school to go to college, did you know that?"
"I know... But I don't intend to go to a university, so it's okay."
"What's gotten into you? You had told me before that you would like to go to a university along with Philip... Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's all right."
"Is it because of him?"
"It's not because of Philip. I don't feel like studying anymore, and I've found something I want to do."
"And what's that?"
"A secret." Lukas looked at Raquel and smiled. She then pouted and turned her face away.
"If everything works out, I'll tell you what it is, all right?" Lukas said.
"All right."
"..."
"..."
A slightly awkward silence took over the place. Lukas continued to look at Raquel, wondering if he should invite her to go on a date. She is a kind girl, so she would probably accept so as not to make him sad.
"Listen, Raquel."
"Hm? What is it?" Raquel looked at him.
"Don't you want to eat something this weekend?"
"Huh?" Raquel was speechless for a few seconds. "You're asking me out? You of all people?"
"What do you mean 'You of all people'?"
"Well, I didn't think you were the kind of guy who would ask me out. The guys who approach me are always those guys who think they are the hottest men in the world."
"Sounds like your university is full of good people."
"Hahaha, idiot. Well, I guess it's okay. Where do you intend to take me?"
"I haven't thought about it yet..."
"Hahaha, right. Here, pass me your contact. Even though we've known each other for a long time, we've never exchanged our contacts, have we?"
"Well, I was embarrassed to ask."
"Hm? Why? I've always been nice to you."
"That doesn't change that I was embarrassed to ask for your contact. Wouldn't it be strange for a boy like me to ask for your number?"
"We've known each other for a long time, and I think you're handsome. I would give you my number if you asked." Raquel gave a big smile and then stood up. "See you at the weekend then?"
"Sure."
"See you later." Raquel walked away, and Lukas waved at her.
He then put the hood over his head and stood up. "I did that... It's the first time I've invited a girl out. Where should I take her? Does Raquel like fine dining?"
Thinking for a while, Lukas concluded that Raquel was not a person who liked to eat in such restaurants.
'But maybe I am wrong. I'll text her later.'
He then walked through the park for some more time before returning home.
'Is it a good idea to go on a date while all this is going on? ... I think it's good to do that; I'll forget about the problems for a while."