My body automatically turned around to face him as I asked, "D-Do you k-know me, sir?"
He nodded. "A back-to-back chess champion, captain of the Supreme Student Council, and an award-winning feature writer of Elton High School. My brother speaks highly of you because you're his role model,"
My eyebrows furrowed. This man may be a police officer, but I don't feel comfortable around him. "W-Who are y-you? And who is your brother?"
"I'm Police Staff Sergeant Raymond Gavia, and I'm investigating my brother's suicide case," he replied without taking his eyes off my face.
The look on his face suggests that he's not suspicious of me, but there's something about his stare that makes me feel like I was guilty of something. "And...what did it have to do with me?"
He stayed silent for a few more seconds, which made me more anxious and nervous even though I am certain that I didn't do anything wrong.
"Rayland Gavia. He's a student of Elton High School who committed suicide seven months ago," he said, which made me cover my mouth in shock when I remembered.
"You--You mean..."
"Yeah," he said with a faint smile. "The Clover _01 suicide case."
I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding when I heard the name. It was surprising enough to meet the brother of the suicide victim, but having him mention the Clover_01 thing made me conclude that he knows about the community.
He walked closer to me and then asked, "By any chance, do you know about EHS UNDERGROUND FILES?"
I couldn't answer. Saying yes might be the right thing to do, but I am not sure about the consequences I might face if I tell anyone about the community. I have enough problems to deal with, and I couldn't afford another. So, stuttering, I replied, "W-What is that? I-Is that a document you need for the investigation or something?"
But he doesn't seem to buy my act of playing innocent. The look on his face didn't change, and it made me look away in guilt. I want to help with the investigation, but I'm scared.
"It's an underground community that normalizes bullying, r*pe, and violence. Do you really not know anything about it?"
I shook my head and took a step back. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can be of any help with you, officer,"
"Wait, Miss Nase---"
I looked away. "Sorry, but I still have a lot to do. If you'll excuse me now, sir, I'm leaving. "
Getting involved with others' business is not my thing unless it has something to do with Elton and my class. However, I just can't seem to muster the courage to tell him anything about the community, so I tried to walk away, but officer Gavia followed me.
"Miss Nase, I know you're scared, but I am a police officer. I can protect you, so please--"
I shove him out of my way. "I don't know anything," I firmly said, then I continued walking. But he's persistent as fuck, matching every step I take no matter how large might they be.
"Miss Nase, please. You're the SSC captain; you must know something about this!"
"No, I don't."
"Miss Nase--"
I knew I shouldn't be doing this, but I just can't carelessly give him the information that he needs, so I cut him off by stopping and looking at him straight in the face and said, "With all due respect, sir. What you were doing is against my rights as a citizen. I am not— in any manner— associated with your deceased brother. I am not a suspect nor a witness to be compelled to testify about his death."
I gave him a sharp look, and I could tell that he realized that forcing me to say anything about the Clover_01 suicide case is also considered unlawful. I clenched my fist hard as I stood before him. He looked down and sighed before saying, "I'm sorry. I should've approached and asked you properly. I'm sorry,"
After saying those words, he took a step back and gave me a bitter smile before walking away. And right after he disappeared from my sight, a tear fell from my eyes.
I feel guilty. I lied about not knowing Rayland. He's one of the outstanding students of Elton High School, and I am the one who critiqued his editorial pieces when he was preparing for the inter school journalism competition last year. And among all of the worst students of Elton who bullied him were Herbert— our senior, Kier— the deceased, and Jacob— the vice-captain of SSC.
I wiped the tears with the back of my hand. I may have lied about not knowing Rayland, but I really am clueless about the details of his suicide.
My body ached, and that's when I realized I have to get going so I could finally call this day a day and rest. I still have two hours before dad comes home, which means I only have an hour to shop and another hour to walk home and cook dinner. I could no longer wait to lay in my bed, so I decided to hurry.
By the time when I reached the door of the grocery store, my shoulder bumped into someone wearing a ragged, blue hooded jacket who seemed to be in a hurry. I had a glance at his face, and it made me stop midway from entering the store. However, he continued and paid no attention to me.
I looked back and watched him as he carefully walked along the sidewalk, keeping his head down as if he is avoiding making eye contact with anyone. He walked and stopped at a pedestrian lane and waited for the traffic light to turn red. He anxiously glanced around him, and by the time when he glanced back, his eyes landed on me.
"I was right," I murmured when he immediately turned around to conceal his face.
He's Cesar Ambrocio, the wanted suspect I saw in the news article.