***
René POV
My mom died when I just graduating college. And my dad who didn't seem to care about her even before her death took me and my little brother and moved to Los Angeles, so he can continue his gambling. My parents weren't good at parenting at all, they both didn't care what happened to me and my brother. All they want is to see us at home in the mornings, then they fight each other because my mom was mad that dad always waste his money gambling, and drinking.
After moving to the new city, I got into the police academy while my brother dropped out of school. This was when I noticed something strange happening to my brother. Before he dropped out of school, he never stayed out past 8 pm. But suddenly, he wasn't even at home in the mornings. At first, I thought it was just a normal change in the habit because maybe he's gotten, new friends. Until he started returning home all beaten up, then I concluded that he was doing drugs.
I tried to confront him, I did confront him but he acted all secretive. It was obvious he was hiding things from me. Anytime he was holding his phone and I walked in, he quickly hides it. I was so worried about him, that I investigated further into the matter.
That was when I found out that it was more than just drugs he was doing. He was working in some cult group that uses people to do their dirty work, they call themselves, "the eye".
They are a very secretive group that even the members don't know who the leader of the group is. You only know the one who recruits you. I tried to talk him out of it but he suddenly disappeared. I searched throughout the entire Los Angeles, but I couldn't find him.
My dad didn't care about any of us. I kept on searching and investigating until I found out he had run off to California, all on the word of the eye. I couldn't just let him live that life he was living in so I followed him to the city.
I was completely lost when I got there until a clue guided me. Just out of nowhere, I start to find these clues, telling me what to do or showing me where to go next. This clue lead me to a college, Cloud college and I received a message saying if I want to get my answer I should look towards a guy named Pablo Saez. I also received a photo of this Pablo guy.
After gathering this much information, I head to the station to report everything. Turns out the eye is a five-star wanted criminal organization. I was then ordered to go undercover and enroll in the college as a normal kid to find out about this Pablo guy.
I followed this guy around and found out everyone he knows and talks to, but couldn't find anything on the eye. I decided to move closer to him, but he never utter anything about the group. It made me wonder why the clues that were left asked me to look toward him for my answer. Is there something I am missing?
***
The doorbell of the little diner Pablo works in sounded as the door opened. He turned to the door to greet the customer. He froze as he saw who it was.
"Re-René?… What is she doing here now?… Oh my god, is she here to arrest me? No, Eric said the eye will protect me. But the same eye ordered me to snitch on him, I'm fucked" He muttered under his breath.
His friend Ibrahim followed his gaze to the girl walking into the diner. "Oh look it's your friend… I want nothin' to do with her, so ya go get her order" He says before walking up to other customers.
Pablo took a deep breath before going over to her.
"Heyy René… fancy meeting you here."
"Hey Pablo, I didn't know you work here!!" She says, smiling sweetly.
Pablo sighed in disappointment, thinking to himself that it could have been cool hanging out with her. Too bad she's a cop that is investigating him.
"How about we have a drink or two together? You and I. Maybe catch up on some things" She offered.
The brown-haired boy stuttered as he search for words to say. Drinking with her is the last thing he wants to do. He can't risk spitting information out.
"I… I… I actually… my shift is almost over… and…"
"That's even better…" She chipped.
He ran his hand through his hair. "I actually have… to be… somewhere with a friend. She'll be coming soon… anytime now. I could spare some time before she arrives"
They ordered some drinks and began their conversation.
"So, how are you doing?…" René asked.
He nods. "Pretty good. Oh err, how's it going with the part you don't understand in class? I figured since we are not having the lesson things must be difficult for you."
She was caught off guard. Probably had forgotten about the part where she asked Pablo to tutor her.
"Well… ehm, I… I'm actually watching some videos on the topics I can't comprehend" She said.
He nods while taking a sip of his drink. "Why did you ehm… why did you come to me to put you through?"
"You looked cute, that's why. You were the only one with a friendly face," She says smiling.
Before Pablo could ask any more questions, Alexa walks in.
"Heyyy Pablo…" her eyes turn to René. "And the little puppy that bites. Hi…"
René smiled and nodded.
"Alexa, you're here… I'll see you later René," he says before walking out of the diner with Alexa.
René buried her face in her hand. She seems to have figured that something is wrong with the way Pablo is acting.
End of chapter.