"Did you not hear what I said? Don't be to rush and think about it seriously. If you won't accept this job then I don't know when you will ever have, at least the one I offers has a bit more challenge or do you want to have searching for a missing cat as your debut job?"
This boy searches for the thrill of mystery, probably. So why not flame his ego?
"Hmm...you do have a point, but it's not like stalking someone as my first job sounds better."
He's smarter than I thought. I should not judge him base on how he looks, he is big fan of detectives after all.
Think, Aster think, there's gotta be something that would make him accept it. I once again look around the room trying to find a bit of a clue...I got it!
"Right did you have some problem with the student council? Maybe I could help you."
It's rough way of probing by changing the topic without any warning, I know this is too obvious but the lack of time for his attention does not warrant me a careful planning.
"Oh really!? But you said you're not from the council."
"Yeah I am not, but I am close with few people there. So could you tell me your worry?"
He was hooked, what does this kind of people called again? Right, a gullible person, can he really be a good detective with this flaw? No matter, at least this works in my favor.
"You know that there are tons of clubs in these school, right?"
"Yes, both verified and not."
David nodded before he continued.
"Verified ones are given a budget by the school based on their activities, sports clubs who won the school its prestiges are given high-budget every month, also they could use the school's items after getting a consent, from air conditioner to the tables and chairs, classrooms are included with this. These are the main benefits on having a verified club."
"So?"
I urged him to continue, a little interested about the situation of the many clubs in these school.
"However it is not easy to be one. First they need at least 5 starting members, second it must have a clear goal that would enrich the student life of those who joins it, then lastly they must show the student council any kind of result of the club they will make.
"The first one is easy but the rest are not, resulting on the number of those questionable clubs to rise."
So that's why...I can think of what the problem this club has now, but just to be sure I have to check it.
"Does the problem of the Mystery Solving Club is—"
"We are currently lacking with members." David finished the sentence for me. "For now there is only two of us, but the president's focus is to graduate so she is kind of a ghost member.
"And with these problems we—no I am currently in a pinch, thankfully the club has been helpful to the school so we are given time to recruit."
"So you have been spared with almost two months already and yet you still have not recruited anyone?"
David turned quiet, the sound of wind flipping the papers echoed as the room turned awkward. Déjà vu, a familiar scene made my blood turn cold.
I look into his eyes and he had the same hollowness as Ron's. How lucky for me to encounter two socially awkward people in one day.
I wonder what would happen if the two of them met. Would it end up in a staring contest?
However I found this as a chance and I did not even have to think if it is worth it before grabbing it.
"How about this, if you take my job and finished it then I'll help you keep this clubroom to yourself. I will even join and also recruit two others if you could get a good info, this I promise."
"I accept!"
David grabbed the opportunity as fast as I did. It looks like this club is important for him that he's willing to keep away his zealousness for it.
Yeah, I should have think twice before promising something the next time.
Looking at his glimmering eyes that are filled with eagerness, I second guess myself that maybe I am the one losing in this.
No, at this point I don't care about it as long as that bug can't lay his feelers on my sister's skin.
"So, how much should I pay you?"
"You don't need to pay me for this kind of job, as long as you fulfill your promise."
"Okay...when could I expect the results then?"
David turned quiet and he seemed started thinking about something as I could hear him murmur under his breath.
"Probably somewhere next week? A lot of people hate this person so gathering everything about him is easy."
"That's good...but are you fine talking to others while being discreet?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll tell my sister about this, she knew many of our schoolmates so it's a piece of cake for her."
He looked proud but he just passed the job to someone...I am slowly losing on what kind of person he is.
"Sister? Is she the ghost president you talked about?"
"Yeah, she put her focus too much in the club in her first two years that she might not be able to graduate this year, that's why she left the club to me."
Addicted to what she likes, a good trait but I won't get my hopes up after seeing her imaginative brother.
"Then I will see you next week, David."
"Yeah just wait for it, Aster."
We sealed the deal with another hand shake.
...
"So did you find a club that you're interested in?"
I did not answered her immediately as I have all of my concentration chewing the grass in my mouth.
"Before I answer that can I get the same dinner as yours? You know that humans die if they could not eat meat right?"
"No, and it's good for humans to sometimes eat vegetables."
I looked down on the pile of grass that was lattered something called dressing, I barely able to contain my stomach from puking at it.
Everything came and bite me from the back, she truly would not let any insult againsts her no matter how small it is.
"I did found something I am interested in."
"What?"
"The Mystery Solving Club."
Lea eyed me seriously.
"Are you serious? From what I heard that it should have been disbanded after the last year's seniors graduated."
I drank more water so that I could push the leaves inside my throat. The taste of nature does not fit with someone like me, how does those vegans eat something like this?
"Not yet, but they only have two members at the moment. Speaking of seniors I heard my classmates talk a rumor about you, was it true?"
Her eyes turned cold and her face turned solemn, it looks like she did not like the rumors about her.
"Don't believe that nonsense. It is just a trick that fly used."
"Fly? Are you talking about Kyle Dividad? Is he bothering you?"
Slowly and carefully I push the salad out of my plate towards me, I already sacrificed my handkerchief at my knees and also put some tissue so that the juices would not seeped in my shorts.
The gripped in her knife got stronger and I could see the veins in her forehead came out. She's angry, yeah be angry! Focus on him not at my plate.
"He did. That fly confessed to me before but I turned him down, it seemed that his pride has yet to be broken for him to still bother me."
Oh, so he confessed to her already. Is he a masochist? I once saw this sister of mine turn down someone and I must say I even felt pity towards the man. Lea listed all the things that should not be said, the man's height, face, background, smell, color of his teeth, the chance that he would be bald in the future, intellect, his choice of friends, his future prospects, and lastly she said that she already had a fiance with a soft voice.
I saw that man run away while crying after that. I hope he got no trauma from that experience and he would not be scared in the prescense of women. I gave a salute for his courage.
Coming back, so does this meant that he likes girls that spits fire and acid to his face? What a creep, this kind of people are hard to swath because the more you do the harder they would chase you for the pleasure of it.
"So what would you do about him?"
Her expression suddenly turned soft and her cheeks blossomed into rose color pink, she was filled with smiles as she answered me.
"I told Alfred about it and he dreamily promised me that he would do something to stop it."
The fork that was slowly pushing the food almost beyond the edge of my plate stopped. My face must have been filled with confusion as I looked at her.
"...When did this rumor started?"
"I don't know and I don't care, must be last month?"
"Then when did you told that Alfred about it?"
"Last week, Monday, May 18."
The hell, she is using her brain cells for that kind of information. Anyway, if she told him about it already how could the rumors still spreading?
"I see."
He most likely let what she said enter and exit out of his ears, and even if he did remember about this he would surely forget it once again.
This man is turning worse and worse. It is not long before the uncertain relationship they have now, shatters.
"He is taking to long to shoo the fly away from you. How about this Lea, I could make that guy stop but can I please stop eating this grasses?"
"Eat. It. All. I trust Alfred, after all he promised me and it is much romantic that way.
"So hurry up and finish that, then go to sleep we're going out early tomorrow."
Curse that I guy! I hope he choked from the carrots. Even if I did make that fly stop the other bigger fly is the only one that would benefit from it.
Sigh, I will just think of it as gift for my sister then. For now what should I worry about is how many glass of water do I need to finish this meal.