After that lunch, Lara felt she had learned a lot from her coworkers. She realized that she could have probably discovered much of that information on her own if she had taken the time to explore social media and follow the news. But she had always been indifferent to such things, too focused on her own life. She silently thanked her coworkers for sharing what they knew.
Before heading back to her desk, one of her lunch companions, Mark, approached her with a smile and handed her a brownie. "I hope we can have lunch together again sometime," he said, looking genuinely pleased. "We're looking forward to it."
Lara accepted the brownie with a polite thank-you before heading back to her workstation.
With her major tasks already completed earlier in the morning, Lara found herself with some free time. She decided to open her browser and search for the website her coworkers had mentioned. When the site loaded, the homepage displayed an overwhelming collection of requests from people seeking justice—pleas from ordinary individuals who felt powerless in the face of a system they couldn't afford to navigate.
Scrolling through the site, Lara felt a sense of unease. Story after story detailed injustices, corruption, and crimes left unresolved. She began to understand why so many people supported The Fool. It wasn't just admiration—it was desperation. The Fool had become a symbol of hope for those who felt abandoned by the legal system.
But as she read further, Lara's conflicted feelings deepened. "Why does The Fool have to resort to killing?" she thought. "Why does justice have to come at such a high cost?"
More than anything, she couldn't shake the question that weighed heavily on her mind: "Why did my father have to get involved in all this? Why was he dragged into a fight he had no part in?"
As she closed the browser, Lara leaned back in her chair, torn between sympathy for the cause The Fool represented and her personal pain over her father's unjust imprisonment. This internal conflict only fueled her determination to uncover the truth.
As Lara continued to read through various groups on social media and the website she was following, one particular name kept appearing, capturing her attention. With the upcoming elections, many discussions revolved around a man campaigning for mayor in a nearby town: Jun Cupad, a former pastor turned political candidate.
Post after post painted a damning picture of Jun Cupad. According to numerous accounts, he was a known predator, using his position as a pastor to exploit young girls from his congregation. Despite several victims and families coming forward to the authorities, Jun Cupad remained untouchable due to his powerful connections. People speculated about his ties to influential figures, though no one could confirm what those connections were. What was clear, however, was that the law couldn't—or wouldn't—touch him, no matter how heinous his actions.
The posts and stories sparked an idea in Lara's mind.
"If so many people are crying out for justice against Jun Cupad," she thought, "then he might very well be The Fool's next target."
This realization ignited a small spark of hope. If The Fool was targeting Jun Cupad, this could be her chance to catch the elusive vigilante in the act. Even if she couldn't stop them, perhaps she could confront them—talk to them—and find a way to clear her father's name.
For Lara, it didn't matter what it took. Whether through conversation, negotiation, or any other means, she was determined to do whatever it took to free her father from the blame he didn't deserve.
Even though Lara wasn't entirely sure what to do or how to properly investigate someone, she remained determined. She knew she had no experience in tracking or investigating people, but the possibility of catching a glimpse of The Fool while keeping an eye on Jun Cupad was enough to strengthen her resolve. If her hunch was correct and the pastor-turned-mayoral candidate was indeed The Fool's next target, then this might be her chance.
Lara packed her bag, including her pepper spray—a tool she had never used in her life but decided to carry just in case something unexpected happened. She wanted to be prepared for anything, even if her experience was limited.
After her shift at work, she wasted no time and began her investigation. She commuted to the town where Jun Cupad was actively campaigning. The journey wasn't easy—one long hour stuck in traffic on the bus made her anxious, but she kept her focus.
When she finally got off the bus, she was immediately greeted by a sea of campaign posters plastered everywhere. The faces of various candidates running for councilor, mayor, senator, and different party lists covered walls, lampposts, and even storefronts. The chaos of the political campaign was overwhelming, but amidst the clutter, Lara knew her goal: to find anything that could lead her closer to both Jun Cupad and The Fool.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her bag and began walking, her eyes scanning the area for any clue that could point her in the right direction.
After wandering around the area and asking for directions here and there, Lara eventually noticed an elderly man along the street. He was meticulously collecting posters, but what caught her attention was that he was only gathering posters of a single candidate. His behavior seemed suspicious, especially a1s she watched him systematically remove the posters from walls and poles.
Lara's eyes widened in shock when she realized whose posters the man was taking down—none other than Jun Cupad, the very person she had come to investigate.
She decided to observe him for a while, her heart pounding. Why is he only targeting Jun Cupad's posters? What's his motive? she wondered. This man might hold valuable information or, at the very least, offer her a lead on where to find the controversial candidate—or even The Fool.
Lara adjusted her bag, her fingers brushing against the pepper spray in her pocket as she cautiously decided what to do next.