Chapter 25 Prejudice

[Yes. Inspector..?"

He plucks out the cigarette from his mouth and presses it against a plate. "Inspector Xeno. You're in the same class as Sain, aren't you?"

At a cafe, officer Xeno calls me for a conversation after school.

"Yes. He's my friend."

"I've seen you before, frozen at hospital. But I couldn't catch your name then."

"Its Eclise."

"Well that reminds me, Eclise. Sorry to say but your teacher died this morning."

"Yes. I heard that at school. Our school is going to arrange a mourning ceremony for her."

"She had woken up in the middle. There was improvement in her recovery."

With subtle sorrow, I say. "Perhaps.. she lost her will to live with her face in that condition."

That does make me wonder. How did her face end up that way?

"Moving on." He crosses his fingers. "I noticed you at the hospital again with Sain and his mother. What do you know about them?"

I twitch. "I.. don't think I know much about them."

"Anything will do." He rolls his eyes and then again glares at me. "Actually I'll speak more frankly. I've met his mother Rosalyn before. She's a bit screwed up in her head. She spouts nonsense most of the time. Did you hear her say anything while you were with them?"

"Honestly I did."

"What did she say?"

"Arms. Legs. Pieces. Just some other broken words. I don't remember all her words because Sain was hit by her. I got busy tending to him."

"She hit Sain? Why did she hit him?"

"He was stopping her."

"Stopping her to do what?"

"She started to breathe very heavily and couldn't speak more. Sain came and covered her mouth so that she could start breathing from her nose."

"So he was trying to help her?"

"Yes."

He rests his back on the chair backrest. "Actually I've also heard her saying something like pieces here and there when i met her. But she screamed for the rest of the time. What do you think she could mean by that?"

"I don't know. Given her condition.. I'm starting to think…" i twist my head to my left and say reluctantly. "She.. might have.. schizophrenia?"

"What makes you think that? If she's truly schizophrenic, why doesn't she get treatment?"

"It might not be the case. Its just my speculation. Of course she might actually be all normal.." with the low tone i say. "Despite all her acts. I don't know."

He sighs. "Alright. You don't have to stress yourself." He stands up and says before leaving. "Don't let Sain know that we've met today."

"Okay."

He leaves.]

"I'm so sorry that I'm late for my shift!" I apologize.

Burn gently waves his hand. "Instead of apologising you should get back to work."

Reverie, upon seeing me, asks. "I'm surprised Sain came to work today. Didn't your house burn just the day before yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Look at you smiling. Are you sure you want to work today?"

"Yes. I've decided to work a lot to cover up my losses in the fire. I'm going to buy a lots of dresses for mom."

"Are you okay, dude?" Burn pats me. "Don't overwork yourself."

"I'm doing all okay!" I raise my thumb and smile. I've set my new goals. Earning a lots. Buying lots of clothes for mom. Fixing our house.

I shift my sights and find Chaste. "Hey Chaste! You're back."

There's loss of life in his words as he speaks. "I took a week off to cool off my trauma of suddenly getting arrested. It is time I should get back on my feet already."

"How mature."

"What happened to the store by the way?"

"Ohh. The manager had to pay a fine for the suspicion. But the store is back on business."

"I'm glad he didn't fire me altogether." Says Chaste.

"He might've if you were proven guilty."

"Don't scare me Burnard!"

I giggle.

There's a lot of work to do. I hope mom is behaving well at home.