YUGTO 6: HUNCH [Part I: Check up]

[RYAN STEPHENS's POV]

"Hi, Monsters. Welcome back to our Channel!" A smile instantly form on my lips upon hearing Eugene's cheerful voice. Her energy is indeed contagious. I need that positivity to start my day today.

I'm currently inside my room, waiting for Yuan to finish packing up a few things for my eye check up today. Ate Dannie will be joining us today as well because dad gave her a free day. "It's freezing out here, guys, and oh--we would like to thank those Monsters who recommended this hotel for us to visit" it was Nylon and her voice were shaking. Looks like they are somewhere cold. Are they out of the country? "They are in Baguio City, Ryan" It was Ate Dannie's voice. I guess I was to focus listening to the episode, and I didn't realize that she already entered my room. "Just a little more. I'm almost done!" then Yuan yell from her room. "Is it cold in Baguio, Ate?" I curiously ask, and feel something over my shoulder. "Wear your Cardigan, Ryan. We'll be leaving in a few" Ate said while helping me.

Fast Forward: [Inside the car on the way to the hospital]

[CLICK]

"I guess--I'm buckled up!" I said happily, and feeling the car started moving. We're already on our way to the hospital. "Anyways, Ryan, Yuan mentioned what happened to Stolen Memories Channel. Is it a right squad for Alliyah to joined in?" Ate Dannie started a conversation like she usually does. I hum in response while holding the strap of my seatbelt. "Maybe yes or maybe not" I pause from talking when a neck pillow was gently handed to me. "Thanks, Yuan" I appreciate while glancing to my side where our youngest is sitting. Most of the time, I was sitting beside Ate Dannie in the passenger seat, but Yuan brought a lot of things with her like medical and survival kit, and some other stuff. Due to its heaviness, she can't make another effort to put it on the backseat since she's already in the front of the passenger seat, she stacked them up in there. Ate Dannie scolded her for that, but Yuan apologized right away and explained the difficulty of being pessimistic. She's only being like this when it's my eye check up because there's a lot of people in the hospital. More people, more eyes to watch. HAHAHAHA.

"Alliyah mentioned herself that there would be a possible interrogation soon. I don't know yet if she just concluded because she didn't speak to me about that yet" I hypothesized based on the rumored murder case that possibly happened before they start filming the video. "Interrogation? I see, but is that another hunch, or it just a conclusion?" Yuan ask in curiosity. "Not a hunch, not a conclusion either, but just an observation" I clarify while leaning the back of my head on the neck pillow, and closing both of my eyes at the same time. "What is the basis of the said observation, Ryan?" Ate Dannie ask while turning the wheels to the right direction of the road.

"Johnson's Mansion Murder" I shortly said, then hearing nothing from them for a couple of seconds. "Are you implying that Stolen Memories's crew MIGHT be the primary suspects of that rumored incident?!" Yuan exclaim not because of shock, but because we're having the same thoughts again. "Well there's a possibility, but I could be right and wrong at the same time. Even Alliyah is aware of that" I simplify. "Wait, wait, I don't get it yet. The both of you are being Sherlock and Enola again. Kindly be direct to your point" Ate Dannie told, and she sounded lost, but curious at the same time.

"Here you go again killing the mood, Ate Dannie" Yuan said in sarcasm. "Shut up, brat" then Ate Dannie scorn. Of course, she will, so I open my eyes and cough intentionally just to prevent them from bickering. "Let just say that the Johnson's murder has been closed for almost two decades now because of the lack of evidences, the motives of the killings, and the whereabouts of the victims is cannot be found as of these days even their bodies nor remains" then I pause while thinking of the easiest way to explain it, but then I saw something suspicious in the plot of the murder. "Yuan, don't you think that there is a possibility that the family can be their own killer?" I ask which then I heard a gasp beside me. Looks like my question caught her off guard. "What do you mean, Ryan? That it could be a massive suicide?" Ate Dannie question me back. This is why I like to open up this kind of conversation when Ate is here. She kind of bring out the color to the story while Yuan gives the emphasis.

"It could be one of the reasons, Ate, but what came into my mind was WHAT IF, only what if" I clarify which I heard a hum in chorus. "What if the Johnson's murder is just a cover-up for another murder?" I ask then Yuan spoke her thoughts right away. "Cover up for what? Their suicide?" she asked in confusion, but I shake my head as a sign of head start. "We're listening, Ryan" Ate Dannie said in assurance. I nodded my head, then released a breath of comfort. "What if the Johnson's is the real murderer, and not the one who get murdered 2 decades from now?" I finally drop my point, then Yuan claps her hands excitedly. "Oh, Oh! It is the plot twist then!" she said while nudging my side gently. "Now that you finally say it, I get it now. I actually read a few cases regarding a family of cult. It somehow related to each other though" Ate Dannie relate some other cases. "So does it mean that the Johnson family could still be alive up to now?" then Yuan question. Her voice sounded firm. "My answer will be based on that rumored fresh blood, so yes. They could be" I said while nodding my head. "And they could be possibly hiding somewhere near, or maybe they are still inside the mansion" then Ate Dannie said something dreading. By just thinking of it, it really can be.

"If that so, Alliyah should be extra careful and cautious in terms of staying with her crew" I concluded, then none of them dare to speak for a straight minute. "I agree, Ate Ryan" Yuan said, and I just nodded my head. "It has been a while since the last time you felt something" Ate Dannie recall. "If that so, you should tell Alliyah all about this, and warn her regarding that" this time Ate Dannie pause in her sentence. I look to the front where her voice came from. "Could you please stop having a blank expression, Ryan. I'm already dreading here!" Ate Dannie scolded me, then Yuan started whining just beside me. "ME TOO! I'm scared! The last time you had a hunch, we almost got a flat tire!!" Yuan whimper about the past which I chuckle softly. Why not tease them both? "Who knows, next time we got a broken windshield" I joked while giggling in the process.

"RYAN!?" Yuan and Ate Dannie groans in annoyance, but I just laugh at them. It was sometimes fun to tease them. They are completely scared of me having another HUNCH, but is this really a hunch?

Time Skipped: [In front of the hospital]

We went off the car, and made our way straight to the hospital's lobby with the help of few security guards. Ate Dannie and Yuan placed me in between them just to make sure I won't get hurt.

"Phew~" I let out a sigh once we entered the elevator. "I thought you set this schedule privately?" Yuan whine beside me. "I did" Ate Dannie replied. She sounded irritated. "Next time, let just hired a private doctor, and set an appointment to our house" she added, and her voice is still irritated. "I agree" Yuan said. "It's not that bad though" I nonchalantly said. "Yeah for you because you don't see how it looks like" then Ate Dannie blurted out. "Hey!" Yuan gasps, but I just giggle. "Oh my God! I didn't me--" I cut off her words by giggling. "Yeah, Ate Dannie. I can't see, but I'm not numb" I deadpan.

By luck, the elevator dings means we already arrived. I grip on my kane's handle, and start tapping it to the floor using it as my guide on my way out. "Ry, wait for me!" then I heard Yuan said behind me, but I just walk ahead of them. What Ate Dannie told me sort of hurt me, but only a little. I understand her feelings about being mob by fans over and over again. It was indeed stressing. I know arguments is pretty common with siblings, but the words and they way she used was hurtful enough to affect my mood.

Fast Forward: [Room 501: Eye check up]

"How are you today?" Akiko ask while guiding me to the couch. "Still blind~" I said then let out a cackle. "That's good then" then I felt a hand patting me on the head. "You didn't join them?" I ask when I suddenly remember the live SMC did earlier. "Nope" she replied. That's odd. "Because my favorite patient has her schedule for today" she added then giggles which I turn to her voice direction, and grimace playfully. "Yuck, Akiko-chan. Stop your gayness" I tease her, earning a light smack to my shoulder. Akiko is my assigned nurse. She's close to my family as well specially with me, and Yuan is her frenemy.

"Are you close with the newbie?" she asked, and I smile widely. "You mean Alliyah? Yeah. We're childhood best friend" I proudly say. "Lucky her~" then she sings a random tune. "Lucky you~" I copied the way she sang. "Huh?" she asked in confusion. "I mean, it's a win-win situation" I shrug my shoulders, feeling the needle enters my veins gently. Akiko is not the type who informs her patient that the needle is about to come through. She just pushed it in without a warning. "Win win? What do you mean by that?" she questioned, still sounding confused. "You were friends with my sister, so you're lucky too just like me to Alliyah" I compare my friendship to her and Yuan, then I heard a hum from her. "Is that considered lucky?" she deadpan which I open my eyes while knitting my eyebrow. The needle was already out. Why it has to be painful after pulling out. Tsk. "Oh, geez. Chill, Ryan. Your sister is so annoying, and too sarcastic to the point I somehow regretted being friends with her. We never have a normal conversation ever since, you know" she said as a matter of fact which I let out a giggle. "Why it has to be painful every time you're pulling it out?" I pout my lips, feeling a little sting when she started dubbing the cotton ball that was soaked in alcohol on the same spot where she injected the needle.

"You could've just simply told me that it stings, Ryan" she giggles, then stick a band-aid on my injected skin. "Are you doing that on purpose? I hate you. Anyways, can you call my sister? She's taking a little long" I said, but then my ears perks upon hearing faint footsteps coming in closer.

[Knock (2X)]

"Oh, speaking of the devil" Akiko groans which I just smile. We heard the door open, and a familiar sigh was released. "What's with the frown, giant baby?" Akiko asks her, and I just listened. "Ate Dannie left. She really felt bad about what happened" Yuan told. "Oh--she doesn't have the balls to apologized yet?" Akiko replied in sarcasm. "Yeah, because she doesn't have that yet" Yuan mock her while sitting next to me on the couch. "Heard that, Ryan? How can I consider myself lucky with that kind of treatment?" Akiko scoff in disbelief, but I just ended up cackling.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

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Hi ORENJJIES. Is that possible that the Jonhson's family is still alive? Is there really a murder that took place in that mansion, 2 decades from now, or it is just a cover-up murder?

SR_96

Will do my best to make my story BETTER.