11 Entry #11: Yearbook

"I've got something."

I scuffled near Nick's seat to hear about it.

"I tried asking people around about Ruby and Almira."

My heart skipped a beat because of the excitement.

I was appalled (and a little touched) because Nick didn't look like he was forced to do this investigation anymore. Sometimes he looked more enthusiastic than I was when gathering information.

"There are only a few people who still know Almira, but Ruby, most of the students still remember her. I tried to find connections between the two that can connect to Angel. I only found one thing."

I almost clapped my hands for him.

Without him, how on earth would I run the investigation myself? Nick was a gift from heaven, I must say.

"So? What did you find out?" I asked in anticipation. I was already on the edge of my seat because of my extreme curiosity.

"They're pretty."

My shoulders dropped drastically because of what I heard. Irritation consumed me, and my palms itched. I wanted to slap him.

Boys will always be boys.

I showed him my palm. "Do you perhaps want a slap?"

"No, listen," he insisted. "They have a common factor. They're pretty. Though I'm not sure if it's relevant or what."

I paused.

I couldn't arrive at an exact conclusion, but assumptions formed in my head.

"You have a point," I affirmed. "S.T. could've dated these pretty girls and killed them."

"If that's the case, then you probably should start watching out for yourself."

"What?" I asked in confusion.

Then I grinned.

'Did he mean I am pre—'

"I really think you should stop watching detective shows. It's taking a toll on your imagination."

I rolled my eyes.

"Come closer," he suddenly commanded.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"In the count of three. One…"

"Why?" I asked nervously.

Just why on earth would he want me to come closer?

"Two…"

When I didn't move an inch, he frowned at me.

"Do you want to answer your math problems or not?"

As fast as a wink, I dragged my chair closer to his. He should've said that first! Then I wouldn't have wasted a breath.

When he started teaching me, just five minutes in he nearly blew up because no matter how many times he tried to explain the process, I couldn't get it.

Well, sorry? I guess?

And in the end, I copied his answers because he got stressed.

After I finished solving—copying—Nick's answers, he took my activity notebook along with his. Then he walked towards Brita's chair. I followed him because I was a curious cat.

He handed our notebooks to our class president. Brita smiled and accepted the notebooks.

“Can you help me with these later? I can't carry everything by myself," she asked.

Nick nodded. "Alright. I'll grab some lunch first."

It might've been not obvious to Nick, but to me, it was. I meant the blushing of Brita's cheeks.

'See? My instincts were right.'

Our class president liked our class VP.

Nick and I left the room, and I teased him about Brita. He got mad at me.

--

During the afternoon recess, we headed to the library to discuss.

“Psst… Ate!" someone hissed.

Judging from the voice, it was probably—

"What is this? A library date with your boyfriend?"

I kicked her legs slightly.

"Shut up! What are you doing here?" I gave her a scolding gaze to tell her I was displeased about her presence.

"Why? Am I not allowed here? If people hear you, they will think I'm not a studious person."

She flipped her hair and sat beside me, uninvited.

"Studious? You? You've got to be kidding me," I exclaimed at her absurd self-description.

She rolled her eyes at me but smiled widely at Nick after.

"Hi, Kuya. We meet once again."

Nick smiled thinly.

Roxanne gawked at him and asked, "Any skincare tips? You have such beautiful skin."

I elbowed the brat. How did she manage to come up with the weirdest and most random questions every single time?

"Shut up, will you?" I warned her again.

She pouted. "I said I wanna join your investigation about Angel's death."

Nick and I stood up and attempted to cover Rox's mouth, but I was faster.

I was about to scold my sister when suddenly Nickle hushed us.

"Stop talking," he warned. "Sir Aresso might hear us."

I looked around to see what he was talking about.

In the next section of books, a teacher was browsing some books.

We waited until he disappeared before we continued our conversation.

I faced my sister again. "Do you think this is a game?"

I didn’t want to let her in because I knew she was not interested in the investigation. She just wanted to hang out with Nick and talk to him.

I wondered who did she take after?

Because Rox stubbornly stayed with us, we had no choice but to stop discussing Angel's case. Nick suggested we get out, and so we did.

We passed by some students looking at yearbooks from previous school years. Unexpectedly, I recognized a face on the opened page.

"Hey, wait a minute." I smiled at the girl looking at the yearbook. "May I look at it for a sec?"

She looked confused and bothered by my disturbance, but she nodded. I took the yearbook and looked at the page once again.

It was a picture of a girl giving her speech on a lectern. According to the page information, it was during Math and Science month's culmination.

"What are you doing?" Nick whispered.

Even Rox stopped to look at what I was looking for.

"Isn't this, Ruby?" I pointed at the girl on the page.

Nick looked shocked as he nodded his head. He took the yearbook and placed it in front of the girl who was scanning the yearbook earlier.

"Do you know who she is?"

The girl was flustered, and her cheeks flushed.

Well… I guess Nick was a bit popular with girls. I didn’t see the reason why though *fake cough*.

The girl shook her head.

Nick turned the page as if he was looking for something. Then he stopped at the page where there were a lot of students in a picture. It looked like a picture of club members.

He looked for someone in particular in the picture with his finger. His finger stopped when he found Ruby. Then he dragged his finger down on the list of officers of the club.

Then he stared at me with wide eyes.

"Jas, I think I found it," he said.

"What?"

"The connection between the three girls."

I heard the deafening sound of my heartbeats.

Was I normal? To feel such excitement?

This wasn't something to be excited about, yet I was thrilled.

"Why, why?" Rox asked, desperate to be part of the conversation. "What's happening? What are you guys talking about?"

I was too preoccupied to care about Rox. All I wanted was to learn what Nick found out.

I clenched my fists, painfully waiting for what he was about to say.

"What is it? Tell me, Nick."