Back at Highschool

'I keep walking and walking.

However, the road always appears to be endless.

When will I be able to reach you?

When I'm getting weary now,'

"Weary Road, that was the last song Blaze Ashford released before he was found dead, this morning at 7:30 am at his bed at his condominium at Atlas. According to the investigators, it was an act of suicide. There was a poison together with a suicide letter found in his table. This was XYZ news reporting. ."

"All done," Estelle Sangalang closed her laptop, as she drank the Light Caramel Frappuccino.

"It was really horrifying, I can't believe Blaze died just like that."

"It can't be helped, he is having a lot of scandals left and right. His lifelong fiancé even broke up with him. Anyone will surely be depressed if things like that kept happening on you."

"But he is a idol. In the entertainment industry, he should have expected things to become like that.'

Estelle gave a side-way glance to the two women gossiping at the table in front of her.

"Blaze? That name sounds familiar." Estelle narrowed her gaze thinking deeply. Though her attire was neat, her expression was a bit gloomy. And there were huge dark bags under her eyes. This past week, she was finishing her outline for the new story she would publish.

The drink she had in her hand dropped on the floor when she realized whose name was that. "Oh my God, what? Blaze?!"

The two women who were happily talking with each other froze when Estelle smacked both her hands on their table.

One of the women who was wearing a light pink dress was going to retort but when she saw Estelle was looking at her with a frightening gaze, she gulped the words that she was going to say. She could also see an imaginary dark aura around Estelle.

"Both of you tell me what happened to Blaze?!" Estelle shouted once again startling the two women.

"He-he died. Check your phone, it is all over the net now." The second woman said then she stood up and dragged her friend away, leaving the shocked Estelle.

'This crazy woman.'

'Let's get out of here.'

Estelle didn't pay any attention to the mutterings of the woman who hurried to walk away from her. Her body was trembling and her heart was beating fast. She walked towards her table then grabbed her phone. She opened it and the next thing she knew nearly made her faint.

"The rising star idol and actor, Blaze Ashford, committed suicide." That was the trending headline she saw first when she opened her Twitter.

"This-this can't be…" Tears streamed down her eyes. "This must be just a nightmare."

***

One week had passed since then.

Estelle just silently glanced at the stars. She was leaning closer to her window and her mind was only wandering about Ashford. 'To think that this will happen to you after all the things you accomplished.'

She closed her eyes as if she was reminiscing the distant past back in the second year of her high school.

'Even if you're not an idol yet you are already so famous back then. We are miles apart from each other. You live in the limelight and I live in the shadows.' A painful smile escaped Estelle's lips. 'But nevertheless, you are the reason why I am still living right now.'

{"Stop bullying her."

"Ashford, why are you siding that nerd?!"

"Do you wish for me to side the wrong instead? Just leave now or I'll call the police."

"Tsh." The three girls bullying Estelle walked away from Ashford threatening gaze,

The fourteen-year-old Estelle slowly raised her head, there were visible bruises on her face and scratch marks. Her things were also torn and scattered in the ground. She watched as Ashford picked her things one by one until he stopped in a certain piece of paper.

"You are the one who writes, The Angel's Cry?" He asked a bit surprised as he helped Estelle to stand up.

Estelle was also surprised when the famous Ashford mentioned the story she submitted in their school's writing contest. She tried to find what she was going to speak. And in the end, she chose to simply nod her head.

Seeing this, Ashford's eyes lit up! "That's incredible! I've read your entry it is so amazing, I didn't expect that Angel was the serial killer in the end. You really have a talent for writing! I think that you could become a great writer someday."}

Another heavy feeling surged inside Estelle. 'That was the time I first talk to you and also the last. That time, I am already thinking of ending everything and yet you came to me like a storm that changed my life forever.'

'Why did you have to die this way?' She clenched her fist as she stopped herself from crying again one more time. 'Just how did this happen? I thought you are strong.'

'Those words are what kept me on going with my life up until now.' Estelle glanced at the thousand stars sparkling above her.

All of a sudden, a shooting star passed through. She clasped both her hands and closed her eyes. 'I wish I can go back time to save you.'

Although she knew that it was just crazy thinking but she still wished for it. She wished with all her heart.

*Click!*

At the exact time, Estelle didn't notice that a robber picked the lock of her door and entered her house. She turned her head when the door of her room suddenly opened.

"Who…" The shocked and terrified Estelle didn't finish her sentence. The robber didn't expect that someone was in the house. With a terrified and panicked expression, he brought out a gun.

The next thing that happened sounds of gunshots reverberated through her whole house waking up the already sleeping neighbors around her.

***

Incident/Investigation Report:

Victim's Name: Estelle Carmellie Villena Sangalang

Birthday: November 1, 2000

Death: March 27, 2021

Cause of Death: Homicide from Attempted Robbery