Killer And Justice

Just as we reached the cafeteria, my phone buzzed with a new notification. I glanced at the screen, and a smile spread across my face.

It was a message from Uncle Tony.

[Uncle Antony: Asmar is facing charges! He made the mistake of reporting the stolen money and investigators discovered his other illicit funds. He's been arrested for corruption! Haha, sucks to be him!]

I chuckled, a wave of relief washing over me.

IM leaned closer, a knowing smirk on his face. "That's the killer you were talking about, isn't it?"

I nodded, my heart swelling with a sense of justice served.

[Me: So, he's in prison right now?] I typed into the group chat, my heart pounding with anticipation.

[Uncle Tony: Not yet. Tomorrow is the final court hearing to decide his fate. Let's just hope he doesn't have enough money to bribe his way out.]

[Me: He won't. We made sure of that.] I replied, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips.

I opened my phone's browser and searched for news about Asmar.

"Hmm... already a viral story, huh?" IM commented, leaning over my shoulder to look at the screen.

I nodded, scrolling through the headlines. "Corrupt Police Officer Caught in Money Laundering Scheme..." I read aloud.

"That's what he gets," IM said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"Anyway," I said, pushing away my phone, "let's get something to eat."

IM nodded, and we joined the others at a nearby table.

We ordered our food and settled into a corner booth, away from the prying eyes of the other students. As we ate, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. We had taken a significant step towards exposing Asmar's crimes, and I was determined to see our mission through to the end.

I glanced around the cafeteria, noticing that several students were watching us with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

"Don't let it get to your head, Fame can be a fickle mistress," IM whispered in my ear, his voice a gentle warning.

I nodded, taking a bite of my sandwich. "I know," I replied. "But it's nice to be recognized for something other than being the quiet kid in the corner."

We finished our meal in comfortable silence, the hum of conversation around us a soothing background noise. I was grateful for IM's presence, his calm demeanor and unwavering support grounding me in the midst of the chaos that was my life.

Just then, Jonathan slid into the booth beside me. "Hey, bro, what's up?" he greeted us with his usual swagger.

IM and I exchanged a glance, then nodded politely.

"Anyway," Jonathan continued, leaning closer to me, "I wanted to thank you for what you did the other day. Because of you, my reputation is still intact."

"That was days ago," I said, a bit taken aback. "You're still dwelling on that?"

"Hey, it was a big deal!" Jonathan insisted, his voice tinged with a hint of defensiveness. "I could have gotten in serious trouble with the school if you hadn't stepped in."

I gave Jonathan a skeptical look. "I don't think that's how it works, Jonathan," I replied, my tone dismissive. "Popularity doesn't solve all your problems."

"Come on, man," Jonathan persisted, leaning closer. "You could have any girl you want."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not interested in that kind of popularity," I stated firmly. "Besides, I have other priorities right now."

Jonathan's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. He didn't like being rejected, especially by someone he considered beneath him. But he quickly masked his emotions, his charming smile returning as he turned his attention to IM.

"Oh right, you're the new student, aren't you?" Jonathan said, extending his hand towards IM. "Jonathan, from class 11-2."

IM shook his hand, his grip firm and confident. "Eem," he replied, his voice smooth and polite.

"Where are you from?" Jonathan asked, his eyes assessing IM's stylish attire.

"This city," IM answered simply. "I just moved here recently."

Jonathan's smile widened. "Well, welcome to Rectangle Academy," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "I hope you enjoy your time here."

IM nodded, then raised an eyebrow. "Why are you wearing a leather jacket inside the building?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

"It's just my style," Jonathan replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.

Bwooong!

The familiar, eerie sound echoed through the schoolyard, a low, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through the very air.

I looked at IM, and he nodded, his eyes focused on Jonathan. Jonathan, however, didn't seem to react, which meant the sound was supernatural in origin.

I quickly stood up. "I need to go somewhere," I announced, my voice laced with urgency.

"Me too," IM said, rising from his seat.

"H-Hey! You can't leave me alone here..." Marcel protested, a look of panic on his face.

"Sorry, Jonathan," I said, not breaking my stride. "We have something important to deal with. We'll talk later!"

"Geez... everyone always ditches me," Jonathan muttered, taking a bite of his food with a frown.

Meanwhile, IM and I rushed out of the cafeteria and into the schoolyard. In the distance, hovering just above the treetops, was the massive black-robed whale.

"That's it!" I exclaimed, pointing towards the creature.

"The same whale we encountered at your grandmother's house," IM confirmed. "It seems to appear at the same time every day."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Let's find somewhere quiet, Xian," IM urged, his voice laced with a sense of urgency.

"The school rooftop!" I suggested, recalling the previous encounter with Murk.

We rushed back into the school building, the echoes of our footsteps bouncing off the empty corridors. We raced up the stairs, my heart pounding with anticipation.

That's the whale Nyi Roro Kidul wants me to kill, right? I thought, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

< Chapter 084 > Fin.