The Benefits of Lucas Montemayor

001

Irene's Point of View

I've been pacing back and forth in my room while thinking about what Lucas said.

“What are the benefits I will get if I accept your case?” he whispered to my ear.

I thought he would kiss me. But when I opened my eyes, I saw him sitting on the chair. Johnny was also there, too, holding a tray with two cups on it. “Irene, I thought you're sleeping while sitting, like what Lucas had mastered,” he said while putting the cups down.

“Here's your coffee, guys. Black like what you always wanted, Lucas. How about you, Irene?” he asked while holding the coffee powder.

“Black, obviously,” Lucas said. I don't like black coffee. Looks like he didn't guess it right.

“Anything,” I said to Johnny who was smiling widely at me.

“We only have black, and you will only get black,” he said that I laugh. Now I know why Lucas said that black will be my coffee because it's the only choice I have. I didn't know he had a sense of humor. I thought he's always serious.

“I'm quite interested with you, Mr. Montemayor,” I said and sipped on the coffee Johnny gave me, it's too bitter.

“Wow, that was unusual. Because they always say that Luca's a weirdo because of his attitude. This is the first time,” Johnny answered and sat beside Lucas. I looked at a picture full of bullets. I was about to ask about it when Lucas stood up and just glared at me.

“Go home, Ms. Irene, and decide what to answer to my question,” he said and left.

Johnny and I were left alone.

He's smiling at me. “Looks like he's interested in your case, Irene. Don't worry about his questions to you. He always asks that to our clients.” I was surprised. So, all of the women who went to him— he's asking them what benefits he would get?

I felt disappointed. Maybe because he approached me like that, too. I smiled at Johnny and bid goodbye. I need to set aside this for the meantime. I still need to go to school.

“Irene, you're here. We haven't seen you for one week. You have missed a lot of lessons and activities,” Lancelot said. He was wearing eyeglasses. Well, Lancelot always aces in our class. I want to be a nurse because this was my dream since I was a kid. I frowned at him.

I'm worried about my acads and he greeted me like this. “I know you're gonna help me, right? I'll get you an autograph from Aubrey,” I said so he would agree. He smiled widely.

“Of course, what can I do but help my best friend?” he answered, which made me laugh. He's really weak when it comes to Aubrey.

When we entered the class, my other classmates and friends went to me to ask me how I am. They're like this because my show's near, but when my father died, no one consoled me.

“Okay, class. Let's start our lesson. And welcome back Ms. Irene,” Professor James greeted me while smiling at me. He's just new here, but many students were already infatuated with him.

“And for today's lesson—”

We heard a loud explosion coming from the outside. When we got outside, a dead body greeted us. It has a stab on his chest. My other classmates covered their mouths in shock, the others started to panic. But there's something suspicious about this.

They called the police and declared it an accident. But while I'm observing, I noticed a note that the police didn't see. I quickly reached it with my handkerchief and hid it. I'm sure this will be more helpful if I will say this to Lucas.

“Can I get information about the dead body?” I asked the police. He only smiled at me and said no.

I was surprised when a girl went to us. I think she was just my age, but she's in a different department because of her necktie's red.

“I'm an aspiring detective of our section. Maybe I can help solve the case,” she said. The police only laughed at her. The other students whispered.

“Why are you guys laughing at an aspiring detective? Something's wrong in the case. This is murder, not an accident!” I shouted. Even I was surprised with what came out of my mouth. Looks like I'm going to make trouble, but the girl smiled at me.

“She's right. This is not an accident but a murder,” she said. Everyone looked at us.

The police asked, “how can you say so?” he teased. His face was near to us.

“Just give us two days to prove it. If we're right, apologize to her," I said while pointing at the girl they laughed at. They gave us the information we needed.

“Thank you for that. I'm Lauren Alexia,” she introduced and reached for my hand. I accepted her handshake. Looks like I'm going to have a new friend. For real.

“Irene,” I answered. She just nodded. I thought she's going to say that she had seen me on TV. We took pictures of the corpse. My father's case is not solved get but there's another case already that we need to solve.

“What should we do?” I asked. She's too busy looking at the information of the deceased. He was a teacher based on his uniform. But who killed him? They said that he committed suicide, but the bomb looked like it's from here. I think the bomb was only used to confuse us. The stab looked severe, and he has bruises on his neck and arms.

Who would commit suicide and stab themselves if they will jump from a high floor in the end?

“Irene, let's meet tomorrow for our deduction. For now, let's deduct the possibilities of what had happened, and we'll find a clue,” she said. I got a clue, but I don't know if this could help us.

I nodded at her. She left. I was about to walk and go to Lucas when someone held my hand. “Irene, let's meet tomorrow. You need to catch up with the activities you missed,” Professor James said. I nodded at him.

Did he hear what Lauren and I talked about?

Students were sent home because of what happened, afraid it might cause trauma to the students. The wounded were brought to the hospital. The corpse was sent to a morgue, and they called the family of the victim. There are no suspects yet aside from the persons the victim last talked to, and the police still think that this is an accident.

If that's the case, the suspect would have the time to dispose of the pieces of evidence. I was walking to 225 Apartment Street when someone covered my mouth.

I was about to protest when he spoke, “Sshhh, someone's following you,” he said. I recognized him. This is Lucas Montemayor. He let go of me after a few minutes.

“Who's following me?” I asked, but he didn't answer.

“Go home. Don't ever try to solve the case, especially if you won't catch the person behind this,” he warned.

“Can you help me?” I pleaded. He closed his eyes because I was too noisy, but I didn't stop talking. When I saw his brows furrowing, I shut my mouth.

“No,” he answered. I pushed him more to help me when he suddenly kissed me.

“What are the benefits I will get if I will accept this case?” he asked. My eyes widened. That was my first kiss.

“I will do whatever you want, just help me out!” I desperately said when he suddenly pulled me. Our bodies are now near to each other.

“Whatever I want?” he asked again. I nodded. I was surprised when he suddenly kissed me, but this time, it was long and passionate.

“Then do whatever I say,” he said when our lips parted. I wasn't able to answer. That was so fast. I'm worried he might hear the loud beating of my heart.

Could it be that he feels the same way about me?