The Witness He Loved

I saw her again

CHAPTER 4

Mateo’s pov

I hurriedly came to the lab immediately Professor Harris called. As I got there, police officers were already there dusting for fingerprints and taking photographs.

My cabinet was left open, my research book was gone, my laptop also along with my drive that contained my latest research and personal stuffs.

I stood still for a while. That was my two years of hard work. I had only three days left before the presentation of my project.

Bianca and Ethan that were waiting outside before, came in.

I’m so sorry, Mateo,” Bianca said quietly. “If I hadn’t forced you to come out with us…”

“No, don’t blame yourself. You’re not the one who broke in,” I said going outside.

Ethan and Bianca had been my friends since my first year.

“Mateo,” professor Harris called. We stopped.

He came and met us.

“The police are doing everything they can.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Go home and get some rest. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Ok sir.”

Thankfully, not everything had disappeared.

Most of my older research had already been backed up to my cloud storage.

I was making research that afternoon when Bianca dragged me to go have fun that it’s my birthday, and I didn’t have time to remove my drive before leaving.

I told them am coming to go keep my things in my room, but they didn’t give me a chance and said no one would take it.

Getting back the new research will be very hard, because am presenting it to investors at where I work, and in school as a final year project, to advertise it also in three days time, am presenting it to investors, to start up my company, I need money.

Though am a university student, due to my brilliance, I got my self a job, and had been working since my first year. I was planning on starting my own little company after school.

Professor Harris has been supporting me, and also sharing knowledge.

I could barely sleep throughout the night, I kept thinking about how to get back my missing recent researches, presentation was close by.

The next morning, Professor Harris called me back to the lab.

“The CCTV footage came in, the police already have it.”

We watched the recording together, the thief wore a hoodie and gloves. He hid his face from the camera.

As he was walking, I discovered he was limping.

I quickly figured out the person, it was Simeon.

Last week, me and him had a serious fight, after he tried bullying Bianca’s sister, a first year student, that broke his leg, I was almost expelled but I was forgiven, because he caused the fight. He was currently receiving treatment, and he still was able to commit a crime.

“I know who that is,” I said quietly.

Professor Harris looked at me.

“You’d better be certain before making accusations.”

“I am, and I will handle it and get back my stuffs.”

Leaving the lab, I decided to look for Simeon. As I crossed to the engineering building.

I saw a girl walking towards me, she looked familiar, as I looked closely, I discovered it was the girl I rescued outside the bar. She was too focused with what is in her hand, to notice me. When she passed by me, I discovered it was school map. She turned it around, then upside down. She looked completely lost, i couldn’t help smiling and forgetting my problems for a while.

Then my phone rang, it was Ethan.

“Breakfast? He asked the moment I answered.

“We are on our way there,” I heard bianca’s voice on the other end.

“I’ll be there.”

I was about to leave when I noticed Simeon walking into the Computing Building with another guy. It was the same building the girl just entered.

I debated for a while, whether I should go eat breakfast or go confront Simeon.

I decided to go confront him, also he doesn’t treat people nicely, especially freshman’s , I knew I had to rescue her again.

As I got closer to one of the classrooms, voices drifted from inside

“…freshman, you look pretty by the way.”

I entered the already opened classroom.

The girl stood backed against the last row of desk and simeon stood in front of her. Daniel who is like his right hand man was at the front of the class.

His fingers were gripping her chin.

“Simeon,” I called out and folded my arms. “It looks like you’ve found a new target huh? Don’t you ever get tired?”

“Well well, look who decided to play hero, he said smiling at me, then he released the girl’s chin and started walking to my side

“Don’t you have enough issues like a missing project to think about instead of interfering?”

I laughed hard. “You don’t cease to amaze me, I know you took my project, and you are going to give it back soon.”

I walked past him until I was standing beside the girl.

“I know her, so it looks like I will have to intervene, she’s leaving with me.”

Daniel walked to our front.

“You can’t just walk away with her.”

“I can and I will. Get out of my way, I said calmly.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll regret it.”

“Let them go,” Simeon said.

His friend hesitated before stepping aside, but glared at us.

“Are you following me?” I asked her

“No, do I know you, she asked.

I frowned

“Well stay out of trouble, that’s what freshmen’s do.”

We started seeing students running up and down, then a call came in, it was Ethan. I answered immediately.

“Hello.”

His breath was uneven.

“Mateo…”

“What happened?”

“The Science Lab…”

My heart tightened

“What about it?”

“It’s on fire. I froze.

Hope everyone is safe.”

“Bianca…”

“Where’s Bianca? What happened to her?”

“She’s still inside.”