Cold Case

Chapter 11: Culprits

The clock in the side table began to alarm, its 8 in the morning yet Callix still in his deep sleep.

The sun rays hit Callix face, he pull his blanket up and cover his whole body. He wanted to sleep more but something feels off when a brood coffee scent lingered to his nostrils.

“Hey, Callix it’s already 8, I have no class early in the morning but I don’t know about your schedule.” Garnet said and sipped to his coffee.

He sat on his bed and watched his roommate; Garnet can help but to laugh when he saw Callix who can’t get his body up to his bed.

“Why, are you laughing do you think I’m funny?” Callix hissed to Garnet and stoop up. He went to the bathroom.

The sound of water from the bathroom was heard from outside, Even Callix just woke up, he could do nothing. If he didn't take a bath right away he will be late from his first major subject. Sometimes he really just wants to give up his scholar but after seconds he can’t!

He only spent a few minutes in the bathroom, Garnet was no longer in bed but he immediately saw it in the kitchen again arranges the plates and foods on the table. He is still not used to being with someone especially now that Garnet is very different from his former roommate.

He walked closer to Garnet while drying his own hair; he looked one by one at the foods on the table, he felt very hungry when he saw the delicious looks.

“Why do you always cook whenever you had chance? Have you ever been a culinary student?” Callix asked.

“Nope, is just that my mom loves to cook and she always teaches me how. Now that I’m here with you, then I will cook for you from now on.” Garnet jokingly said. “By the way did you also study here when you were in high school?”

He paused to his questions; Callix didn't know why with so many possible questions, that's what he asked. He didn't know what to answer because Garnet might ask more questions to him.

“Why do you ask?” He diverted his questions to another question.

Garnet couldn't help but grinned, “Nothing, I also wanted to go to high school here but there was a problem and we moved abroad. I just want to know what makes high school different here and there.” He said and smiled.

Callix stared at Garnet, making sure he was serious about what he was said. Garnet also looked at him seriously and sighed.

“Okay, if you don’t want to answer it is okay. Let just eat so you can go to your class.” Garnet changed the topic and sat down.

Even Callix could not help but sighed.

He is not yet ready to go back to the events of the past years, even if he says he will gradually open himself up to other people and make new friends. Even to say he was innocent, even to say that he tried to help in the end he still did nothing. He still turned his back on that person.

“Are you okay, you don’t like the taste of the foods I cook?” Again, Garnet looks so worried to him. He didn't know why he was acted like that toward him, he could not ask why because it might offend Garnet.

"But don't you regret that you moved here?" He asked out of curiosity.

“What do you mean? Why would I regret moving here, I just here yesterday I still not familiar with here and you are my first ever friend.” The innocent look of the man make Callix felt terrible.

“So you still don’t know what happened on the first and second day of school?” Callix asked Garnet in confused tone, if that is the case the University and police agreed not to let any news or gossips about the incident come out that would upset the media and the whole people outside the university. But what about the families of those who died?

Don't they let one issue to dig up again what happened two years ago?

“No. What happened two days ago before me arriving here?” Garnet tilted his head, he looks so curious for what Callix about to say.

“W-well, someone died, I mean two already died.” He said, “One is fall from the 4th floor while the one is my former roommate.”

Callix could clearly see how shocked Garnet was by what he said; even maybe he would be shocked if he found out that the former owner of the bed he was sleeping in had just died so he will understand the man if he wants to move room.

“A-are you sure about that? You are just joking right?” Garnet looks so scared, “I will be here alone and you said something horrible, what if I see something once you left?” He added.

Because of what Garnet said; Callix remembered that he had to go, so he quickly finished the food on his plate and drank some water and stood up.

“Thank you for reminding me, I will go now. Eat well!” He hurriedly left the room and run in the corridor make some students to complaints.

Garnet did not react at all as he was left there stunned and unable to eat his foods.

+++

Callix gasped when he arrived at his first subject, he attracts of some his classmates’ attention. But after a second they back to what they are doing like Callix like an air. Well, he is outcast in the first place and it did not matter to him.

He sit down in the back, it much be good if Garnet is one of his classmate in this subject too. This is the first time after two years when he wanted someone to talk even in the class.

For the first time, he envious again with those who have friends to chat with while waiting to their professor.

“Guys, I don’t think our professor will able to be here now.” Our Department president said with horrible reaction plastered in his face. “Ashley…she’s dead.” He announced make his classmates gasped.

“What the f*ck bro, how can that even happened. I just see her yesterday with her boyfriend!” One of their classmate exclaimed. “D-don’t tell me her boyfriend kill her?”

They start whispered to each other, created their own speculation.

“I still don’t know, our professor just call me just now about what happen and police started to investigate it and asking all her friends.” He answered. “For now, go to your second subject and I will go to them to help them organize the list of those close to Ashley.” Daniel said and left.

Now, it’s clear to Callix what’s going on. First it was Troy who died followed by Christian and now it was Ashley. He felt creepy because of that.

What if the next day there is another, and until even he is included on the killer list?

His foot trembled as he stood up, he could barely hear the voices of the people talking around him as he walked out of the room.

He was innocent but he also did nothing to help her that time. Can it be said that he was one of the culprits two years ago?

"Callix!" He quickly pushed the man who suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder, he was so shocked. “I am sorry, I'm sorry if I surprised you when I suddenly called and touched you.” Its Garnet who called him. It is also ready for the next subject.

“I—I’m sorry, why are you here, do you need something?” He asked but his heart still beating so fast. He thought that someone will attacked him from behind even there are people in surrounding.

“No, I just see you so I decide to talk to you before I go to my subject. Do you have some problem? You look pale.”

“N-no, Garnet, there’s someone died again right now.” he said stunned.

“Yeah I know.” Garnet said in low voice.

“What did you say?” Callix asked again, he did not hear what he said but Garnet shook his head.

“Nothing, I just happened to see some police men and I thought its normal because like you said two already died I did not know there is a new one.” He casually said.

His reaction now and earlier is not same anymore; it didn't seem to be surprised at all by the incident but he can’t blame him.

For Callix, Garnet is just new in the University, as the man said, he was his first friend. So even all the students in the university died it didn’t matter for Garnet because he even don’t know them.

“Why don’t you go to your room, what is your subject now?” Callix change the subject. He doesn’t want the topic anymore.

“Oh, it’s said my professor is Mr. Madrigal? Do you know where it is?”

“Oh! That is where my second subject, we can go together there.” Callix answered.

“Great! Then let’s go together then.”

Callix start to walked and Garnet happily followed him. Callix didn't even notice the others wondered who was with him.

They saw Mr. Madrigal fixing the projector for his class.

“Good morning, Mr. Madrigal.” They both greeted him.

“Oh, you guys are here already. Good morning.” He greeted back and smiled.

Callix still can't really figure out if it has anything to do with Christian's death but like him, Mr. Madrigal is also one of the prime suspects on the police list. But it has not shown anything bad and it only does well to its fellow professors as well as to the students.

“Can you help me guys? I still can figure out how to connect this one.” He said shyly to his two students.

“Sure Sir.” Callix immediately walked next to his professor and help it.

While Garnet, just stared at them as if watched their every move.