Chapter 4: She was right
1721 Words
CHAPTER 4:
After changing she proceeds to follow her cousin to their dining area. Before fully revealing herself, she stopped to witness the family of three happily preparing for their dinner.
"You should have seen my game mom! It was awesome!" her cousin boasted as he gestured, as if shooting a basketball into the ring.
His father gave him a teasing look, "Uhuh! I'm sure you were just a burden to your group. You suck at running."
Hearing his father’s remark, he couldn’t help but frown, "Mom! Dad's bullying me!" He whined to his mother before looking back at his dad, "Says the man who thinks he's fast, even a child can walk faster than you." he commented.
"That's enough, Go call your cousin to eat." Her aunt stopped them.
Sage slowly enters the dining room, revealing herself to the family, "I'm here."
Her aunt gives her a small smile, "Alright, let's eat dinner."
Dinner was as pleasant and loud as their usual ones. Her cousin and uncle had been talking and laughing about things that happened in their day, like when her cousin's teammate accidently entered the wrong bathroom, or when her uncle tripped on his way to work. Sometimes they would start arguing and teasing each other while her aunt just sits there happily listening and laughing at the two men in her life.
However, Sage couldn't help but wonder about this peculiar scene in front of her. She didn't understand why they were so happy, why her aunt was okay with the chaos the two were creating. her head filled with unanswered questions. Why do they need to talk about their day? Was it a significant part of being a family?
Before her parents passed away they would never do this. They would silently eat, minding their business and sometimes she would even eat alone seeing as her parents would always come home late. Her mother would ask a few questions but nothing about her personal life, just how her day was, not ask her to tell a whole story. Her mom knows that Sage isn't a fan of conversations, so she doesn't try to insist on the kid. That's why it feels so different and weird sitting with this family. She felt like she shouldn't be there.
Thoughts and the seemingly endless bickering went to a halt when the house phone started to ring.
"I'll answer it, please continue your dinner" Sage said standing up to leave the dining area.
Walking up to the phone, she answered, "Yes?"
"Is this Ms. Sage Enigmeria?" the person on the other line asked.
Her eyebrow raised as the sudden call of her name, "Yes, do you need anything?"
"This is Agent Brook Epifanio, We would like to request your presence tomorrow afternoon by 1 in the station" he clearly demanded.
Her face drew back to her neutral expression after realizing what the call was about. "Okay" she muttered.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms." He said before dropping the call.
She slowly puts the phone down before making her way back to the dining area and finds the three patiently waiting for her return. All eyes trailed the youngest as she took back her seat on the dining table.
"Who was Sage?" her uncle asked.
she looked at each of them before answering, "It was Agent Brook, he told me to come to the station tomorrow afternoon"
Her cousin raised his eyebrow in confusion, "Agent? Did you do something, cous?" he asked, his voice filled with both confusion and worry.
she gave him a small chuckle, "Do I really look like a bad person, Jansen? But no I didn't. The cafe I was staying at became the venue of a murder case" she casually said, as if it was just an everyday occurrence in her life.
The two clueless male looked at each other and back at Sage with both a worried and puzzled look.
"Murder? Are you okay? What happened?" her uncle couldn’t help but ask.
"Relax uncle, I'm fine. Except for people suspecting me of the crime, I wasn't in much trouble, but don't worry I've managed to get myself out of that situation" he said as she continued to finish her supper.
"Then why do they still want you to go to the police station?" Her cousin asked curiously.
she shrugged, "I don't know, further questioning I guess."
Her aunt interfered, "Ok, enough. finish your food, both of you." she gestured towards the two male. “All of you will be leaving early tomorrow, so go and get your things ready. Sage honey, text us if anything happens, okay?" Sage looked at her weirdly but just gave a nod before bringing her plate to the kitchen sink.
"By the way, I think you should all be careful. The suspect has not been found, by the looks of it yesterday, it could be a case of serial killing" she suddenly said before leaving the dining area.
"And how about you?" she was brought to a halt by her cousin's question
she grinned, "That question is irrelevant to me, Goodnight" she said as she left the three quietly going back to their food.
Eric, her uncle, saw the anxious expressions of his son and wife, "She's gonna be fine. You two stop worrying. She will be" he tried to convince the two but he also can't help but worry about his niece's welfare.
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In the silent comfort of his room, Daexoen was mindlessly looking out of the window, fragments of the scenes that happened earlier at the cafe linger in his thoughts. Unseeingly so, the event was still new to his part. He grinned at how effortlessly amazed the people was with him, but he couldn't deny this somewhat roller coaster feeling inside. Professional it may seem before it was actually his first time witnessing murder.
He didn't know what he was feeling at that moment. A thirst to prove himself maybe? He was taking forensic science, thinking of working for the US' famous federal agency; the FBI. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush of finally being able to help in this type of case that made him so brave and compulsive.
It was no secret that he wanted to help cases like these ones. That's why a sudden adrenaline rush kicked in him, he wanted to prove himself before even trying. However, it wasn't just the scene that he couldn't forget, but the young damsel he was with.
She was the epitome of beauty. Her facial features were soft yet also intimidating, she was like a rose, beautiful but you could feel that her aura radiates power, power like thorns; shouldn't be played, shouldn't be underestimated.
Her body proportion is also eye-catching, she has nice fair and flawless skin, her dark straight black hair adds up to her looks. Her tall figure compared to other females, but shorter when compared to him. But her beauty wasn't the only thing that caught his attention, it was her intellectual phrases and her keen sense that really captured him in.
The possibility of her smelling the almonds from a distance. And those little dots, she immediately spotted them, she wasn't just beautiful, but also intelligent-- Spectacular. However, there was something about her that just felt different for him but he can't seem to put a finger on it.
A knock and careful calls from the other side of the door brought him out of his thoughts.
"It’s open, uncle" he called out.
His uncle came in with a bowl of spaghetti and a burger from a local fast-food chain. He gave him a gentle smile. He had told him he didn’t have plans on eating but the latter still brought him something to fill his stomach with.
He slowly handed the food to him with an apologetic look, "Sorry, this is only what I got." he shyly said.
he reaches out for the food, "It's fine, uncle. Thank you."
He started eating the food his uncle brought the moment he placed it on his table, while his uncle sat on the edge of his bed.
Agent Brook had this anxious look on his face, "I wanted to talk to you about what happened." His uncle started the conversation.
He looked back at him with a confused look, "What about that uncle?" he asked.
He gave him an apologetic look before answering, "It looks like the theory of it being a serial killing is true. I want you to be careful Daexoen. As much as possible, tell me if you're going somewhere, alright?" he desperately asked him. It was more like a plea than a request actually.
Somewhat understanding the situation he gently nodded his head, "Alright, I understand where you're coming from with this."
"Thank you. My brother would kill me if something happens to you. I don't wanna die without bringing someone to the altar first." He laughed at his uncle's joke.
Feeling the heavy and somewhat awkward atmosphere, "Tomorrow afternoon you need to head to the station for further questioning. Are you still going to the Academy first?” His uncle tried to change the topic.
He nodded, "Yeah, I just need to pass some last documents then I'm set to start" he answered as he finished the rest of his food.
Agent Brook couldn't help but give him a guilty look, "I'm sorry if I couldn't help with your requirements. A lot has been happening this month." He tried to explain.
"I understand uncle plus I actually handled it quite well." he chuckled remembering his state of running through the campus all day.
"Yeah, you did." His uncle proudly said with a grin on his face.
Seeing the bowl of spaghetti and the wrapper of the burger all empty he decided it was both their time to hit the hay.
"Give me those, brush your teeth and go to bed, you need to be early tomorrow" he nodded and watched his uncle leave the room.
By the time he got on his bed, he could help but process what his uncle just said. He was drowning in his own thoughts once again.
‘So it really was a serial killing. How? Why? But how interesting. She was right.’ he smirked, before submitting himself for a night's rest.
- Writer
