Chapter 7: Introductory
1935 Words
Chloe's POV
The next two days have been really really boring. It's actually a good sign that our club is getting more attetion from the students in this university but the bad side? Most of the clients gives 'non-sense' as for Lorcan's perception.
I still remember two days ago when we finished eating our Lunch on the cafeteria.
"What is your problem and how can we help you with it?" Lorcan asked the girl.
She didn't even yet utter a single word wgen burst out crying. The four of us exchanged glances at each other.
"Uh, Miss. Do you mind me asking what is it? We might help you with it." Dustin asked.
"M-my boyfriend broke up w-with me. I just wanted to know what is the reason." She answered still sniffling.
"Do you even know how to read?" Lorcan asked seemingly annoyed by her. "We're a detective club not love experts so you better get out of here and forget that boyfriend of yours."
Then the girl quickly stood and ran away still crying and is offended by what Lorcan had said.
"Why did you do that?"
"Did what?"
"You should've say that you don't want her case in a more polite way but you didn't."
He looked at me. "That's the most polite way of me talking to a stranger, Chloe. And since the case of her is just pure stupidity. Even if she experienced more heartbreaks the world would still be the same. Why bother about that girl's feelings?"
"What if she's suicidal?" I argued.
He looked at me once again, "This country is democratic, Chloe. You can do whatever you want. If she's going to commit suicide then that's her choice. Not my problem anymore."
The argument that day didn't go any further. And now I cannot blame Lorcan acting that way. I can feel the boredom with these cases being reffered to us. He's right we're not love experts who can communicate with the cupid and help people with their love life. Our club is detective club and we solve cases not non-sense.
Wait. Why am I sounding like Lorcan. Is his attitude rubbing on me? It better not.
I checked the time in my phone and we still have 1 hour left to wait for client that will hopefully give us a more engaging case.
15 minutes have passed no one has entered our clubroom yet. A minute or two when we saw a girl who have a great body proportion. Some would say it's an hour glass body. She is wearing light make up that gives her face a fresh look.
"Is this the ARC club?"
"If you know how to read-"
"Yes this the ARC club. How can we help you?" I answered before Lorcan could finish his sarcastic remark. Can't count how many times did he say that to clients who asked if this the club they're looking for.
It may turn off upcoming clients if he continue doing that.
"I am Ricanne Seoul. Anne for short. Uhm, my boyfriend-"
The girl was about to finish what she's about to say when Lorcan clicked his tongue. He also turned around and browse the internet on the computer ignoring our client.
"You may proceed." Minji said after the girl looked like she's hesitating if she'll continue.
"As I said, it's about my boyfriend. I feel like he's hiding something. We lived on the same roof and every night the same time, he'll always leave and would take four hours before he come home."
"What if he's just going out to his friends? You know, a boys night out?" Dustin shared a possibility that actually makes sense.
"But he didn't told me about any of his friends."
"Does he have to say anything to you. He has his own privacy." We all looked to Lorcan who just finished talking.
"Say, what makes him suspicious?" He asked the girl.
"Michael is an introvert. I am the only one he can talk to. Why would he suddenly go out without telling me. I'm his girlfriend after all."
"Wait, Michael?"
"Yes, Michael."
"What's the surname?"
"Writher. Michael Writher."
We all exchange glanced at each other when we heard a familiar name being called out.
"Okay, Annie. We'll take your case."
"Really?"
She then gave his phone number to Minji and left the clubroom.
"Wait. I thought you don't take this kind of case. What makes you change your mind?"
"I can feel something weird about that Michael since the office incident. I just don't know what exactly it is. But more importantly, we finally have something to work on."
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After that client we all left the clubroom to attend our respective classes except for Lorcan. He didn't tell what was the reason. Does he always cut his classes?
We were in the middle of mathematics discussion when my phone I felt a sudden vibration inside my bag. Who could it be?
Lorcan
Clubroom after this class.
I know what he meant but how? Does he want us to cut our classes too? No, that's something I would never do. I don't wanna have low grades on the end of the semester.
After the math discussion, our teacher announced that all professors and members of the faculty have been called out for a meeting. That means the next classes throughout the day has been postponed.
I arrived at the clubroom. To my surprise I only saw Lorcan still browsing on the internet for something.
"Minji said she has something to do but she'll come shortly after."
"Why did you make us come in here?"
"For the excercise."
"What excercise?" I didn't know this club requires you to do physique warm ups.
"If you're thinking about physical activity then you're wrong," Here we go again with his mind reading. "Didn't I told you that before we have to do another excercise to see if you really have potential?"
Oh, I almost forgot about that. That's the first thing he told me when we first met.
"Now, this the task. It's simple but I'll give you 30 minutes for that."
"And if I don't pass?"
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T E K
H S E
E N Y
R O
He told me that this is the location where I can find the key. I just need to decode it. Of course I didn't know any code at all except for the Caesar. I still didn't memorize but I'm familiar with the code now.
So basically, I will solve the code to find the location of the key. The key for the clubroom. I have to open it before the time ran out.
"Any clue?"
"London bridge."
I don't know exactly what's the relation between London bridge and keys. I don't even know a thing about London except for their language and their country flag.
As always I tried browsing the internet for some clues. I also tried using the Caesar code again but no match.
I have 11 minutes left. I wonder what will happen if I didn't pass. Will he kicked ke out of the club?
"Chloe!" I heard my name being called and I saw her running towards me.
"Chloe, how are you? Sorry if I can't keep up with you when I get home but I heard you already made friends. Not one, not two but three. Tell me about em!" She looks so interested about them.
Addison. She was the one who helped me when I was still not joing the club. I really have to give it to her because if not for her, Lorcan wouldn't know that I am abducted.
"Thank you."
Her smile faded. "Hmm, you said that like a hundred times for me already. What is it that bothers you?"
"I don't know what will they do if I don't pass the excercise." That's one thing that bothers me.
"Excercise." She looked very confused.
I explained her about the excercise and things about the club. Well except the confidential things that I promised, I will not tell anyone. I trust Addison but what's confidential is confidential.
"Loosen up, girl! You don't have to be stressed about it. Did they say they will kick you out of you don't pass this?"
I shook my head.
She flashed a small smile. "If you really want to pass this then go for it. But if you failed it's okay maybe they just..."
"They just what?"
"Nevermind that. But as I was saying if you really want to past this then go for it. You can do it, Chloe!"
Then her phone vibrated.
"I have to go now. See ya!" She waved at me and watched her as she walks away.
I got 5 minutes left.
But I don't wanna give up. I need to think of the clue. I'm sure Lorcan won't give if it will just make the code complicated.
I gotta think of something connected to London bridge. When a thought popped up, I wrote it on the piece of paper and tried connecting it to the code.
Minutes of distinguishing then I finally come up of the answer.
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"Congratulations, you passed the final test!"
"Tell me what will happen if I didn't make it."
He looked at me for a few seconds before continuing. "Chloe, you're already a part of the club. You're the Annalist. If you're thinking that I will kick you out if you didn't pass then that's absolutelty absurd."
"I'm the one who asked you to join the club, remember?"
Looking back at it again, I wanna ask why did he ask me to become a member of the club.
"Then what's the purpose of this?" I asked sincerely confused why.
"I know for a fact that you'll pass this, Chloe. Whether you deciphered the code or not, I know you still tried. That alone explains how you're eager to sustain your spot in this club."
I smiled. He's right, I don't know what's the exact reason but there's something in me that really don't want to let go of this anymore. At first, I think solving serious cases is just them minding police officer's business but as time goes by, the work is somehow becoming engaging to me. I wanna know the feeling of solving a case.
Minutes later the door opened.
"Can you not?"
"I'm sorry. Okay, peace."
Minji sighed and put her things in the couch.
That's the first time I saw Minji lose it a little bit. She's obviously irritated but still handled it calmly. I wonder what did this Dustin do that makes her annoyed.
"Lorcan, what about the case of Ricanne?" I asked because too much silence feels awkward.
"Ricanne?"
"Yes, Ricanne. The client earlier."
"Oh, well Minji contacted but she still didn't answer."
"She already answered."
We looked at Minji tapping on her screen. "Sorry, it was 13 minutes ago. I was doing something so I did not realized. She texted the address where they live."
She then showed the text message.
"Okay, well tom-"
Lorcan was about to finish his sentence when we heard two knocks from the door.
Dustin opened it then a bespectacled girl whose hair is shoulder length appeared.
I looked at Lorcan who was seemingly surprised by the guess. Does he know her?
"New faces huh?" She looked at me and Dustin then glance at Lorcan. "You actually added more people to bury, how mighty of you."
"What brings you here?"
"Definitely not you."
Wait what's with this interaction and atmosphere?
"The student council president is asking for your club's assistance."
- Writer
