Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I entered the room and almost bumped into Kristine.
"What was that about?" she asked me.
"I have no idea," I said as we approached our seats.
~
I didn't see Anthony all day. At lunch, only Jonathan and Kristine joined me. Carl was nowhere
in sight too. Maybe the team was busy with something today.
I was about to round a corner to the direction of my locker when I felt my bag being pulled back.
I turned and saw Drew beaming at me.
"What?" I asked him impatiently.
He tried his best to look offended. "I can't greet my niece when in school?"
"Niece?"
I froze at the new voice.
Relief flooded me when I turned and saw Jonathan stifling a laugh.
"You scared me!" I punched his arm.
"Ow!"
Drew roared in laughter and I glared at him. "Your expression was priceless!"
I rolled my eyes, heading off to my locker. They were laughing as they followed me. I resisted
the urge to punch them in the face as I opened my locker. I was thinking of a way to get back at
them but was shocked to see a familiar picture stuck on the door of my locker.
Their laughter died down and I felt them stand behind me, peering over to where I was staring. I
heard Jonathan gasp loudly and Drew stuck out his hand to remove the picture.
On his hands was our latest family picture before Dad died. Mom and I seated in the middle,
Drew standing to my right, and Dad on Mom's side. There was nothing else unusual, except for
the bright red circle enclosing Dad's head, and the bright red letters on top: DONE.
***
Chapter 19
"You better eat now, Dear."
"Huh?"
"Dinner," I felt Nanny tug my arm as I seated on our living room. I was still holding my phone.
Drew just called a minute ago, still disturbed by the picture we found in my locker. I already
changed the lock so it was impossible that Carl or Anthony could gain access to it again.
I pushed myself up from the couch, following Nanny to the table. Waiting for me was my favorite
dish, but I really didn't have the appetite to enjoy it now. Not wanting to disappoint Nanny, I sat on my usual seat and took a serve of her cooking. From time to time, she would hover over me,
refilling my glass.
"Join me, Nanny."
"I'm full, Andrea."
Nodding, I continued to eat in silence. My mind drifted back to the picture. Whoever did that
obviously had some connection with the syndicate. He knew my Dad saw the murder of
Anthony's uncle, and knew something about their work. What was more alarming was that he
knew my mom, Drew and me. I winced at the thought. That only meant that whoever this person
was, he or she has been spying me in school. My eyes widened when I realized that he or she
must be observing me every time I opened my locker, since he or she knew the combination.
Just then I heard the doorbell ring. Nanny rushed off to see who it was. Minutes later, she
entered the house again.
"Who was it Nanny?" I took a bite of my food before turning to look at her. I almost choked when I saw Anthony following Nanny.
"Anthony?"
"Hi Drei," he smiled shyly. I quickly chewed and swallowed my food and took a sip of my drink before joining him in the living room.
"Don't skip your meal at my expense," he said, waving his hands.
"No, I'm done anyway," I shrugged and glanced at Nanny who shook her head as she
approached my half-finished plate.
"Err. What brings you here?" I took a seat on the couch and he took the seat in front of me.
His eyes wandered off to the floor, which was very unusual. He never looked uncertain. Never.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked, growing a little nervous. Was it possible that he also knew about the picture? It was impossible. Mom said that he barely knew why his uncle died. That
means he wasn't even aware of his uncle's connection with the syndicate.
He began twiddling his fingers. Another odd sign. I furrowed my eyebrows as curiosity began
building up inside me.
"I was just wondering if---"
He was cut off when my phone started ringing. We both stared at it before I snatched it up and
answered it without glancing at the screen.
"WHERE WERE YOU?" Drew shouted from the other end.
"You don't have to shout Drew!" I barked back. Just then I realized Anthony was in front of me, obviously hearing the name I just mentioned.
"I was eating. And I'm in the middle of something now. Call back later." With that, I ended the call, bracing myself for a reproach from my uncle in a while.
I cleared my throat. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine," he smiled.
"What were you saying again?"
"I was just wondering if... You're free this Saturday?"
I blinked. "Why?"
"There's a dance sponsored by the league. Athletes from the four schools will be attending. It signals the start of the semi-finals."
"Really? I've never heard of such a dance."
He smiled. "I know. It's the first. And my last too. That's why I want you to come with me."
Good thing I didn't blush easily. "Oh. Okay. I'll think about it."
"I'm hoping for a positive response. Or else I'd attend alone."
"Is that supposed to help me in decision-making?" I teased, narrowing my eyes. "Why don't you ask Carley instead?"
He shrugged, smiling smugly. That was also out of character. "She's busy."
"Oh." I muttered, lowering my gaze.
He gave a low laugh. "I'm joking Drei. What made you think I'd ask her?"
I blanked. Because she's pretty? Very pretty? "Nothing."
He chuckled.
Just then I remembered what he said a while ago. "Wait, the team's in the semis already?"
He gave me a flat look. "Yes. You forgot the last game? That was the qualifier," he said as he stood up from his seat. "I think I'd better go now."
"Okay." I walked him to the door.
"Thanks." He smiled then left.
I repeated the conversation in my head. So he went out of his way to come
