I woke up earlier than usual and was also feeling less stressed. Perhaps I was starting to feel like I had survived this whole ordeal. I turned off my alarm before it went off and chatted with my roommate, Adam.
He asked me what I thought about Sofia's disappearance. I was a little surprised, but I told him I was a little bit afraid of her going missing, although I was mostly sure she had just run away.
After I told him that, I thought about my situation. Although right now, people wouldn't think of me as someone who caused her to go missing, if her body was found, I'm sure people would suspect me. But I had no need to think about that right now. I should just relax a little bit.
While going to the school building, I noticed some police officers around the school. Not enough to think about it too much, but my attention also went to a person near the officers talking to a worker. She was definitely someone involved with the police, but her clothing resembled the type of shit you would see in a noir movie.
So I'm thinking maybe she's an investigator?
Damn, I would've thought they would wait for at least a week.
Well, nothing I could do about it.
I went to class. It was a literature lesson, and I kinda hated the subject, so I didn't really pay attention. But something did get my attention, and that was the teacher giving us a group project.
Although I hated these types of projects where I had to rely on someone, maybe this was actually a blessing. I could stay out of attention and perhaps learn some info, like the password to the locked phone.
The teacher randomly grouped us into groups of four. I was grouped up with two random blokes and one more person who was actually useful to me.
Her name was Elena, a friend of Sofia's. Perhaps I could get some info on whether they thought I was involved with her going missing and hopefully find a way to unlock the phone.
After class was over, everyone in the group just exchanged numbers and went on their way. I'm guessing they didn't really want to spend their free time meeting up and thinking of ideas, which is fair. Phone communication is better.
At break time, I saw many people grouped up around the bulletin board. I went there to check and, well, would you look at that. There was a sheet written like a riddle.
"Sleeping beauty is far away, laying on a bed of dirt while her prince is out giving appearances to not take responsibility."
It might be paranoia talking, but I'm guessing the sleeping beauty is Sofia and the prince is me?
Well, only one name comes up to mind when I think of who wrote this.
I waited for the perfect time to chat with Lukas about his note jeopardizing me. At lunchtime, I saw him sitting with a group of friends. This wasn't a perfect time to talk, but I guess this will do.
I went to his table and asked him:
"Is this seat taken?"
He answered joyfully, like he was actually waiting for me.
"Of course, mate."
He introduced me to his friends, and I sat down.
Huh. I'm thinking maybe he was using his friends as kind of a bodyguard so I wouldn't attack him or ask the questions directly. Like maybe it was kind of a test for me?
Well, I just gotta speak under a layer.
"You know it's really reckless and bad behavior to put a note like that on the bulletin board, don't you? You guys agree?"
I threw this question at the table so instead of asking him individually, everybody could answer it.
He answered back with:
"Yeah, it's kinda shitty behavior, but I'm not against people having a little fun."
Is he provoking me?
Is this his way of saying this is just harmless fun?
"And also, if the school doesn't do anything against it, is it even that important?"
Huh. It might be the paranoia talking again, but I'm guessing he's using the word school to describe me?
Now I'm wondering if he's asking me to clean up some evidence. I mean, there's nothing else left to do.
Or maybe he's asking me to frame someone?
I guess time will tell.
After lunchtime, I went back to class. While we were there, they called up some people one by one over the intercom.
This went on for a little bit, but when the seventh name came up, surprise, surprise, it was mine.
I walked up to the principal's office and saw that noir-looking investigator also sitting there.
"Hello, Daniel. Miss Cerna has some things to ask you about."
Fuck. Did they find the body? Am I a suspect? Do they know I'm involved?
"Sure, what is this about?"
She started talking.
"I'm sure you might have already guessed this has something to do with your classmate Sofia."
Well shit, am I done for?
I mean, if they knew it was me from the start, they wouldn't wait to question me. They would just arrest me. And they also called up other students too.
I just gotta be careful with my answers.
"How close were you and Sofia?"
I just gotta answer this casually, like a normal friend.
"We were mostly friends, really. We would sometimes talk, but our relationship was just that."
Not the best answer, but that'll do. There's not really anything she could question me about from that.
"Did she have any, I guess, enemies, or was anyone kinda obsessed with her?"
Well, yeah. There was someone obsessed with her. ME.
But I can't really tell her that now, can I?
I'm just gonna answer like I'm clueless.
"Well, not that I know of. If she does have people against her, I guess I never noticed."
The way she's talking makes it seem like she's already dead.
Fuck, did they already find the body?
Is she trying to catch me off guard?
"Could you tell me your actions for the last two days, like your location and stuff?"
Damn, this is a weird question. Why would she ask me this if she didn't suspect me? Fucking Lukas with his shitty note.
"I mean, there isn't really much to talk about. I went to school, went to class, and when the school day was over, I just went back to my dorm."
"Can anyone vouch for you?"
Well damn, I might actually be a suspect.
But perhaps she's just asking everyone shit like this.
"I have a roommate, I guess you can ask him."
She looked like she got the answer she wanted. I guess she's just questioning people who were kinda close to Sofia to see if they're involved with her going missing in any way.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Daniel. You can go back to class."
Jesus, that was stressful.
After I went back to class, I just heard two more names get called up, and that was it.
What I noticed was that out of the nine students they called up, six of them were male and only three of them were female.
So maybe they're taking the note seriously?
After the school day was over, I walked around to clear my head a little bit, then went back to my room.
Then I got a notification. A group chat was created for the group project by Elena.
Well now that i think about it. Should I message her to get some info? Would I be seen as a friend that's worried, or would it just seem suspicious?
Eh, I'm gonna take my chances.
I'm just gonna message her:
"Hey Elena, sorry for disturbing you. I'm just worrying about Sofia. Did she talk about anything that comes to mind when you think about it?"
It seems like something a worried friend would say. I mean, hopefully she sees it that way.
After some time, she just answered back with:
"Sorry Daniel, but there is nothing that comes to mind. I know you were close with Sofia, and I want to help you, but our conversations lately were just normal."
Dang.
I guess at the end, Sofia still spoke highly of me and saw me as someone close. It's making me a little sad just thinking about it.
But I need to save my ass from this case, so I just gotta do everything in my power to not be a suspect.