Say The Word

Chapter 29- I Do Not Know, Man

"You don't have to come later, if you don't want to," Sumi said, twirling her hair, threading it around her fingers. "I'm so sorry about what happened."

"Do not be, I just wish I could have gotten there sooner, maybe things would have been different."

"I don't think so, honestly." Elly sighed softly.

"Why?" I already knew the answer, I was just hoping nobody figured it out yet. Then, maybe I could put the blame on me for not getting there soon enough to stop them, instead of facing the reality that Ceb was a murderer who had cold-bloodedly butchered their parents.

Elly got up from her lying position, arm on her knee, eyes never tearing away from the sky. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but according to Doc, one of her friends' partner is working on this case. I was told that his parents were dead for quite some time, for at most, a few days. I suppose we would have to be taken in for questions later, but who knows."

"Who's this 'Doc'? How do you even get this info, Elama?" It was Sumi's turn to perk up.

Irritation crept all over Elly's face. "First off, Sumo, it's Elmana. Secondly, it's a 'I-know-someone-who-knows-someone-who-knows-a-guy' situation, I'm not in the mood to explain this. Finally, if you don't know, yes, we might be required to be questioned, by the police, especially Vastel here, in case you have never watched a movie."

"I- All I did was ask questions-"

"I know, and they're all really stupid ones."

Sumi's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm out of here, sorry, Vastel, I can't do this right now, not with this person."

She got up and just left.

"Elly-"

"I swear she started it first, why are you saying my name?"

"Elly, look, I get it, but Sumi is a friend, alright? I know you are actually really worried about Ceb, I am too."

"I just" – she pulled her knees to her chest – "I wish I knew what was going on, with him, with his life and with me. I have no idea how I'm feeling or what I'm feeling. I mean, the person I still care about killed both his parents. I just wish I know what happened."

Her head leaned on my shoulder as she continued. "I find it funny, how I'm always running. It's like I'm running away from something, and then when I look back, I regret running. I have no idea what I'm running away from until I run my head around, and usually, when I try to go back, it's no longer salvageable. I just want to stop running altogether sometimes, you know? But I don't know how."

"Yeah, I know," I said, resting my head on hers. "Sometimes it feels so alone, so you do the only thing you know how to do, until you realise it is causing you damage. But, it is now the only thing you know how to do, and it is the only thing you know. You get confused when things are not your way anymore because it is no longer familiar."

"I like that you get me, Vassy, it's comforting," it came out as a mere whisper from her mouth, blown away by the wind the following second. Silence before the bell rung felt prolonged.

Do I get her?

Maybe.

▪▫▪▫▪

"Excuse me, Mr. Pattenson," Elaine knocked on the door before sliding the door open and pointing at both Sumi and me. "Can Mr. Rotenberg and Miss Laxchuman, be excused?"

My physics teacher did not look pleased. "And for what, Miss Teh, they are to be excused?"

"The officers want to speak to them next."