Cases Uncovered

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪12 | Rush Hour

"The strong one doesn't win. The one that wins is strong."

-Shinichi Kudo

------

Chapter 12:
Rush Hour

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
ZANE

"Snacks for recess," I whispered to myself as my eyes browsed the grocery list that I listed. "What else?"

"How about notebooks? Papers? We're not in a supermarket or a grocery store so set those things aside." In front of me emerged my companion who had some notebooks in her hands. She came close to me and put them on the basket that I was holding, giving me a small tug that woke my senses up.

"Ah! I just figured I’d buy them AFTER getting these school supplies or whatever," I said, carefully concealing my true intention to avoid her judgment.

As I stood beside her, it felt as though my head had been slammed against a hard wall, and my body was as light as a feather. My thoughts darted uncontrollably in all directions.

"Let's go. We'll still need to cook our lunch," she spoke.

"But how about my things?"

"You’ve been standing there for a couple of minutes and still haven’t chosen anything?" Her cold gaze met mine, eyebrow arched. "Are you still pondering over snacks, or is it that you didn’t sl—"

"Got them!" I snapped as I took some random notebooks from the shelves. "Let's pay it now so we can go home. Where's the counter?"

"That would be this way." We resumed our walk until we reached the place I had been searching for.

"Here," Raine said as a hundred pesos waved in front of me. "Add that up to what you are going to pay."

Although I was the one carrying the basket of items we intended to buy, I took the money from her — perhaps a misguided attempt at being chivalrous. "I’ll pay you later."

Upon receiving the money she gave, she just remained beside me, remaining still. After paying, I just took the pleasure of carrying our stuff.

"Where's our number?" I was ready to go home when she halted in front of me.

"Number?"

"Baggage claim ticket? No. 5?" she asked.

"Ah! Right, that one!" I shoved my hand towards my pocket, browsing for the presence of the number. It landed towards my other pocket, yet she remained in front of me, staring.

"It's gone, right?"

My wallet was the only one I took from my trouser's pockets. "Hold this for me." I tucked my wallet into my armpit and then handed over the groceries I brought.

"Lost?" she repeated.

I opened my wallet, only to find it missing. A familiar sense of dread gripped my chest — less intense than last night, but still enough to make my heart race.

"Is it with you?" I asked, hoping it might be with her.

"Let me check. Hold this." The heavy supplies were handed back to me as she checked the two pockets of her mint green trousers. "It’s not with me either."

My heart raced even faster, unsure of what to do next.

Raine retraced her steps, and I followed. "You check the right, and I’ll take the other side."