The Perfect Murder

Chapter 5: The Reminisce

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Chapter 5: THE REMINISCE

Today was a wonderful day for Katniss, Fraine, Natasha and Stephanie. Their senior high school was a cool shot at life. The four of them were active in their school. Stephanie is the president of their school and she was the most intelligent and talented of them all. Katniss was the editor-in-chief in the FLY - school's newspaper and publishing book in their school. Natasha was a president in a classroom. And Fraine was just a normal high school student who doesn't belong to any extra-curricular activities. But she participated in any activities that her best friends joined.

"Hey ladies!" Mr. Quiben greeted them along the corridors of the R. Gaddhi Hall after the Journalism contest.

"Hi sir!" They all greeted simultaneously.

"Congratulations ladies! For four consecutive years you won this contest. Great ladies. For your midterm exam in English I will give you plus 15 points for winning this contest." Mr. Quiben said, shaking the hands of the four.

"Dope! Thank you sir!" Stephanie said.

"Bye sir." The four waving their hand to say good bye. 

Sitting inside her bedroom, Fraine laid comfortably on her bed as she ran her hand through her cats fur. She loved the solitude she always found in the confines of her room. Hours would mostly be spent on reflecting and contemplating. The win she and her best friends garnered from the journalism contest made her feel a sense of accomplishment. They all did great. But, Stephanie, her contribution to the  composition was the best there was. She knew by the way Stephanie's eyes glistened and how her smile looked so genuine when she talked about her family. It was probably why Stephanie said the contest was so easy for her. Because it is about family.

She raised her cat, playfully shaking her. "Why? Answer me Paula! Why?!"

Paula only responded with a yawn. Somehow she wished Paula could tell her why she felt so bitter. It wasn't a pleasant feeling but it always came out when Stephanie talked about her family. She looked so excited and happy.

Fraine may not admit it but she would frown just a bit and her hands would curl into fists. Fraine sighed and looked at Paula once more. She finally came into realization. "Paula... am I envious of Stephanie?" 

She groaned and changed her thoughts. She wasn't supposed to had such feelings towards a friend. But Fraine knew she wanted what Stephanie had.

A normal family.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Ma'am Fraine! Stephanie is here," called Michelle the only maid in their house. Fraine was interrupted. She was the type of person that easily becomes irritated when disturbed. She felt a little bit of temper that passed through her veins but still remained quiet and unreactive, while she controlled her feelings.

 On her way out of the room, she saw Stephanie also going ahead the room.

"Oh hi! Why are you here?", asked Fraine.

"Oh hey Fraine! Sorry to disturb you. I came here because I want to tell you something. I noticed that Katniss and Natasha are acting strange recently." 

Fraine's phone vibrated inside her pocket.

"Why do you say so?" Fraine asked as she picked up her phone inside her pocket. Stephanie just shaked her head like she was telling that she really doesn't know why.

(1 message) From Natasha.

 "Hey Fraine, can you actually imagine that some of our schoolmates are saying that Stephanie was the only reason why we won in the contest? Is that even possible?" 

Stephanie then continued to talk, "Well I feel quite uncomfortable because I can't understand why they are like that."

 "Sorry Stephanie. Mom just sent me a message. I need to go to her office."

 "Turtles!" 

The time was already 2:15 in the afternoon when Fraine arrived in the house of Natasha. She saw Natasha with Katniss talking with each other in the library.

"Hey Fraine! How come you are here?" Natasha asked her. 

"I lied to Steph that mom needs me in her office."

The three of them discussed about the jealousy they felt towards Stephanie. It was like something,  bigger than the years of their friendship, that can easily break the warmth that they can feel inside. It would become the coldest wall they can ever lean on. They talked about how Stephanie could ruin their own life. If they won't break the connection they had then they will be like dirt that Stephanie could step into. They felt inferior and so insecure.

"Something's not right," Katniss butted in.

"What is it?" Natasha asked.

Katniss stood up and took the framed picture on the bookshelf. The picture was the first picture of them singing inside their classroom as part of their presentation in music class in their first year high school. That was the first moment that Katniss belonged to their group of friends. Katniss was a transferee during that year. 

Showing the framed picture to Fraine and Natasha, Katniss said to them, "I really don't think I would give up those six wonderful years that you and Steph gave me. You three were the first people who spoke to me in my first day in high school and now you are my best friends."

"Stephanie was my best friend since third grade. Actually, I can't leave her in the rain alone too." Natasha said while she stared to Katniss. "How 'bout you Fraine?", Natasha added.

Fraine was staring outsied the window but then she squinted because the sun's reflection hurt her eyes. She was thinking of the things Stephanie had.

 A normal family.

 Intelligence.

 Talent.

Beauty.

 A perfect life.

Since Fraine was in her first grade her mother said that her father was gone. She always remember that her mother also tells to her that though he is gone you should always remember that I am always here right beside you baby, as your mother and as your father too. This was the only strength of Fraine, growing up without a father, whenever she accepted every stone of bullying and harsh words thrown by her classmates.

 Bastard.

 False daughter from hell.

Everything was quite uneasy for her. Growing up with people like that and without father affected her self-esteem. She never discovered the knowledge and talents she had. She just kept it inside herself. But all of this was filled when she found Stephanie, Katniss and Natasha. They became the answer for the longing of Fraine of having a normal family. The fulfillment of her life. Since then she dreamed. She believed. She achieved.

"You know what guys. I don't think so that Steph would ruin our life. We are one's strength, one's reason. That is why we are best friends right? And I think it is not really fair to Steph if we do that," Fraine said.

They all realized that it was not right to be a envious monsters to Stephanie or even to any of them. They all had their own talents, potentials and dreams. And the four of them including their own families must be the strength that could give them the key to a better future. That is what friendship is. It is not what you want that could give you everlasting joy. It is what you have.

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