DAD

Part 6

Alexa was a student of a field that could quite of be helpful to me in some ways. She was intelligent as I had already told, and could understand a person's feeling and the thing on his or her mind; just with a little observation of the body language.

I was quite impressed how she studied me all the time, being like a real friend who just tries to solve my dad's death thing; though it wouldn't cost her anything at all. I was on the bed, sitting about crossing my knee and grabbing a pillow on them and trying to figure out what Alexa was thinking.

"Look Clem, this thing is gon'na turn serious; if we try to figure out the truth."
"Why is that?" I asked, kind of being disturbed as such responses might shut the whole thing.
"Look, your family. You are centered by your family and your family is the first suspicion."
"I know...but they won't know our talks."
"Dude, we aren't gon'na do anything sitting over here. We are to go places; we might need information. So, your family must be suspecting on us."
"Then what?"
"I'll think of something."

***

She was looking so much like an experienced detective; I didn't want to disturb her.
"Look Clem, according to you, your mom and brother don't want to keep relationship with your dad's family. And this clearly means we need to find the reason why. Do you know someone who may know?"
I thought for a while, and I thought maybe...Derek could know something. He has been my brother's best friend since his childhood. I suggested his name to Alexa, and she agreed; we need to meet him up at a place where no one would suspect anything and a location where nobody knew us.

***

"Hey, I've been waiting for you guys for like an hour." Derek says, as soon as he sees us.
"I'm sorry Derek, it was the traffic."
"Okay, let's talk some important stuff...who is she?" Derek points out at Alexa, just with his eyes and without using the fingers; good manners.
"I'm Alexa, her friend", Alexa responds and I add, "The mastermind" and smiled.
Both of them take a little giggle out to that additional "adds" I did.

"Why did you guys wan'na meet up here? Like we could meet somewhere..."
"We wanted a location where nobody would've any clue of us." I stopped Derek.

It was a cafeteria down the alley where Alexa's aunt used to stay. We all had ordered cappuccino separate for all with a hard one for Derek, and the other two soft for us. "So, Derek do you somehow know anything like..."
"Nope, you guys must be thinking that Chris has been a buddy for such a long time; must've told me something, no?"

Both me and Alexa were shut up with the mouth listening to him. If he didn't know anything, it would get hella a lot difficult for us to figure out the info. But still, Alexa had asked him if he knew something about Chris, which I couldn't relate to any of the subjects of our problem.
But then, Derek started; maybe he also felt that the answer to this question might help. He was very much supportive, and had been helping us, I mean me; selflessly.

"Chris was the most degraded student of his time, in the whole college. He was moving on the wrong track. I tried to bring him back to be good but...who listens to whom?"

"So, you mean he was bad at studies and attitude?" Alexa asks and notes what Derek says.
"No, not in studies; he was the second topper of the year we were in. But the second thing attitude, well he was almost destroyed, he used to take drugs...smoke weed with some other guys and was really not with me like a best friend should be..." Derek sighs.

Alexa notes down and looks at Derek wanting some more information. I was still...with shock actually. This guy right now, my brother; looks like a highly mannered, royal and respected millionaire and yes he is...I can't believe that he. Took. Drugs. Like that word "drug" was just dashing into my ears.

"He was also ruined about the respect, he had many girls; rich guy with filthy money running over girls...oh my God! I can't even speak anymore. He could just do it a thousand times..." and a bunch of tears appear at his eyes, that strong feeling for his degraded best friend; but he closes his eyes for a second to pull back the tears. Alexa keeps on noting whatever he says. Maybe that was the quality of an investigator, detective or whatever. I never knew her subject much, it sounded quite fascinating always, but at the same time a pain in the ass too.

"Anything more?" I ask as the tears gather in mine, but I can't pull them back; I'm weak. Weak after all these things and all this pressure, putting up stress. They knew that I wasn't expecting an answer to this, I just couldn't bear it anymore. I just left the table and went to the washroom.

Opened the tap and splashed some water over my face. My eyes all red, bloodshot eyes. I couldn't take the pain; I had this change in myself like my dad, it never took a minute for me to make my eyes go red when I just cry. I see Alexa turn behind me, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I turn back to face her, but didn't make eye contact. She grabs me by my shoulders and gives me a shake, to make me face her; but I was just looking at my feet.

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