HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE: ONE

CHAPTER 1: INTIMIDATING

Chapter 1: Intimidating

RIANNE MARTIN

WHEN I was five, I saw a huge house in front of ours the morning I woke up. I'm honestly surprised, it appeared just like magic since it's not there yesterday at all. It's not near us, but we share the same street. Maybe the distance is almost half of a highway, or maybe even more than that, I don't really know the exact measurement. They probably removed the trees in front of our house that time and made the place as one as the house in front of us was built.

Instead of fearing our new neighbors, I actually was excited to meet them. I used to wonder, what are they like? Is there a child with them that's around my age? If there is, would they be interested to play with me? I was really eager to have a new friend.

But hopes can be dragged down unintentionally. I noticed something strange, it's always quiet there. I never saw their lights on, nor their windows open. Up until this day, I never met one of those people I've always expected. Maybe nobody really lived there, maybe they just built that house so that the owners can have a place to stay at whenever they want to be here. Who knows. That's very sad, I've always wanted a neighbor friend.

I grew up with that house being constantly clean outside. I honestly rarely saw someone clean that house, maybe they do it when I'm asleep or busy. But for years, I really am still curious of who are those that are supposed to live here.

"Mom! That house in front of us is huge! It's like a castle!" I called my mother from the top of my lungs, jumping repeatedly as I point at the mansion in front of ours. I am currently inside her office as she write something on her so-called list of ingredients. I always doubted that, she never cooked at home and it's not a part of our business either. "Do you think that there's a princess inside?"

My mother, Anne Aguerro Martin. She always appeared as a busy woman in a long pencil skirt, stuck inside her office either at home or the company's building. That's how I used to see her as of my impression of her as a child. She always allowed me to join her whenever she's home, as long as I do not disturb her— that much.

"Well, there could be. You'll never know." My mother shrugged without giving me a glance, continuing with her writing works and I only noticed her response. I immediately gasped on that and began jumping again.

If little girls wished for a prince charming when they were younger, the little me wished for a sweet princess. Maybe because of the itty-bitty tiny puppy love of mine.

"Do you think she'll like me? Do you think I will be okay for her?" I asked, saying each word fast. My mother probably did not understand what I said. "Will she like Kerwin?"

I heard her sighing. "I am sure she would, Kerwin is a good little kid anyways." She responded and I smiled on that. Of course, I was a very good child. My name is Rianne Martin, with Kerwin as my second name. My mother enrolled me the day before that to a kindergarten and I behaved really well. I think the teacher likes me, she said that I was very polite.

Let's just say that things do change as time goes by. I am still a good student by academic records but when it comes to my behavior at school, I highly doubt that I am still deserving to have the title of 'good'.

I see no list of rules in front of me, unless I want to open my eyes for it. I fear the consequences, but not every single one. I am no troublemaker, but just a normal yet not-so average top student. I am fun to be with, I cause no harm.

"When can we visit them?" I asked my mother about the new neighbors once again and I believe that she has no idea what to tell me that time. She's not the type of person to meet someone face to face unless it's really worthy of her to call it relevant. Quite the type of person who's highly respected and treated as gold. "Mom?"