No Honor Among Thieves

Chapter 12 - Silence reigns once more in this class.

Lunch break. Cafeteria.

Thankfully, it's not crowded today like most days. Is something wrong?

I pay no mind as I scrutinize the available platters. Chicken, pork, adobo, sinigang. Then I laid my eyes on something entirely different– a 12th grader who happens to be posting a tweet. One that says "Cafeteria's hotter than hell. Is this Hell's Kitchen?" with a picture of Gordon Ramsey.

That's when a realization struck me. I left the line, not realizing how close I was to finally having my lunch (I was two students away from the counter).

I head over to the library, since they always hang out there if not at the cafeteria during breaks.

I opened the wide door to the library.

Something must be really wrong today because students are murmuring out loud, like bees swarming a few feet away.

"That's weird. Since when was a library this loud?"

Nevermind. I'm after Elle and Rodrick.

They weren't hard to spot, or maybe it's because they always take the table in the opposite corner where Ryan always sit.

"Elle, Rodrick, what's up?"

Rodrick nods. "Good."

"Had your lunch?" Elle beams as she asks.

I give an honest answer. "No, something came in the way."

Rodrick creases a brow. "What could come between a man and his lunch?"

"Realizations," nodding as I answer and continue. "Guys, have we tried checking Jane's social medias?"

Elle chuckles. "Wow, the three of us must have some psychic connections because Rodrick's checking her Facebook as I check her Twitter."

Jason's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? Damn. You guys got anything so far?"

Rodrick shakes his head. "No. All I got is a headache. Her Facebook's full of selfies with a guy."

Elle snaps a finger. "I found some interesting tweets though."

She shows us the phone.

"Mostly about having to go the hospital, ER because she's not feeling well. She has no followers from our classmates as well."

Jason nods. "Okay, please grab a screenshot of those tweets. We'll need it. Thanks."

"Ok, I got the photos." She swipes from right to left to show us the screenshots.

Rodrick sighs. "Next time, I get the easy job."

"Alright, looks like lunch is over anyways. Let's head back."

That's something Elle and Rodrick agreed on as well.

13 minutes as we were waiting for our next professor when the Director for Senior High knocks on our door. We call her Miss Doll.

After the usual greetings, formalities, and whatnot, she tells us her intentions. "It has been brought to my attention that your classmate's phone was stolen."

I instantaneously had a feeling of who told Miss Doll about it.

I looked at Nicky sideways to catch her giving a small, sly smile at one side of her face. Miss Doll continues.

"To whoever took the phone, please return it at my office so that this won't have to turn into a full-blown investigation. Just you and me, no one needs to know."

The class remains quiet like a mouse as Miss Doll gives a deadline. "You have until Friday. After that, there's nothing else we can do." She then steps out of the room.

Nicky, being the way she is, thickens her face just enough to speak and hint (again).

"So to the thief sitting here with us, you heard Miss Doll. You have 'til Friday to give up the phone." She gives obvious sideway-stares at Ron as she speaks.

"Shut the **** up, woman! We heard it the first time!" I keep that part to myself.

But the woman just won't shut it, like a broken jukebox. A functioning jukebox only plays music when you drop a coin in it, but this one's broken– it plays music on its own even though no one's dropping a coin!

"Keeping silent to appear innocent, huh? Smart..."

You know the saying 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'? This one's long since broken and needs fixing, so I give it a go.

"Shut up!" I shout without turning around, loud enough to resonate in the room as she went immediately silent. No comebacks as well. Finally.

Silence reigns once more in this class.