Memories in Addition

11: Make A Move

Joyce fingered the necklace they had retrieved from Shanell's bag contemplatively as she perched on the rails of the corridors.

Behind her, the whole class was crowded around Mela as she explained that it really was Shanell who killed Florence.

"Because, see", Mela brought the copy of the code and turned it upside down. "If you turn it this way, you'll see that the code shows Shanell's name. It's pretty common in detective movies. Too bad I didn't remember this technique until now..."

"It's okay, Mela", Shana smiled as she gently pat her on the back. "I'm sure you gave it your best shot."

Michael broke off from the crowd to perch beside Joyce, before speaking. "So...what are your thoughts in all this?"

There was a short beat.

"Something doesn't add up", Joyce frowned as she clenched the necklace between her hand.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The note said that she's the killer."

"Yes, but she couldn't have possibly killed Alex. I mean...she never went down to buy snacks during recess on that day."

A pause. "Well, there's the whole thing with the mastermind. The one who sent that note and that necklace after she killed herself."

"Yeah", Joyce sighed. "I guess we have more than one traitor around here."

Michael nodded along.

Silence reigned, afterwards.

"But, hey, this might sound really jerkish", the reincarnation of Richard the Lionhearted started. "But couldn't we just make a wish for Clark to grant to reveal the identity of this mastermind?"

Joyce almost dropped the necklace to the ground floor.

😋

Obviously, the one who farted was Sean.

"You really thought we'd be fooled?", Francis frowned. "I mean, seriously--"

"Hans, you're trespassing in my area. You're too close," Sean ignored him as Hans leaned close towards him.

"Just getting the notebook, Sean", Hans replied.

Francis sighed again. "Well, it's not like--"

BOOM!

Majority of the people inside the classroom turned when the front door suddenly opened.

"GAYS, I FOUND THE MASTERMIND!," Ysa yelled as she stomped towards the center of the platform.

Joyce blinked in surprise, before eagerly grinning. "You did?"

Ysa furiously nodded, before pointing at Sean. "YOU STOLE MY POTATO CHIPS!"

There was a beat.

Then, collective sighs of disappointment were heard.

"Goddarnit, Ysa", Sonaya groaned.

Michael and Nadhine facepalmed at the same time.

Joyce sweatdropped, before getting Clark's attention. "Um...Clark?"

Clark looked up from the book he was reading to look at her. "Joyce?"

"Um...I know this might be asking too much of you...", she wrung her hands together nervously. "But...can you grant me a wish? Like, right now? It's fundamental for the case."

Clark just blinked blankly at her in response.

Beside him, Wyatt whistled. "That took guts, Joyce. Congrats."