The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 18: Heated Tension

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Heated Tension

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"WAIT, IS that — Reagan Iñigo Maccio?? Oh my God!"

It was a suicide mission. The humid afternoon soon faded away as gray clouds covered the sky and rain started to pour down heavily on the streets of Ylando City. Sidewalks shone with wetness as the downpour made the old, abandoned house creak and moan as they stepped out of its ruined wooden floors.

Dahil sa biglang pag-ulan ay walang choice na binalikan ni Jarrell ang kaniyang sasakyan na nasa Castillo High upang hindi maulanan ang mga babae, lalo na si Ann na nawalan muli ng malay at hawak-hawak ni Rein.

It wasn't long when the six had returned to their academe safely thanks to Jarrell's vehicle.

But the only thing stopping them from getting out of the car was that the five had no idea how to bring out an unconscious Ann Lobris out of Jarrell's car and into the school clinic, without garnering any kind of attention.

"NO! Rein, the whole school would see you!" Quinn seethed as soon as Rein had insisted to carry Ann himself.

"I got her into this mess." Rein muttered in insistence. "So I'll be the one to take the blame for it."

"That's being rash and outright impulsive!" Sera exclaimed out of frustration. "Mas macoconfirm lang ng culprit na may something sa inyo ni Ann if the whole school sees you carrying her to the clinic. Rein for once, think of the consequences that this will brin—"

But Rein had heard enough. Not letting Sera finish her sentence, ibinuhat na muli nito binata si Ann at saka lumabas ng sasakyan. 

"MY GOD, IS HE REALLY THIS RECKLESS?!" Inis na sigaw ni Queenie as the others ran after Rein.

"Sa totoo lang, first time ito!" Sigaw pabalik ni Jarrell, slamming the driver's door of his car shut.

Habang karga-karga ni Rein ang kaniyang karibal at naglalakad patungo sa school clinic, unti-unting napapatingin ang mga Castillians na nakatambay sa corridors at hallways — eyes wide as they stared at one of the richest male student in the academe, carry his one and only rival.

Whispers and gasps soon filled the campus and the news about the two rivals spread like wildfire, with other students rushing towards the particular hallway where Rein was walking, just to see for their own two eyes if the rumors were true.

And indeed it was.

"MACCIO, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY COUSIN?!" Calista, who had rushed out of the Gazette's office after seeing the crowd of students from the office's glass doors, quickly demanded habang sinasabayan si Rein sa paglalakad.

To her irritation, the young man merely ignored the older girl, holding his head and chin up high. He then quickened his pace, trying to get out of everyone's sight as soon as possible.

"Are you deaf?! ANSWER ME!" Calista demanded once more, but Rein merely looked straight ahead with steely eyes as he carried Ann with no remorse.

"Argh!" Calista stomped in frustration before turning her heel and storming away to inform her aunt and uncle — no one else but Ann's parents.

"Wait 'til the readers of the Gazette hear about this!" Sheyna Ramirez, who was part of the onlookers gaping at Rein and Ann, exclaimed gleefully, with the feature writer taking various photos of the rivals using her digital phone.

By the time Rein had arrived at the clinic, everything was a chaotic mess as the rumors and conspiracy theories soon spiraled amongst the whole Castillian student body.