Second Story: In The Nick of Time

Chapter 5

20 September 2021

The journey to 'CVA' High School was much shorter and more pleasant, as there was a direct bus linking the two schools. Mai noted to herself that she did not bump into Hoa today. Perhaps the weightlifter was busy with school and her part-time work at her mother's bubble tea shop.

Soon the young detective reached the famous school of the Tây Hồ District. The campus was situated right on the shore of West Lake, therefore the school enjoyed cool breezes blowing from the lake and a beautiful vista of the entire lake. The school was noted for its modesty and neutrality amidst the petty rivalry between the two schools, despite being a worthy opponent itself.

As usual, Mai donned her so-called disguise and camped in a nearby bubble tea shop opposite the main entrance of the school. Bubble tea was a favourite drink of Hanoian students: even though not as popular in other South-East Asian countries, many students would make it a habit to drink a cup after a gruelling school day. This worked to Mai's advantage as she was able to observe the students more closely.

"Isn't that...?"

It was that grey car again. There was no mistaking it. The licence plate was the same one. Mai could see a faint figure sitting in the driver's seat, holding a bright smartphone in their left hand while something like a faintly lit cigarette was in the other hand. The tinted window prevented the girl from seeing the face of the stranger.

"If only there was a way to catch this scum," Mai grumbled, "I'd call the police on him now but I have no decisive evidence to corner him."

"Mai? Fancy seeing you here!" called out a boy sitting next to her.

"It's you, Hùng! I haven't seen you since junior high. What's cooking?"

"Busy with schoolwork as always," sighed the boy, "being a student at a specialised school is hard. You get assaulted with tests and assignments nearly every day. Come to think of it, you are now in 'A' High, right? Congratulations!"

"Thanks! I think coming to that school is one of my few decisions that I don't regret in my life."

"What brings you here though?"

"I'm checking out this girl from your school. There's a guy in my class who's interested in her, and he's too shy to approach her. I'm here to find out more. Do you know her? Her name is..."

"I do. She's famous, and I'm a close friend of hers. I can help arrange a date between the two of them if you need."

"That'll be a great help," exclaimed Mai. "Is she free on the 25th?"

"Unfortunately, no, the entire Grade 11 will have a school trip to a neighbouring province from the 25th to the 29th," Hùng shook his head. "You're out of luck. I'd imagine everyone will be busy preparing for the trip, and it's going to rain cats and dogs this week so she won't likely be out of the house either."

"I see, thanks for your intel. It was nice, catching up."

Hùng smiled in return and left the shop to attend to his business. Mai was relieved to find out that she might not need to expend so much energy on this case after all. When Mai turned to the gate again, the grey car had already disappeared but she was not worried because the street was still packed with motorbikes, and it would take either an idiot or a suicidal person to commit a crime in broad daylight.

"There she is," mutter Mai to herself while holding a photograph of her second target.

The girl was indeed beautiful, as Hùng had described, but she was relatively plain compared to the other three Princesses of 'A' High School. The girl had a different aura about her from other people. Her expressions did not change the entire time her friends were chatting cheerfully with her, and she seemed to be disconnected with her surroundings. A truly mysterious person.