"That's right. Worried about being discovered, living in fear. It's a painful thing."

- Ai Haibara

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Chapter 19:
What It Leads To

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ZANE

"Aliza's coming here at six, great!" I sarcastically remarked as I opened the door to our flat. I casually tossed my heavily laden bag onto our long sofa and settled into my favourite spot in the living room, leaning back comfortably.

"Why are you nervous?" asked my companion, seated in his usual spot facing me.

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"Let's talk later," Raine suggested to Ali when we were still in the cafeteria earlier.

"Perfect timing! I really need someone to talk to," he replied. "Where can we meet privately?"

"How about my flat?" I suggested.

"Sure!" Ali quickly agreed. "At your apartment, 6 PM."

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"You know, if you both want to have some private time together, tonight would be a great opportunity," Raine added while opening her notebook from her bag.

"There you go again," I said. "What are you trying to say?"

"Can't you see, Zane? Aliza's got a crush on you," she said plainly. My heart pounded, and my eyes blinked quickly. "And you fancy her too, don't you?"

"What are you talking about? Don't be so sure!" I insisted.

"You're blushing," she said, catching my eye for a moment before returning to her book. "Yesterday, you kept staring at her while she avoided your gaze."

"So what? Of course, I look at her because I have eyes. Apparently, my dear Ms. Lorraine, eyes are used for seeing things," I protested.

"When a guy likes a girl, he looks into her eyes. When a girl likes a guy, she avoids those gazes," she added. "Don't worry, because according to the research I read, if you like someone, there's an eighty percent chance that person likes you back. Do you want me to go on?"

My cheeks were almost flushed because of what she was saying. Besides that, my mind couldn't settle. I admit she was right, but I didn't know how she knew.

"Just now, I saw the anxiety in your eyes — quick blinks. And you've been fidgeting with your face a lot," Raine continued. It was only then that I realized I’d been doing these things without even noticing.

"Okay, enough already. Someone might overhear you!" I interrupted, pushing myself to stand up.

"Zane, don't worry. Later, take her to that restaurant Mr. Daniel suggested last Saturday," she said. "There won’t be many people, so you two can relax while the others are busy."

I remembered the guy did mention that at the restaurant. He did invite us, and it would be embarrassing if I did not go.

"Perfect timing, it starts at six, too," she added. "Your aunt threw away the cake she made that I put in the refrigerator last Saturday."

"She threw it away?" I had forgotten about the cake we didn't eat because a killer came to Auntie's flat. I feel like I might still be forgetting something, but I can't seem to remember it.

If that thing is important, I'll remember it.

"She mentioned it while we were chatting yesterday, while you were asleep," she said, getting up and grabbing her bag. "That cake. Such a waste." She continued walking and headed to her room.

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

After dressing and tidying myself — donning a white t-shirt, black trousers, and white tennis shoes — I waited in the living room for our special guest to arrive.

Knock. Knock.

Opening the door, Auntie Clara surprised me as she stood there. "Oh, why are you dressed up? Where are you going?" she asked with a suspicious tone.

"Just around the neighbourhood," I replied, trying to hide what was really going on. I knew I had to do this to prevent any disruptions, especially regarding the case I unexpectedly found myself entangled in as Raine.

"Maybe it's related to the person looking for Raine downstairs," Aunt added.

As I glanced at the wall where Raine's favourite chair rested, I noticed our analogue clock.

5:53 p.m.

"Is it a girl? Chinese-looking?" I asked.

"A Tan," Auntie Clara replied, a smile forming on her lips.

"Raine— I mean, Zhane!" I called out to my companion, who was still in the room where she had gone earlier. "Aliza's already outside!" She had been waiting there for over half an hour without a sound.

"Let's meet in the common room," she replied from inside, opening her room door. "We don't want a repeat of what happened last Saturday."

"What's this Raine-Zane thing about?" Auntie Clara asked, her brow furrowing.

"It's just an experiment, Auntie," Raine quickly replied. She approached us and exited before anyone else. Like when I first saw her change clothes, she was wearing blue pajamas again.

"We'll be downstairs for a bit, Auntie," I told her before locking the door.

"Do you want me to cook something for you?" she asked.

"No need, Auntie Clara. We'll be heading out—"

"Hurry up, Zane!" called my companion from downstairs.

"We'll go out later," I continued. "We were invited to a small birthday party last Saturday."

"Ah, probably Daniel Tan. He's been fond of Raine since those incidents happened when he arrived from another place," Aunt Clara began. "Coincidentally, Daniel was my classmate back in high school. He invited me, too, but I'm not sure if I can make it. I have a lot of—"

"Zane!" My eyes darted towards the stairs again, and there was Raine. She stood there, glaring at me intensely.

"Okay then. Looks like you have important things to discuss," Auntie said to me, giving a tap on my right arm.

"Just a moment. I'm coming!" I walked towards Raine, and she greeted me by tossing something my way. Luckily, I caught it.

"Why are you giving this to me? It might get lost again like–"

"Give it to me," she interrupted, holding out her hand to take the key back.

"You gave it to me, and then you're taking it back so quickly?" I handed over what she asked for, which she promptly returned to the pocket of her blue pajamas.

"I'm just reminding you that we need to carry our keys when we leave the flat — before we lock the door. We each have one with our address engraved on it, so we can get back in when we return from wherever we're going," she lectured as we descended the stairs slowly. "Did you bring yours?"

I discreetly checked my pocket, but I couldn't find my key. "Left it?" Raine said. "Better pray I'm awake when you and your beau return from your date at the restaurant so you can get in. Otherwise, you might not even get into the common room because that key also opens the entrance there. You might as well crash at your girlfriend's place."

"What are you talking about, date? And 'beau' and 'girlfriend'?" I whispered back. "You're so noisy, Raine. Maybe that's why people didn't want you as a companion," I added to myself.

When we reached the bottom, there were four people chatting in the common room — two women and two men. It was my first time seeing them in the building, and it seemed they were noticing me for the first time, too.

"Stop staring at them," Raine quietly scolded as we walked towards the door.

"Why not? You're looking, too," I retorted quietly.

"We're more noticeable if you're with me," she whispered back. "It's more obvious when guys are looking at someone than girls. Did you notice those two guys were clearly checking us out?"

As she opened the door, there was the person I had been waiting for — dressed in a red crop top and a checkered miniskirt. "Good afternoon," she greeted us, revealing her sweet smile once again.

"Actually, I guess it's already a good evening," my companion jestered.

"Whatever the greeting is, let's go inside!" I said.

We sat on the left side, away from that group. I had a strange feeling about the group and didn't want them to know what we were discussing.

"You really dressed up for tonight," Raine teased.

"This is just how I dress," both Ali and I replied simultaneously.

"Okay, now, let's get back to why you're here," Raine cut in. "Ali, did you come from Apartment 217A earlier? Is your Uncle Jerico there? When you got home, was your dad already at your house?"

Ali sat up straight, her earlier smile now replaced with a serious expression. "No," she answered, her eyes seeming to well up with tears. "They're not there. No one's calling either."

"Did your dad leave a letter at your house?" Raine asked.

Ali retrieved a neatly folded paper from her bag. She laid it out on the table surrounded by us three, revealing more unusual symbols.

"I know what those mean!" I gasped as my eyes laid towards them.