- Chapter seven - NEW STUDENT

Phoenix’s POV

The policemen took mom to the hospital because her stab wound was a bit deep, while I was left in our home together with other cops who were investigating what happened earlier. 

It’s already late night, but cops are still investigating. I am sitting on the floor beside the door of my mom’s room, and a few minutes later, SPO2 Patrick Smith walked towards me, “The killer is not here anymore,” he said, so I closed my hands. I am not going to lie; I am so annoyed.

I feel that the blood in my body is starting to go to my head, “What kind of cops are you; you cannot catch a criminal!” I irritably said to him. 

He did not speak upon hearing that. I am just telling the truth; until now, they are still not done solving my brother’s case! What kind of cops are they?!

A minute later, detective S arrived; he was wearing a black-faceless mask, “We still have not arrested the culprit because he is not confessing his crime,” he said while walking towards us. I know that he is using a device right now to change his voice to hide his identity. When he looked at me, I felt he was telling me that I killed my brother even though I did not, so I stood up and spoke. 

“So, are you saying that I am a murderer?” I irritably asked him. He is so annoying, what is his problem with me?

“Yeah,” he said that drained my patience to him. I was about to punch him, but it did not happen when Patrick held me on my arm. 

“Calm down,” he said to me. Tsk! I am also annoyed with this cop because he is always following what S ordered him to do.

I took a deep breath, and I pulled my arm, so Patrick let go of it, “You all should escort that detective out of our house, he is not helping in solving my brother’s case!” I said to the cops, and I left.

………………………………………………………………….

I am here in my classroom, sitting on the chair in its corner beside the window. No one is beside me. At this moment our teacher is still not here, so my classmates are talking with one another. 

A few minutes later, Teacher Lelouch arrived, he was with a man, and I think their age is the same. The man is wearing a school uniform. My classmates stopped talking when they went in front of the class. 

“Class, I want you to meet your new classmate, Mr. Sage Miller,” he said to us. The man is wearing eyeglasses, “May we know more details about you?” He asked him. 

The man bowed to us, and he fixed the way he wears his eyeglasses, “I’m pleased to meet you all,” he said to us. He smiled at the whole class, and he looked at me seriously, “I want you guys to know that I like people who are kind and honest, but I hate liars and murderers,” he said seriously while looking at me.

What’s his problem? “Sit wherever you want.” Teacher Lelouch said, so he sat beside me. A minute later, our teacher started the lecture that made me look through the window beside me.

“Mr. Phoenix Keehl, I have heard many things about you, including the death of your older brother and you are one of the suspects of it.” Sage said to me. What did he mean, and how did he know my name? “And you know what? I know something that can help the investigation in your brother’s case but promise me you won’t tell it to anyone if I tell it to you,” he said, which made me curious. 

How did he know what happened to my brother? I feel different with him, honestly; is it safe to talk to him? But I want to learn the information he said that can help in my brother’s case, “I won’t tell anyone, what is it?” I asked, so he looked at me seriously and whispered.

“I want to tell you that I’m S,” he whispered to me. What did he mean? Was he joking? If he is S, he won’t tell his identity to the people he accused of a crime. Tsk! If he is S or not, I should not care, but I don’t know why I am nervous right now; this is not good if he feels I am anxious, he will suspect me even more that I killed my older brother even though I did not. 

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down, “If that’s true, I don’t care,” I said to him. I don’t care what he is planning to do; he is not helping in the inquisition about my brother’s case. 

A few minutes later, the lunch break arrived. I went to the garden and sat on the bench. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. What is Sage’s plan?

“Phoenix Keehl,” I heard Sage, so I opened my eyes, and I irritably looked at him. He fixed the way he wears his eyeglasses, and he walked towards me, “Do you have friends?” He asked. 

“Why do you care?” I asked him, so he sat beside me and smiled. I know that it is fake. He can never fool me. 

“I investigated about your life, I learned that you are a great swimmer,” he said to me, “You are the reason why this school is winning in the swimming competitions not just in the Philippines but also in the other countries,” he added. 

He is so annoying! All the words that came out of his mouth are senseless, “Then?” I asked him. 

“I want you to compete against me in swimming, if you win, I’ll tell you my real name, but if you lose—” he seriously said, and he looked at me then continued to speak, “You will be my friend,” he said. 

“Look, I don’t know what made you obsess of me, but please, stop messing with my life!” I irritably said, then I stood up. I was about to leave, but I stopped when he spoke.

“If you won’t agree, you are disproving all the information I found about you,” he said, so I closed my hands and irritably looked at him. He should not cry once I win against him in swimming.