Aiken
"Two years ago, a high school student name Leviathan Hans was murdered at the abandoned building of Avarial High."
Hearing those words left a hard thump on my chest. Atty. Park's smile never leave her intimidating face as she crossed her leg and put both of her hands on it. Her eyes were glued to Bubble who's sitting across her, sulking. Bubble's uneasy feeling rang the bell as she raises her head to look at the woman in front of us.
Neither I nor Keevah tried to open our mouths and just patiently wait for Bubble's words to come out. Guilt and sadness were visible to Bubble's face as she raises it and tried to smile. Keevah notices her trembling hands clenched in her skirt, preventing it to do something unnecessary. Even though she tried to hide it, her eyes and trembling lips says all of her emotions in one go.
My eyes travels the room as a sudden wind passed by. Weird, there is no open window but all I can feel was the sudden chilliness inside the room.
The room is huge but it's simple and neat, just like any other office. There is no other furniture other than the plants on her coffee table. Father's office was similar and it gives me goosebumps just seeing this room. I put my hand on my forehead and lightly lick my lower lips, feeling a bit dizzy.
"Yes, I came here told you to handle the case that year." Bubble opens her mouth again as if feeling a little bit okay now. All of them knew what happened to Leviathan except me and Keevah and it must be hard mentioning that situation again.
Two years ago, when I was studying abroad, Luke called me all of a sudden and his breathing isn't normal. It was like when someone was chasing you. He's gasping for air as he told me the news about our friend, Levi. I couldn't control myself that time and immediately book a flight but when I got there, Levi's body was already in the morgue.
The police stopped investigating the case without telling us why which is suspicious so we tried doing it ourselves but then again, caught by the police and got suspended. It was the time when our business are slowly meeting its end so I don't have any choice but to go back abroad and handle the business myself.
I even challenged my Grandfather at that time. He agreed to let me go back if I succeed in making the business run successfully, and I did so I am here again investigating the case with them once again, with her. Inhaling heavily, Keevah raises her head and smiles at Bubble, soothing her.
"Is that so? Atty. Park, may I speak?" Just like the woman in front of her, Keevah crosses her legs and puts her hands on her knee, looking at her. Her not-so-long black hair was shining for some reason. Their eyes were similar in that it feels like they're competing but the old woman just grins at her and somehow ended up smiling.
"Sure, darling." Her eyes flickered in amusement as she stared at Keevah. Bubble notices it and signaled me to do something but I shook my head and mouthed her "It's okay." before focusing on the two who's staring intently at each other.
"I would like to ask you some questions, is that okay?" Atty. Park nodded before raising her hand to her assistant who's standing near the door. The assistant bows his head before striding out the door. Soon after, the assistant was holding a tray of cookies and coffee putting them on the table before walking out again, giving us some privacy.
"Who asked you to handle Leviathan's case?" Keevah grabbed her pen and notebook to write everything down, she lower her head a little bit and wait for the answer.
"Ms. Bubble Green here, she's the one who reached out to me and asked for help." Keevah looked at Bubble nodding and writing down what Atty. Park said. I grabbed one of the cookies on the table while handing Bubble and Keevah the coffee. "Do you remember the date, Atty.?" I eyed Bubble and stare at the girl sitting next to me, eyes narrowed while writing.
"It was August 30, Tuesday at 3:50 pm." Our eyes widen at her direct words. The way she knew the exact date, day, and time is something we should worry about, or maybe she is just that great of a lawyer.
Three of us looked at each other and just laughed it off, Atty. Park on the other hand was calm as usual. "I heard from Bubble that you refused, is that right?" She asked, holding her pen tightly as if she's containing herself. So she's that lawyer who refused to help them at that time, huh.
"Yes. that is right." Bubble immediately lower her head as her trembling eyes suddenly became clouded, Keevah hold her hands tight and look at me. Her indifferent face became somehow heavy when she heard the woman's calm voice. Her eyes travel from me to the coffee on the table.
"Can I ask why?" Her voice was calm that you cannot find any hint of sadness or any emotions on it but her hands were trembling so much that I want to hold them tightly. Seeing her reaction back then left me blank and put my hand on her shoulder instead to at least tell her that she's not alone anymore.
"I rather not answer that, it's personal you see," She mumbled.
"I understand. I apologize for that, Atty. Park." Keevah massages her forehead and forces herself to put a smile on her face. I saw something on her table and it's not something a professional lawyer should carry around carelessly. "You carry that around?" I unconsciously asked her without even thinking. Hearing my question, Atty. Park stand up and hide the thing under her desk and locked it.
"Yes, it interests me." She walked toward the plant and watered it before going back to her desk, leaning against it.
She stared at us especially at Keevah who's her own business. Bubble notices it and whispers something on Keevah's right ear making her raise her head hastily. Maybe she meets the Lawyer's eyes when she looked so she just unconsciously runs her fingers through her silky black hair. It looks like there are so many questions are running on the Lawyer's mind right now as she can't seem to leave Keevah in her sight.
"That is all for now, we'll be back soon," I said, cutting the tension between the three, Bubble seems to be under slight pressure as she saw the old woman's eyes flickering in excitement for some reason.
"And please don't mention our visits to the police especially to the directors of Avarial, so long."