Chapter 8: The Butterfly Tattoo

"Ouch," I said as Mathia gently applied a cold compress to my face.

"S-sorry."

Here we are at the clinic. After being threatened, she left us in the clubroom like that. Rian immediately brought me here to the clinic.

I don't have my glasses with me because they broke.

"I knew it," Rian said while sitting beside the bed where I was seated. "That's why they were looking at us."

"B-because you stared at them." Mathia said as she continued to apply the cold compress. "Y-you were warned, Rian."

"That butterfly tattoo got my attention." I said without any expression.

"What's with that tattoo that made you curious?"

"Excuse me." Thanks to the school nurse. I don't want to be interrogated with his questions. "Here's a medicine to lessen the pain and also alcohol, cotton balls, and a band-aid for the wounds."

"Thank you," they both said in unison.

"I'll leave you now."

After the nurse left, Rian stood up and faced Mathia, saying, "I need to go somewhere, Mathia. I'll leave you for now." Then he looked at me. "Avoid getting into trouble."

"Okay."

"I'll clean your wound first." She bid farewell while holding a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.

"Yeah."

She's cleaning my wound with care. I can't help but willingly look at her.

"Can I ask?"

"H-hmm?"

To focus on cleaning.

"Do you know about the butterfly tattoo?"

I noticed her sudden pause, as if the topic I asked about was sensitive, and then she resumed her work as if she didn't hear anything.

I waited for minutes to pass. She didn't reply, just kept cleaning my wounds.

"I'll give you this medicine to take." She handed me the medicine. "I'll put a band-aid on your wound first before I answer your question."

I nodded, and she did as she said.

"The Butterfly Gang. It's a gang where all the members are women." She started as she applied the band-aid to my wound. "A gang with the purpose of defending women, but due to a certain reason, it changed."

She organized her things first.

"The person who founded the gang was killed."

She placed the used items on a table and looked out the window.

"Many said it was an accident, and there's no evidence that the founder was murdered." She slightly lowered her head, and I noticed her clenched fists, as if she held some anger. "The investigation was not pursued because it was done so cleanly that you could really say it was an accident."

"What happened after the founder died?"

I need some info about it, Mathia.

"The gang was restructured. It had a new founder." She looked at me. "The purpose was changed as well. It became a gang that provokes conflicts with others. It turned into a gang that could oppress others."

That's why this gang needs some taste of punishment.

"The people involved in this gang have a butterfly tattoo. But—" She paused for a moment. "But there's a difference in the color. A black butterfly tattoo represents the new gang, while the black with a little white represents the members of the old Butterfly Gang."

"So, it means that girl is part of—"

"The new gang." She interrupted what I was about to say. "So be careful, as you might find yourself here every day."

The 'po' again.

She sat on the chair next to the bed, looking at her feet while her hands were clenched on her thighs.

"Are you fine?"

"I-I'm... fine... It's just that I can't really talk about it."

"Do you know the founder? Are you a part of it?" I asked a series of questions.

I looked up and stared at the ceiling.

"I'm not involved in the gang. But I know her—the person who created it. The person who had so many dreams for the gang. But she couldn't pursue them because of what happened to her."

The founder is none other than Cecile Colleen. The girl who pleaded to protect her members because of a threat she was receiving.

You're right, Mathia. It wasn't an accident but a tragedy that befell her as she tried to protect what she had created—her gang. The goal she was fighting for now lies in ruins.

"I-I'm sorry, I got a bit dramatic." She said apologetically.

I gazed at her.

"It's fine."

*Knock, knock*

We both immediately looked towards the door as it closed with a loud thud.

"Peace."

"Why are you trying to startle us?" Mathia exclaimed in a high-pitched tone.

"Damn it." He walked towards us.

"What happened to your hand?" I asked as I stared at it.

"It's nothing."

He lied.

"Give me your hand." I noticed that Mathia knew he was lying. "Why weren't you careful?"

I stared at both of them.

They looked like a couple. Mathia was sitting on the chair while Rain was sitting on the edge of the bed. She was cleaning his wound with care. The way she touched the wound with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.

It was irritating, but I didn't know why. It seemed like I was starting to feel jealous of them.

"Ouch."

Listening to his whims every time she touched the wound with a cotton ball.

"That's why."

Any minute now, it feels like I will storm out of this room because of what I see.

Tsk.

I shifted my gaze towards the window.

I don't need to be distracted right now. There's a job I need to finish.

I need to play with the little butterfly trapped in my web. Find a path to uncover who killed her.

I glanced at the two of them.

Justice for your friend.

"What time is it?" I interrupted their moment.

"Hmmm. It's already 10:01 AM." Mathia answered. "Why?"

"Nothing," I replied. "Where are you guys going to have lunch?"

"Can we switch to Tagalog for a bit?" Rian said in a low tone. "I'm not dumb in English, but it's starting to give me a nosebleed."

"Pffftttttttt."

Mathia stifled a laugh.

"Go ahead, laugh at me, Mathia Khim."

"We'll be at the cafeteria near the campus," she answered my question.

"I'll join you later."

They looked at me amused.

"Why?"

"N-nothing." They said in unison.

After that, they fell silent.

A quiet atmosphere filled the clinic. They also avoided looking at me, as if they had made a mistake.

A mistake of making me speak in Tagalog?

I laid my head on the pillow. It still made me feel dizzy. That guy sure punched me with all his strength.

"It's your turn, Mathia."

"Why me?"

"Come on, I'm getting hungry."

"Fine, I'll go."

Those were the brief exchanges around me.

I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"H-Hadeon, wake up."

"Mom—"

"Hadeon."

"Hmmmm."

"Wake up. It's already 11:30." Mathia said as I opened my eyes. "Let's eat out."

I thought it was mom waking me up.

I slowly sat up. I still felt a slight dizziness.

"Are you okay? Mathia and I can buy the food if you're still feeling dizzy."

"I'm fine." I stood up and balanced myself. Mathia stood beside me. "Besides, I need to buy new eyeglasses."

We walked out of the clinic.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

As soon as we got outside, they both stood beside me as if they were ready to support me if I stumbled.

We were now in front of the so-called "kalenderya." We sat at an empty table and Rian left to place an order.

I remembered something. Mom used to go to one of these "kalenderyas." She used to eat where no one could say she was the wife of a wealthy man and the heiress of her clan. But they abandoned her and left her in jail.

Tsk.

I lightly shook my head to avoid thinking about it. I don't want my anger to manifest elsewhere.

"Here's the best dish from Aleng Maria." Rian said as he placed the food he bought on the tray. "The menudo."

"Rice." Mathia handed it to me.

I nodded and let her put the rice on my plate.

"By the way, what about our bags?"

"I put them in the office." Mathia replied as she scooped rice for herself. "The office is locked, and our bags are in the locker."

Alright, we can go for a walk in the mall then.

"We'll buy eyeglasses," Rian said.

I focused on the food. He's right, it's a great dish, but it doesn't compare to the adobo my mom used to make, of course.

After eating, we decided to walk and go to the mall to buy eyeglasses. I bought two pairs so I could have a spare in case one broke again.

Rain kept walking around, and we ended up at the national bookstore. We decided to stop by there, and now we couldn't stop staring at the books.

"What time are we going to the university?"

"Three PM."

We wandered around until they stopped in the romance section, staring and looking for books they preferred.

I took the opportunity to make a call. I dialed the same number.

"I have information about the new butterfly gang and I've met one of the members," I said in a low tone. "I'll review the documents you sent me last time tonight. There's something I want to set in motion for now. Have everything ready."

[Copy, Moriarty.]

I ended the call and looked around. There was no need to worry, though.

Everything would be settled by evening. My game would begin. I couldn't wait to play with them.

Cecile Colleen, your justice will be served.

I walked around and saw them talking while checking a book.

What connection do you have with Cecile? Other than being friends? Is there a deeper connection between the two of you? I hope there won't be any problems once I start playing.

I walked up to them.

"Hade, have you chosen a book?"

"Not yet. I'll look around first," I replied. "I'll wait for you two at the cashier, or you can wait for me there if that's okay?"

"Sure. We'll just look for our books."

I nodded.

I went to the nearest shelf, which happened to be the mystery section.

I picked up a mystery book without reading its description. I made my way to the cashier, waiting for them.

It took a few minutes before they arrived, their hands full of books, chatting away as if there was no tomorrow.

Once they saw me, they quickly reverted back to the personalities they had shown me earlier.

I stood in line with them.

After paying for the book, we went window shopping until the designated time and then headed to campus.

I sat in a chair here in the office. Mathia was busy with the papers on her desk, while Rian was inside the library talking with the librarian.

We were given a task after we returned to the office.

I had already finished mine.

"Mathia, can I ask you something?" I inquired.

"Hmmm?" She was focused on what she was signing.

"Do you know Cecile Colleen?"

I noticed her pen slipping from her fingers.

Did it strike a chord?

"She's the founder of the butterfly gang," she replied. "We were friends in high school. She was a brave girl, never allowing anyone to step on her. She fought for what she believed was right. Many admired her intelligence. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. I just got curious about her," I said, looking at the paper I had in my hand. "She was a member of your club, right?"

"Yes. She was with me in the club," Mathia confirmed, glancing at the paper I was holding. "That's the information Ms. [unknown name] gave you, right?"

"Yeah, it provides some background about your club that you've been involved in since grade 7."

"No one else was willing to take care of it, so I ended up becoming a permanent member because of Ms. [unknown name]."

"How did you recruit Rian?"

"He was my friend when Cecile was still here. We used to be together, but Cecile left to establish her gang. So Rian and I were left behind," she explained. "He was quiet, and maybe that's why we became close. We had some things in common as well. Plus, during that time, there were many girls whose dignity was being trampled upon. So Cecile told him to become a member of the club to protect me while she formed the gang."