The phone call

Cedar Creek High...

I couldn't wait, not while it's all I can think of, I took out my phone and began to type as I walked through the school gates, no way I'm keeping this to myself..

Morning, I greeted Piper as I walked into class and approached my seat

Good morning, she responded while going through her phone. she stopped, turning to face me, drama room? why? she whispered

Morning!, Sebastian strutted in before I could respond, Amari, he called, showing me his phone screen, please explain

I stared at his screen, my text glaring at me

Yeah, we need to meet up, I replied casually.

I thought we were done with that, piper asked

Me too, I replied but then something came up

Can't you just tell us what it is now? Sebastian asked as he took his seat

I would but..

The bell rang for the morning assembly, interrupting me...

we'll talk at lunch I replied as the class began to move out.

Drama room...

Huh..Liana sighed as she joined us, didn't know I'll be back here so soon

glad you made it, Sebastian replied

So..why're we here, Piper asked facing me

Did everyone have lunch? I replied instead

Why? Sebastian asked

Cause you're gonna need strength for this one, I replied standing up, giving my phone to Piper since she sat in the middle, I continued, I received that message you're looking at few minutes after you guys dropped me off yesterday

What is this? Liana asked with a fed up look

It wasn't suicide, it was attempted murder, please I need your help to prove it, from anonymous... Sebastian read aloud

Who sent this, Kai? Piper asked

He couldn't have, Sebastian replied, he's still in the ICU and hasn't woken up yet.... forgot to mention, he added

Who sent it then? Piper asked again

I was hoping Liana could help find out, I replied facing her...

We sat still, watching Liana as she tried to trace the sender of the message and possibly find a name

You think it's true?, Sebastian suddenly said earning my attention, do you guys think someone tried to kill Kai and then staged the scene to look like suicide?

I don't know, I replied, but the real question is, why tell me, if this person thinks it was staged then he or she must have a reason, so why not tell the police instead?

we remained silent pondering over the question

Get anything? Piper asked Liana as she finally looked up

that number, she replied, it was registered with the name, Luka Anaki

great, another relative of Kai's, Sebastian stated

probably his dad,... why would he send that to me though? I wondered aloud

I say you call him and find out, Liana suggested, handing me my phone

I stared at her in suprise, I really wasn't expecting you to say that, I admitted

and what did you expect me to say, she asked wondering

Well something like 'We're handing it to the cops Amari, Kai's obviously trying to trick us', I replied, with an accurate impression of her causing Piper and Seb to let out a laugh.

I'm not as predictable as you think, she replied, and I most definitely don't sound like that, she added with a side eye

I agree with Liana though, Piper said getting serious, he must've sent that to you for a reason so find some time to call back

and record it just in case, Sebastian added

Hmmm...

Amari's residence...

So Amari, how'd your project go, mom suddenly asked at dinner

What project? I mumbled with a full mouth, while mom stared at me

noticing Alaya's signals, I realized, Oh yeah the project at Sebastian's the other day, yeah it was good, I replied

So mom, when's Dad coming back? Alaya asked to change the subject while I sent her a grateful look

I cleared my dishes and headed towards my room remembering I've got a call to make...

I lay on my bed as I began to dial the number, it rang for a while, noone picked up, I tried the second time, still no reply,.. I sighed

beginning to think the message was a fake, Kai better not be playing games again.. I contemplated informing the others when my phone suddenly rang causing me to almost drop it. Sitting up, I glanced at the caller id... 'Anonymous', I took a deep breath before picking the call

Hello?, I hit record

Good evening, the caller replied, am I speaking with Amari?

Who's this, I replied

My name isn't important, he replied, I believe you got my message

I decided not to reply..

Are you still there? He asked

I'm sorry I won't be able to continue this call if I don't know who I'm speaking with, I replied and then cut the call

if he really needs my help, then he'll call back

my phone rings again, I smiled and hit record before picking up

Sorry about that, he replied, I'm Mr Anaki, Kai's Dad

as I thought..

I believe you are Amari, Kai's classmate, he added

Correct, I replied, why'd you send me that message, I went straight to the point

Because it's true, he replied, and because Kai wanted me to

I thought Kai was still in the hospital, I asked confused

He is, he replied, I may have to explain everything that happened so you could fully understand

Alright, I urged him on

I got home early from work yesterday, on getting in, I found Kai sprawled on the floor, next to him was a bottle with a whitish liquid, horrified at the scene, I rushed to his side, confirming he was still breathing, I began to call the police when his hand reached for mine, opening his mouth, it seemed like he wanted to say something, so I moved closer to him, 'wasn't me, someone..did.. this', he said weakly, I told him I understood and proceeded to make the call but he stopped me again..not them, he said, tell..A.mari, he then pointed to his bag before passing out, I hurriedly called the police informing them of the situation but decided to leave out the part he asked me to keep from them.

I continued to listen carefully

After he was rushed to the hospital, the police called me aside and mentioned that Kai is a major suspect in some murder cases at school and they had been looking out for him, did you know that?, he asked

Yes sir, I replied

But he's innocent right, Kai could never do that, he said hopefully

I sighed..I'm sorry to say Mr Anaki, but there're many things you don't know about your son

Indeed, he replied sadly, why would he do that though, what for? he asked disappointedly

For revenge, I replied

You know the whole story, Mr Anaki deducted

I remained silent

But you didn't tell the police? he wondered..that must be why he trusts you

How did you get my number Mr Anaki? I asked still wondering

Before the police arrived, I went through Kai's bag recalling he pointed to it before he passed out, I found a sheet of paper in his front zipper with your name written on it and a phone number at the back. So I sent that message hoping to hear from you

Kai said someone tried to kill him and made it look like he committed suicide, I replied, how am I supposed to prove that?

I honestly don't know, Mr Anaki replies, but he trusts you much more than the police, he believes you can help him, Kai knows who this person is, if only he was awake to...

Hello?, Mr Anaki, are you still there? I asked wondering why he suddenly stopped talking

Hello?..

I'm here, he said breathing heavily, it sounded like he was running,.. I'm in the hospital right now and I just heard a beeping sound from Kai's room, I have to go now Amari, we'll talk later

is everything okay, what's going on? I asked worriedly

It's Kai, he replied... He's....

He's what?, hello! I yelled, but he already cut the call

Oh God!, I fell on my bed