TRINITY: The Secret of the Old

Chapter Four

Trinity

Arriving home, I found Shinjie sitting on the living room couch, is he still playing? Is he that addicted to that game?

"Hi! Sis." He raised his right hand but his eyes were focused on what he was doing. "Your friend, April Laianne Sunga, visited earlier, she said she's your friend."

"As in? Did she visit here? Where is she?" I looked around.

"Come home, she said she will visit again on Sunday. She brought you a box of cupcakes, I put it in the refrigerator."

I was disappointed. Why did she leave so quickly? "Ok," I headed to the kitchen and picked up a box there, laid it down on the kitchen table before opening. 

Hmmm, my favorite. My smile widened and my eyes twinkling. Chocolate cupcakes! On top of it a chocolate frosted icing with chocolate toppings. I got one right away, and bit on it, tasting the chocolate and sweetness melted on my buds.

"It's really delicious! Her Mama is the best at cooking cupcakes. What are the ingredients in it? Goodness it taste so goo," I moaned and sighed. 

I gave one of it to the maid that entered the kitchen, she would have refused but I squealed not to deny the blessing and even forced her to accept it. 

"You won't give me, sis?" Shinjie snarled striding toward me.  I looked at the box, and saw there were three left.

"Get one, Shin." I toothy smile at him and I passed him getting a bottled juice inside the double door referigator. Why do I feel like I’m carrying still my back pack? Wait ... I haven't gotten the bag behind me yet. That's why it felt heavy. Goodness, why I forgot it? I pressed the cold bottle on my forehead, and sighed in annoyance.

"Until now, you still carrying your bag,” he laughed teasing me.

I rolled my eyeballs. "Sorrie, I didn't notice. I'm going up to my room now,and its yours." Then I drunk the juice out of the bottle.

"Seriously? You eat the nine?" His face couldn't believe it.

Eight not nine. I gave one to the maid.

"Eight," I said stopping at the door.

"You're really love chocolate,” he remarked shaking his head.

"That's what I like, duh." I said and left him eating the remainin cupcakes. Going upstairs I called April as I was getting dressed. A shirt and jogging pants.

A few rings before she answered my call.

‘Hi, April!’ I greeted warmly on the other line.

'Hello, Besh. Why were you call?' She asked.

"Did you really visit here?" I want a confirmation.

'Ah, yes. And I meet this handsome boy.’ I heard a giggle on the other line. ‘Did he say I brought you cupcakes?'

"Yes, thank you. It's delicious," I said with my big grin and sat on the study table chair. I turned on my laptop.

"Why did you leave so soon, you should have waited for me. You're unfair."

'Didn't you text me that you'll be late coming home?’

 I frowned at what I heard.

"Huh? What did I text? I didn't use the phone just now. Don't gag me April, it's not funny."

I went to my f******k account but surprisingly, there were a lot of notifications. I looked at what was happening.

'I'm not lying, Trinity, maybe you are. You actually texted. I will send you your text. The screenshot.’ A few seconds later her photo message arrived. I was shocked, 4:30 pm was the time I sent it. But the case, at that time, I was in the room with this mysterious guy.

'You see? I'm not gagging you out besh,' April said on the line. My forehead furrowed even more. How? I opened the notifications where Mylene and Loraine commented. Is this true? I had posted something in my wall? My mouth opened when I read my post.

I still love you, Hernan. I won't keep on loving you.

Your rose.

Iffin hella! Did I post this before? 3:50 pm it was posted. We were still in class that time. Howcome? It's so weird! Does anyone use my account? Who else? Do I know Hernan? Rose? It's getting more strange.

'Hello, Besh? Are you still there? I back to present when April spoke over the line.

"Ahh, yes. Howcome I post something on my wall, April, during class time," I asked, my voice full of confusion.

'You what?’ she doesn't getting it.

"Open your f*, I posted in my wall but I did not post it. " I was even more confused.

‘Ok, I actually saw you post. You got a lot if likes and comment ahh. Who is Hernan? Your ex?’

"I don't know and take note April it's during class time when this post posted, you know I'm not using phone during class. Someone using my account, April." I'm already worried about who using it.

'Who else?’ April's tone of voice was full of question.

"I don't know, I promise April. You know me.  I'm at school but I've never used my phone."

'What?! You're weird now. Are you okay? How do we know who hacked your account? If that so why not change your password and email account. For sure, who hack your account won't open it again. Go to security and log out of the account on all devices.’ 

"Thanks, April. Your the best. Ok I'll do it," I said smiling but I didn't feel any relief from what was happening.

'All right, I'll visit you there in Sunday, wait, who is that boy in your house?’

"My half brother, Shinjie. Remember?" I said without a smile on my face. The message and the post still disturbing me now.

'Gosh! Is that him? He is so handsome in personal. Did he had a girlfriend? Hey, are you okay?’ April concern tone.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I lied.

‘Okay, you said that. But be careful, Trinity. I gotta go. Bye.’ I turned off the call after I said goodbye on her.

I had no intention of reading the comment so I deleted the post. I followed what April told me, changed everything. I created another email to replace the email I used on f******k and then I decided to go down to ventilate outside.

"Trinity, let's talk." I turned to my older brother who was coming out of his office room.

"Brother, you are here. When did you arrive home." I approached him and gave him a breif hugged. "What to talk about, brother?" My face wondered.

"Follow me," he said in grave tone. Did I do something bad? Oh no! Did he know that I did this lunch break? I swallowed quickly, and hide the shaking of my hand on my back.

I followed him  into his office and sat in the vacant seat.

"Trinity, I had a favor I had done for you." I'm nervous. What kind of favor is he saying? But kind of relief it was not what I did.

"What kind of favor was that, brother?"

"You won't have your bodyguard but you need to give a favor back that you won't do anything around without telling me anything what you are doing or where are you going." He pressed two palms resting on the work desk. "You agree with that?"

Is what the older brother said true? It's seem not but yes? I understood what he said. I nodded. "Yes, brother. I will tell you everything. Thank you!" I can't seem to get over the surprised and excitement I felt. I won't have Roger in my side. Free? I'm like freed in a cage.

"Good." And a smile flashed on his face. "Shinjie talk to me last night about this, as I decided then."

The common sense of my half brother and my half brother, huh. I gave my best wide smile on my brother, and embraced him with so much delight. 

“Once you did not told me everything, Trinity. Roger will be back at guarding you again," he declared.

“I promise and I will, brother.”

I left his office room after we talked how was my first day at the new school. Sometimes our best allies was to lie even if it was wrong for a reason. I don't lie unless if I needed too, I know it's a bad thing but what if I need it?

Instead of going outside the house, I want to the dining room. Since it's time for dinner. I don't want to eat first in case that's the rule here at my brother's house. Dinner is dinner, time schedule is time schedule, food is food and rule is rule. 

He always says ‘Don’t wait for food that is grace from on high.' My brother is really godly. Me? I don't well, I'm not atheists but I don't dwell enough in religious practice. Despite how my family we're so religious being but except me for sure.

Morning rituals everyday, that doesn’t change. Must bathe, brush, dress, prepare and eat for school. Even though I'm sleepy eating breakfast with Shinjie. He had a headset on his head while listening to music that was not in my taste. 

I sleep 12:30 in the evening last night. That was too early for me even though I knew it wasn’t. I was excited for I no longer had a bodyguard. Roger will only accompany me if I go to malls or far away places. That's all and nothing else.

"Groggy! I saw two eyebags in your eyes. Did you sleep last night?" He stared at my face.

"Kind so, 12 something," my responsed. My brother Jerwin leave as early as five in the morning so we don't have breakfast together. I chewed the lettuce on my burger. Why burger, is it my favorite?

"You should know, sleeping late isn't good. If you do that again, I'll tell Brother Jerwin,” he threatened me. Who says I'll stay up again? That was last night, and will be the last one.

"I won't do that thing again, trust me." I smiled at him to believe me but he just stared at me seriously. 

He does not believe me, seriously?

Arriving at school, I noticed the lookex of some students at me as I walked down the corridor. I just ignored them, I'm still new here. I tied up my long wavy dark chocolate colored hair and pinched my side bangs. I was turning to the other corridor when suddenly someone ran into me, I almost fell down but I was able to balance immediately but the three books I was holding fell to the floor.

"She's so clumsy!" I heard the woman pass by with her two companions. 

My gaze went to the woman picking up my books. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to." She bit her kupst apologetically and handed me my books.

She had a black short hair, and I noticed the redness on her eyes. Was she crying when she bumper me? Yet, I saw no trace of tears but I could feel she cried.

"It's okay." I took my books and embraced them.

"I'm really sorry. It's my fault, if I had looked where I am heading while running this thing wouldn't have happened." After saying it, her head bent down. Ashamed of what was done.

"I said, it's ok. It's not too painful. I'm Trinity Mendez" I held out my hand. "Your the second person whom I talked today."

She just stared at my hand hesitantly I would accept the handshake I offered. I'm very friendly now, maybe because I'm happy of having no bodyguard at all.

"Thank you," she finally took my hand. We both shake hand. Too formal but I prefer that. Her brown eyes widened which attracted me.

"You, you're the transferee student from another country," she could hardly believe. Do I look unbelievable? Is that a big deal?

"Yes," I answered nonchalantly.

"You're friendly, I thought when I first saw you in the room you are snobbish like the popular students here at school. Sometimes that's how beautiful student like here. Fame whore." She was talkative even she looked innocent though.

"Hmmm, I'm not like them. I'm different," I whispered in the last word.

"Yes, I saw it," she agreed with what I said.

"Shall we go to class? What's your name?" I asked remembering that I didn't know her. She was not wearing a student I. D badge.

"We'll have the same class in five subjects, Kristina Tingco by the way. I'm sorry I didn't tell you,” she said, her cheeks reddened.

"Okay, we're Math classmates, right?" I asked, and she nodded. "Are you going to enter the class now?" I noticed as she didn't have any belongings with her.

"Yes but I'll still take my stuff from my locker."

"Can I come with you? I don't know anyone here except you."

"All right, me too. You're my second friend here at school besides my cousin," she said beaming at me.

We walked to the locker on the second floor of the school building. We're still down. I asked her why she didn't have any other friends and answered me that she had one before but she transferred to another school last year.

"That's right," I said. When I got to the locker, I noticed something wet on the floor, and it was so dark inside.

"Wait, I'll turn on the light first. It's just that someone usually don't come here every morning so the light is off," Kristina explained.

I saw roses petals on the floor reflecting the light from the door. My eyes shifted to the next two women entered and they slipped on the floor, creating a thud. Why is the floor so wet? Someone took a bath or spilled some water?

"The light seems broken, it did not lit up. I'll call the janitor in a moment. I think the light bulb is broken." I nodded at Kristina who left immediately.

"Fuck up this floor! Why is it so dark!" said the woman with irritation who slipped on the floor.

"Turn on the flashlight of your phone, beshy," her companion suggested. I was just standing a meter away from them. Why does it smell stinky and smell like iron.

I was surprised when the two women shouted. The light of its phone focused on the top. My eyes widened when I saw the bloody uniform of the two student. What happen?

"She's she's bloody dead!" The woman trembled in fear. I looked where the two were looking. And I almost lost color at what I saw. A bloody woman hanging. Her uniform was covered in blood, as well as her face and body. Holding in her right hand was a black flower with blood as well. I want to vomit, it's like she was squeezed, drained by blood.

"What happened?" A female teacher's voice came.

Also her shouted at what she saw and immediately left the locker room. I trembled that I could not move from where I was standing. What happen? Who did this? The two women fainted at the sight so their cellphone fell to the floor, suddenly getting dark again. I felt a cold gust of wind pass through me.

I stepped back until I was bumped ar the body blocking me. I turned my head, and was shocked it was the mysterious guy. His gaze focused on where the bloody dead woman was hanging.

"Another victim!" He said softly but I heard it. He shifted his gaze to me and frowned. "Can you move away from me," I just now noticed I was so close to him.

"Sorry..." I walked away from him. "What did you say that another victim. Why did you say that?" I asked, I'm curious why he said those words.

He did not say a word. I turned around when the three guards arrived along with the principal and the teacher earlier. Kristina also arrived with the janitor with a light bulb.

"All get out." The principal ordered looking at the two of us. I left, I approached Kristina with a confused face.

"What's inside?" She asked, dumfounded.

"I think a woman committed suicide, she is hanging on a rope, too much blood," I answered, and still my nerves trembling. The coldness was all over my body, and  I might fainted like the two student. 

"Hanging, bloody? Is she holding a rose?" How did she know the student was holding a rose. I looked at her with a nod.

"She's the third woman who ended like that."

"What do you mean, something like this has happened before?" I asked, frowning.

"Yes, there is blood on your socks and shoes." She pointed at my shoes. She was right, I just now noticed the blood on it. Maybe I stepped on it earlier because I thought it was water wet on the floor. Two women were carried by the guards with blood on their uniforms as though they had been stabbed.

"When did that happen? Is it suicide?" I asked as we headed to the comfort room on the ground floor.

"Last week. One in the music room, one in the canteen and now in the locker room. That's what the principal, teachers and police said. Suicide allegedly happened. It's unbelievable, why would they commit suicide? Strange isn't it?" 

We stopped opposite the comfort room. U'm afraid that when I open it, someone will be hanging again. Kristina opened it for me and smiled. 

I was relieved seeing nothing inside. Then I cleaned my shoes and removed the socks, I took the slipper out of the bag and wear it.

My mind could not get rid of the drastic scene and the question who did it bothered me. What is happening in here?