Footprints Inside the House
After a long day at school, Gabriela decided to take a bold step. Her desire to seek answers grew stronger, and the only way to uncover this mystery was to approach the place where Arina lived... her house.
Gabriela headed to the administrative office at the school, walking with steady steps despite her slightly restless heart. She stopped in front of the officer's desk and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Excuse me, Ma'am. I would like to ask for the home address of one of my friends, Arina," she said softly so as not to attract the attention of others.
The officer looked at Gabriela with raised eyebrows. "Arina?" "Do you mean Arina who just passed away?" she asked with a cautious tone.
Gabriela nodded slightly, trying to maintain her calm expression. "Yes, Ma'am. I want to give something to her family." As a sign of condolence."
The officer did not respond immediately. He squinted his eyes, observing Gabriela as if trying to understand the meaning behind her request. "What is your relationship with Arina?" Why do you want to go to her house?
Gabriela felt her heart racing faster, but she did not show her hesitation. "We're classmates, Ma'am. I might not be very close to him, but I feel this is the right thing to do," she replied as honestly as possible.
The woman remained doubtful. She took a deep breath and looked at Gabriela with a thoughtful gaze. "My dear, usually we do not provide personal information like this." But, because this is for a good reason... alright. Don't forget to send my regards to her family."
Gabriela nodded quickly. "Thank you very much, Ma'am. I really appreciate it."
The officer finally wrote down Arina's home address on a small piece of paper and handed it to Gabriela. "Keep your composure there, okay? Her family must still be very devastated."
Gabriela nodded earnestly, then left the administration office with a slightly relieved heart.
At Arina's House
After a ways that felt longer than usual, Gabriela finally arrived at Arina's house. A simple house with an old-looking iron fence. The atmosphere there was filled with mourners sitting on mats in the front yard. Gabriela just realized that today is the 7th-day memorial of Arina's death.
She hesitated to enter, but her desire to find clues was greater than her reluctance. With slow steps, Gabriela approached the main door.
Inside the house, a woman who looked tired and grieving, Arina's mother, was sitting in the living room. Her eyes were swollen, clearly showing that she had not yet come to terms with the reality of losing her only child.
Gabriela greeted and introduced herself. "Excuse me, Ma'am. I'm Gabriela, Arina's classmate."
The woman looked at Gabriela with teary eyes. "Oh, thank you for coming, dear. Arina rarely talks about her friends, but I'm glad you care."
Gabriela felt a bit guilty because she had actually come not just to show empathy. "Ma'am, if you don't mind, I would like to know more about Arina." Maybe... seeing her room? I want to get to know him better.
Mrs. Arina paused for a moment, looking hesitant. "I haven't touched her room since she... left. But if you want to take a look, go ahead." Maybe you can help me find something that... that makes this make sense."
Arina's room is located on the second floor. Gabriela climbed the stairs carefully, her feelings a mix of curiosity and fear. When the bedroom door opened, the distinctive aroma of books and a soft perfume wafted out. The room was tidy, with an organized study desk, a full bookshelf, and a bed with light blue sheets.
Gabriela began to look around. She found small photos displayed on Arina's desk with a boy. They looked happy. Gabriela suspected it was Shiro, the childhood friend she had met at school.
On the study desk, a journal caught Gabriela's attention. She opened the first page, but only found ordinary notes. There was nothing strange there. However, when Gabriela closed the journal, she noticed that the last part of the journal looked like it had been torn out. The tear mark is still clearly visible at the edge of the last page.
Curious, Gabriela observed further and noticed a small trash can next to the table. She carefully rummaged through its contents and accidentally found a torn piece of paper from the journal. There are many torn pieces, Gabriela picked one of the pieces and read it:
"...they said I have to stay silent... don't let anyone know... it's too dangerous..."
Gabriela felt her heart racing. The snippet did not mention who or what was meant, but it was clear that Arina was facing something serious before her death. Gabriela clutched the torn piece tightly, realizing that she had just found an important clue to unravel this mystery. Gabriela picked up several pieces of the torn journal paper from the small trash can next to Arina's desk again; she would try to piece them together at home later.
When Gabriela left the room, Arina's mother looked at her with hope. "Did you find something?""When Gabriela left the room, Arina's mother looked at her hopefully. 'Did you find anything?' Gabriela didn't want to make the woman more worried. She shook her head gently. 'Just some ordinary notes, Ma'am. But Arina must be a good and smart child.'"
Gabriela didn't want to make the woman even more worried. She shook her head gently. "Just a few ordinary notes, Ma'am. But Arina is definitely a good and smart child."
The woman smiled weakly, then hugged Gabriela briefly. "Thank you for coming, dear."
Gabriela left the house with an increasingly heavy heart. There is something significant hidden behind Arina's death, and now she is increasingly convinced that this is not just a case of suicide. The writings in Arina's journal became the initial clue to delve deeper.
However, Gabriela knew that the deeper she delved into this mystery, the greater the chance she would confront the person who drove Arina to take her own life.
Upon arriving home, Gabriela immediately went to her desk, bringing the torn pieces of paper from Arina's journal. She spilled the pieces onto the table, then began to carefully arrange them. She examined each edge of the torn pieces, trying to match them one by one to form a more complete sentence.
The process took quite a long time. Some parts remain incomplete, but slowly, the writing on the scraps began to provide clues. Gabriela read the sentence that finally formed:
"they said I have to stay silent... don't let anyone know... it's too dangerous... Nia, this woman, got me into trouble... Damian is a wicked man... he wants to spread everything..."
Gabriela was stunned, her heart racing. These names, Nia and Damian, appear so sharply in that fragment of a sentence. Nia, someone who seems to play a role in getting Arina trapped in a difficult situation. Damian, a man who clearly has bad intentions towards Arina, even threatens to spread something, whatever it may be.
Gabriela felt a stomach ache. What has Nia done? What is Damian planning to spread? He knows nothing about them, but it is clear that both have a significant connection to the tragedy that befell Arina.
Staring at the pieces of paper, Gabriela tried to understand further. If Nia and Damian were involved in Arina's life in her final days, could they also be connected to her death? The thought was so strong that it made Gabriela shiver.
She took a deep breath, realizing that this torn piece was just the beginning of something bigger. Carefully, she placed the pieces of paper into an envelope, ensuring everything remained safe.
Gabriela stared at the dark window of her room, her mind filled with puzzles. She knew that the next step was to find out more about Nia and Damian. However, she also realized that this could bring her closer to the same danger that had destroyed Arina.
One thing she now believes is that she cannot stop until everything is revealed. Gabriela has already gathered some clues; now it's time for her to finish everything... so that Arina's spirit can find peace in the afterlife...