IDENTITY: SIX

ALEX POV

"CCTVs caught you along with the victim, do you have any connection to her disappearance?" a detective asked me. We were inside the interrogation room of the nearby police station. Maica was declared missing yesterday, and Sky and I were the lead suspects. I understood why we became the lead suspects because we were the last ones with her. But Tita believed we were innocent. Still, we insisted on being part of the investigation, hoping they might find something from us.

"No, sir. After having our lunch, she left to have her check-up."

"Very well. I appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Rischon," he thanked me and offered his hand. I shook his hand, and he escorted me out of the room. As I exited, I immediately saw Sky silently standing in a corner. Tita was also here, forcing a smile despite what she's been through.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Alex."

"You're welcome, Tita. I'm just trying to help." After my conversation with Tita, I headed straight to Sky, who had been quiet all this time. He was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets. His eyes were closed, but something caught my attention. Is he angry? Why is he furrowing his brows? "Are you okay? You seem off."

Sky opened his right eye and looked at me. He seemed like he was mad at me based on the way he glanced. "Don't mind me." Whatever. "Can we go home now? This place is giving me a headache," he requested calmly, but I still noticed a trace of anger.

What's this guy's problem? His mood swings are worse than a girl's.

"Sure. I'll say goodbye to Tita." I approached Tita, sitting on the side, holding her cell phone. "Tita?" I called, and she looked up at me. I noticed tears in her eyes, which she quickly wiped away. I also saw a picture of Maica displayed on her phone. "We'll find her, Tita. Just trust us."

She smiled. "Thank you, Alex."

"We're leaving, Tita," I said and she nodded.

"Alright. Take care, both of you."

"Yes, Tita."

---

We just arrived at the boarding house from the police station. Sky and I were in the living room with Lola Vemine.

"How's the investigation?" Lola asked.

"So far, the police have no leads on where to start the search. But Tita is handing out flyers to expedite the process," I replied.

"That's because they were blinded and manipulated," Sky suddenly accused. I looked at him, as did Lola.

I thought he was sleeping.

"What do you mean by blinded and manipulated?" I asked with a furrowed brow. Sky opened both of his eyes and sat up properly.

"While I was at the police station earlier, I accidentally eavesdropped on a conversation between a Police Head and this man in a tuxedo," he narrated, but I still couldn't grasp his point.

"And what did you hear?"

"After the tuxedo guy handed out an envelope, I heard him say, 'No one should know.'"

"So, you're pointing out that it has something to do with Maica's disappearance?" I confirmed, and he nodded.

"I don't know, Sky, but how sure are you?" Lola Vemine asked in concern.

"Measuring the certainty is not the focus here. What I meant is that we have one tiny clue as to what happened to Maica. After all, suspecting is part of the investigation," he emphasized, and I agreed.

"Wait, Sky, you're not saying that you're going to investigate them, right?" I didn't get an answer from Sky. Instead, he went back to his earlier position, pretending to be asleep.

"It's better if you both rest," Lola suggested, and I concurred.

I stood up and walked back to the room. I didn't mind leaving Sky there; after all, we don't share the same room. As I entered the room, I immediately lay down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling as if searching for answers that could lead us to Maica. But then, a thought crossed my mind.

"What if Sky is right?" I asked myself. "Tsk! Never mind. I'll just sleep; maybe I'll get a clue in my dreams." I quickly closed my eyes and waited to fall asleep. But suddenly, my eyes gaped as something came to my mind.

"Dream." I quickly grabbed my notebook and pen from my bag and went to the table. I turned on the table lamp and opened the notebook.

"What are you doing?" Sky suddenly asked, startling me. I looked at him standing near the door, hands in his pockets.

"Trying to find Maica."

"With a notebook and a pen?" he teased, but I just rolled my eyes. "Just kidding," he added and walked towards me. "So, what do you have?" he asked.

"This might sound crazy but I believe that the dream I had a few days ago has something to do with Maica's."

"And what dream is that?"

"It was Maica. She was wearing our school uniform but covered in dirt and traces of blood. I tried to talk to her, but she only answered with numbers. Random numbers," I explained.

"And what are those numbers?"

I grabbed the pen and looked at the notebook in front of me. I focused on remembering the numbers she said in my dreams. 18...9...3...11...

"18, 9, 3, 11," I repeated. I quickly wrote them down in the notebook while Sky sat beside me.

"Those are not just numbers. It's a message," Sky said, surprising me.

"Do you immediately believe that my dream has something to do with Maica's disappearance?"

"I don't totally believe in you. What I'm doing is utilizing every clue we have."

Utilizing all the clues we have...

"Rick?" Sky said with a puzzled expression as he looked at the deciphered message. "There's no doubt that it's a name," he added, and I agreed. But who is Rick? There are millions of Ricks around the world! How are we going to find the right one?

"This is impossible," Sky commented. I sighed when I realized that what I did might not lead anywhere.

"Let's just rest and continue later," he suggested, and I nodded in agreement. He tapped my shoulder, then stood up and walked back to his room. I remained seated at the table, staring at the notebook with 'Rick' written on it.

Who are you, Rick? And how are you related to Maica?

"Argh! Let me take a shower." I quickly stood up and grabbed a towel. I reluctantly headed to the bathroom and entered. I undressed, and soon, I was standing there with only my bare body. I turned on the hot shower and let the warm water soothe my body and calm my mind.

Ugh! I really need this!

After 15 minutes, I was done. I got dressed and was about to return to the table when loud cheers and applause caught my ears. Curious, I looked out the window and saw that it was Richard Osaka.

Richard Osaka was Trisha's father, the girl who had beaten up Maica. He was known as one of the richest businessmen in the country and a benefactor to some residents of our town. Unbeknownst to them, he was a member of a syndicate spreading drugs nationwide. No one dared to arrest him due to his connections and influence. It seemed like he was living his so-called dream life.

"Damned ass, Rick," I muttered to the smiling man waving to the crowd. Such a show-off. I continued to dry my hair with a towel and then walked back to the table where the notebook was. But I suddenly stopped as I remembered what I said. "Damned ass, Rick," I repeated until the realization sank in. I quickly ran to Sky's room and knocked. After a couple of knocks, he opened the door. I entered the room and paced anxiously back and forth.

"What is it, Alex?" Sky asked while I continued to glance at the man on the street below, endlessly waving to the cheering crowd, wearing a smug smile.

"I think I know who Rick is, Sky," I announced.

"Who?"

I turned to him and began saying, "It's Richa—" I didn't finish my statement when I saw Sky wearing only a towel. His wet black hair complemented his muscular fair skin, with droplets dripping from them.

So~ hot!

"Staring again?" he remarked, bringing me back to my senses. I tried to refocus and was about to say something when he interrupted. "Let me wear clothes first. It might help you focus more."

"What?!" I couldn't believe I shouted, and suddenly my cheeks warmed up. Here we are again!

I just sat on the sofa even though he didn't invite me. I could still hear the cheering and clapping outside.

By the way, what is that guy doing here?

"Shall we proceed?" Sky asked, turning to me. He was wearing a loose white shirt and a pair of shorts. He also had messy hair that matched his personality. "Am I that attractive to be stared at?" he added, annoying me even more.

This guy is really arrogant! So arrogant~!

"Sorry. By the way, what were you going to say?"

Despite being incredibly annoyed, I just sighed, a sign of my defeat. I looked at him, and this time, I didn't show a hint of amazement that I always displayed whenever I found him attractive. "I know who Rick is." He sat on the sofa in front of me and looked at me as if interested in what I was going to say next. "It's Richard Osaka."

Three consecutive knocks startled both of us, causing us to pause our conversation. We waited a few seconds for the—

"Sky? Is Alex there?" a shout came from an old woman on the other side of the door. It's Lola Vemine.

I decided to open it myself to confront whatever questions she might have about why I was in Sky's room. As I reached the door, I gripped the doorknob and slowly turned it. I carefully opened the door to face the person waiting outside. As I fully opened the door, Lola Vemine's smiling face greeted me.

"I knew it," she greeted, and her words heated my cheeks. "By the way, Richard Osaka wants to talk to a student from the school he supports to offer a scholarship."

"Why now? If he had such plans, he should have done it before the school year started," I replied, surprised.

"I don't know. Just talk to him; he's looking for you," Lola advised.

I nodded. "I'll think about it, Lola."

"Alright, we'll be waiting downstairs."

I nodded for the second time, and she left. I closed the door and looked at Sky, who had been staring at me.

"What is it?" he asked as I approached him. I sat on the seat I occupied earlier and faced him.

"Richard Osaka is looking for a scholar, and Lola wants me to be one."

"It is indeed a great opportunity, but do you smell something fishy?"

I furrowed my brow. "Fishy?" I asked him in confusion, and then he sat properly.

"Think about it. The dream told us that this Rick has something to do with Maica, and luckily, Rick is the nickname of Richard Osaka, who is the father of Trisha Osaka, the one who—"

"Beat up Maica," I interjected. "And he wants me as his scholar to force me to hide whatever I know about Maica's disappearance because I would be the one to be blamed if ever I accused the man who gave me a scholarship."

Sky leaned back, seemingly agreeing with my statement. "It all makes sense now. Do you remember the guy who gave the envelope to the Police Head at the station earlier?" he asked, and I nodded in response. "He's here.