54 Normality 2 (2/2)
She raised her head and solemnly inquired, ”Soffy, I actually have some questions for you.”
”Of course, you do. It's just weird for you to not give a call.”
”Well, I figured it's better to ask this in person, lest you suddenly hang up.”
Confusion was all over Sofony's face when she heard the last part. ”Why would I hang up? Is it a very very personal question which will make me want to ignore you forever in case it offends me?”
”I give up.” Wendy rolled her eyes and stated after some moment of silence. ”It's actually just an excuse to hang out, but let me now ask my question. Because actually, all I've been meaning to ask is about Felicity.”
The dumbfounded expression that Sofony showed her was followed by a frown and question. ”Felicity Dimatrionez?”
For some reason, Sofony looked very distressed or uncomfortable when she said the name. Wendy naturally noticed it and wondered if it's because her friend was not very accepting of discussing a dead person. Nevertheless, as she thought of the gross man she encountered yesterday, she couldn't contain the unease and fury. She determinedly said, ”Yeah, it's about that Felicity. To be precise, her parents... and the circumstances regarding her death.”
”...Why?” The voice was no longer as calm.
Wendy didn't answer right away, instead, she took a bite of her own chiffon cafe. In her head, she was organizing her thoughts as she knew she had to make a sound argument to her best friend.
Last night, she stayed up so late just to thoroughly study every angle and detail. But of course, her information was limited due to having focused so much about Floyd's case, and speaking of this scum man's case, she was very angry after learning that the police failed to seize him in the last operation they conducted against him. If her brother hadn't informed her about another party hostile to Floyd which allegedly managed to capture the man, she would have flipped the whole police station over in frustration. After all, she was probably the second most expectant of that guy's arrest, next only to the husband of her dead teacher.
And oh, got side-tracked again.
Anyway, back to where she had stayed up so late last night considering the angles and mysterious of Felicity's death. Thinking of the first thing she realized upon careful deliberation, she opened her mouth and said to Sofony, ”My friend, the case is... I'm done fretting over Floyd's case and decided to investigate Felicity's so-called suicide. Sorry if it's abrupt, circumstances just arise, and me being me, I couldn't help but dip my feet into this matter. This is why I'm currently pestering you.”
At Wendy's apologetic gaze, Sofony wrinkled her forehead. A long silence passed before the girl replied, ”Okay. Before your crime-long-windedness disease acts up, go to the main point.”
”Mean,” the wavy-haired girl rolled her eyes then went on, ”I just want you to clarify why you announced at school that she committed suicide. Is this what her parents told you? I'm quite puzzled because nobody ever investigated it.”
What she meant was she wanted to know if it's true that Felicity died by suicide and not by murder or any schemed death. Wendy was pretty skeptical about this as this was not filed as an official case to the police, plus the body was immediately cremated. Just these two points alone made her very suspicious whether Felicity really died by suicide. She asked herself... if the remains had been turned into ashes, who could tell for sure that no foul play had happened?
”Wendy, I thought I already told you. Early in the morning, I received a call from Mr. Dimatrionez asking me to drop by their house. When I arrived there, I was just surprised to be informed that she already died. I tried to ask what happened but all they said is that she took her own life.”
Sofony paused and her face was really not looking good. Her friend bowed her head and even bit her lips. Wendy felt apologetic since the other girl looked like on the verge of crying, especially when she added, ”S-she cut her wrist... and drowned herself in the bathtub.”
Wendy sighed as she replied, ”I'm her friend as well so I know how sad it is to remember that. I'm sorry. I actually already know that part. I'm asking because I want to know the truth about this.”
Sofony gave her a long sigh before meeting her gaze. By this point, both girls forgot to pay attention to their cakes or coffee.
”I get where you're coming from, Wendy. It's obvious that you're doubting this story. I'm sure you're doubting whether she really died due to suicide. Heck, I'm pretty sure, you're considering homicide. Her corpse was not autopsied or handled appropriately and was burned to ashes before the afternoon so it was kind of leaving a bad aftertaste to the mouth.”
Wendy grimaced, ”Yeah.”
”But that's all that I know. I'm not knowledgable on how a case works, but what I'm certain of is that a month already passed since her death, her remains had been cremated... and that in the most plausible perspective, it's normal to commit suicide if we factor in those things that spread on the SNS. You must know, if it has happened to me, I would surely end my own life... I think all girls who value their reputation would.”
”You have a point.” The blue-dressed girl admitted begrudgingly. ”But I'm still skeptical about the suicide. You might find me delusional. However, I can't shake off this feeling that she didn't die like that. Not so... like that.”
After hesitating, Sofony asked, ”I don't know what's 'like that'. But what's making you think so?”
Wendy internally debated for so long, staring blankly at the elegant pattern on the black table. From time to time, she would frown then stare blankly again. The process going on for long until Sofony who was throwing her complicated gaze couldn't take it anymore and ask again. ”What makes you suddenly curious about this?”
To this, Wendy's brain unconsciously answered, 'A certain bastard father that I ran away from yesterday that I suddenly want to murder today.'
She didn't voice this out though, as the first part of this answer was exactly what was making her hesitate. And by all rights, she meant the 'certain bastard father' part.
However, due to Sofony's relentless stare that kept going on for so long, in the end, Wendy's walls of hesitation tumbled down and she decided to voice out.
In a slow, but grave tone, she said, ”My reason is childish, even stupid if you want to say. But this is what happened yesterday...” Wendy took a deep breath then vividly and unhurriedly narrated to Sofony how she visited Felicity's memorial and encountered the girl's father at the entrance of the memorial chapel. On the latter part of her narrative, Wendy's expression naturally turned very dark, and the negative emotions she wanted to relay were clearly displayed through her face. It was like she wanted to emphasize to Sofony her displeasure toward the man. She also wanted to convey how she greatly suspected the truthfulness of the rumors about Felicity's 'perfect' family.
As Wendy talked about her doubts about Felicity's family, even directing the conversation to how this point alone could be grounds to not believe the suicide thingy, she didn't notice the unnatural darkness that clouded Sofony's expression. The cold glistening of the other girl's eyes also escaped her notice. Wendy was not aware, when she had been assuming that Sofony was carefully listening to her, the girl was actually having so many dark thoughts surging in her mind.
The blue-dressed girl didn't know it was all triggered by her reminding of Felicity's father's existence in the world.
They said, the first impression lasts... and because of this when people they know for so long suddenly change, it's always been difficult to believe or accept, mainly because of the already rooted impressions. Actually, this was only partially correct and mostly seen if the change is not in line with the first impression. For example, a criminal suddenly becoming a priest. Or an impotent man suddenly becoming a rapist.
When it's an almost complete opposite of the first impression, at the same time, nearly impossible to happen, the shock it brings would always be very big and even tough to understand and accept. In line with this, Wendy had etched Sofony's pure image in her mind too deeply that in the future, she would find it very challenging to believe all of her best friend's atrocities.
For now, Wendy was not able to notice. All she would realize was that her best friend was not truly listening to her educated guesses and blabberings.