11th ♀

If I were the masked guy, where would I be? If I were Finn, who would I be? It could also go the other way around. I mean, I had this thing about searching for Mr. Rights, literally.

I'd never imagined myself solving mysteries before. It never occurred to me that I'd be solving two at the same time. Could the list get any longer?

If only I had known that this thing would happen, I would have watched more crime shows to enhance my barely hanging on investigative skills. After all, it had already been almost a month, and I still wasn't able to figure out Finn's identity.

There was no such thing as sibling recognition if the other guy was thoroughly hiding in a completely different facade, I realized. Plus, if he didn't know that you were his sister, he'd never go out in the open and say to your face that he was your brother, either. Or if ever he did know, would he really reveal himself to you if it was his original plan to be mysterious?

The exhibit was getting more crowded as the school gates were opened for the guests at ten in the morning. And due to insistent demand from the students, the list of guests was increased by twenty. Almost all females. Some of them were interested parents. But I'd bet that like many, there were only a few who invited theirs to this exhibit. Most of them had probably spread the news outside.

An open event in Corner Stone High School.

Back in those days when I was still the normal me, Paige and I would do anything to sign up for this event. Boys in an exclusive school? Count us in.

Those were the days.

A total of a hundred and twenty would see that particular painting. I could only hope that Clark wasn't here. That for some earthshaking reason he suddenly crashed this event, I'd die.

I could just imagine him saying, 'Isn't that Fiona? Fiona Pearce? Man, I know that girl. We attended the same high school. But unfortunately, she's nowhere to be found now. And she always helps around. You can ask her anything. I once tried for the stars, thinking if she'd really find me one. She did. Cute little star. Far from the one I was asking, but oh well. Did I mention that her name is Fiona Pearce? Right. Okay. Oh, and that girl also has a brother. His name is Finn and...'

And so on, and so forth.

Okay, wait. Clark didn't know that much about me.

Either way, I wouldn't want that to happen. Clark would get my whole biography, as far as his knowing would take him, out in a matter of minutes, without even pausing or taking in mind that it might put me in danger, if he'd ever know that I was in one. He simply wasn't that kind of guy who had consideration for other people.

I shuddered at the thought. Things could really go awfully wrong at times, but surely, not that way. Not that much. Not with Clark Wright entering the scenario.

Idly standing around this place for four hours or so, I had finally given up on guarding the painting. After some deep thinking and self-conviction, I took in mind that the Clark in the painting could be anyone. The name stealthily inscribed on that painting wasn't Fiona, so I had nothing to worry about. Even if it was by now flooded by students and guests from all sides, making it officially the main attraction for the day, I didn't need to give a single care.

But guilty as charged, I was honestly bothered by it. Or more so, I was anxious in finding out who was the one behind that exemplary piece of art.

At first, I thought that the masked guy would hang around, like most of the participants for the event, and tell people about his work. However, hours of tiring my legs while standing near that painting, there was no masked guy who showed himself.

And really, why of all places, was he near me all this while? He was a freaking senior. After all, Mr. Crooge said that this would be his last year in the exhibit. And I might be the only one who knew that. No one ever said that he was a senior. No one else knew what year he was in. And it made sense. Only the seniors knew that I was here. The lower years didn't even know my existence, and I'd bet that my exposure to them wasn't enough to let them single me out like that.

And one way or the other, why did things have to be like this? Situations turning out like this kept on putting one burden over the other on my part. Could my quest on finding Finn just be normal? Please?

Taking one last look around the exhibit, meaning walking around and seeing if I'd find a masked guy lurking around in the shadows, I let out an undermined sigh. Gladly, the gym was well-lighted, and there was no warning of power fluctuation for the day, either.

Any exposure of a secret message from a known painter around here might stir up chatters, chatters to speculations, speculations to investigations, and investigations to finding out the truth. See? Again, there was this whole cycle to the whole thing. The endpoint was that I would be so busted if that would ever happen.

Instead of further wasting my time hanging around this place, I could make better use of this special no classes day. And by better use, I meant things like finding what I was looking for in the first place, and also that one who landed in the second place.

I told myself that everything would be fine with regards to the exhibit. Everything was, except for the fact that the masked guy, whoever he was, knew the real deal and painted me. He clearly showed me that he wanted me to know that he was watching me. But he did save me all the same. I had to show my gratitude for that.

And so once again, I had set my mind that I would find that masked guy and shut his mouth for good. I could only hope that he was as understanding, or rather uncaring, as Grayson. The meddlesome he was, the more dangerous it would be for me. Deciding to do some searching for today, I headed out of the gym.

"Daniel, wait! I want to ask you something," I suddenly called Daniel's attention, abruptly stopping him on his tracks. He was heading to the school's gymnasium where the exhibit was being held. Daniel, I noticed, had put on some cologne. In fact, it was reeking in the air, even from a distance. So that was where the guys were up to a moment ago. I thought they weren't interested, which was unlikely.

Girls. Today, they would be exposed to girls.

And yes, I'd seen a very huge improvement, compared to the usual thing around here in Corner Stone. One by one, the seniors swept the hallway leading to the gymnasium, and I couldn't help but stare. They were the cute guys that Paige and I had once drooled over. They existed! I once thought that they weren't actually real, that they only appeared at midnight and totally hid themselves during the day.

Paige would be sorry that she couldn't stand my boy looks and disregarded my invitation. I totally gave her the opportunity to behold this. I did. She blew it big time.

That boy over there, he was a total pig before. Now, he looked like the real deal, chatting casually with several girls, as if he was doing so all his life. And that girl, the one with the black hair, she was totally digging him.

This was their secret why they looked so good whenever they weren't by themselves anymore. This was why Corner Stone High School students were very popular in the surrounding neighborhood. They looked decent whenever exposed to the crowd.

"What's up, babe?" Daniel asked.

I turned my attention to him instantly—the same attention that was easily swayed whenever given a chance. Getting distracted was my thing nowadays. I couldn't help it, especially with all those distractions that kept on coming my way.

"Have you seen Grayson?" I asked him.

I'd already scanned the whole gym looking for him, hoping to get some help. He was the only person whom I could really talk to right now. It wasn't like I was welcomed most of the time to do that. But even if he didn't want to, I would force him to give me some answers. It was by now desperately needed.

Emergency level 1. Evacuate the area! Evacuate the area!

"Nope, haven't spotted him yet. I've seen Micah, though. He's also heading here," Daniel answered.

"They're not coming together?"

"Not from what I'd seen," Daniel told me. "So what do you think of my hair. Isn't it swag?"

"Definitely. I'll go search for him then. Thanks, man," I muttered, a little bit in haste, and extended my closed fist to him, just the way he liked it. Daniel had a thing for knuckle busters or colliding body slams before walking away. It was sort of his way of saying goodbye.

Weird, I know.

I'd never get used to it. But I'd rather go for the fist-bump than be knocked off out of nowhere. Daniel had the body of a pro-wrestler. Body slams were like dashing towards a solid rock, hitting against it head on and unarmed.

No thanks. I wasn't asking for a broken bone just yet.

"Hey, you two. Seen any hot girl in the event?" Larry, who was also attending Spanish 2 with me, approached us. He was the one who was thinking if he should get a new haircut for today. And it turned out that it wasn't just him. Everyone did. Now tell me where did all the bed hairs go?

"A few," I answered.

"Only a few?" Larry seriously looked depressed. It was, like, someone had announced that we'd all have calculus for the first period, extended to second period, every single day.

"The event is only starting," I tried cheering him on. "I'm sure more girls will come along later on."

"Hope so." Larry was definitely feeling low.

"He doesn't like getting haircuts," said Josh, who was standing beside him. "It's a big deal for him."

"Trust me, man. It will pay off," I humored him. In a way, I wanted to also get out of this situation and boost their morale at the same time. So settling with the right words, I continued, "You know what? You guys should all head over there and start meeting those ladies. They could make use of some handsome faces. Don't let the lower classes oust the seniors."

"What about you? Where you heading to?" Josh asked, seeing that I was obviously heading for the stairs and not to the gymnasium.

"The girls are that way, Jules!" Larry new haircut reminded me.

"I got something to say to Grayson. Really important. You guys take the head start and see if you can find err... a girl for me, too. I'll be right back before you know it," I said to them.

"Oh, come on. You're not walking out of this one, brother," Daniel insisted, grabbing me by the head and ruffling with my hair. "Forget about Grayson. That guy doesn't know how to have fun. Let's go hook up with some girls."

Seriously, I wasn't interested in that.

"Right behind you, Daniel, my man. Really quick word with Grayson, and I'll be looking around for girls myself," I said in between breaths, as I tried to loosen up his grip on me. For the most part, it didn't budge. But when a girl in a black minidress passed by, Daniel's attention was instantly drifted away from me. I'd also thank those killer heels later.

I didn't have to search the entire school building to locate Grayson. Like always, he was curled in the library, end row, all by himself. Since there were no classes today, we were free to do anything we wanted, as long as we showed ourselves in the exhibit and got our attendance recorded by Mr. Crooge for art class.

And like always, Grayson didn't pay any attention to me, as I was standing idly in front of him. He continued reading like no one was staring at him, and obviously seeking his attention. I had to clear my throat thrice before I saw him let out a miffed sigh, finally taking his eyes away from the A to Z Guide to the Galaxy book that he was reading.

"What?"

"I need to ask you something."

"And?"

"About this and that. You know you're the only one I can actually talk to," I began, waiting if he would let me or not. Chances were slim, because he was Grayson who hated to talk. But still, he was the only chance I got in getting a decent answer without being suspicious.

"Busy," he replied.

"I'll only ask one then. Please? I really need it now," I begged him.

"If this is about finding your brother among the seniors, I don't want to help. I have no clue who he is. Can't you go and ask someone else instead?" Grayson said with a sigh.

I already knew that. He had already told me that he didn't want to have anything to do with locating my missing brother. It wasn't his problem, he said. He had also mentioned that he didn't want to be involved in my problem.

I knew. But still...

Taking a seat beside him, I muttered, "Just one, Grayson. Please? I'll let you off for the day if you answer this question in my mind right now."

He turned to the other side, shutting me off.

"Please?"

No answer.

I moved closer to him. "Please?"

"Fine. Just stay where you are," he finally said, setting another breathable space between us. After doing so, he added, "Now, say what you want."

"Really? Thanks!" I beamed. "Okay, I won't be wasting your time. I just wanted to know something about art class."

"Art class?" Grayson repeated. "What about it?"

"As you know, there's this someone I really need to find out who," I started. "I'm sure he's in art class."

"Everyone has an art class," he emphasized. "And if that is your brother you are going to ask me about, can't help. I already told you."

"Not him," I breathed. "This time, it's not him."

"You're into finding another guy again? Is this your hobby? Because it's creepy, you know what I mean?" Grayson looked thrown off.

"No! I'm not like that. If it's not necessary, I'll never chase a guy. I don't usually chase guys, trust me," I assured him.

"And?"

"There was this other guy. I kind of found out that he knew who I really was, after I saw his art piece. Now there's someone else who knows my secret, and I don't know who he is," I explained the situation to him.

"Not a surprise anymore. What did you do this time?"

"Nothing," I answered.

"For someone who is trying to be inconspicuous, you don't seem to know how to blend well," he told me.

"I'm learning, okay?" I said to him. He passively nodded his head. "So about the art class that I was asking you about. I was wondering, who were the people who excelled in it? Can you name them?" I asked him the question of the day.

"The whole school? Go ask Mr. Crooge."

"Just the seniors," I hastily added, in case he'd shut me off again.

"What art piece are you talking about?"

"The masked guy's."

"Could it be possible that you were the one in his painting this year?" he suspiciously asked. I instinctively looked away, guilty as charged. "Never thought you were originally a redhead."

"You saw it?"

"This morning? I have to. Attendance. It's a fine piece." Grayson adjusted his seat. As he turned gaze to the empty hall, I did the same as well. The library was barren. If it could be any emptier than how it was during normal days, it was so. Guys wouldn't trade the opportunity of having a whole day with girls for books. No one would do that except for Grayson. This library could be dedicated to him later on, seriously. Even the librarian was nowhere to be found. She actually left the keys with him.

Shaking my head while smiling to myself, I admitted, "Okay, fine. I'm that girl in the painting. Happy? So now can you tell me who aced your art class last year?"

"Daniel," he said in a very earnest tone.

"You serious?" I echoed, oblivious.

"Positive." His face wasn't showing any sign of bluff. "Daniel is your man now. Go find him, Jules."

"No way. I'm not buying that," I insisted. "Unless the masked guy's display is nude, I won't believe that. And come on, I saw the masked guy with my two eyes. He doesn't have the body of a pro-wrestler."

"You said you already saw him. Why are we even talking about this then?"

"Half his face only," I emphasized. "I couldn't even remember his voice."

"Masked. Forgot about it, sorry. So here, listen well, because I'll only say it once," Grayson paused. I held my breath, wondering if he was prolonging this on purpose. With a small smile, he went on, "Austin, Charleson, and..."

"There were three of them?" I was becoming vexed that the list was also long.

He nodded.

"And?" I pressed him.

Grayson stared at me for a while, before he finished, "KN."

I found myself laughing at what he said. "Let me guess, pink flowers and unicorns? You gotta be kidding me."

"Not kidding," Grayson replied, no hint of sharing my newly found bliss. "I actually answered your question."

"Really?" I swallowed nervously. There was no way masked guy was KN. For if he was, that would make the masked guy so close to me. And more so, we even shared the same room. So it wasn't him. It must be Austin or Charleson. If not them, someone else must be faking his artistic skills in order to hide it from others.

Seeing my dumbfounded reaction, Grayson explained the very disturbing matter to me, "KN is good at everything; you shouldn't be surprised. That guy exerts extra effort all the time."

"I need to find him," I suddenly said.

"And ask him? Think you'll get an answer?" He opened his book again and started scanning the page for the last paragraph he left.

"Good point," I mumbled. When did KN answer me in a serious manner, or even taken notice of my basic human rights, enough for him to give me a decent response?

"It's for you to find out then."

"I'll do just that. You don't have to worry about it. I'll totally make him answer me this time." I blindly held on to one fictional hope.

"Good luck." Grayson waved me goodbye.

"Thanks," I muttered. Finding my way out of the library, I quickly turned back and asked him one last time, "Hey, do you know which restrooms have separate stalls? I'm having a hard time running to and fro the dormitory."

"Third floor near the computer room, and second floor, the one beside the stairs," he answered.

"Okay, thanks! You're such a great help," I said, relieved. Most of the restrooms here only had urinals and sinks. Imagine how hard it was for me to run to the dormitory and back again while having a full bladder.

Such horror and torment.

On to finding KN this time, I had no idea where to search first. He was one guy whom no one knew which place he frequently went to. Staying in our room and waiting for him later tonight seemed to be the only option I had. But it wasn't until I was walking back to the gymnasium that it turned out I had this out of nowhere chance of spotting him unexpectedly.

And my eyes were not deceiving me.

I was actually on the fourth floor of the school building, so I had a clear view of the entire school from up here. And in the forest which surrounded the campus, there he was. I could almost say that it was him, even from a distance. It was that same old stride, the way his back looked when he walked, and even his weird habits, like cracking his neck side to side.

Neck cracker psycho weird gay serial killer.

Without another thought, I grabbed the opportunity and ran. During the length of the run that I made towards the forest, I kept on repeating in my head, 'I found him! I found him! I found him!' I felt self-proclaimed all of a sudden. I just couldn't believe that I had found KN that fast.

But as I was in the place where he was supposedly walking to minutes ago, panting and struggling for air, I saw nobody. KN was nowhere to be found. Did he also have the power to be invisible? I mean, where else would he go? He was clearly walking towards the end of the school yard.

I scanned the area. There was nothing here but trees and the school's wrought iron railings, right until I saw the open door behind the thick bushes.

Taking a deep breath, I now had a rough idea where KN regularly spent his time. He was really one lawbreaker. Didn't he know the rule that no one should leave the campus except during weekends?

But yeah, whatever. I was doing just that.

Pushing away the thick branches from the opening, I cleaned up the mess surrounding it. The door was more defined now, making it easier to spot next time I'd search for him again. Thoroughly removing the camouflage effect done by the hanging vines and dwindling branches, I completely restored the door's original appearance.

Finally making my way out of the school premises, I noticed one sturdy branch stuck in the hinge. I got carried away with cleaning and restoring the door that I removed the piece of wood in a heartbeat, and the door shut close—like real close.

It took me a moment before I realized what had happened.

Oh, no.

FINDING FINN JOURNAL NO. 11

There are some doors in life that you shouldn't, at any given time, enter. 🚪