DYNAMIC DUO OF TRUTH

The day after we solved the missing panty case, the atmosphere at school had completely shifted. It wasn’t the usual ignorance and judgmental looks that we were so habituated to receive. Instead, it was like walking through the red carpet, like our presence itself was enough to cause a commotion.

“Hey, look at him. That’s Cryil!” A boy exclaimed. I shrugged my shoulder. After all, it was very rare for me to hear people call my name with such enthusiasm.

“And beside him its none other than Liton, the hero who caught the panty thief.” Another one spoke out.

“Yeah, yeah, autographs later,” Liton replied, puffing out his chest like he’d just won the Nobel Prize.

“Hmph! They just got lucky” said the third one.

He shot me a glance, “Cyril, note this down in our records: Envy is the natural response of amateurs when faced with greatness.”

“Noted,” I said, pretending to scribble something in an holo-notebook.

It seemed like after the panty incident we had finally received the recognition we deserved. Many students had been calling us ‘The Dynamic Duo of Truth’.

When I was a kid, I was just like him. Obsessed with those black-and-white detective stories. I'd watch them over and over, memorizing every line, every pose, every secret, every style with a wide grin on my face.

[5 years ago… a plastic magnifying glass being held up to a window, catching the pale light of morning. Cyril crouched low, mimicking a scene from an old detective movie.]

Cyril:
(whispering to himself, overly dramatic)
“Another day in the city. A case to crack… a mystery in the shadows…”

[The door opened. His mother entered, stifling a laugh as she watched from behind.]

Mother (teasing):
“Detective Cyril’s on the case again, huh? Don’t be late for school.”

[Cyril, breaking character, beamed up at her, grinning ear-to-ear.]

Cyril:
“Detective Cyril never sleeps, Mom. Justice never takes a day off!”

[On the school playing arena for kids, filled with neon bright lights, many cute looking small drones and full of noisy kids. Cyril was in full detective attire, walked confidently. his trench coat flapping in the wind. Kids turned to stare.]

Random Classmate #1 (snickering):
“Hey, look! It’s the cringe detective!”

Random Classmate #2 (mocking):
“Found any clues yet, Brain-lock Dork?”

At first I thought they would get it. But gradually after being ignored and avoided by my friends, I realized how wrong I was to think that.

[After a few days…

Cyril sat alone with his head down. The magnifying glass was next to his tray, untouched. His coat was laying on the ground.]

Voices of Cyril’s classmates (echoing in his head):
“Weird kid…”
“Such a try-hard…”

“Lame…”

So I buried ‘Detective Cyril and hid him away, deep down where no one could find him, not even myself. I tried to fit in after that. I tried to be normal, whatever that meant.

And it sort of worked. Gradually people talked to me again. I blended in. I was content and happy. At least, that was what I was telling to myself the whole time. I was trying to suppress the empty feeling inside me which was eating me from inside for almost everyday. It was like losing a part of me I couldn’t get back.

But my life changed after I met this guy in this high school. I glanced at Liton and remembered our first encounter.

[Cyril’s first day in high-school…

He saw a kid with wild hair—Liton—sitting on a desk, holding up an invisible hat like a crown, which probably only he could see]

“Ladies and gentlemen! I have solved the case! The missing…” He went on and rambled some nonsense.

I noticed that a few people were teasing him, mocking him, getting annoyed at him and even insulting him straight to his face. But this guy didn’t even give a dam.

“Tch! How can he be so carefree even after hearing these” I muttered to myself, quite irritated and a tiny bit jealous at his carefree attitude.

I walked up to him being annoyed and told him with my deadpan look. “Stop this! You’re being cringe, dude.”

Liton:
“Cringe? Who cares? If you don’t like it, that’s your problem.”

[Liton leaned in closer, eyes were sparkling with energy.]

Liton (softly, but firmly):
“I’d rather be cringe and happy… than boring and miserable.”

Those words hit me like a thunder bolt. As some days passed, I observed him. He was making me believe as if being yourself was completely fine.

Finally, I gave up my resistance and decided to come out of my comfort zone. Together, we did a lot of stupid things and I enjoyed it as much as I used to enjoy it when I was a kid.

[One day after school…

Liton holds a holo-projector which says ‘The Detective Club’]

Cyril:
“This is ridiculous. We’re literally the only two people here.”

Liton (grinning):
“That just makes us an exclusive club!”

Liton:
“Come on, Detective Cyril. You in, or what?”

Cyril:
“…Yeah. I’m in.”

It wasn’t a real club. But it was real to us. And honestly? It felt good—damn good—to be cringe again.

“Oh, Cyril,” Liton whispered, nudging me with his elbow. “Look ahead. They’re coming.” I snapped back to reality as I saw some girls heading our way.

I followed his gaze to see Reddish, Remi, and three other girls from approaching. They walked in unison, a determined glint was visible in their eyes.

“It’s happening,” Liton whispered, his voice trembling with equal parts excitement and terror.

“What’s happening?” I asked, though I already had a guess.

“They’re going to confess. Clearly, our detective prowess has finally won them over.”

“Obviously. We are suffering from success” I nodded solemnly. “They’re all madly in love with us now. But, Liton, we can’t accept all of them. It’d be… selfish.”

“Exactly. Rejection must be done gently. Let’s synchronize our approach…”

We exchanged a quick series of hand signals, which we’d obviously prepared in advance for situations like this.

The girls stopped in front of us, and Remi crossed her arms. “Our pet is missing.”

Liton blinked. I blinked. The silence stretched awkwardly as the fantasy shattered like glass.

CHAPTER 20 END