TCOTRB: The Case of The Red Bubble

✌️Chapter XII: Irene

Chapter XII: Irene

[November 11th, 2050 Friday]
Choti Diwali

*NOTE/s:

A name of Latin and Italian origin, "Irene" actually means "peace." This is relevant as I felt she needed to be explored more - her background and cryptic past with one of The Red Bloomers.

•••

A barrage of clanging noises startled both everyone in the house and the neighbors. Jason was hitting a wok pan with a wooden spoon. It's still dark outside yet he is already awake.

"Rise and shine, Milo! Training starts now so report to your post!" He stood outside his son's room like a sergeant.

"Ugh~! Dad, it's only four in the mornin' ... " Milo yawned.

"O yós (Son) ... If you want those bullies to leave you alone, then you need to toughen up!" his dad insisted.

Milo barely had a decent sleep last night. While the fireworks were meant to come out today, everybody is already trying them out yesterday. They wanted to make sure the firecrackers they bought are working. Excited much?
A series of montage training ensued from four to nine in the morning. This was going to be their routine throughout the holidays. His body is already aching merely from picturing about it.
He also promised his friends that he would also attend the art exhibit this evening. If they ever allow guests to cozy up in bed during the event, that would be lovely.

At the Petit Louvre Museum.

Irene and her mom once planned to hold the exhibit in a local mall in Nuevo Tondo, except they were told at the last minute that the spot had already been reserved for a band concert before the start of Diwali.
The two were forced to settle with the Petit Louvre Museum at Aspin's neighboring town called Santa Mirabel.
The local museum was made open for everyone in honor of the town's founder, Sister Mirabel Pinto. The same thing goes for every library, shop and police station as the town is relatively safe. No crimes at all.
Inside the museum, Irene and her friends found Milo snoozing on the king-sized bed replica.

"Milo, wake up! The owner's gonna be pissed once he sees you sleeping on it," Irene tapped him on the head.

"Did you take a nap before coming here?" Jin asked.

"No! My dad just dragged me into one of his military drills so I don't get picked on anymore," Milo groaned.

"Oh yeah ... My brothers and I just saw you two running at the crack of dawn. Your dad was being obnoxious!" Kaira confirmed.

The group went to check out Irene's brilliant paintings. Milo simply brushed it off in his head as something about "finding a glimmer of hope in the world." Now, what stood out among her works is the portrait of a man that resembles Liu Jun.
The subject was dressed in a fine suit and stood with pride against the intricate background of a peacock. He held a paintbrush that's made of gold close to his face, pointing it diagonally towards the upper left. Her skill in using bright golden hues to make him look realistic is amazing.

"I called it 'The Maestro' because there is no better artist than him," Irene explained.

"Never heard about him before," Leo said.

Milo wished to point out how the subject resembled one of their tormentors, but his guts tell him that it's not such a great idea to do so. Maybe it's just a coincidence and the man in the painting isn't exactly Jun.
The crowds began to fill up the whole floor as President Marbles and Mr. Castillo arrived.
They marveled the masterpieces which the mother-and-daughter duo have worked on. Meanwhile, Jonathan and his friends showed up. Jin noticed that Jun wasn't with them.

"What do you want now?" he asked sharply.

"Nothing. We only came here to see Milo and the new maestro," Rina then shifted her eyes towards Irene, "The one responsible for ending our friend's career."

Everybody present were all looking at each other in confusion. They could not believe that The Red Bloomers would show up at this event. A wave of camera lenses flashed behind them.

"We've been watching you two," she then tilted her head in a condescending manner.