Cempaka Bride

Hallucinations

A cold chill in his right arm that extended under the bed woke Eric up.

His eyes blinked a few times to get used to the minimal light.

The coldness was still felt, even though he had already pulled his hand into the blanket.

Eric turned to the left and was stunned for a moment. He opened his eyes wide, and tried to make sure that someone was sitting behind him.

The white man immediately got up and sat up straight. This figure before him was real, and he felt happy, extremely happy.

"Darling! Finally you came to see me again" he said, advancing his body and hugging the figure.

There was not the slightest fear in his heart. There is only deep longing.

Eric paid no heed to the coldness of the woman's body. He kept hugging her tightly.

The woman let go of Eric's embrace and turned her body towards him. Her beautiful face still charms Eric.

"Darling! Why don't you ever see me again? I'm very upset" Eric said, clasping the cold hand tightly.

"Koko, why come back here?" ask the woman.

"I miss you" Eric answered.

"Why send people to my house? What's your plan, Ko?"

"It's safer than any other hotel or place. The house is not very strict supervision. We can strategize better when we're in a safe place" Eric explained.

"I can't believe it! Koko must be mean to my friends!" snatch the woman.

"No, Darling. My men won't bother your friends. I can make sure of that!" firmly Eric.

The woman looked at Eric with probing eyes. Then he stood up and walked away.

"Darling! Wait!" shouting Eric. He rushed over to the woman who had suddenly pierced through the wall of the room.

"Darling! Waitaminute! Sayangg!" eric shouted as he opened the door and exited the room.

"Darling! Where are you? Don't leave! Please!"

Eric circled the large room and tried to find the female figure of the owner of his heart. But that figure has disappeared.

"Boss. What's up?" asked Rey who was surprised to wake up. He immediately stood up from the sofa he was sleeping on earlier and walked over to his boss.

"Five! Where's Rima?" Eric asked back while looking over there.

"Five? Nothing, boss," Rey replied.

"There! He was in my room. Keep going out. Comeing! Find him, Rey. Search it!" eric's orders with wide eyes. His hand gripped Rey's arm which looked back at him with a gentle gaze.

Rey understands, this boss is having hallucinations. Some more!

Eric took off his hand and walked around the room again. His lips were endlessly calling out Rima's name.

Calvin and Danang wake up, chasing Eric out the door.

"Boss. Can't get out!" calvin's Order.

"I'm going to find Rima. Don't block me!" shouting Eric. His hand tried to shift Danang's body blocking the door.

"Sorry, Boss. I have to stop you" Rey said from behind Eric.

Rey took two nerve spots in Eric's back neck. The tall man suddenly fell silent. Eric can't move anymore. Only his eyes could move watching his three men. They carried his body back into the room, and laid it on the bed.

Rey opened the small black suitcase and took out a bottle of medicine.

Calvin took out a glass and poured water into it. Then the road approached the bed.

"Sorry," Rey said, peeking back at Eric's body.

Plllaakkkkk!

A hard slap landed on Rey's left cheek. The big-nosed man just rubbed his cheeks. Her lips held up a thin slanted smile.

The three looked back at him with a face that showed firmness. They're used to Eric's sometimes-strange attitude.

"Diminished the medicine" said Calvin. His voice was made as flat as possible.

Eric stared at him sharply for a moment. Before finally reaching for the medicine and the glass that Calvin extended.

With a quick movement the drug had already moved into Eric's mouth. He gulped down a little water before giving the glass back to Calvin.

Rey beckoned her two friends to leave the room. Danang immediately walked out and closed the door, while Calvin just moved to sit on the sofa by the window.

"He really came" Eric said. His hands moved rubbing his hair and face. Then he looked down and closed his eyes.

"He hasn't been back in a long time" said Calvin.

"Yes. Last time was in exile. After that there was only a faint shadow," Rey said.

Eric looked up, His outstretched hand holding Rey's flushed cheeks.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's okay, Boss," Rey said.

Eric advances the body and moves to hug Rey. His shoulders began to shake. A moment later his sobs began to sound.

"Rima," he moans.

Rey rubbed the back of the boss and his best friend. Remember how devastated Eric was when he got the news that Rima had died.

Especially when he realized that he himself was the perpetrator of the stomach stabbing Rima, which resulted in his beloved woman died in the hospital.

Although only one puncture, but the consequences are very fatal. Because previously one of Eric's other confidants, had smeared the knife with poison.

***

Dugm!

The sound of objects being smashed against the outer wall of the house, shocked Zein who had just fallen asleep. The flap-haired man immediately chanted a prayer and made a magical fence to protect himself.

Following a premonition, Zein set his foot on the floor and the road leading to the front window.

His hand uncovered the curtains and peered out the window. His eyes caught the figure of a woman in white, on his head was a lacy decoration that was lifted up. The figure's hand was grasping the bouquet of flowers.

They looked at each other before Zein finally walked towards the door. Open it quickly, grab the door lock and run outside the room.

After unlocking the front door Zein immediately stepped closer to Rima.

"What's wrong?" zein asked after the distance they only stayed a few steps away.

"Be careful!" rima said.

"Why? Is something going to happen?"

"He's back. They're back."

"Who, Rima? Is ... Eric?"

Rima nodded. He moved forward and stopped exactly two steps ahead of Zein.

"Don't go forward again, you'll be ruined!" zein's orders.

Rima smiled as she shook her head. His left hand stretched out and slightly touched Zein's unclosed right arm.

The scorched smell instantly burst forth. The bouquet of flowers that Rima held in her left hand suddenly fell down. It rolled and stopped right at Zein's feet.

For a moment they looked at each other again. A smile adorned Rima's beautiful face. Zein replied to him with a smile as well.

Zein could feel the softness of Rima's heart from their fixed gaze. It was as if Rima was pouring friendship on him.

Rima slightly nodded before finally turning around, and disappeared.