Home For My Soul

15|Early Everything

I followed them to one of the empty lecture halls, because I refused to be taken anywhere else. They could've taken me to a deserted location, then beat me up for no reason. I don't have anyone else, so I have to protect myself.

With my side body, facing three or four women like them is not a problem. But with this fat and slow body, I was clearly losing. If only I had time to exercise or see a doctor.

The three of them were silent when the four of us were in the lecture hall. I waited until one of them spoke first. They exchanged glances, then elbowed each other, telling the others to open their mouths.

“OK. You guys can stop elbowing me!” chika said with annoyance. He looked at me, then cleared his throat. “We four of one class and SMU. Theo hates Kat very much, so she can't possibly know this. You could've stolen our conversation, so, answer honestly. Did you send those three gifts?”

“Three gifts?” my question does not understand. “Poor people like me can't buy gifts for themselves, much less to give to others. You guys are wrong.”

“Do not pretend. You're the last person near Kat. Did he say anything when you drowned? Or did he meet you and tell you the secrets of the three of us?” ask Nisa, come with urgency.

“Do not be silent. Come, answer!” rahma is impatient.

“Did you lose your memory for slandering me?” I asked, still pretending not to understand. “Kat approached me just to hurt me. What secrets would he tell his victims? It is precisely you who are busy figuring out my weaknesses.”

They exchanged looks with each other. There was doubt in their eyes regarding this action of theirs. Just natural. Even though we were one school and class during High School, it does not mean I sent the three gifts. Anyway, what's the proof that I'm the culprit?

“I don't know how you know it, but I'm sure you know the secret of the three of us,” Chika said seriously. “You're always honest, so tell me. You sent the gift, ‘kan?”

“Don't bother me anymore.” I put on a serious expression. “What happened in school, is enough. I don't want you guys bothering me anymore.”

“Poor child like you dare to threaten us?” Nisa approached with sharp eyes.

“Not only was your mother's diamond necklace ever stolen and sold without her knowledge, Nisa. There are many other things you steal to buy your favorite bags, shoes, and expensive clothes,” I said, right in front of her face.

He took a step back as if he had just been struck down. “Ka .. how can you ta-know?”

“Avacating content at a young age is not your only secret, Rahma.” I looked towards the girl who immediately paled it.

“Are you tempted to take that illegal drug again, Chika?” I said to the leader of this delinquent girl gang.

“A-what do you want? You're going to spread all this to the people?” challenge Chika.

“I want nothing but don't bother me anymore.” I looked at them one by one. “And there are other terms too, but I want to know. Why are you guys doing this? Why are you doing evil to me? Kat is gone, why not get back on the right path?”

Chika sat down, then I also approached the seat in front of her. They looked calmer after knowing I wasn't their enemy. I never saw that expression while I knew them. Did my plan work? They feel bad to be a victim and do not want to be evil again?

“I don't really want to do evil, but I'm afraid of Kat,” I'm Chika slowly.

“I'm also afraid of him. His father was a very influential man, more than my own parents. They also often remind me not to mess with him. So, I went with everything he ordered,” Rahma said honestly.

“My reason is the same. Kat became our chairman without us knowing. I was too afraid to fight him, so I got used to doing what he told me,” Nisa said slowly.

So, the three people I used to think of as friends are not my friends. They were only afraid of me so they would obey what I said. Why does it feel so painful to know what I mean, ah, I mean, Katelia in their lives?

“She's gone. Why are you still bothering me?” ask, even if you already know the answer.

“You pulled him down to the lake,” Chika replied in an angry tone.

“Don't forget, you guys who pushed me down,” answered me, don't want to be manipulated.

“You can fall this fat because of our push skinny?” tease Rahma. They laugh at me.

“If not for your seventeen years of age, Aunt Wibowo has thrown you in jail. That's the only reason the police won't process the murder case you did,” accused Nisa sharply.

I looked at them one by one. The charges are still being made when I am completely innocent. I can't swim, therefore, I'm as strong as I can not take Katelia's hand off. He can swim, even win so many races.

Who could have thought that he wouldn't be able to bring me to the surface with him? Ah, yes. I recall. There was a very blinding light before I lost consciousness, then woke up by the lake. No longer in my own body, but the fat body of Amaryllis.

I don't know what light it is, but it's one of the reasons neither I nor Katelia can rise to the surface. We were engulfed by that bright sparkle so unconscious. It is not an ordinary human act. Could it be nature who wants this to happen to us?

“You are afraid of Katelia. I'm sure you guys also hated him for three years having to be his men. The last four of us were on that ship, but you agreed to bestow all the blame on me,” I said undaunted.

I stood up and walked up to them with confidence. “You pushed me, so I was forced to hold on to whatever was nearest to me. The coincidence I reached out to was Katelia's hand. Where are you guys? Why don't you guys help out if you're his best friend?”

“A-what do you mean?” chika asked a little nervously. In that instant, I knew my guess was right. “Ka-you accuse us of deliberately letting him die in that lake?”

“If I'm wrong, why are you stuttering?” my challenge.

The three of them gulped heavily. Seeing the way they exchanged glances, I began to feel my heart pounding rapidly. My chest tightened as if back in the lake and trying to escape the clutches of Amaryllis.

So mean. If they jump right in to help me, maybe my life will be saved. No, Amaryllis' soul will be saved. If our bodies were to remain switched, I would find a way to return to our original bodies. But it was probably gone when he died.

These three people are worse than Katelia. At least, he was not hypocritical and was always honest with everyone. Like, he'll say like. If you hate, you say hate. He doesn't treat people differently, either when the person is in front of or behind him.

I have been holding this question for a long time. Why are they just standing on the deck of the ship and not helping me? If they don't want to save Amaryllis, I understand. Kat is their best friend. Could they have planned all this?

I was too busy pulling my hand out of Amarylis' grasp at the incident. I focused on breathing in order to last longer in the water, until I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the situation around us. Why is no one jumping in to help us? If they are afraid of swimming, they can help by shouting for help.

“Ka-we've spoken honestly,” said Chika, breaking the silence. “We ju-also promise not to bother you again. Yes, ‘kan, friends?” The two girls nodded quickly. “So, to-please, keep our secret.”

“With two conditions,” I said, do not want to give them convenience.

This pain I will return later. Their deeds against Amaryllis and Katelea had to be paid off. But the first thing I have to do is graduate and find a good job. They are money people, so I have to teach them a lesson involving money.

Chika was intending to protest, but she immediately changed her expression with a sweet smile and eyes looking at me seriously. “Good. What's the condition?”