Home For My Soul

16|Came the culprit

Theo was still in the room when Matt and I were studying. His sister did not stop sighing annoyed at the presence of her brother. Though the young man kept his promise by not doing anything that could interfere with his concentration of learning.

Since we agreed to communicate in English, Matt no longer wants to speak Indonesian while studying. A challenge I gladly accepted. But there was Theo with us, so I occasionally let Matt do my grammar. Katelia speaks English, not me.

“Ooo-be. I-I know. Lo has a crush on Kak Amarilis, yes, so it is always here with us?” Matt Goda. Theo was silent. “Lo reject fiancee lo, because she is too beautiful and rich, ‘kan?”

“Lo discuss him once again—” Theo swerve sharply. Matt just laughed satisfied.

A fiancee? Ah, yes. He's a rich man, it's only natural to have a fiancee. Just like Katelia who was also betrothed since childhood with the son of her papa business partner. The poor young man. We have never met so as not to interfere with the study. In the end, we will never meet.

“It turns out your taste like Kak Amarylis. So stuck!” The brash child was deceitful, content to insult me and Theo.

“Damn lo!” Theo who could not stand it anymore immediately approached and hit his sister's head repeatedly. Feel it. Instead of groaning in pain, Matt laughed even louder.

After studying, as usual, we had dinner together. Aunt Ruth no longer hid her regret at the behavior of her two children. He gave them hard jewels until they could only frown while eating each other's food.

Something that reminds me of my two brothers. Nor did we stop fighting until Papa and Mama got dizzy. Even though I'm the only daughter, I'm still punished if I'm found guilty. Our parents never chose love. I dismissed those thoughts before tears came.

It's hard to be Amaryllis because I don't have any childhood memories with them. I was in the body of their family members, but the memory of their father, mother, and sister was not in my head at all. I have known them only from our company since my soul was in this body.

“I'm really embarrassed by the behavior of you two. Starting tomorrow, Theo should not be in the room anymore while they are studying.” Aunt Ruth stared intently at her son who was intending to defend herself. “I don't want to hear any reason. That's the final decision. You guys understand?”

“Iya, Ma,” answered the two of them simultaneously. I smile at him seeing it.

I ran away from their home and went home on public transport. Looking at the night view of the city makes my heart sad. My life wouldn't have been like this if only me and Katelia hadn't fallen into the lake. She'll help her mama take care of the cake, while I'll go to college casually.

Even though Katelia is evil, she doesn't deserve to die like this. He deserves to be given a second chance and improve. What he does is not like his friends who take drugs, abort the womb, to steal. He just bothers people.

Relax, Katelia. I will make them regret having done this evil thing to us.

Rahma, Chika, and Nisa are waiting in the parking lot of their vehicle the next morning. In accordance with the agreement, they will do the second condition. I don't need anyone else or a spectator, just this one person.

“Ready. He came,” Rahma said.

I was surprised to hear that word. Why should I get ready? She was only our classmate at SMU, not an artist or— Seeing Chika's facial expression, I was stunned for a moment. Ah, time yes? Wait, whoa. The chika? Not likely.

But looking at his gaze that was not separated from Theo, I did not guess wrong. This girl liked that annoying young man. Waw. It's a very easy road. I didn't have to wait long, he already gave me a surefire way to repay his actions.

“Good morning, Theo,” greet Chika in a happy tone. His eyes even glistened.

But the young man just passed us. He took the time to glance at me with a gaze full of curios. Huh. For days watching over me, nothing was missing from his house. Why is he still worried about me? In a moment, he'll know the truth.

“Wait, there is something I need to say,” said Chika did not want to give up.

The young man finally stopped and turned his body. “What's up?”

“We made up with Amarylis and she didn't steal my wallet. We who secretly put that thing into his bag,” I am Chika with a blush face. “A-I don't want you to continue to misunderstand and consider him a thief. We fucked him.”

Theo looked at me. “What is true?” tanyakanya.

“I told you, I didn't take his wallet. You alone do not know who they are and who I am,” I replied.

My seat is still in the back row, so I occupy the middle seat and follow the lecture seriously. Their attitude and treatment towards me did not want me to bother. For a long time also they get bored themselves after a while there is no incident of theft.

“Hai,” greet Theo as I walk out the campus gate.

“Why do you greet me?” manya suspect.

She laughs. “Gue apologise. Lo's right. I should have known you couldn't have taken that wallet.” He smiled, but his eyes remained cold. “Come, I treat a meal as an apology.”

“No need. You believe I didn't steal enough,” subtly reject me.

He took my hand and pulled me closer to his motorcycle. “Gue still feels bad. Come, go up.”

We ate at a simple food stall, so I didn't feel guilty ordering a lot of food. When else can I eat for free? I never thought about eating first, unlike my current situation.

He was silent, so I could eat quietly. He was very different from his sister who was very active in talking and did not want to sit still. Only when I gave her a task could she focus on doing one thing. After eating, we split up to take the last course.

“Hai, Amaryllis! Come, log in!” take Aunt Ruth who walked out of a room. “Matt hasn't come home yet, you just wait inside. Don't worry, you stay home on time.”

“Good, Aunt. Thank you.” I walked towards the library room and sat down at my place.

The door was knocked and a servant entered. He brought food and drinks on the tray. Ah, the one I've been waiting for. Aunt Ruth knew very well I was hungry every time I came to their house. The snacks served were never small so I always taught on a full stomach.

Matt hasn't been here yet, so I decided to re-learn the material I had on campus for the whole day. Still the second week, there was no assignment from the lecturer so the way I learned just by reading the notes and complete info in my lecture book.

“I’m so sorry. Something came up—” I'm really sorry. Something has happened.— Matt comes and apologizes, also explaining the thing that caused him to be late.

I don't worry about it, because I can learn while eating waiting for his arrival. After keeping my book back in the bag, I prepared to teach it. He just stood up and looked around the room.

“Where is Theo?” tanyanya's confused.

“I don't know. When I arrived, this room was empty,” I answered honestly. “Not her mom you already forbid her to be here while we study?”

He frowned, then clapped his hands loudly, surprising me. This family needs to learn not to do every deafening thing. “Gue knows he must have a special feeling for Brother.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Quick, sit.”

Despite being disturbed by his presence, I felt lost he was not in this room with us. Ah, I'll get used to it after a few days alone with Matt like I used to. After all, he didn't stop watching my movements making me uncomfortable.

But he was in the dining room when we had dinner. Matt used the opportunity to tease his brother. He didn't know the reason Theo had accompanied us to study, but I didn't rectify his accusation. Let her think her brother was appraising a fat woman.

Theo was already waiting when I came to campus the next morning. He used the same excuse, to protect me from those naughty girls. The three of them will not bother me anymore.

By noon, he was waiting for me on his motorcycle at the gate. I don't feel good about having a free lunch two days in a row. But he wouldn't listen to my word. Chika and her friends' car passed by as Theo put a helmet on my head.

“Quiet. As long as there is me, they will not be able to bother you anymore,” he said.

He misunderstood me, but I didn't correct him. I was too focused on Chika who was staring at me sharply. Then he glanced at Theo. Also true! Why didn't I realize it earlier? It was the most painful revenge.