IN THE CAGE

42. OTHER PEOPLE

...INDIRA...

...----------------...

In front of the giant-sized glass window frame, I stood there staring out the window. The view of the Caspian family's spacious backyard filled my eyes. While I was staring out the window, the sound of footsteps greeted my ears. I immediately looked up to the faint reflection on the clear glass. Looking at the distorted figure of Joseph there.

"Good morning, Boss." Joseph with a soft voice greeted me.

"Morning," I said and turned to look at Joseph's face more clearly. The only bodyguard from my old house was still wearing an arm brace due to a gunshot wound he got a few days ago.

Someone unknown to who and who knew what the motive was, suddenly shot Joseph who was accompanying me enjoying tea at the cafe. The incident was spontaneous enough to shock the entire Caspian and Rashid families. I who was then near Joseph - and was likely to be the one targeted, was now locked up in the house. I'm not allowed to leave until they make sure the situation is safe.

Only, what I asked was..., how can they guarantee that my situation will be safe if they don't even get any leads on the perpetrator who is like a ghost?

This situation will only burden me.

"Boss, as you think, the entire bodyguard of Angga's boss has been fired."

Joseph made an unsurprising report. A few days ago too, after the incident that happened to Joseph, I saw Evan and Anggara fighting. I don't know what they're arguing about, but it looks like Evan won the debate. Anggara came home with fire burning in his eyes.

After that day, the bodyguards surrounding me increased greatly. They were all Evan's men.

"What about you, Joe? Did Evan say anything about you?"

"Boss Evan asked me to stay, but my authority as the chief bodyguard will be handed over to Aidan."

In other words, even Joseph was restricted in his movements. 

All this is too awkward and confusing. Let's say the shooting made Evan wary, he didn't have to put away all my bodyguards with new people. If he's worried, he should just add to my protection, right?

Something is going on between Anggara and Evan, I have a strange feeling about them.

I twirled the wedding ring on my finger while thinking.

"It's good" I said after a long silence. "Since you don't have to keep clinging to me every hour, take this opportunity to investigate the situation that is going on in this place."

In a house full of wandering servants, words must have come out. One or two pieces of information will be leaked among those who love to tell stories. I wanted that story, any story that would make me understand the situation that Evan and Anggara were hiding.

"I'll try hard, Boss." Joseph said, he was very obedient.

"Also.., I have a message for Ace." I added later.

I can't go out now. I don't know when I'm gonna be locked up in this cold place. But just because I can't meet the outside world doesn't mean I can't do anything.

"The letter will be dangerous for you to carry everywhere, so I want you to hear every word that comes out of my mouth. Say all the words I say without flaws or advantages."

"Alright," Joseph nodded with an alert ear.

Adjusting my breath for a while and arranging the words in my head to come out briefly and precisely, I turned to face Joseph. Backs leaning against the glass wall.

"Ace, I'm stuck in an unfortunate situation right now, so I can't afford to meet you. But don't worry, I'll be fine. I sent Joseph to ask you for help, as a friend who can help me. You're the only person I trust right now."

I stopped talking for a while and sighed in anger. "Ace, please help me find Fawn."

It's been a month since my bodyguard disappeared. I suspect the tense situation between Evan and Anggara at the moment also has to do with Fawn's disappearance. I wonder what my brother and Evan-husband are doing behind my back?

"I know this request seems like a waste of time, but please do. In exchange for your kindness, I will give you some information about the Evan family that might benefit you. I hope you agree, I'll wait for your answer."

...----------------...

Aidan is a bodyguard who is now responsible for my safety. He was tall, tan-skinned, his countenance and expression hard and firm. Aidan has a long dangling bangs barely reaching his chin. Sometimes, when he stood seriously next to me, he would occasionally pull his bangs behind the earlobe. Like being distracted by the hairstyle he chose himself.

"Do you want to wear this?" I asked while handing a sunflower hairpin to Aidan who was busy pulling his bangs because of the strong wind. 

After a bored walk around the house, I stopped at a gazebo overlooking the fish pond.

"Ah, no need-"

"Don't hesitate" I smiled lightly. "Take it. I don't want you to fall into the pool because it's too cool to fix your hair."

"Pardon me. I'll trim my poniku tomorrow."

"Hey, there's no need to be that extreme. Your hair is fine, you don't have to feel uncomfortable."

Just because I'm your boss doesn't mean I have the right to manage how you live your life. Especially your hairstyle.

"Growing hair must be harder for men, just leave it long. That's cool."

"Are my words strange?" I don't feel like there's anything wrong with cool? That's a compliment, you know. Commendations. Joseph is usually happy when I praise him.

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm sorry." Aidan lowered his head politely before pulling three steps back away from me. Well, like I'm a virus!

Ignoring the strangeness of my new bodyguard, I threw my gaze towards the fish pond. Some fish with beautiful colors and patterns decorate the pond. I had been satisfied to see her before, but still-just-looking at her again I couldn't hold back my smile.

Hey fishes, how does it feel to be imprisoned in this rectangular pond? Are you suffering? Your eating and movement are restricted. You cannot see the outside world. You guys are beautiful, but that beauty is just for decoration.

We-we're kind of similar, right?

Being a princess in the Rashid family and being showered with praise as a charming girl, my life is no different from these fish. I'm still locked in the invisible cage that people built for me. I am forever-in their eyes is a beautiful girl, nothing more and nothing less. I have no more value than my beauty.

"Evan, wait..." In the middle of my daydream, I heard the voice of a woman. Quickly, I looked up and looked for the source of the sound.

Just as I was squinting my eyes towards the flower garden that lay softly near the wooden bridge, I saw a woman in an oversized white T-shirt, she said, black hotpants and red converse shoes chase Evan's wide steps. Evan on the other hand, let the girl catch his arm while he did not raise his face at all from the book he was reading.

"Aidan," called me to the bodyguard.

"Yes, Boss." said Aidan.

"Who's the girl? Why have I never seen him?"

"Oh, it's Miss Norah. He's Evan's boss's best friend."

"Friend? I didn't know Evan had a best friend." All this time, even when I wasn't Evan's wife, I didn't know anything about Norah. This is the first time I've seen that figure. If he's Evan's best friend, why didn't he come to our wedding?

"Should I greet him?" I was wondering to myself.

As Evan's wife, it's my duty to welcome whoever Evan brought home, isn't it? Moreover, the girl was his friend.

"Well, it seems like it has to." I can't be stupid. I am now a wife, I cannot humiliate the Caspian family by acting apathetic towards their colleagues and friends.

"Bos Indi, where are you going?" Aidan suddenly interrupted me who had just started to stand up.

"I'll say hello to Evan and..., Norah?"

"I'm sorry, but the hours now are the time for boss Evan to rest."

"Yes, then?"

"Boss Evan never lets anyone else interrupt his break."

"Other people?" Me? Other guy?

"I'm sorry, boss Indira. But this has been the stipulation that boss Evan made a long time ago. He ordered us his guards not to interrupt his activities at these hours."

"Huh, that? Then..., what about Norah?"

"Miss Norah is an exception. Boss Evan let it go."

I was quiet for a while. Digesting every strand of the word Aidan said. If me-a legitimate wife Evan is not allowed to approach the man in his break, then...., why can the girl who only bears the position of a friend? It feels very unreasonable and bitter in the esophagus.

I swallowed like I swallowed a stone.

If Aidan forbids me, it only means one. Evan didn't give any exceptions to his bodyguards about my whereabouts. That, no matter what position I have in this house, I am still someone else who has no right to step on her comfort zone.

"All right, I get it." I sat back and kept quiet. The fish swimming in the pond had no interest in me. I looked at the direction of the two who had disappeared somewhere. Then, in the discomfort creeping through my heart, I saw Joseph emerge from the direction of the kitchen door. He carried a tray of one glass of melon juice and a plate of heart-shaped cookies.

"Excuse me," Joseph greeted Aidan politely before passing by to face me.

"Bos Indi, I bought your favorite pastry from the same cake shop." Joseph showed off a thin grin as he put the tray on the wooden table. He knelt before me with a pair of ambiguous glittering eyes.

"Miss Yvone says hi to you, boss. He said he'd make a cake that the boss would like if the boss stopped by his shop again."

"Ah, that's great news. Thank you." Thank you."

I took Joseph's hand and held it warm. "Thank you, you're the best."

Joseph's eyes at the time said only one: My message to Ace has been delivered.

Now, what am I supposed to do?

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