Linger

One Side the Other

If likened, the friendship of Karel and Kalea is like a pair of shoes. If one of them is lost, then the swinging step will not be balanced. The left shoe will not be paired with the other right shoe because they have been created a pair.

Perhaps, because that awareness is what makes Gavin now a little heartened when watching Kalea and Karel playing together in the front yard. The scorching sun that shines right above the head does not even discourage the two human children to continue their activities.

Gavin took a slow breath. Trying to convince myself that seeing the laughter escape Kalea's lips thanks to Karel is not a bad thing. Even Gavin should feel calm, because if things don't go according to what he has planned, at least there is still Karel on the side of Kalea. The man will definitely take care of Kalea without needing her to ask. Providing shoulders and hugs willingly was like the days before she came into the lives of those two.

Armed with that thought, Gavin got up from his seat. He stepped slowly over to Karel and Kalea who were now coolly tickling Mumu's stomach while the brat was rolling on the ground.

"Kal," call Gavin slowly.

Kalea raises her head. The laughter that had originally echoed now subsided and the woman fully devoted attention to him.

"I'm going out for a minute, there's business. Can you?" he asked after crouching in front of Kalea. Every now and then he glanced at Mumu to make sure the brat would not suddenly jump at her.

"Can. But, later he came back to Indomaret, didn't he?"

"Attract. What are you buying?"

"Please buy me the shampoo I used to wear, here it runs out."

"Okay, I'll buy it." Gavin replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Gavin." Kalea also shared a smile that was no less sweet.

"Anything for you, Boo." Then Gavin put a soft pat on Kalea's head.

Karel who witnessed it was just muttering without a sound. He was still not used to hearing Boo's call that Gavin had pinned for Kalea. He was also still not used to having reddish marks still visible around Kalea's neck, which he clearly knew was what.

Earlier, when she first came and found the woman's neck full of reddish marks, Karel grimaced silently. He felt a part in his heart that was bruised when he realized that Kalea was already wholly owned by Gavin.

But Karel couldn't do anything about it. He could only let the bruise become more and more so that he finally left to heal himself.

"Titip Kalea, yes."

Karel raised his head, looking at Gavin who was already standing looming before him.

"Yes. Buruan sono street!"

Gavin chuckles at Karel. Then he actually passed from there. Completely renounced the trust to Karel to keep Kalea as long as she was not around.

...****************...

Gavin's car drove across the deserted streets. Sunday afternoons are better spent indoors with air conditioners set to the lowest temperatures, instead of wandering the streets with a chaotic mind like he does now.

Half an hour later, Gavin finally arrived at Irina's apartment complex. The goal, of course, is to meet the woman and ascertain how she is. Gavin wants to know if the intruder who sent terror to his house last night also did the same to Irina.

The car is parked in the basement. Gavin stepped lightly towards the elevator just as the iron door was wide open. There was one person inside, and when Gavin stepped in, that person barged out.

At first, Gavin did not feel anything strange. Until then, exactly two seconds before the elevator door closed again and he accidentally collided with the young man who had just exited the elevator, Gavin felt his whole body freeze.

Be careful, here are many eyes and ears. Stay alert, never lose focus because if you go the wrong way, you will not be able to return to where you should be.

But it's too late. Gavin could not prevent the young man from asking more because the elevator door had already closed and carried him up.

"Suck!" furious Gavin. His hands clenched, the muscles around his neck tightened and his eyes began to turn red in anger.

When he first met the young man, Gavin thought the young man was just a random person. But when he finds the young man in the apartment area he and Irina have rented, Gavin believes the young man is clearly connected to the series of terror they have received.

Ting!

The elevator doors opened, and Gavin rushed out and ran towards his unit. He was actually afraid that the young man had messed with Irina.

Instead of entering the security code on the door of his unit, Gavin put it directly on the door of Irina's unit. He no longer cared if anyone caught him in the unit. Gavin was terrified that something had happened to Irina.

The door opened. Gavin barged in and left the door closed by itself. Her eyes were looking for Irina there.

And she could sigh in relief when she found Irina sitting casually on the bed while watching a movie from the big television in front of her. The woman looked surprised as she opened the door abruptly, but the shock was soon gone and replaced with a bright smile that managed to make Gavin's worries subside a little.

"Hi," said Irina. As usual, she always greeted him with enthusiasm.

Not answering, Gavin just kept walking closer. Then, after he sat himself on the edge of the mattress, Gavin immediately pulled Irina's body and hugged the woman tightly.

"Who? Why, here?" ask Irina astonishment. He chuckles as Gavin refuses to answer and further tightens his embrace.

"Do you miss me that much?" ledek Irina's. But again Gavin did not answer and was not at all willing to loosen his arms.

Finally, Irina let Gavin do what he wanted. He no longer raised questions and resignedly let his body hugged despite the fact that he began to have a little difficulty breathing.

Minutes later, as Gavin began to loosen his arms and the man nailed to look at him, Irina's smile instantly vanished. He found the man staring at him. There was a thin mist enveloping his dark bead.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" ask Irina slowly. His hands stretched out to cupper Gavin's face.

This kind of scene reminded him of the figure of Gavin all those years ago. Gavin's frail, yet unable to get up was standing on his own feet. What makes this man as fragile as he is now?

"Vin?"

"You okay?"

Irina raised her eyebrows when Gavin asked back. "I should be the same as you, Vin. You okay? Why is your face like this, hmm?" Irina flicked Gavin's hair covering her forehead. Swiping softly on the cheeks of the man he loves is just to channel calmness and assurance that as long as there is him, everything will be fine.

"I just. miss you so much." Gavin said after a long period of silence.

In the end, she did not say what was inside her head for fear that it would make Irina panic. Let him know himself. Let him find a way to keep Irina and Kalea away from the bad things that are after them. Let him fight, for all this chaos is the source of him.

"You miss me? Until it makes you this sad?" ask Irina.

Gavin nodded his head. He was not good at lying, at least in front of Irina. So when the woman started nailing him again, Gavin hurriedly pulled the slender body into his arms. She hid her face in Irina's neck, letting the worry slip away for a moment as the scent of Irina's perfume began to fill her breathing cavity.

Seriate