OPACAROPHILES

19. Evidence Goods

Tonight, Love is unable to sleep. For some reason, he could not close his eyes for a moment. Because just a moment ago, Love accidentally found an old item belonging to his father who was under his bed. Indeed, since busy working part-time at the flower shop, and school, Love never fix his room. Because it is usually neat, and not messy so Love thinks it should not clean it now. But just then when he accidentally dropped his ring and went under the bed, Love instead found a black box there.

Love quickly took her out and looked at the box in confusion. Love never had a box like this. The box did not look dusty, as it had just been stored there.

The box was unlocked by nothing, Love opened it slowly as he was a little afraid of what this box contained. After Cinta ventured to open it, she was surprised by the contents in the box.

Inside there is an army uniform belonging to his father who immediately makes Love shed tears and hugged the uniform of the soldier tightly. He misses the figure of his father who every morning when he wakes up to go to school, his father is ready with his army uniform to welcome Love with a warm embrace.

"Dad..., Ata kangen Daddy..," said Love in her soft voice, she continued to hug the uniform with tears that were not stopping flowing.

Now the bigger he is, the more he feels that the figure of Dad is needed when he feels tired with everything he lives, the more he feels, he needs a figure of Dad who can give his shoulders and hugs without hesitation to him when he really wants to give up on the situation. But now, his father's figure was only a mortal shadow that could not reach let alone he had. Love really misses his father. Love wants to see the warm gaze that his Father always gives when talking to him, Love misses the sweet sentence that his Father always says when Love starts crying. Love missed her father's hand rub in her head when her Dad was feeling anxious about her behavior. His father was a very kind, friendly, loving person, and he was the most memorable first love for Love. Even to this day, no one can make her fall in love, like she loves her father.

"If you can hear Love now, Love wants to say Love is very dear to you. Love misses Daddy. You know, love has been trying to make it strong until now? You know, love will not lose the same situation? All that Love does because Love does not want to make Dad disappointed with Love. Love wants to know what the answer has been hidden, and also for Dad. Love promises, Love will find the answer until anytime, Love promises, Well," he said in a voice that sounded bitter.

When she was relieved, Love began to see what was in the box other than her father's uniform. Under his father's army uniform, there was a letter and a photograph.

The letter was in red ink, which said,

You always win.

You are always superior in everything.

You can even get the heart of the person I love the most.

You took the only person I had, Jess.

This time, I won't let you win.

See you, my friend.

That's what the red letter says. And underneath there is a row of numbers that make Love frowned.

00100000 01100001 01101011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01101101 01100001 01110100 01101001 00001010 00001010

Love was silent for a while and started thinking. Was his father's departure a plot to kill?. And this is the letter that the killer gave me just before Dad left. Love immediately grabbed the photo he had found in the box. The photo is very old, it's very scuffed too. What Love can see photographed is, two men and one woman standing in the middle. But all he could recognize was his father. The other two figures were not clearly visible. The killer must be one of these two figures, Love thought.

Is that a female figure? But what is possible? It was clearly in the letter that wrote like a man who was envious of what his father had. Maybe a woman. Now, a speck of light begins to be seen illuminating the path that Love has been through with complete darkness. Finally, he has a bright spot that can help him to seek answers to his Father's death that Love believes is a premeditated murder.

Because of that, Love can not close his eyes when the clock has now shown at three in the morning, and three hours from now he has to go to school and work after school. But Love does not care, he is busy thinking what steps he should take next.

Detectives are still out of town now, they are still often reported several times a week. But it feels like they haven't been to an orphanage for a long time to play with the children. For a long time they did not meet in person, Love missed his very warm figure like his father. Love hopes Om Detective can come home soon.

Love now more often met with Om Chandra, occasionally Om Chandra likes to send his food home. And also met at work Cinta which is not far from the police station where Om Chandra works. Love is very happy, he is around people who are very nice to him.

Love just remembered, did he have to tell this to Om Chandra? Looks like he should. He won't be able to keep this alone, he needs Om Chandra or Om Detective. Because only the two of them know about his problems.

Tomorrow Love will ask Om Chandra for a minute to tell you this.

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

After school, Cinta, Gega, Zemira, Luka, walk out of the classroom together. Yes, they are now classmates in the twelfth grade of IPA-3.

Many may ask where Felix is now. Now Felix is no longer in their class. Felix is in the twelfth grade of IPA 1, whose class is quite far from their class. But even like that, they sometimes like to gather together in class. Even if they are not in class, they are still friends.

"Lo go straight to work, Ta?," asked Gega to Love who was standing next to Luka.

"No, Ge. There are things that I have to take care of after this, "reply Love that from morning looks not calm. Even today there is no sweet smile that is usually always seen on her beautiful face.

"What business? Can I and the others help you?" said Zemira.

"It's not important, really. So I can take care of myself" said Love with a smile that seemed forced.

"Let me interven" Luka said in a flat voice.

"This time, I want to go alone. I promise, I will be good" replied Love in a delicate voice.

"No way, Love. I inter or the wounds between you, we will not interfere. We're just going to take you, and you're sure to be fine," Gega replied firmly.

"If that's what I want Gega to take, you can rest at home, Luka. I know you are not healthy anymore, you have to rest a lot, yes," said Love to the Wound next to him.

"Gue doesn't hurt," replied Luka with her flat face.

"Remember, you're not a robot. You are a human who can get sick. Ink was the one you always said to me, and now I'm the one who's going to say this to you" Love replied with a warm smile.

"OK," said Luka in the end. Since a few days ago, he felt very unwell. His head often hurts and his body lacks energy as usual.

"Yaudah, I'm the same Gega first, yes. Zemi who are you going home with?" asked Love to Zemira.

"Pak Memet has already been picked up outside" Zemira replied. Mr. Memet is the driver of the Zemira family.

"Good then, you guys be careful, go home," said Cinta as she passed with Gega to Gega's car park.

"Kasian deh lo, Cinta preferred Gega," ledek Zemira after Love passed from their view. Luka just put on a flat face, then patted Zemira's head slowly.

"Whispering," after saying that, Luka passed away leaving Zemira because Mizka had already picked her up to leave. Today, Mas Cetta will be home. So Luka and Mizka will pick him up at the airport at noon today. Cetta gets three months to go home earlier than scheduled. And that's a good thing because it's been so long the house is so quiet it's not as crowded if there's a Cetta there.

Cinta and Gega pass by leaving the school parking lot and immediately head to the address that Cinta gave. Love was hesitant to meet Om Chandra because Gega was the one who dropped her off. Gega and Luka are actually the same, overprotective. Anyone who speaks with Love will definitely not be out of their sight. And Love is afraid, Gega will also be suspicious of Om Chandra whom he did not know before.

"With me, will you go straight home or wait for me? If you want to go home, I can go home alone, really," asked Love when they were almost at their destination.

"Today I'm empty, so I can wait until you're done" Gega replied. Love is lost in return. Actually he hopes that Gega there is a need after dropping off so that he can freely tell stories with Om Chandra. He does not want many people to know about this problem. But it looks like Gega will soon find out about his problems.

They arrive at one of the restaurants that can usually only be ordered privately. Because this restaurant is commonly used for secret meetings or so on. Love also does not know why Om Chandra asked her here. Perhaps it was because Om Chandra was afraid that anyone would hear their important chat.

"Lo sure this is the meeting place? It's a private restaurant" asked Gega when they both got out of the car and were ready to step inside.

"Yes, I don't know why we met here either. Let's try to go in," take Love while stepping his foot to go inside. When he was about to enter, a female servant came to him.

"Welcome, is this true Love?" he asked politely.

"Alright, let me take it to the table that has been prepared," said the waiter while walking first followed by Love and Gega behind him.

Love waved her hand towards Chandra who was already there. But in contrast to Gega who looks very surprised by the existence of Chandra there.

"Thank you very much, Mba," said Love to the servant after they had stood before Chandra.

"Good fun," the waiter immediately sauntered away leaving his third.

Love still with her smile gazed towards Chandra and Gega who were looking at each other confused.

"Father," said Gega who made Cinta turn towards him with a confused frown.

"Why is he here?" asked Gega to Chandra, who was still silent in his place.

"Isn't he? Om Chandra is your Papah, Ge?," asked Gega's love.

"Yes, Ta. This is my Papah" replied Gega who managed to make Love surprised.

"You sit down first" Chandra said. The two of them complied and immediately sat themselves in the chair that had been prepared.

"Well, when did you know Love?" Gega asked Chandra.

"Not long. It was also unintentional, but because of something Papah became familiar with Love," replied Chandra who answered Gega's curiosity.

"Because of what?" Gega felt so curious as to why his Papa could know Love.

"You'll know after this. So Love, what do you want to say?" said Chandra.

Love opened her school bag and took out a black box from her bag.

"What is this?" asked Chandra.

"Yesterday Love found this box in the room. And the contents turned out to be Dad's belongings, Om. Love thinks that this could be a bright spot for this case," Love said with a black box in her hand.

"Who's this box been holding since you found it in the room? You or anyone else holding this box?" replied Chandra who meticulously looked at the box in Love's grasp.

"Newly I'm the Om who holds, why, Om?," asked Cinta confusedly.

"This box can't be there by itself. Someone must have kept this box in your room. Therefore, we can check the fingerprints in this box in addition to your fingerprints," said Chandra who made Love nod in understanding, but not with Gega.

"Cases? A fingerprint? What are you talking about?" asked Gega.

"Father is helping Love uncover the case of his father's death that seems to have been planned. You have to keep this a secret, Gega. You also have to take care of Love because Papah is sure, there are people around Love that can endanger Love," Chandra told Gega who had begun to understand where their conversation was going.

"Good, Pah. Gega will take care of Love" Gega replied with confidence.

"Before, what is it?" Chandra grabs a coin-shaped black object on the outskirts of Love's school bag that looks suspicious.

"It's a sound eavesdropper," Chandra quickly stomped on it and threw it into the trash.

"Voice tapper? Why is it in my bag?" asked Love in a fearful tone.

"There must be someone who taro it in your bag when you are no longer aware, fortunately Papah realized first. Don't let that person hear what we're talking about anymore" Gega said calmly.

"From now on, you have to be more careful. It seems, around you can be a unsafe place for you," said Chandra who looks surprised by the sound. He was more and more convinced, his perpetrators were around Love.

"Yes, Om," Love replied in a quiet voice.

"We continue. Now Love opens the box and puts the box in this plastic" Chandra hands over the plastic she used to keep the investigative evidence she always carried in her pocket. Love quickly opened the box and took out all its contents. After that he put the box into the plastic that Chandra gave him. That way there will be no other fingerprints printed on the box.

"It's Dad's stuff, Om. But this letter is not Dad's handwriting" Cinta said, showing her to Chandra.

"O my best friend, it's obvious that the one who wrote it was your father's best friend, Love" replied Chandra.

"Om Detective once talked about Dad's best friend. He said that one day before the incident, Father was officially appointed Brigadier General. And everyone who's at Dad's place is working, knows Dad and his best friend. But since that incident, Dad's best friend never came to work. Because that Om Detective said when Dad was in office, Dad's best friend didn't even step down because of something. Detective also thinks that Dad's best friend can be a person to be suspected. It's likely that Dad's best friend is angry and resentful because Dad always wins when he doesn't. So in this letter he wrote that he will not let Dad win," said Love at length which makes it all more clear that someone who is most suspicious is the father's friend.

"The problem is who's Dad's best friend Love? Clue from this letter does not lead to someone, but this photo? One of the two people in this photo could be the perpetrator right?," asked Gega while paying close attention to the photo of two people who look very damaged and worn.

"According to Papah also that, for now let Papah continue the case. Gega's job now is to take care of Love because it looks like the perpetrator already knows that Love will raise this case again. Love don't worry, yeah. Om will be informed Om Detective also about the development of this case. So Love focuses on learning and taking care of yourself" Chandra told Gega and Cinta. After that, all of Chandra's evidence is stored for further investigation. Gega and Love immediately say goodbye to go home, and Chandra returns to work.

"Gue doesn't know that you've been trying to make a case this complicated" Gega said when they were both in the car again.

"I also don't know if the case will be this complicated" Love replied with a small smile.

"Do you know anything about this?" asked Gega after running his car.

"Not yet, it's just me, Detective Om, and Chandra Om. But today, you also know about this, "reply to Love.

"Om Detective who the hell? From earlier you were the same Papah talking to him, but did not mention whose name," said Gega who looks focused on the streets.

"I also don't know the name of the real Detective Om who, from the beginning I met, he said call him Detective Om, and until now I don't know what his name is," reply Love as he sighed, he missed his Detective Om.

"Where is he now? Why didn't you come to the meeting today?" asked Gega, who still seemed very curious about all the things related to his father's death.

"Since the last year and a half, Detective can be on duty working out of town. So, you can't attend this meeting. I know that Detective also has a lot of work, I never meant for him to help me. But Detective always says he's always ready to help me. Always encourage me, always love me a very wise word, and he can always make me grateful because of his presence I can feel a little presence Dad even though it feels not the same," love with a warm smile.

"Gue's really happy, you have a lot of good people around you. Promise not to get hurt, huh, Ta?," now Gega looked at Love seriously.

"I promise, I won't make you worry. Thank you very much, Ge, for being one of the good people who have always been there for me" Love replied with a hand that held Gega's hand tightly.

I know this feeling is wrong, Ta. But can I keep it any longer?. Gega said in his heart.

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

"Damn, get caught!," he said furiously while slamming his phone. He passed towards the glass and stared at his reflection.

"Now I can't stay still. Before everything became clear, I had to do something" he said with clenched arms.