Red Threads

Guess

Kai_naka Asgf

Meet me on the roof!

That message was what brought Mika to this place, on the roof of the school. Where he had attempted suicide.

He dropped a glance at Kai who was busy with canvas, paint, and brushes. The guy had no regard for his whereabouts at all. If usually Mika would go straight away when not cared about, then this time was different. There was something that made him feel at home for long. What else, if not Kai.

Kai's nimble movements, the frown on his forehead when his front hair blushed, and a relaxed but serious expression, made Mika unable to let go of the sight for a second. Kai who usually looks a little annoying, can turn into someone who–at least–a little awesome with those things.

“What can you get from this picture?” Kai's question broke the silence that had occurred. He turned the finished canvas facing Mika.

Mika's forehead wrinkled faintly. There were two people swimming towards the beach in the middle of the ocean. Some people seemed to be floating and motionless behind them. There are two moods there; the night when in the middle of the sea, and the morning by the beach. There was a huge roll of waves ready to devour the two people from behind. However, they did not even the slightest look of fear on their faces. They were both grasping knives, which made blood flow from the palms of the hands and mix with the sea water.

“They again nyari fish, continue to drown in the sea,” said Mika. His eyes blinked innocently, and successfully made Kai laugh.

“They are no longer fishing, Ka. They are the ones who were drowned by the circumstances,” said Kai, moments later. His eyes glanced towards Mika who was still a little confused.

“See!” Kai pointed at the two people swimming. “They are swimming to get away from the ocean and the waves that can at any time roll their bodies. They were trying to get to a bright beach. This knife, wave, and darkness is described as a pain. Life is never free from suffering and despair. Everyone must have experienced it. They have two paths to choose to be free. Keep fighting like these two people, even with a body full of wounds, and know if the waves will drag them back to the middle of the sea, or drown. Alternatively, the pick ends up like those who are floating and not moving. Those who were floating were the ones who lost. Who chose to give up before trying to get to the edge.”

Kai's explanation hit Mika. Reminded him of his suicide attempt that day. Perhaps if Kai was late to save her for a second, he would end up like some of those people. Losing and without hope.

“Gue has been depressed. Even so, the cause is not at all important according to others. But it really nearly made me die. Fortunately, that day someone helped me to get up. Although in the end, I make the person die indirectly.”

“Mati?” Mika's lips trembled as she said that sentence. I don't know, right now the word die becomes something he fears.

Kai nodded. “He told me to draw, whenever I felt depressed. I always follow his words, every time I feel depressed, every time I feel that dying is good.”

Kai ducked down to pick up a brush, blank canvas, and paint, then handed it to Mika. “Lo can use this, whenever you feel desperate. I'm sure, this can reduce the feeling of being depressed rather than cutting yourself.”

Mika accepted the thing, then smiled faintly. “Thanks, Brother.”

He leaned the object against the wall, then stared at it long enough. The one obstacle he was facing right now, he could not draw.

“Nevent to think. Picture according to your finger's wishes. We seek tranquility equal freedom, not aesthetic value.”

Unfortunately when Mika was about to scratch the brush on the canvas, the bell rang again. Indicates that the break is over.

“Later afternoon come with me. I will talk to Raga, if today you come home with me.”

♥

The sun peeked out from behind the tall buildings, as Kai stopped his motorbike in a field. The rice fields are located around the field. This place is not too far from the urban area. But the level of pollution is a little bit thinner.

“Why are we here?” ask Mika.

“You brought the painting tool earlier?”

Mika nodded. Then, he took out the things Kai had given him this morning from his paper bag.

Kai took out the support wood from his bag, and placed Mika's canvas on the wood.

“Whatever picture you want,” said Kai.

Mika had absolutely no idea about something she was going to draw. He simply moved the brush in his hand in any direction. Forming line by line with different colors.

He chose a combination of dark colors. I don't know, for what reason. Perhaps, those colors represented his dark life. In the middle of his activities, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Space Raga

Don't come home too late. Careful.

Mika smiled faintly as she read the message. Once again, he felt empty when he got such little attention from Raga. Supposedly, he's happy. All this time, Raga had never even sent him a message first. The guy is impressed no matter where he is, what he is doing, or how he is doing. However, all that changed after the incident in front of the school wall magazine that day. No. gabe. More precisely, after the guy found out he was with Kai on the school roof.

“Kakak what to Raga?” mika asked, without taking her attention off the canvas.

“It looks like we need to change one thing. Don't call me brother again. I feel so old.”

“Kan, Sister is old.” Kai glanced sharply at Mika, after hearing that answer. Mika replied with a big laugh.

Again. There was a corner of his heart that was painful, when he saw Mika laughing like that. “First, don't call me Brother. Just call me Kai. Second, when was the last time you laughed that wide?”

Mika turned her attention to Kai. His forehead was curious. “Why?”

“Gue kangen see you laugh like that.” Kai could only say that inwardly. In response, he just shook his head slowly.

“I can know about that scar?” Mika pointed at the corner of her own eyes, gesturing at Kai.

Kai touched the scar. The look on his face that was originally ordinary, immediately seemed enveloped in cloudiness. Turbid.

“When I was seven years old.” Kai paused his sentence for a moment. His head was slightly tilted, trying to remember the events that had already passed eleven years ago. “There used to be a kid who threw me with a rock. He's that funny. He who throws, I am the wounded, even he who cries.” Kai laughed a little. Every time he remembered the incident, he was always happy. “But, I don't know where he is now.”

To Kai, the little boy was someone who had once saved him from the darkness. The little boy offered her hope. From the way the boy laughed, looked, and spoke, Kai could find a color in his monotonous and pitch-black life.

Only, fate did not allow them to be together forever. They were only met twice, during the throwing tragedy and three days after that. There's one thing Kai always remembers from their last meeting. The little boy gave him a lollipop, laughing at the feeling Kai was cute with plaster stuck to his forehead. The little boy said that he looked like a thug who often appeared in movies.

Kai couldn't help but laugh every time he remembered the incident. In fact, he still keeps the candy wrapper in his room, to this day. To him, it was the only thing he had from the little boy.

After that meeting, they never met again. Kai still tries to wait in the park until sunset, every day. But the little boy never showed up.

“Why should I look for him, if now he is in front of me?” Kai shook his head once more. Making the face as sad as possible, so that it can make Mika believe. As it turns out, playing a role like this is much more fun than pretending to be happy when the heart is falling apart.

“You love her?”

“Sayang.” Kai immediately smothered his mouth, as the sentence slid spontaneously.

Mika took a long breath. Pretending to smile, even though there was a corner of his heart that felt pain. He did not know why such a feeling should exist. He didn't even know if Kai had the same feelings. It could be, the guy was intending to help her, without including feelings.

“If you love, don't shut up. You search for him until you get. Who knows, he's also waiting for you.”

“As it were, he couldn't have waited for me. He must have forgotten.”

Mika nodded slowly. Then, his lips moved slowly. Whispering something very softly. “May you meet again someday. And, may you be happy.”

Without Mika realizing it, Kai caught a different look in his eyes. The guy knows, if there is a splash of jealousy that is clearly visible in Mika's eyes. Secretly, Kai reviewed a small smile. Along with Mika who pretended to cover everything up, there was a hope that slowly emanated in Kai's chest.

“Iya. May we be happy, Mika.”

♥

An hour before Mika and Kai leave

*“Gue want to take Mika away today.” Kai deliberately blocked Raga who had just come out of the library with a stack of books.

“Gue does not give permission.”

Kai smiled cynically. Then, he patted Raga on the shoulder a few times. “Gue here does not ask for approval from you. I just want to tell you, if today you do not need to take her home.”

Raga grunting. On his face was already an annoyed look, which actually made Kai secretly cheer.

Kai took one step back. Just in case Raga intended to throw the pile of books that were being brought to her.

“You know what exactly? Why do you keep trying to get close to Mika? She's my girlfriend!” Raga gritted her teeth. Every word that came out of his lips, was spoken with great emphasis.

Kai chuckles. “Do not think, I do not know the purpose of your courtship with Mika. I know everything, Ga.”

Raga's pair of eyelids opened wide, after hearing Kai's reply. He tried to calm himself. Kai was just trying to provoke his emotions.

“Gue is dating her, because I love her.”

Kai held back a laugh. If he did not remember this time he had entered the lesson, he would have laughed off hearing that answer.

“You till when you pretend, Ga? I know all your plans. I know what you've been hiding all along. Lo dating Mika just to benefit her, ‘kan? Stale, Ga!”

“Peach your mouth, motherfucker! Don't talk carelessly! I've never tried to benefit him.”

Kai laughed again, but not with his eyes. Highlighting the guy's eyes was like wanting to kill his interlocutor. Sharp, cold, and unsheathed.

“Gue does not want to argue with you. I just want to tell you, that today I went with Mika. No matter, you agree or not. Because, I did not ask for approval,” said Kai. Then, he again patted Raga's shoulder a few times.

Kai turned back around, after taking five steps away from Raga. “Quiet aja. I won't tell Mika about your plan. But, I'm sure, he'll know by himself soon.”*

♥

“Gue already knows all your plans. Lo dating Mika just to benefit her, ‘kan?”

“Damn it!” Raga growled as Kai's voice reverberated in his ear. He was not out of thought, how could Kai draw that conclusion? How could Kai drop that accusation on her?

His anger has arrived in the sea. Supposedly, from the start, he had already anticipated Kai's arrival. He should have known, if the guy approached Mika with a purpose. Supposedly, from the start, he never let the guy get close to Mika.

“Lo why, Ga?” abi asked, as he placed the cold soda can onto the table in front of him.

“Damn the Kai. He accused me of dating Mika, because I just want to benefit the girl.”

Abi raised one eyebrow. “Lo still dating Mika? All Pelita's children have given her a stamp as a killer.”

“Then they are, they are the ones. They have drawn conclusions, only from the news in the mading and school groups. They did not try to search deeper.”

“So you can't believe Mika is the killer?”

Raga grunting. His eyes were now on Abi. “Bi, try to think. What was the reason he killed Nagra? Nagra is her brother. I know, all this time Mika is very dear to Nagra.”

Abi rubbed his chin, as if thinking hard. “So, who is the real killer?”

“According to my analysis, he's in our school. Try to think! The rules at our school are strict, bro. No one can go in and out. He must have access. Or at the very least, he has an insider who can help him to freely move.”

Abi mangosteen. “And according to lo, he has a grudge with Mika or just for personal interests?”

“Well, that's who I think it is now. During the time with Mika, I never knew she had problems with other people.”

Abi gulped the soda from inside the can. This conversation made his head wince. He never thought, if the case of Nagra's death turned out to be long-tailed. He thought the death was only finished with the conclusion of suicide. Apparently, no.

They were silent for a while. Strive to digest every sentence and possibility that is in the head. Until finally, Raga spoke again. “Before the incident in the mading, someone said that Nagra's killer was a person who was close to the guy. You have been in school there for a long time. You must know, who has ever been close to Nagra at school.”

Abi began to think one by one of the possibilities. Nagra was never in trouble. However, the guy has difficulty in socializing. And, the people who were once close to that guy were only Anggita and Samuel.

Could it be that the killer was Samuel?