Red Threads

Defeating the Ego

Satya squinted suspiciously when she saw three of her friends putting motorcycles into her yard. It is rare to see Abi, Samuel, and Kai in the same circle. Abi and Samuel had been friends for a long time. But since they were in different classes, they were never seen together again. I don't know, for what reason. Satya doesn't know.

“You want to rob my house or what? It's ten o'clock in the evening!” sulcan Satya. Both of his hands were folded in front of his chest, while putting on a look like a fierce host. Every now and then, the tail of his eyes glanced at the door of the house. Hoping that the presence of the three creatures does not disturb the tranquility of the inhabitants of his house.

Kai who approached Satya first chuckled softly. “Sorry, Sat. We're here because there's something important to wear. *Urgent*! Gentile! Life and death!”

“Ha? Who wants to die?!” Satya shouted in surprise. Forgot if the atmosphere in the complex of his house was very quiet.

“Mosquitoes in my house die,” says Abi. From the look in his eyes, he seemed to want to hit Satya with sandals. “Lo voice has won the sound of a mating cat!”

Satya snorts. Then he looked at Abi and Samuel in turn. His eyes looked suspiciously at the two of them. “Lo both, tumben together? Did you return?”

“Invert, nutmeg lo bald! My very same uncle this son.” Samuel shuddered as he glanced towards Abi. Meanwhile, Satya directly touched his head. Make sure that he is not bald like Samuel's curse.

Kai only shook his head looking at the debate of the three absurd humans in front of him. He was not intending to chimed in on his three friends. His mind was filled with only one goal, which was to know someone who had already spread the word about Nagra.

“We can enter, right? Or, you want us to be like a husband who was told to sleep outside?” chirps Kai.

Satya chuckled so subconsciously it had been almost five minutes they were standing outside. “Ya already, come in. You guys didn't bring anything, ‘kan? No tacky, ‘kan?” His eyes looked carefully at Kai, Satya, and Samuel.

“That there's a mbak-mbak standing behind you. Want acquaintance?" sahut Abi. His finger pointed at Satya's back, making the man turn his head.

"Damn lo!" Satya cursed when she realized Abi was just working on her.

The condition of Satya's house is already quiet, making them inevitably have to talk with half a whisper. After Kai informs the destination of those visiting without knowing the time, Satya immediately picks up the cell phone in the room. Satya had to walk around like a cat burglar, as soon as she arrived at the door of her parents' room.

It wasn't until two minutes, Satya had already returned to the living room with a cell phone in hand. The guy put the flat object on the table in a state of light. “Luck yesterday I had screenshot.” The flat object screen displays a message from someone and the person's username. “Username is strange. There are no profile pictures, let alone biodata," Satya said.

“F_23_A,” muttered Kai. Without removing focus from the phone screen. “Ah, not creative. Don't you think this is her license plate?”

“It's not like it's original writing, Kai. There must be a point.” Samuel tried to analyze.

Abi, who had been focusing on Satya's phone screen, immediately gasped. In his brain, there was a possibility about the username. “You do not remember that Nagra died on the 23rd. It could be, the number in the username is the date of the death of Nagra.”

Satya flicked her finger. “Smart lo! Tumben pinter?”

Abi glanced sharply at Satya, then snorted. “If you forget, my rank is always above lo.”

Satya just laughed in response to Abi's statement.

“Continue, if F equals A?” asked Kai, who was then responded to with a sledgehammer by Abi.

♥

Mika threw her body on the bed as soon as she arrived at Anggita's house. Today he was really tired. Investigating what he did with Raga, made his energy and mind seem forced to work hard. Regardless of Angita who was nagging because she made the girl's bed messy, Mika closed her eyes.

“Lo so mutusin Raga?” Anggita's question made Mika's eyes open wide again.

Mika exhaled a tired breath. Then, change his position to sit. “Where do I want to kill him. Just wanted to mutusin, suddenly he told me about CCTV footage in Nagra's apartment.”

“CCTV?” ask Anggita. I don't know why, he felt weird about it. “Why did he just take you to investigate the CCTV now?”

Mika raised her shoulders. “He said, he also just found out that there are neighbors who work as security officers in Kak Nagra's apartment. Well, he knew about the CCTV from the guy.”

Without taking her eyes off Mika, Anggita tapped her fingers on her chin. It was obvious that he was thinking. Suddenly, a question formed that raised suspicion in him. Why did Raga say that, just when Mika wanted to end their relationship? However, he immediately dismissed the suspicion. Then, again asked Mika, “Terus, what is the result? Is there anything you found on that tape?”

“Well, there it is. We haven't seen it until it's over. We only know that someone else came to Nagra's apartment after me. Of course, his actions are not suspicious. What's more, he's like Nagra's brother has known each other for a long time. But I was curious, why did he come to that apartment in such strange clothes.”

“Whimsy how?”

“Ya is weird. He came wearing the same hat. That was night time. There's no way he's overheated on the road.”

Anggita no longer responded to Mika's statement. His head was digesting every sentence that came from Mika's lips. About the people he didn't know about, and about anyone who had ever been close to Nagra.

However, just like before. He didn't get a single answer. As long as he was in a relationship with Nagra, he only knew that the man was close to one man, Samuel. However, he still could not confirm that the man was Samuel. He still had to ask Kai that.

In that instant, one by one his memories with Nagra hit again. Suddenly, his chest felt so tight. Nagra's face, smile, laughter, and voice seemed to fill his ears and head again. Rotating in the eye peluk, along with the appearance of a transparent layer in the part.

“I'm not dating Alana, Git. You have to trust me!” Nagra said with great determination.

“How can I believe that almost every night of the week you always walk together?” Suppose you're gnashing his teeth. Resisting the anger and jealousy that has arrived in the crown.

“Alana again depressed. He has a problem with his ex-girlfriend. He asked for help to me—”

“Please ask him to be close to you, so?”

Nagra. His hands scooped up his face in frustration. “I never thought of going out with him. I just want to help him. Only until she's free of her ex-boyfriend.”

*Switch closed his eyes, for a moment. Trying to quell his own anger. “I'm a girl, Gra. I can see that he likes you."

“He likes it, not me. You don't have to worry so. For me, there's only you. I promise I won't date Alana. But you have to be patient. I would have left him if the situation was conducive.”*

Aggita poked her lips disappointed. Although he was a little unwilling, he still could not do anything. Seeing that, Nagra immediately pulled Anggita in a summary of his hand. Trying to dampen the girl's disappointment in her chest. He knew, all this time the girl had endured the heartache. She knew she was trying to understand the situation, despite having to repeatedly suppress jealousy. So, he did not interrupt. He just leaned Anggita's head on his chest. Letting the girl hit her chest, while occasionally letting out an annoyed mockery.

*“Indeed, what happened between Alana and her ex-boyfriend?” ask Anggita, after successfully calming down again.

“Say, her ex-boyfriend always neror her. Alana scared. His ex-girlfriend also tried several times to avoid him. He asked me to help him. Pretend to be her boyfriend. Let her ex-boyfriend not bother anymore.”

Anggita stared at Nagra, for a few seconds. There was something in his pair of eyeballs. Something resembling worry, but also non-acceptance. “Doesn't anyone know about his family? Why should you? Why not Samuel? Kan, they can flip.”

“Alana it's closed. His family no one knows about it.” Nagra then laughed a little. “Samuel Sama Alana is still not getting along, until now.”*

I thought I rubbed her tears rough. The memory of that day, was still one thing he regretted. If only that day he had not allowed Nagra to get further involved with Alana, Nagra might still be with her now. If only he had met Alana immediately to end the pretense, maybe the incident in the apartment would not have happened.

Mika's cell phone ringing jolts Anggita's consciousness. He rubbed the corner of his eye again, making sure there was no more water there. His view turned to Mika. The girl was holding the phone in hand, with a tense face.

“Who, Ka?” anggita asked, trying to make his voice sound ordinary.

“Papa.” Mika says shrewdly. As of this morning, this was the twenty times his father had called.

“Why not lift? Who knows important.”

Mika shook her head slowly. The girl bit her lower lip, firmly. Trying to temper the turmoil of guilt in his chest.

“Sorry, Pa,” says Mika, inwardly. Right after the ringing of his phone stopped.

Just as he was about to put the phone on the nightstand, it rang again.

“Lift, Ka,” says Anggita.

Heavy and after thinking for a few seconds, Mika finally decided to lift the call. His fingers moved slowly, wiping his phone screen to the right.

“Mika, where are you?” the heavy voice of his papa was instantly heard from across there. Unwelcome. The voice sounded worried and a little bit in a frenzy.

“What's up, Pa?” ask Mika, witty.

“Where are you? You go home yes.” Martin's voice sounded resolute, but laden with pleas.

Mika took a long breath. It's not that he doesn't want to go home. Only, his heart was still not strong enough to accept everything that had happened. “Ma—maaf, Pa. Mika can't—”

“Papa please, you go home now yes. Let Mr. Rudi pick you up. You just say your position is now.”

“A—ada what, Pa?” Mika frowned. It's not usual for her father to beg like that.

“Mama you are sick. He did not eat for two days. She's looking for you.”

Mika laughed in her heart hearing that. Mama's looking? What other jokes are his parents making? Wasn't that woman the one who kicked him out? Wasn't he just a child accused of murder and a pesky bearer? So, why are they looking for it?

“You're home now yes.” Martin begged again. Mika closed her eyes tightly, for a few seconds. Trying to suppress pain and tightness in the chest. No. gabe. He's not coming back now. He no longer wanted to be his mother's impingement. He no longer wanted to be the one accused of murder. He had enough patience all this time.

“Sorry, Pa. But Mika can't go home now. Tell Mama, don't look for Mika.” Mika just cut the phone line. Turn off the phone, and throw it in the bed. Then, hide your face behind a pillow.

He won his ego. But why does it feel so excruciating? His heart was like being hit by a thousand daggers. This pain really made his chest seem to be squeezed. Mika was crying, without a sound.

“Ka, you really don't want to go home?” anggita asked, after Mika started to calm down. 

Mika shook her head slowly. His face was pale and messy. Complete with red eyes.

“Mending you go home, Ka.” Anggita rubbed the back of Mika's hand. “Gue does not mean to make a lo maksa. But, you also can not be selfish.”

“Gue selfish?” Mika laughed snorting. “Gue tired, Git. You don't know what it's like to be me.”

Aggita breathes heavily. “Gue doesn't know what it's like to be lo. But, I try to understand it feels so lo.”

Mika insisted on shaking her head. To him, no one knew what it was like to be him. No one knows what it's like to be accused of being a murderer. No one knew what it was like when he had to face the anger of his mother. No one knows.

“Gue don't want to discuss that.” Mika threw herself on the bed. Positioning themselves back Angita who stared at his back with nanar.

Aggita bit her lower lip. After being silent for a few seconds. After ending the war with yourself. Finally, he returned to voice. “Yesterday aunt Yulia nyari lo here. Rainy. Cooling.”

Anggita's gaze was fixed on Mika's back that remained unmoved.

“Tante Yulia begged me to take you home. I've been nawarin to enter, but aunt Yulia won't. He said he'd find you bye. I don't know where he went after that.”

Mika remained in her position. Pretending sleep. Although Anggita knew, several times the girl took a deep breath.

“Lo have no pity on Aunt Yulia? I think he feels guilty.” Anggita touched Mika's shoulder, and made the girl flinch. “Lo home yes, Ka. Poor Aunt Yulia same Om Martin.”

“Why? Why should mommy come after me?” Mika asked with a trembling voice.

Anggita smiled a little as soon as she heard the words from Mika. “Because, Aunt Yulia loves you. He may not know how to express that feeling. Sadness and loss over Nagra's departure, making Aunt Yulia unable to interpret her own feelings.”

“Mama never loved me.” Mika is still trying to evade Anggita's explanation and from the voice in her own little heart.

“Ka, everyone must have a mistake. If you can forgive me, why can't you forgive your parents?”

“Because they lied to me. They hid the truth for years if it turned out I was just a pick-up boy. They made me a scapegoat for Nagra's death!” Mika almost screamed. Frustrations. He even got up from his position.

Angita took a long breath. Refrain from staying calm. “They didn't mean that. Try to think. If they don't love you, why would they want to reach this big?”

“Because, it was Nagra who asked me to be part of that family.” Mika is desperate. The voice in his heart still reluctantly stopped asking him to go home.

“Despite Nagra still exist, he still will not be able to do anything if aunt Yulia same om Martin nolak to ngerawat lo. But, the proof is they want to adopt you from the orphanage. Take care of you, go to school. You still want to say that they don't love?”

Mika was really desperate. His ego was still explosive, reluctant to subside. Meanwhile, the voice in his heart continued to force him to budge and immediately meet his mother. There is one side of his heart that approves every statement Anggita. However, there is another side that keeps trying to evade. The struggle made him tired. There was nothing to do but cry.

A few seconds later, Mika moved from her position. Move quickly towards the nightstand, and pick up his phone. He pressed the power button for a few seconds. For the first time, he felt the boot process on his phone felt very long.

Five seconds after the phone is completely ready for use. That thing vibrates. A message coming in from her papa made Mika's pair of eyes widen. He held his breath, as his finger moved to open the message.

Papa

Mom went to the hospital.

Just one second after she read the message, Mika seemed to no longer stand on the same earth. Deep regret and guilt enveloped him. Regardless of Anggita's whereabouts he ran away from the room.