Red Threads

Sculled

Mika deliberately went to school, before her mother woke up. He waited all night in front of the ward, without even closing his eyes. Several times Martin told him to sleep in the room, but many times he refused. He was not ready to face his mother. He is still trying to make peace with the pain and ego that is still a little dwelling in his heart.

Tired of staying up all night, it vanished as his eyes caught Kai walking from the school parking lot. The two corners of his lips were pulled upwards, showing a line of small smiles. Mika was about to shout to call Kai, but the guy had already seen her existence. Kai waved his hand. Then, a small run approached Mika in the main corridor of the school.

“Lo semalem not sleeping?” ask Kai. His eyes examined every inch of Mika's face.

“Sleep coking.” Mika turned her eyes away while answering that. Scared, if Kai would catch the lie in his eyes.

“Eye bags are like rice sacks. Very good tebel.”

Mika snorts. Then, land the teak on Kai's head. Kai grimaced a little, while rubbing the back of his head that was the victim of Mika's attack.

“Where is nyokab lo? I heard from Anggita last night, nyokab you entered the hospital.”

Mika forced a small smile. “Udah please. Maag only.”

Just maag. Mika repeated that sentence in her heart. Trying to convince yourself, if his mother will be okay.

Kai landed a palm on the top of Mika's head. Unknowingly, it made Mika's heart beat fast.

“Jagain nyokab. Before time make lo nyesel.”

Mika's body was like being stung by electricity, when she saw a line of smiles on the man's face. He still refused to admit, but his heart was unable to lie. That smile seemed to bind him, creating warm explosions in his chest. He likes that smile. He liked it when Kai rubbed his head. He was comfortable being near that guy.

Mika small throats. Try to adjust his voice to keep it sounding ordinary. However, it seems like he failed. Finally, to reduce the awkwardness that enveloped him, he forced to speak. “Lo's stuff, I'm turning tomorrow." Inwardly, Mika hoped that her voice would not sound nervous.

Kai chuckles. “Seat. So you decided to go home?”

Mika nodded slowly. Although, not entirely sure.

“Good. Don't run away again. Not well. Just went the same way I did, if we were married.” Kai glanced at Mika.

Fucking kai! Mika cursed Kai in her heart. That guy intentionally made him misbehave. He did not know, it was as bright as what his face was at the moment.

“Gue to class first!” Mika immediately ran, regardless of Kai calling her name. Stupid time with Kai. Wrong himself, still morning has made his heart beat abnormally.

Mika stopped her steps on the doorstep of the classroom, when she saw Raga on her stool. The guy was seriously staring at the laptop screen. Raga was not even aware of her arrival who was already beside the guy.

“Do you see what the hell?” ask Mika. His forehead creased faintly, and also dropped the view on the laptop screen.

Raga gasped when she heard Mika's voice. Reflek, he closed his laptop a little hard. “Jeez, Ka! I guess who.” Raga stroked her own chest several times, while adjusting her breathing.

Mika chuckles. “You are very serious. Again see what, anyway?”

“Sit first.” Raga shifted her seat, and occupied the Anggita bench which was still empty. He gave a seat to Mika.

Raga reopened her laptop. Not long after, a video went back to spinning on the screen.

Mika looked seriously. It's a CCTV video they haven't seen yet.

“I already know, who was in Nagra's apartment after you left that day,” said Raga, inviting curiosity in Mika.

“Who?”

Raga did not give an answer. The guy just played the video, and hinted for Mika to see it for herself.

Like yesterday, the video begins with the arrival of a mysterious boy in a black jacket and hat. Mika's forehead wrinkled with eyes staring intently at every little move the guy made.

“No way,” Mika mutters. His consciousness had not yet fully returned. His heart beat irregularly, accompanied by denial that whispered in his heart and head.

“You've seen it, right?” ask Raga. Mika did not answer. He could not even hear Raga's words clearly. He's still too surprised. His ears suddenly turned deaf.

“This is impossible, ‘kan? The tape must have been engineering.” Mika kept throwing denial in her heart. Although it can not cover the pain that immediately gnawed.

“It's definitely not CCTV footage in Nagra's room, right?” mika asked with a trembling voice. Her chest feels very tight. It was as if there was a large-sized concrete squeezing.

“If it wasn't in Nagra's room, then who was the guy who made the tea?” Raga played back the CCTV footage. Then, wait for it right in the part where Nagra made the tea. The guy's index finger pointed right at Nagra's figure.

“It's impossible that Kai confessed it.”

“You can't believe it, Ka. But, this could be proof that the person in the video is indeed Kai.”

“But, they have never known before.” Mika is still trying to deny. Despite the corner of her heart, she slowly began to believe what she had seen.

“You never know Nagra's friends, right? You are not twenty-four hours with him. Maybe they know each other. And, often meet without your knowledge.” Raga tries to explain.

Mika shook her head repeatedly. It felt like a giant hammer had just shattered his heart, squeezed his chest, and crushed his heart. He was unable to breathe normally.

There's no way it's Kai. Kai's a good man. It's unlikely he killed Nagra.

The series of rejection sentences did not make Mika's feelings improve. It brings more pain. His head turned back all the memories he had done with Kai.

Is this the reason the guy was so persistent in chasing her? Is it because of this that guy keeps trying to get Raga out of his life? Because, Kai feels Raga is a threat that can uncover his secrets. Did Kai deliberately eliminate the trail by trying to get close to him?

Kai is dangerous. Raga's statement that day re-echoed in her cranium. It should have been, from the beginning, that he had realized the strangeness. He shouldn't trust Kai. He should have trusted Raga, if Kai was dangerous. And she should never have fallen in love with that guy.

Instantly the tears that pooled in Mika's eye pelup, decayed into small details on the cheeks. No stuffing came out of Mika's lips. Only the look in his eyes was laden with wounds and regret.

So, Kai also came to the apartment to delete the CCTV footage?

Goddamnit! Mika cursed in heart. His pair of eyelids, which had originally displayed a wound, were now bubbling. There was a great anger and it surrounded him. Makes his body instantly heat up.

Mika was about to get up from her place, but Raga immediately blocked her wrist. Highlight the guy's eyes were calm, though it couldn't cover up the anger that was also lodged there.

“Quiet first. Kai is in this tape. But we have to find other evidence. Evidence corroborating that he was indeed guilty.” Raga tries to convince Mika.

“What else, Ga? Everything is clear. It's clear, if it's Kai.” Mika said with great emphasis. Trying to keep his tone of voice slow, so as not to provoke the attention of his friends.

“We cannot conclude from just one thing. Later in the afternoon, we'll go to Nagra's apartment. You still remember the key, right?” Raga's question, responded with a nod by Mika.

Raga managed to get Mika to not act rashly. Although they do not know, what else they will do in Nagra apartment. Isn't the CCTV footage already in hand? Is it not enough to be used as evidence?

Mika took a deep breath. However, it did not reduce the anger and disappointment in Kai that filled his heart. Someone he trusts, someone he considers his place to run, is in fact an assassin who guises a hero for him.

If it wasn't for Raga, he would've hit and cursed Kai with a punch. How could he fall in love with Kai's cutie? How could he be tricked into the man's sweet attitude and manner?

In fact, Kai is just a wolf in sheep's clothing. The enemy in the blanket, who had been wearing a mask to make him fooled.

There's nothing you can do. He just cried to channel his anger and pain. If he had known from the beginning, he was sure that his heartache would not have been this great. He fell in love with that guy. He has extended his belief that Kai will help him rise after Nagra's departure. Because all this time, Raga could not do that.

Kainaka Assegaf, you're fucking! I will not remain silent. I'll take you to hell!