Red Threads

Diary

The state of Nagra's apartment room was still the same as that day. The dirty clothes in the sink are no longer there. The empty sleeping pill bottle that once served as the main evidence that Nagra committed suicide, was still in bed, on the edge of a pile of pillows. Mika turned her eyes to the desk drawer that Nagra had always locked. During this time, Nagra had never allowed her to open that drawer. He did not know where Nagra kept the key to the drawer.

Mika walks towards the small buffet across from Nagra's bed. His eyes swept across the surface of the thing. Looking for something he might use as a guide. But nothing suspicious there. There was only a line of textbooks, a picture of him with Nagra in a frame, and a box of Nagra's music books. Things he often saw when visiting the guy's apartment.

“You found something?” ask Raga. The guy just came back from checking out the kitchen.

Mika shakes. “Nothing," he said, without taking a look from his picture with Nagra on the buffet.

Slowly his hand moved to take the picture frame. Nagra was smiling broadly. The pair of male eyes were sparkling, like stars. Things that Mika always liked from Nagra. Unknowingly, a line of smile was scratched on his lips. The longing in his heart overflowed to the surface. His fingers moved slowly to wipe the glass surface of the picture frame.

“Kak Nagra, how are you? I came here again,” he said inwardly, with a tightness that filled the chest.

When he was about to return the picture frame to the table, his finger touched something behind it. Mika flipped the frame of the photo, and found the tip of a small and thin lock peering out of the crevices of the frame. Mika's forehead is wrinkled. What key is that?

“Ga,” call Mika, holding the key in her right hand that she just found.

Raga approached Mika with a curious face. “That's what key? Where did you get that from?”

“Ndon't know. I got it from this thing.” Mika held up the picture frame that was still in her left hand.

“Try, I see.” Mika handed the key to Raga. Raga observed the surface of the lock for a few seconds. Then, the boy walked towards the drawer next to Mika.

Raga tried to put the key into place. However, it does not seem appropriate. Raga shook her head slowly. Then, return the key to Mika.

"Not a desk drawer lock," Raga said.

Mika frowned. If it's not a desk drawer key, then what's the key? Seriously, Mika observed every corner of that key. Thin, small, and there are only two taper angular arches at the ends of the two arches. Judging from the shape, immediately one idea appeared in Mika's head.

"This may be the key to the diary" exclaimed Mika. Without wasting any time, he and Raga immediately searched for a book on top of a buffet that was likely paired with that key.

There were four locked books lined up in front of them. All four were found in separate places. Two of the textbooks. And, two more in the box where the music book is stored. Judging from the cover, the books did not resemble diaries at all. The front cover images of the books are similar, just different colors. There was a large block note image in the middle of the cover, and it was surrounded with musical signs that Mika did not understand very well.

Mika tries to unlock the book one by one. He hissed full of relief, when finally the key managed to unlock the last book with a dark brown cover.

Mika opened the book sheet by sheet. Nothing is strange. The book contains only song notes. Just on the page near the end, he found something. An embossed object was covered in paper attached to one of the pages. Mika felt that thing. Then, slowly, he picked up the thing hidden behind the envelope-shaped paper. A key again. No bigger than the key he first found. Due to its small size and thinness, it can be easily hidden between pages of a book.

Mika rushed over to the desk drawer with the key she had just found. Appropriately. The drawer finally opened. Mika pulled the drawer slowly, along with her involuntarily restrained breath. Finally, he could see something that Nagra had never allowed.

Mika bengong for a moment. He thought the drawer contained something extraordinary. In fact, there was nothing strange in that drawer. There's a book with a cover of not-not-beams. Just like the books he found. It seemed, Nagra had indeed intentionally bought the book five pieces at once. However, compared to the others, the book was the one he was most familiar with. Nagra used the book to teach him how to play guitar. Next to the book was a black box.

Mika took those two things. Then, walk towards Nagra's bed. He opened the black box first. There were all sorts of small things stored there. Of the many things, only one thing caught Mika's attention. A red bracelet.

Mika jerks. He immediately took Kai's bracelet that had been in his bag—ia always forgot when he wanted to return the object. As expected, the bracelet was exactly the same as Kai's. He was no stranger when he saw it in his sink that day. However, why did Kai and Nagra have the same thing? Do they know each other? Or, is this indeed a clue if Kai is responsible for Nagra's death?

Mika tries to dodge the last question. However, failed.

“You found something?” Raga's voice jolted back Mika's consciousness. Mika replied, Raga has taken the red rope bracelet from her hand.

Raga takes Kai's bracelet from Mika's hand. His forehead was faintly wrinkled. His gaze fell on the two objects, for a moment. “Why do they have two things in common?”

Mika shook her head slowly. He lets Raga observe the two objects, while he drops a glance at Nagra's book. His hand moved to retrieve the key hanging from the book. Then, he used it to open the thing.

The blue-covered book with a not-beam motif is open. There's a picture of his family on the front page. The photo was taken when he was six years old. There is a line at the bottom of the photo.

Three years after he came into our lives.

Mika rubbed the writing. There was a haru sneaking inside his chest. He opens the next page. There are only musical notes and guitar keys written by Nagra. On the thirty page, he began to find something different. There was a piece of gold-colored ink on the page.

Story Form.

Mika opened the next page, and found her smiling picture. There are two photos that are attached side by side. His picture was about three years old, and when he wore a gray uniform for the first time.

I never thought he would come into my life. She's the little girl I met at the orphanage that day. The little girl who invited me to play on a paper plane, I forgot about time. And, the only little girl who doesn't think I'm weird because it's hard to socialize.

Her name is Mika Arestya. A little girl of almost three years old who is active and fun. He had a warm smile that made me instantly interested when I first met. In that smile, it was like finding a home. That same day, I asked my mom to make it a part of the family.

She's grown into a beautiful girl. I even fell in love with her secretly. Only my mom knows about it. If only my mom hadn't remembered that she was my sister, I would've dated her. Haha.

I always try to be the best sister for him. Even though we fight a lot, I love him. He's a brave man. The bravest woman after my mother I've ever met. Mika was once angry at a guy who was the first we knew, just because I lost playing ball from him. He also once fought with a neighbor's son's complex because the boy said I was weird. Finally, the mother who had to intervene to separate them. Thanks yes, Ka. I am proud to have you. Sometimes, though, you get nicotine.

And now, the snot girl I met at the orphanage is already a high school boy. I don't think yes, we've been through a few years together. Even though I never said it directly, but you know that I love you the same. Always was.

*Don't take any more nicotine yes, Ka. Not judes. No one wants to be your girlfriend.

I love you beyond the words, Mika Arestya.*

Mika closed the book. It gasps. All the oxygen in his lungs seemed to be taken away by force. His hand hit his chest several times. Trying to get rid of tightness that feels painful. Tears had already shed on her cheeks, accompanied by a loud roar that made Raga panic.

“Ka, you why?” Mika did not answer Raga's question. Her crying is getting bigger.

One by one, Nagra's memories clung to his head. Dragging him to a void that seemed to carry away his soul. Memories are like being present to take his breath. The more memories present, the harder it was for him to breathe.

"Sir Nagra, Ga. Brother Nagra where?” Mika shouted in the middle of her cries. He roared, holding his head. If he can, he wants to take his head off. Then, banging it on the floor. These memories will disappear from his head.

"Sir Nagra can't go. Get him back, Ga. Call him!” Mika roared in frustration. Raga was even overwhelmed to hold Mika who was banging her head against the wall, while hitting her own chest.

Nagra's brother can't leave! Mika repeated the statement, several times in her heart. Wishing Nagra would hear it, then come back to rub his head. Like before, when he cried because he was afraid of lightning.

If I die, can I see Nagra's sister there? How does it feel to die?

   After a long time disappearing from his head, the thought came back. Unknowingly, he banged his head and hit the chest even harder. The dizzy began to attack. His chest is painful and tight. He didn't know what happened next. Suddenly, his movement stopped. He's in Raga's handcaps.