THE FLO!

Bag. 11

I was forced not to go to school for three days because my illness was getting worse. My heat did not go down and I could not move my body. I lied to my mother by telling her I was on a three-day trip out of town. Thankfully, my mother was not suspicious. So as long as I was sick, I was treated completely by Brenda. As long as I was sick, my father would always visit me and bring me fruits. And every time he came, his face was always anxious. I told him I was okay. I'm used to getting this annoying virus once a year and usually it will heal on its own. Especially coupled with stress and lack of sleep that makes my illness worse.

For three days, I was unable to move my body because I was limp. I can only monitor my school using the laptop that is always next to me. Nothing has changed, the work is still the same.

I sharpened my eyes when I saw Davin on my laptop screen. He looked at the CCTV camera as if he knew I was watching him. I instantly closed my laptop screen and my heart was beating like I was just about to do something.

I picked up the book on the table next to my bed. High School textbooks. Strange indeed. Two months ago, I didn't even understand what my private teacher was talking about. But now, I'm even better than my teacher. I opened the book and read it. I felt how sad my High School days used to be. I used to spend my time studying and studying. I don't even have any friends at my school. When I was in college, things were better. I have friends even though I spend more time studying.

While here, I feel strange. Something that makes me feel like I have a reason to wake up every morning. I get used to being by Daisy every morning hugging my arms, greeting my classmates or even fighting with Stella. Today, for the first time, I felt confused about doing something. Whereas before I could focus on my work whether it was when I was sick or on vacation. But only this time my hands and brain won't make the program my boss has asked for.

My attention was shifted when I heard Brenda's voice calling my name. I put on my jacket and use my sandals. I was just about to walk out of my room when my door opened all of a sudden and Brenda looked at me in panic.

"Why, Bre—" I couldn't finish my words because my mouth had already been smothered with Brenda's hand.

"Your friends are here" he whispered, which made me stumble

"But my stuff, the board, pictures and everything." I said frantically as I cast my gaze across my room in disarray.

"Don't let them go into this room and let me be as quiet as all this stuff" he said. He pushed my body. "Now, entertain your guests."

I nodded and walked out of the room. Not forgetting, I put my glasses on so that my disguise would not be uncovered. I was surprised to see so many of my friends coming. Almost all of my classmates came, even including Stella and her gang.

"Hi!" greet them simultaneously. My God, my normally spacious apartment was so cramped when they came.

"Sorry, I was with some friends who came but they meant to come along" Daisy said with a face full of regret. But I smiled and shook my head.

"It's okay. Thank you for coming" I said to my other friends.

"We brought some fruit" said Danar, my class leader. He pointed at the plastic on the table. I thanked them.

"Stella bought a blanket for you" Caesar suddenly said, making my eyebrows rise.

"Not a blanket, right?" ask me in jest. Stella looked at me and rolled her eyes. I smiled at her behavior.

"Yes. I took it from the trash. Maybe there's still traces of rat shit," he sizzled, which made me laugh.

"Thank you" I said sincerely to Stella. I looked at my classmates. "Sorry bothered you and came here."

"No problem. There is no deserted. No one can challenge Stella" said another friend. I smiled at him and looked at Stella.

"So you miss me? God, I'm so moved" I said, inviting the laughter of my friends. I could see Stella muttering something vague, like she was cursing at me, but I pretended not to hear.

"You guys came all of a sudden, so I couldn't prepare anything" I said in a regretful tone. But they even grinned.

"We came to see you, really," said a friend of mine. I smile.

"I want to see where you live anyway" added Stella who made me frown.

"Where do you know where I live?" ask me with curiosity.

"Sir Yusron. He sends you greetings" Danar replied. "Gue didn't expect the time to read this place. I think I read it wrong."

I frowned at me. "Why indeed?" ask me confused.

"Aja's surprised. Not expecting you live in a luxury apartment even though every time you go and go home from school you always take public transportation," replied Daisy.

Honestly, I don't know. I rented this apartment because it was in the middle between my house and school. I also do not care about the costs that I spend because at that time I really need this apartment.

"What kind of work do you think?" ask my other friend.

I smiled sweetly at him. "Work at Pioneer Technosoft." I replied.

My classmates look agape.

"What are those geniuses?" asked one of my friends and I nodded slowly. "What part?"

"Personal assistant chief engineer," I replied. Actually not the technician part, rather the tester part aka the program eligibility tester.

They're getting gripped.

"That means know her brother Freya dong? As I recall, Freya's sister also worked there because she had helped us school once," Caesar said. I just shrugged both my shoulders.

You guys are looking at her brother. I not only helped the school once, but twice. Who do you think helped you a few days ago? My attention was shifted when I heard the open door of my apartment.

"What the—?" Braxton cursed at the sight of my apartment full of friends.

"Friends, you know, he's my big brother" I said to my friends who introduced Braxton to them. I could see most of my female friends looking at Braxton with bulging eyes.

"Your friends?" braxton asked, pointing at my friend with his head. I nodded slowly. "Hello, I'm Braxton."

"Hi, Om," said to them all at the same time which made me almost laugh. Braxton has never been called Om or Uncle before. He refused because he sounded old.

"Omm?" braxton didn't believe it. I stomped her foot and as she glared at me, I smiled sweetly at her. "Where's Brenda?" ask her and don't care about my work.

I pointed to my room. "My rooms. Tidying some stuff" I replied. He understood and nodded then went straight to my room.

"You are not alike" said my friend suddenly. "sorry. After nyokap and om lo brunettes and looks really foreigner while elo..."

I smile. "Gue foster child," I replied as it was. Instantly, the room instantly quieted down. "Why indeed? Is something wrong?"

"No what. I used to be asked, "I answered, remembering how unlike my parents or Freya I was.

"Eh, you've got a girlfriend yet?" stella asked suddenly. I raise my eyebrows.

"I don't think I exist" I replied. Stella looks smiling. "Until now, she doesn't have a boyfriend. But have a wife and one child."

"Darling, you don't have a chance" Caesar snorted that made me and my friends laugh.

...***...

"Thank you for coming, yes" I said sincerely as I drove my friends up to the elevator. "I'm sorry I can only give you syrup and biscuits."

"No problem. You're coming in next week, right?" ask Daisy. Tomorrow is Saturday and school is off. I'm nodding.

Danar took out a book from his bag. "This is a lesson note during your illness. Next week PKN and history will be repeated" he said.

Some of my other friends also loaned me their notes. I received the book while thanking them. I didn't expect that they would be this good to me. I waved my hand at them as they entered the elevator. Fortunately, there were six lifts, otherwise they had to take the elevator in turn. I turned my body around and returned to my apartment.

"They're home?" braxton asked and I nodded. He looked at the notebooks in my hand. "What's that?"

"Notes of lessons I should read and rewrite. Next week there's a replay of the problem" I answered and went into my room to put the books down. I didn't realize that Braxton was following me and only realized that he was looking at me at the door.

"That's what you'll leave behind when you leave. Are you ready?" tanyakanya.

I looked at him while frowning. "meaning?"

Braxton breathes rough. He looked at me straight. "This is the first time I've seen you so happy. Even when you get accepted to work, you're not that happy. Are you ready to leave all that for another four and a half months? What if you get caught first?" tanyakanya.

I closed my eyes and took a long breath. "That's business later. I'll find another way if for example I'm too attached or caught."

Braxton shook his head. "Not everything you can think of logically, Flo. The name is different from logic. Think carefully," he said before leaving me.

I breathe again. I know that! I gotcha! I will definitely find another way if indeed for example my disguise was exposed. I threw my body into the bed. My attention was turned to a map on the table beside my bed. I don't remember the map there. I grabbed the map and opened the map and read the contents. I know that Braxton left the map, visible from the contents. Amazingly, Braxton only took a week to find information about Azka that I could not find. How'd he do it? I forgot the question and read the content.

Azka, the only child of a plantation businessman. Her mother disappeared since she was a child and her father died two years ago. The smartest kid in his class is why he is able to get a student exchange program. I laughed reading all that info. Even Braxton wrote down all of Azka's ex-girlfriends until now, including Freya's name. I frowned at me. I've guessed Azka wasn't the father of the baby Freya conceived. It was impossible because Azka had never returned to Indonesia since she left for Singapore. There is no record that Azka was on holiday or just visiting her father's grave in Jakarta. One down, three to go.

I flipped over the next document containing Davin's photo. Strange, the paper only contained exactly the information I found. Just a name, a date of birth. What's different is just the place where Davin lives today. I got up from my seat and went to Braxton's room. I entered without even knocking. Fortunately, he was not naked or anything like that. He was busy reading his book. I raised the paper in my hand in front of him.

"Why is Davin's information only this way?" my many. Braxton put his book to the side and straightened his body.

"This is the first time I've been unable to find a single trace of someone. Even a CIA agent I can still find the secret. He was born into this world all of a sudden. I couldn't even find where she was born" he said with annoyance. "I suspect it's not his real name."

I scrunched my forehead in confusion.

"Maybe he's just like you, Flo. He has a new identity. I searched him through his ID number but didn't show up. Search from face recognition, nothing. As if from the beginning the name did not exist."

I'm slack.

"You should be careful with him, Flo. I'm suspicious of him" he said, looking at me deeply. "You remember when I picked you up at school last week?" I'm nodding. "I saw him following you from behind but as soon as I saw my car showing up, he went straight behind."

I'm speechless. All right, I'm starting to get scared.

"Not to worry. He wouldn't dare touch you. Don't forget what I know you." Braxton kissed me on the forehead while pushing me out of his room. "Good night, Flo. Ivy gave you her regards." Ivy was Braxton's wife and I just nodded.

He smiled and stroked my head. "He's not going to touch you. I can promise you that" he said trying to convince me.

I don't feel sure. But instead of adding to Braxton's anxiety, I just nodded slowly and left Braxton's room.

...***...

I whistle while following the music I hear through my earphones that I put on my ears. I closed my eyes while enjoying the fresh morning breeze. Though I just healed but I was desperate to come in the morning and go straight to this place. As long as I'm sick, I miss my sister so much. And coming to this place treats my longing.

I flinched when a hand slapped my shoulder. I cursed and turned my body while removing the earphones from my ears. I was wide-eyed when I saw Davin standing behind me. He still wears his suit when usually he takes off the suit every time he gets to school. I feel weird. He usually comes here every Tuesday morning. So what was he doing on Monday morning like this?

He who could read my mind, asked the same thing. "Why are you here? You're usually here every Tuesday?" tanyakanya.

"Wrong, I'm here every time I'm bored" I said, rewinding my body. Ever since Braxton said that yesterday, I've been a little scared of him. It seems he noticed my change in attitude. Instead of moving away, he was getting closer to me.

"You're healed? Didn't I tell you you were sick?" tanyakanya. Sometimes he coughed and cleared his throat.

"I've recovered, but now I see you sick again" I replied.

He coughed back. "Oh, here. I'm contagious. The teacher's office is suffering from a flu outbreak" he replied on the sidelines of his cough.

I feel sorry for her. He should have used that thick coat. I'm the only one who, despite being healed, still feels cold. Good thing Brenda reminded me to bring my scarf. I looked at my scarf. I don't really need this scarf. I took off my scarf that wrapped around my neck and wrapped it around Davin's neck. My black scarf is not too thick but warm because it was knitted by myself.

"Father needs that more than I do" I replied before he asked. I took my spicy candy and in my jacket pocket and gave the candy to his hand. "Make the throat of the Father. My throat was much more comfortable after I ate the candy. Get well soon, sir."

I walked away from her but as I passed her, she held my hand instead. I turned my head and realized it was the first time we were this close.

"Thank you, I will definitely return it" he said with a gentle smile at me.

"Don't bother," I replied as I returned his smile. I took her hand off my arm and walked as fast as I could away from her.

I stopped my steps when I was being held up. I took a deep breath while putting my hand on my chest. This can't happen! He's one of my suspects. My prime suspect! I can't be like this! Oh, for Christ's sake! I can't fall in love with her!