The Girl Next Door's

Evidence Removal

Deril sat quietly in the room where his father had been in care since last night. To him, it was still a miracle. He still remembered how his heart wanted to stop when he saw his father lying on the cold kitchen floor of the house last night.

"You better get some rest," Serena stroked Deril's head. His hands can feel the heat from his son's crown. "Have you taken any medicine? Looks like your fever's up again."

"I'm okay, Mom," Deril replied.

"Drink medicine! Don't make your mother worry!" alex snaps from his bed.

"Is Dad okay?" ask Deril. Actually, he had asked ten times, since Alex had regained consciousness.

Alex gets a gastric ulcer treatment every two hours. His condition improved after that. Some drugs that Deril does not understand what it is even though it has been described, have been included periodically by the nurses who care for Alex. Fortunately, Alex's body is strong and reacts well to drugs.

Alex smiled broadly. Her lips were a little dry because she still had to fast. "Dad is strong! You don't have to worry!"

Deril. Tears fell right through her cheeks. "I'm so scared" I'm Deril. His hands are still weak until now. "Yesterday Dad was pale and blood was everywhere."

"Hhh... It was my fault" replied Alex.

"Why could it be your fault?" ask Serena.

"I was starving when I got home. Then I saw fried chicken in the trash. The chicken looks clean. So, I'll just eat."

THE PLAQUE!

Serena strikes Alex in the head. "Why eat food that has been thrown away!?" great-granddaughter Serena, angry. "Have you been short of food all this time!?"

"It's not so, honey," Alex tries to calm Serena who glares at him. "Yesterday, the fried chicken really looked fine. I just pity. Besides, this isn't the first time I've eaten something stale. I've had a hard time. Remember?"

Serena bit her lower lip. She's pissed. Very upset. But, she also could not dispute her husband's remarks. They have been together for twenty years. During that time, their lives were not always good. There was a time when Alex and himself had to eat stale food, in order to buy milk for Deril.

"I want to see Diana," Serena turned.

"The clock at HCU is still an hour away, baby," Alex calls Serena, but it's not. Serena bends out of the room with her face bent. "Hhh..." Alex breathed again. "By the way, I haven't really heard what happened to Diana. I was afraid to ask when your mother was still here. Your mother must be very worried right now."

Deril clenched his hand. The warmth of his sister's body still imprinted on both of his arms. "I went home to get my phone and my bag. Then, I called Diana to tell me what was going on with Dad. Frightened, he was shocked when he found no one at home when he woke up. Diana was not in her room. The bed is warm. His phone is there too. Then I went down to the first floor again. Time confused what to do, I realized the back door was open. My gut told me to go there. Then-" Deril gulped. Throat's dry. "Hand Diana-" her voice choked. He couldn't finish his sentence.

Alex rubbed his face. He did not expect such an incident to occur inside his house. "Why did Diana get through something like that?" he asked, more on himself. His voice vibrates. Deril knows his father is crying right now.

But what can Deril say?

Diana's having this, because of Doctor Stephen?

"How's Diana doing?" ask Alex.

"Said the doctor who handled it, he's already gone through a critical period. Her vital signs are good. The response to treatment is good too. If there's no problem, in two days, Diana can move to a regular outpatient room."

"Thank God..." Alex looked at the hospital ceiling. "Thank God you have me, Deril. You are truly reliable."

Deril shook his head slowly. But no sound came out of his mouth. A lot of things came through his head. Suspicion that Doctor Stephen was the mastermind of all these events, left him stunned.

***

Deril is back home, just like Serena Pinta. After all, he had to clean himself up. Bloodstains were still on his shirt. Looks messy. He can also smell his own sweat. Deril will return to the hospital after dinner to replace Serena. His mother needs rest too.

His hands were limp as he lifted to open the door of the house. "Did I clean a little, huh?" he murmured while pushing the front door open. "Lho?" his eyes widened to see the clean kitchen floor. Deril walked quickly to the kitchen. He checked every corner. The kitchen is completely clean. There's not a single speck of blood there. Arguably, the kitchen was cleaner than when Serena cleaned it herself.

Deril jumped as his phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Serena called.

"Hello, Ma?"

"Have you reached home yet?" greet Serena from across.

"Had..." Deril answered weakly.

"What cleans the house?"

Deril. "I mean Mom?"

"Mom got an acquaintance from Doctor Stephen. Said he had a nice guy with cleaning problems. Her name is Miss Sonya. I was told that Miss Sonya could help clean the house this morning. So, you don't have to worry about home problems. Miss Sonya is also not a person who is disgusted with blood or mun-"

Deril ran towards the refrigerator, without listening to Serena's story until it was over. "I guessed it," he growled, seeing the fried chicken from Mika, vanishing from its place. "That's proof!" Deril hit the refrigerator door. He was very upset with himself. He lost evidence before his eyes.

Deril turned towards the trash can. Blank. Everything looks very clean. Deril sat down. His house has been cleared of all the evidence he could have submitted to the police station. In fact, the smell of blood that stung yesterday, replaced by the smell of bleach mixed with the fragrance of flowers.

"He really cleaned it all up. Impeccably," whispered Deril. "He had a thought a step ahead of me. As for me, still struggling with my family being the victim." Deril. This time, it was not tears of sadness that flowed. However, tears of anger. He did not expect, such a terrible thing could happen in his previously quiet life.

"I have to what? I should how?" ask Deril to himself.

***