The Girl Next Door's

Story

Deril drove his bike faster. Fine dust was left behind, as the wheels of the bike passed through the uneven rural streets. Every now and then Deril had to swerve, avoiding the hollowed-out streets. His face looks bright. He was so happy to hear the news that his father was coming home this afternoon.

Today is Deril's first day back at school. The overwhelming welcome he received from his classmates, even though they were not close enough. Deril doesn't matter about that. Moreover, some were willing to lend them their notes, as long as Deril did not enter the school. School trouble, there was nothing for him to worry about. He can also take lessons that are ongoing.

The sun had yet to set on the Western horizon, and Deril had already arrived home. He opened the gate of his house with trembling hands. His breath hunted until his face was red.

As soon as the padlock opened, Deril immediately dribbled his bike towards the car garage. He planned to welcome his father with a clean house and warm food on the table. He had already ordered a delivery meal scheduled for seven. His father will have time to clean up when he gets home.

"It's a lot of time to clean up" murmured Deril as he put the key to the front door. However, as soon as Deril was about to turn the key, it turned out that the door of the house was not locked. Deril was silent for a moment. His mind went back to the time this morning, when he left home to go to school. Deril was very confident, if he made sure the front door was locked.

His eyes examined the window and door latch around. No signs of being forcibly opened. Deril could hear voices from inside his house. "Oh, maybe Mom," he told himself. Unsuspecting, Deril went straight inside.

"Oh, good day!"

Deril jumped in shock, when he heard a foreign voice from the kitchen of his house. He was even more shocked, when he saw Miss Sonya standing in front of the sink.

"This is the first time we've met, huh?" Sonya's mom smiled wryly at Deril. "I'm Sonya, who was hired by Doctor Stephen to clean his house. Earlier this morning, Ms. Serena called me to help out with some of the house. She said, let her son and Alex sleep comfortably."

Deril did not answer Miss Sonya's greeting. Anyway, he knows a little bit about Sonya's mom. Deril's suspicions about Miss Sonya 'cleansing' Doctor Stephen's house after the tea party, as well as the evidence that disappeared after Miss Sonya came the other day, scare Deril away.

'He was Doctor Stephen's accomplice, ' only that thought flashed at this moment in his head. Deril could imagine there was a gun behind the pink apron that Miss Sonya was wearing. That guy could have killed Deril mercilessly, if Doctor Stephen wanted it.

'What do they want from this house?' inner Deril. 'Did he make any more poisonous food?'

"Why, Son?" ask Miss Sonya. "If you don't believe I was hired by Ms. Serena, you can call your mother first. I'm not going anywhere."

Deril swallowed with great difficulty. His hands clenched, wanting to round his resolve. "Did Miss Sonya come to my family's time at the hospital?"

Miss Sonya looked at the kitchen ceiling for a few seconds, like trying to recall the intent of Deril's question. "Ooh! That said Mr. Alex poisoned it, huh?" Sonya's mom made sure. "Yes, I came. Is my job less clean? I've been a domestic assistant for ten years. I thought, I won't miss a speck of dust though."

Miss Sonya's eyebrows are up. He did not understand, whether it included praise or disappointment. It is clear that Deril spoke positive words, but Deril's facial features did not seem like a person who was happy to have his work helped.

"I'll make dinner. Ms. Serena said, Mr. Alex is coming home tonight. Deril's son can rest until Mr. Alex comes, "Sonya continued. He decided not to extend his curiosity.

"No need," Deril refused quickly. "I've ordered a message. And it can't be undone," Deril put emphasis on the last sentence, hoping that Sonya's Mom would quickly step back and leave before him. Deril wants to quickly contact his mother, so as not to ask Doctor Stephen or Miss Sonya for help next time.

"Alright then," Miss Sonya nodded in understanding. His gaze returned to the dirty dishes that this morning had not had time to wash Deril after breakfast. "Oh, yeah! Do you know how Mika's condition has been lately?"

"meaning?"

"I used to be called by Doctor Stephen once every two weeks, to clean up the mess that Mika made at home. You must have heard about Mika's mother who disappeared, right? He said the boy was very stressed and sometimes went berserk at home."

Ringing Deril wrinkled. It's a new story for him. According to Deril, Mika is not the one to show her emotions in front of Doctor Stephen. She and Mika did chat a few times, and it was only then that Mika showed a terrified expression. But, if faced with Doctor Stephen, as much as possible he will have a calm face. But, if it gets raging? Is possible?

"Last I was called, the house wasn't so messy either. Then, Mika's condition was fine as well. In fact, usually, if it is raging, Mika can get injured. In fact, last month, he couldn't even walk and pale."

Deril did not react. Besides not knowing that Mika has a habit of rampaging, Deril also does not want to share any information he knows on the enemy side. The only thing he had to do was to be quiet.

"But, if you go berserk, is it possible that the bruise is just part of his foot?" Miss Sonya suddenly asked a nonsensical thing. "First, when I had a ten-year-old child who likes tantrums, bruises were not only in the thighs. Well, his name's a berserk boy, it's got to be here and there, right?"

The flash of memory of Doctor Rendi who was about to do something unnatural to Mika, flashed quickly before Deril's eyes. He can relate Miss Sonya's story to what her eyes are witnessing.

'That's not a tantrum. Mika was raped in a cruel way. The bruising on his leg is proof that he's fighting back, ' Deril's inner being with a chest that hurts like it slashed.

***