The One Thousand Days

Chapters 27. Puzzles

I waited until I lost consciousness about the passage of time. However, one of the things I'm sure of is that Rael has disappeared, as has Geral's soul. Their departure left the last blip on the bracelet I was wearing before it was finally extinguished.

 The wound on my neck grew by a few centimeters. I cringed softly when I touched it. It does not hurt because somehow the wound disappears faster than even the most superficial scratches. This is actually quite beneficial because I don't have to bother\-fuss explaining this matter to Alex if he comes later.  However, the scar bothered me as it left a terrible black line like a snake wrapped around my neck. If you want to be bad to think it could be that the winding eventually extends and slashes my neck until it breaks someday.

“No, no,’ mumbled.

All of this was just a bad feeling that need not be thought of until like this. I just need to focus on moving forward and doing everything I've believed in. My eyes turned to the puzzle piece that Rael had left behind. The thing that proves that I made it through the first night of soul changing successfully. To seduce one soul in a quite troublesome way. I also don't understand why he handed this thing to me. This thing is too weak to be considered as the guarantor of any agreement and it seems impossible to make Rael take his body if I throw this thing away. Or does it contain amulets? A kind of spirit-possessed cloak?

Uh! That's not possible. If there really is a spirit, a curse or any kind of it then it should have been seen.

“Za!”

I gasped at the sound of the call with a soft clap that grabbed my shoulder. I looked up and found Alex smiling. In order to reply, I smiled as well. He came back sooner than I thought. Fortunately, he did not come when the soul exchange occurred, if he came sooner then things would definitely not go smoothly.

“Your body is in the bag!” said.

“Thank you, Brother.”

“I just met the doctor who examined Rael in front,” he said.

“How is he? What does the doctor say?” many quick.

I really\-want to know the condition of that young man. It's just that I didn't dare ask when the doctor walked into Rael's room. They are carrying out their duties so it does not feel appropriate if they have to disturb. So I can just wait and when Alex says he's meeting the doctor up front, I feel pretty happy.

“Say we have to wait. Don't worry too much,” she said as she extended a smile on her lips. “Doctors aren't out yet either, right?”

“Iya anyway,” I said chimed in. “In your opinion, he will be fine\-all right?”

“Of course. I don't think there's anything to worry about.”

“Sgratitude.”

“Don't be sad again, Za. It's not your fault!” said again.

I nodded in agreement while forcing my lips to return a smile. Although, it's heavy. Not only about Geral, Rael's sad face is still reflected in the eye. It must be painful when one cannot enter his own body. However, there are not many options left now. My choice remains, I will wear that body and make my girlfriend's soul reside there until the time of the agreement is over. My hand squeezed the puzzle piece tighter, I knew I was selfish. It's just that selfishness is what keeps me going. Yes, survive in the name of love. A selfish love.

“By the way\-by the way since when do you guys know?”

“Huh?”

“You and Rael?” Alex winks his eyes. “When did you guys start to know?”

Seeing Alex repeat his question twice to confirm his question is enough to provide evidence that he does not know anything. This fact is both relieving and frustrating. Relieve because it means he doesn't know anything. However, on the other hand Alex will demand an accurate and detailed explanation. I know his pretty annoying nature.

Memory floated. The question does seem light, but really\-quite confusing. If I wanted to admit honestly, I didn't know Rael at all before this. Even now I can't say I know him, just a few strange conversations–which I myself am not sure if it's a dream or reality.

My breath was tight when I thought that I was pretending\ to know him because of the principle of importance alone. I was selfish to force him to fulfill my wish. I only found out his name after he threatened me. The teeth started attacking my body when I remembered the incident. The night was really\-terrible and until now I had found absolutely no answer to the reason that made Geral sometimes brutal on certain nights.

“Enza?”

“Eh\-oh, what?”

“You sick?”

I'm shaking. “No.”

“But, just shut up?” go after Alex again.

 “He came home looking for a job,” I lied. I don't want to explain anything that's on my mind as well as the agreement that I've signed with Alice and Rael.

“Who? Rael?”

“Ya.”

“Isn't that weird?”

“Any what?”

Damnit damnit! My heart stops beating now. I don't know why when Alex talked about the strangeness of Rael made me start to worry and was\-was. I raised my hand to rub the nape.

“Sweet as suddenly\a young man comes to find work to our house. Especially meet you, when outside there are so many jobs and the house is not near shops or the like.”

“Kor, she needs work.”

“Enza!”

I breathe heavily. Another bad attitude, demanding an explanation without a single thing hidden and not letting others just respond accordingly.

“I put an ad on social media, maybe he saw from there,” I said again in a higher tone. Damn it, I really\-deadly held back my trembling lips afterwards. Lying is not easy even if it is done several times at a time.

“Oh.”

“Not everyone is as bad as you think, Brother.”

“But he's a guy, Enza.” emphasis says man in Alex voice really sucks.

“What if it's a man?

 “Diaxeciduous.”

“I prove I'm fine\-all right.”

“Enza!”

“Isn't Brother Alex also a man, by that analogy then you are also dangerous. Then what is Brother doing here? Put me in danger?”

“I'm your brother, how can you equate me with that obscure stranger!” resounding.

“Kak, didn't we already discuss this issue when we last met,” said I tried half-dead to hold back the upset. I really don't want to talk about this anymore.

“I won't discuss it if he doesn't stay at our house.”

I stared at Alex lekat\-sticky. “If you don't like it, I can go.”

Alex pulled my shoulder, made me look at him. His facial expression began to soften.

“Not that I mean,” he seemed trying to explain. His voice was also soft and strangely sounded full of seduction.

“Then, what?”

“So I'm just worried about you, about your safety. Not wanting you to leave, you know I can't live without you,” her eyes glared sharply, as if\-would want to reinforce solemnity in the sentence she just said.

I'm speechless. Clenched my hand harder. My eyes are staring at him.

“Do you also know that I cannot live without it?”

I really wanted to throw that sentence out of my lips but this tongue feels ridiculous. Alex will definitely be questioning everything about Rael. He would find Rael a foster family or something and tell the young man to leave. Then the secret will be revealed. Everything I've been hiding will be revealed. Separating from Geral was painful, imagining it was already terrible. I shook my head twice, trying to erase the bad thoughts that were crammed in.

Our words were interrupted when several nurses and doctors ran into the ICU– room where Rael was being treated. They look rushed and panicked.

“What is this, Brother?”

“Lack of knowledge, we just wait!”

Alex pulled my shoulder, got closer. His fingers clenched my shoulders tightly, providing calmness and a sense of security. Paramedics rushed in and out. Their facial expressions are illegible.

“What happened?” Alex pulls one of the nurses who is carrying a shelf full of medical equipment.

“Sorry, we're busy now, Mas. Patient is critical.” The female nurse hurriedly\hurried inside after giving an explanation.

“What?”

My voice was floating in the air. It's a lie, isn't it? Didn't I just perform a hundred-day ritual, he should have woken up by now.

“Enza!”

“No, no, no.”

“Enza!”

I'm breaking out of Alex's grip. Moving closer to the glass window. A doctor pressed Geral's chest repeatedly. The body was still stiff in place, his eyes closed and did not appear to be breathing. I squeezed the puzzle piece in my hand. The pointed\-angle angle feels piercing until the pain begins to run through the palm of the hand. I don't care because my mind is only on one thing. Geral can't die a second time, not without my permission.