The One Thousand Days

Chapters 30. Fakes

As he walked closer, Alex's forehead looked wrinkled. Obviously there are a lot of questions crammed into his brain and he might be ready to pop it at any moment. If this happens, it is a danger sign. It's just, now I can't think at all. There was not a single reason I could think of and say to put a damper on the situation.

“What do you mean, Za?”

I squeezed Geral's fingers stronger. Wish we could just disappear from this world as soon as possible or Alex would suddenly disappear. The first or second choice, whichever is the same as long as I don't have to answer the question that came out of his mouth a few minutes ago.

“A—aku only just—”

“You called him Geral, right?”

“Ti—no Sis, a—aku—” my lips began to tremble and I completely\failed to hold back the nervousness. As a bad liar, what more can I expect. I just kind of wish I could suddenly be smarter at lying in urgent situations like now.

“Geral is dead, Za.”

“I know,” tukasku short.

Our fanged fingers began to sweat. I looked down at the floor, too scared to look Alex in the face. Honestly, I don't want to fight him. The young man would definitely realize there was something wrong with all of this.

“She Rael, isn't she?”

“Kak, stop!”

“He's Rael, right? He's not Geral, is he?” there was doubt in Alex's question. “Geral is dead, right?

I swallowed and then nodded. Slow and stiff. Suppose once again that confirms my lies now. Hopefully what I'm doing now includes a little lie, even though it really can't be interpreted as a lie. Geral is dead and we all know that fact.

“Enza,” Alex now pulls me up my arm until my forehead now hits his chest. It didn't take long until I fell in his arms.

It felt like something had crashed when my finger that was linked to the youth's\fingers slipped off. Something broke as if the surface of our finger was running electricity. Alex patted my head.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

“Second sister, Za. You can already accept that Geral is dead. Brother knows you can get through all this misfortune.”

Alex is still burrowing my head in this strange embrace. I could hear his heart beating\-talu in the dark chest. He took a heavy breath. His breath was now hitting the top of my head.

“Let go of him!”

That voice made me instantly grumble my heart. Plus now I feel Alex's body stiffening.

“Alex!”

Now I'm sure my heart stopped pounding for a split second. My breath's stuck. Alex's fingers are squeezing my shoulders. I'm looking. Alex tilted his head. It was obvious that he was trying to digest such an out-of-the-box event. There is not a single mystical thing that can be accepted by human reason. That is why the mystical world is called the transcendental world that is not reachable to science. Alex is not a person who believes in that kind of thing. No matter how mystical things happen. He chose in a position of not knowing, not understanding and not wanting to accept.

The thing I'd be most afraid of if Alex realized all the things I was doing with Alice was separating us. Not to return Geral to the afterlife or throw the young man away. He would lock me up again, in a quiet house, alone with only the paramedics watching all the time. He'll isolate me again. Just like before. He would use a pretext to guard me even if he was just making the outside world out of the reach of my hand. He will treat me like a sick man. No less, no more.

Alex let go of his embrace. His eyes changed between me and Rael, who was still staring at us. Alex's eyes stared curiously.

“What did you say?”

“Lease!”

My hands began to tremble, I bit my lips. It's gonna be bad.

“Who are you?” alex's eyes hit Rael's face, which is still staring at us. “Why are you commanding me at will?”

Rael fell silent. His lips were tightly closed, but his eyes did not blink at all.

“Ra—Rael!” I said I tried to break up and gave the young man a code to stop.

Alex looked at me. A mist of confusion enveloped his eyes. “Isn't he a little weird, Za?”

“Mu—may be delirious,” I gulped, looking for excuses. Although the reason that was thought out was really\-absolutely ridiculous and absurd.

“Talking?”

“Post\-operative effect so may not be fully conscious. As far as I know the influence of drugs is like that,” I said trying to explain.

Alex nodded, it seemed like he could accept my explanation. I breathed a sigh of relief as he did not ask further. Her curiosity sucks and it looks like I won't be able to handle it if she keeps asking.

“We're home?” Alex suddenly glanced at the watch on his wrist.

“So don't come home first, I'll be there any minute.”

“You sure?”

“Iya. Brother rush\-hust right?”

“Nothing\-nothing go home alone?” the worry started to form on his face. “Kakak will be back later.”

I'm nodding. Alex patted my head before turning away.  I was really\-really relieved to see her figure disappear from behind the door. After Alex died, I sat on the edge of the bed. Staring at Rael's innocent-looking face in his sleep. My finger traced the black hair hanging limp on his forehead. I breathe heavily.

“Sleep!” I pulled the edge of the blanket up to the neck, barely touching the chin.

 I gasped as his hands locked me. She suddenly woke up and pulled me in a hug.

“Enza!” his voice whispered softly in the ear.

My heart's beating fast. My breath's stuck. My heart was breaking, but my lips were hesitant to scratch a smile. Could it?

“Geral?”

“Hmmm.”

“Is this really you? You're back?”

“I miss you,” she buried her head deeper on my shoulder.

I tightened my arms around her body. Breathe out a few times. Finally Geralku returned.

“Don't let go of me!”

“I won't let you go, Geral.” I pressed my finger on his back. “ Never will be.”

“I know.”

The pain in my neck felt again. I feel another scratch is now reaching the neck. I frowned, the pain turned into pain. Sending numbness to the ends of my finger\-tips. It feels like electricity. Even so, I don't care at all. Only Geral is important for now. I just want to focus on that one thing.