The River House

26. Tia

Norita had finished her lunch alone when Hendra came and took a seat next to her. Hendra's face looked sour and crumpled.

"You why? Your face is like a shirt that is not ironed," Norita sneered.

"No pa pa pa. Food good?" Hendra asked ignoring Norita's question.

"Enak, this meat stew is a champion" Norita said as she brandished her two thumbs.

"Oh yeah?" Hendra smiled at a glance. Norita nodded convincingly.

Hendra was hungry too. He immediately took a plate, rice, some kind of vegetable, potato paste and peanut sauce. He did not touch the meat recommended by Norita.

"I've noticed you haven't eaten Hen's meat from yesterday?" Norita asked in wonder.

"Oh yeah? You paying attention?" Hendra turned his head, his eyes cold.

"Well, I'm a person who likes to watch. I'm a stage singer. It's used to observing people in front of me" Norita reasoned.

"I don't eat meat" replied Hendra in short.

"Oh yeah? The vegan? Since when? Wasn't it when you were in school you weren't vegan? I remember your 17th birthday practicing everyone eating beef steak."

"Can't you ask most of the questions?" Hendra jerked the spoon in his right hand. 

"Yes, it's usual dong. No need to point out his angry veins that way," Norita mocked Hendra who looked irritated.

"Can you shut up? Or . . .," Hendra glared at Norita.

"Or what?" Norita defiant. His smile looks really annoying.

Hendra grunted in annoyance. I don't know what makes him irritable and irritable at this time. He gripped the fork in his left hand tightly. Staring sharply at the smiling Norita sneered before him.

And that's when Denis, Ellie, Iva came. They joined the dining table. Denis sat to Norita's right. Norita is flanked by men. Ellie and Iva sat across the table.

"What the hell is that? You guys are fighting like this?" Ellie asked Hendra. Denis and Iva did not notice. They were busy picking up dishes and food.

"What bermantem? You don't see me eating" replied Hendra ketus.

Denis doesn't care about Hendra. He was busy feeding the warm rice with a reddish-brown meat stew into his mouth. The next moment he glared and fell silent.

"Hmmmm. .this is so good, bangkee!" Denis was screaming a little. His mouth was full of food so his voice sounded less clear.

"Be polite ah" Norita patted Denis on the shoulder.

Meanwhile, Iva still looks reluctant to put food in her mouth. He still remembered and saw the condition of the corpse of Dipta who began to rot. The taste senses are eager to taste the food presented, the fragrant aroma of the cuisine is really tempting. But unfortunately the stomach feels refused, nausea and agonizing torment Iva.

"Damn it! I'm sorry I didn't come with you Nori" said Iva, throwing her spoon.

"Seeing the corpse before my eyes actually made my appetite disappear," Iva continued to grumble in annoyance.

"Ha ha ha, good. So you can diet all," Norita chimed in. He laughed and felt so sick.

"You mean I'm that fat?" Iva doesn't accept.

"Lhoo, I'm not saying that, you know" Norita said.

"Don't fight at the dinner table!" Bentak Hendra's. He stuffed the food on his plate into his mouth, chewed it roughly, then stood up from his seat.

"Where's Hen going?" Ask Ellie.

"Find the wind, it's sultry here" replied Hendra and immediately left the dining room.

Iva looks like she's giving up, she's not eating. Ellie only eats fruits.

"Now what should we do? I think moving by myself is dangerous. We should stay in pairs or as much as possible in groups" Ellie said after Denis finished his meal.

"I'll probably go with Hendra" replied Iva.

After saying so, Iva stood up and immediately left leaving behind her three friends who were still at the dinner table.

"How are you?" Ellie asked Denis and Norita.

Denis and Norita smile with indistinct smiles. They didn't pay attention to Ellie's questions. Denis is actually still busy holding Norita's crazy thighs. 

"Hey!" Ellie rebuked while glaring. Ellie was actually very obedient to manners while at the dinner table. But the behavior of the two people in front of her really made Ellie fail to hold back emotions.

"Oh yes Ell. How's how?" Denis asked.

"Not to think about it" Ellie said with a wry smile. Ellie decides to leave the dining room, leaving Denis and Norita laughing.

Ellie walked into the living room. There's no one there. When he was alone somehow the living room felt so spacious. 

Ellie pacing back and forth in the living room. He felt troubled, what steps should he take at this moment. Following Bayu into the forest to find Galang? Too dangerous, he thought.

After a while, Ellie made a decision. He climbed up the stairs to the second floor. He did not want to go to his room, but to Tia's room.

Dock dock

Ellie tapped on Tia's room slowly. A few moments later the door opened partially. Tia was seen standing by the door. His face looked pale with a faint look in his eyes.

"What's Ell?" Tia asked softly. His voice was barely audible.

Ellie is suspicious of Tia's situation. He felt something was wrong and was being covered up.

"You why Ti? It hurt?" Ask Ellie.

"No, no," Tia shook her head slowly.

"If nothing matters, let me rest" Tia said, closing the door to her room. Ellie swiftly put her hand on the door leaf and pushed it away. Tia was pushed back, and the door of the room opened completely.

Ellie goes into the room and is shocked to see the condition of Tia's bed. Looks tissue scattered where where where. There were some blood red stains on the tissue sheet. Ellie turned her head and looked at Tia who was still standing holding on to the door leaf.

"You why Tiii?" Ellie asked, her voice trembling with worry.

Tia did not answer, but closed the door to her room. Tia walked over and sat in the corner of her bed. Tia lifted the skirt she was wearing. Shows his right calf which looks like a gaping wound.

"That's. . .," Ellie screeched restrained.

Ellie recalls, Tia was attacked by a stray dog yesterday. Everyone didn't realize that the stray dog had hurt Tia's leg.

"Why didn't you talk about Ti yesterday?" Ellie asked back.

"I don't want to because of this wound, you're returning me" Tia replied.

"Why?"

"Because I need that money Ell, I need the 200 million Zainul promised. That's why I'm as strong as I can to stay here until tomorrow. I need that money," Tia's voice rang out.

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