BROKEN BUTTERFLY; Beyond The Night That Differs Love And Lust
CHAPTERS 15. CONFESSIONS
I was sitting on the same park bench, the difference this time it was dark. The groceries I had left were no longer there, someone must have taken them. Melancholic garden lights illuminate the garden at night. And unlike this afternoon where I was not ready to get an unexpected visit from a woman, this time I was very ready and looking forward to someone to come see me in this park.
“Heeey!!”
Ah, that's it coming.
“What's up? Ga usually ngajak meet kayak gini, kangen ya?”
The figure of the owner of the voice was slowly getting clearly illuminated by the light of the garden lamp. It was Alice Eris. I smiled in response to his question.
“Ih, what's the matter? How about that smile?”
“I just got this serial murder case!”
I put on my best confident face, showing a smile with a level of confidence that is far limited in my daily life. But believe me, behind it all, I'm scared shitless.
…
“Let me make sure once more. With all this data, all you want to tell me is.”
“Alice Eris..” she mentioned that name along with me, “Is the serial killer.” The next is full of confidence.
I can't agree with that conclusion yet, it feels like there's still something stuck. Even so the data he gave me felt so valid, this student document looks exactly like the documents I used to see in the administration room. And from this document it is proven that Alice Eris is a fictional student in my school. All the records about him, proved to be false based on the evidence he pinned on this document. Is this enough to conclude that he is the killer?
“How about the killing mode?”
How could he kill 3 men who were physically superior to him? This question still feels awkward to me.
“What is important?”
“Yes, and I also need to know on what basis did you drop that accusation.”
“Not this proof is clear?”
“This clearly proves that he is indeed a fictional student in my school. Well, at least in theory assuming that what you gave me was a valid document.”
“Oh, so you think I'm trying to trick you, do you?”
Ah, this conversation's not taking me anywhere.
…
“Where? How's it? Come tell dong how did you solve this case?”
Alice immediately approached me, I was sitting in the same place as this afternoon.
This seat is quite bright even at night, thanks to the garden lights installed right next to it. I could see Alice's figure more clearly, she was in her nightgown and a jacket. He came without any preparation, without bringing anything other than what I saw at the moment. As per my estimation.
I deliberately made a situation where he could not prepare for the next murder, if indeed he did as CelwoodS16 said. That way I can, at least feel a little safer.
“Hmmm.. story from where is it good?”
He was comfortable sitting next to me, his eyes sparkling waiting for my story.
“Yes, we start from the next victim.” I stared directly at those two sparkling eyes.making sure he didn't miss what I was going to say next, “the next victim of this serial murder case is me. Juno Welkin's.”
…
“The next victim of this serial murder is me. Juno Welkin's.”
The voice at the end of the phone became silent. I guess he didn't even know what to respond to my words just now. This was also a sign that he agreed with my guess.
“I've read the profiles of all previous victims. And though I hate to admit it all those victims have something in common with me.”
“It is precisely because of that. I warn you.”.
“And precisely because of that.. If your accusation is true, only I can solve this case.”
“You no longer think to catch the culprit alone right?”
“I couldn't possibly do it myself.. But I have a plan.”
“Dark idea! That was stupid. Don't..”
I closed the phone without hearing him finish his sentence.
I tried to open the emali from my computer but the screen was still locked in the documents he sent. Damnit damnit! That CelwoodS is really troublesome. Before long my smartphone again vibrates with a vibrating volume exceeding my vibrating suit.
“Hei! Don't be so happy.”
“Can you please return my computer as before? I have an important email I need to send. Thank you.”
“Hah? An email?
And I closed the phone again without waiting for him to finish his sentence.
…
His face smiled hearing me begin this exposure. There was no surprised expression at all on that face, just a smile. He encouraged me to continue my story.
A part of me still didn't want to accept that Alice was the culprit, even though all the data I had concluded so. But if there is even a little, little chance that the theory is proven wrong I will go after it. It's not like I like this girl. Merely, I can't imagine a girl like her could do such a heinous thing. Well, maybe she can't be labeled as a good girl either, but a serial killer?
And right now I'm proving a loophole from that theory.
“I know this horror is stupid.goth problem if you want to laugh.”
“Ga nothing..” he seems completely unperturbed by my accusations against him, “Keep the story!” both eyes were getting more enthusiastic.
Somehow I have to go on a story that I'm not even sure about. But that was precisely my main purpose coming to this place, meeting this girl.
“We first met about two weeks ago, in the UKS room ‘kan?”
“Yup!”
“You sure? Long before that I had met you. Not far from this park, you remember?”
The look in his eyes I looked up trying to remember.
“Rain day, you with school uniform. Well, even though I said meeting maybe more precisely we just cross paths.”
“iya maybe, what's the matter?”
“That was the day of the murder in this park, although the body was only found about a week later.”
“You saw it?”
“Yes, I was here on that fateful day.”
Of course it's a lie.
“Hooo.. So yeah.. You saw me kill him?”
Go Juno! Another bit! Get brave! Be bold and look carefully at those two enthusiastic eyes before you.
Right now I'm probably telling the biggest lie of my life in front of this girl. A lie I hope he responds to with a laugh afterwards. Deep down inside I didn't expect this story to come true. I have no solid evidence to conclude he was the culprit, even though the documents I received state he was indeed a fictitious student at my school. Therefore I have to prove it by using myself as bait.
Well, this isn't as serious as it sounds. First, I still can't prove Alice is the killer, so I had to make up a story to set her up. Second, I sent Benji a copy of my investigation before I came here, and from there I hope he can make the next decision whether to believe me or not. Also my plan was to frame Alice and ask her to contact her acquaintance's detective if it was necessary.
Yep! No one's gonna die tonight. I just need to finish my story which will be a laughing stock afterwards. And tonight will end as usual.
“Yes, it took quite a long time to digest the events I saw that day.”
“Really?”
His face was very close to mine, his eyes full of suspicion.
“How do I kill him?”
“With rope meshes.”
I can answer this question easily thanks to the photos of the victims that Benji sent a week ago. There is no need to be a genius detective to conclude they died by being snared.
“Hooo.”
There was a pause where he looked directly at my two eyes very closely. And then he kind of gave up and pulled away from me. He stood up and took a deep breath, stretched his body and walked around the place I was sitting.
“So you were here, that time was yes.”
“Yes, this also explains why you volunteered to investigate the previous victims. Because if I did investigate maybe I could find evidence that you had something to do with the victims.”
“Smart is a new sexy, isn’t it?”
I heard the sound of the gel from behind me. I can feel the cold fingertips on my shoulders, dancing there.
“Sapiosexual. The tendency to like people who are considered smart, at least that's the impression I get after reading the data of the victims. They are people who are usually labeled smart by the people around them.”
“Dan~?”
The question tempted me to continue the sentence after.
“And from there I knew I would be the next victim of this serial murder case.”
Yeah, I know. It's a stupid story. How could a girl like Alice be able to kill 3 men in a chain. My theory doesn't make sense, let's go home while we laugh at the stupidity of my story.
“Completed, case solved!”
Huh huh?
“But you cheated! you shouldn't be there when the last murder happened.”
Haaaaah? Whahuh? Hows it?
“But let you still want to go with me, even though I know that I am like that. You are the best!”
I got up from the chair, moving towards Alice, who was waiting for me under the bright lights of the garden. I'm looking for reassurance from that sweet face. He smiled without burden.
“What do you mean?”
“Case solved. Congratulations, Juno!”
Can't be! It is impossible for the case to be solved this way! The story just now was just my essay, there's no way that's what really happened!
Both of her eyes were looking at me gently, feeling like a soft caress was being pierced. His face was blushing with moist lips, trying to say what was not easy for him to say. Both of his hands clasped my hands, pulling me closer to him.
“I don't know.”
“Me too, I just want to always be in this moment.”
Body hugged. My heart beat she could hear clearly, and her breathing felt so warm.
“Why?”
That question should have been just said in my mind.
He looked at me, his face very close to mine. I could see the reflection of a confused face and not understand me from both eyes. The face drew closer, and both eyes closed slowly.
“I love you, Juno.”
And a kiss landed on my cheek
Whatisthis? Love statement? At a time like this? This unexpected state made my mind blank for a moment. I didn't expect it to end like this.
I haven't had the chance to get my brain back to function suddenly as if it were pulled up from my neck. My feet no longer hit the ground and my neck hurt like it was choking. I could only see her gentle smile while desperately trying to breathe. That smile, so gentle and sincere as it was aimed at his loved ones.
And I'm suffocating up here, struggling to breathe.
…