BROKEN BUTTERFLY; Beyond The Night That Differs Love And Lust
CHAPTER 06. TURNING POINT
Almost a week has passed since I received the e-mail, the e-mail containing a photo of the victim and the scene of the crime. I didn't actually respond to Benji's request that day, but he promised to tell me if there were any developments regarding the case. I don't know, everything about this serial killer doesn't feel like I can actually accept it as reality. I still feel like I had a weird dream the night before the class exam.
And speaking of exams..
“Juno, material summary file yesterday I sent. Please learn for test 2 more days.”
Weena really knows how to make me feel about this reality.
“Thank you.. You helped once.”
“What is sarcasm?”
“Do I look like I need help for tomorrow's test?”
“Tests are Monday.. Did you hear me from earlier?”
Well, my relationship with Weena has gotten worse since that day. It's not like we're fighting or getting angry with each other. Okay, maybe so, 'cause he's more angry now. But I think the problem is much bigger than that. I've known this girl for a long time, even if I remember my childhood, it's hard to imagine it without Weena there. Yes, the point is we've known each other long enough to know the good and bad.
And the problem is, if all this time he and I had a problem and we were fighting, there was still communication that even made us closer. Either by cursing each other or opening each other's disgrace. Anyway the fights that brought us closer, not even farther away like this.
The break is soon over. We were still in our secret place, spending the time alone with the minimum possible conversation. I don't know, with every word that's even getting us away like this, I think silence is the best option.
There was actually one thing that still stuck with my mind and really wanted to hang out with Weena at the moment. Yes, from the photo I got, at the scene where the mysterious woman's body was found there. Not like a person who happened to pass by or happened to be in the wrong place and time, he was actually intentionally there, or rather in the photo. This may sound strange, but I'm sure he was accidentally photographed there. Yes, although it was a bit blurry I was sure that he was aware that there was a camera taking pictures of him, and that eye, that eye without hesitation looked directly at the camera. Looked directly at me.
What was I thinking? That's obviously impossible. What was the benefit for the woman to take such a provocative act? What because..? No, there's no way this case has nothing to do with me, it must be just my feelings.
In front of the class Weena runs into Alice, as she should. They also showed each other incompatibility, as appropriate. Weena with a short, cynical sentence, and Alice with a light, selfless sentence. I don't know why something like this has been my daily life since last week. Even though it feels wrong to let things continue like this, I don't know how to fix this situation. And even though I asked Weena about this, would the answer I got improve things? Or even increase the distance between us? I can't risk it any further.
At least everything other than the problem was still going as usual. The class and the lessons have not changed. The chat of my friends in the chat group also did not change much, they still fuss about that. Behind her cold attitude towards me she was still like the usual Weena in front of her friends. I hope everything's okay.
Of all the people on this earth, it is myself who knows best that hope is just a lie hiding behind an unrealistic false optimism.
School hours are over. Alice was as usual waiting for me to leave the classroom, and if that happened Weena would back down on the grounds that she would go home with her friends after completing the attendance or picket. The perfect alibi to cover our increasingly distant relationship.
My journey home is now colored by Alice's tantalizing questions about this serial murder case. Honestly, I'm very tired of responding to it. But on the other hand this lightened the burden of my mind a little bit regarding this case. I can tell her my theories about this case, about the mysterious woman, and about the photos Benji sent. From there I became closer to this girl. Strange girls who discuss murder cases like discussing the latest gossip among girls.
That's how my day passed. It began with increasingly distant communication between me and Weena, and was closed with a murderous small talk with Alice. The world has not been the same since this case. Can I still be sure that this case really has nothing to do with me?
The question I kept asking myself, in my room facing my study table, drifting in ever more gloomy and cold contemplation. Until I finally fell asleep a few hours before my alarm clock rang.
…
This afternoon I didn't go to my usual place with Weena. I feel like we both need time to be alone. The thing I don't want the most right now is to hurt her and make our relationship go further at a level I can't fix anymore.
I had lunch in the park near the cafeteria, with my favorite sandwich and a can of black coffee. There was a place under the tree where I could sit alone without being disturbed by anyone, a place that could be seen from the main gate. Well, I think for a while I'd better take some distance from everything. Even if I had lunch in class, I don't know what to answer if Benji asked me about the progress of the case. The fact is I haven't done anything to investigate. Not to mention if Alice casually walked into the classroom and made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable with the suspicious looks of the friends in my class. His strange look, like it had no effect on the girl.
“Excuse me.”
I could hear the voice was meant on someone, which of course wasn't me. By taking a secluded place that clearly hints not to disturb this, where there might be someone who would be willing to approach me.
“Excuse me.. Dik?”
The voice did not leave, a sign that he had not received the expected response. And my shoulder was patted.
I'm surprised I'm not playing. And it must be clearly visible on my face right now.
“Excuse me, I have an appointment with.” he checked his smartphone looking for the name he was referring to.
I with my stupid face was still trying to gather my consciousness that was crumbling because of this unexpected moment. In front of me was standing a woman, with a black suit that looked elegant on her ideal body. I still could not believe what I saw, more than that I began to doubt the reality before my eyes at this time.
This woman is the ghost of my life over the last few weeks, whose existence has given me terror and horror that I cannot explain. What the hell is he doing here? Is this real? I'm not dreaming, am I? Those stupid questions started popping up one by one behind my stupid face.
“David Normandy's.. Cpc. David Normandy, can you take me to his room?”
“Pak David's.. Computer teacher?”
All right this one is the dumbest question that pops into my head. First, Mr. David teaches computer science which is the local content at this school. Second, he is also responsible for database management and security at this school. Knowing those two things would be pretty stupid if I addressed the predicate of computer teacher to Mr. David.
“Ah Yes.. Come, come! I'm inter!” I was moved from my comfortable position, leaving half the coffee I drank.
My mind went blank in response to this unexpected turning point. What is this woman doing here? In school? What the hell is going on?
NO TOK TAK TOK
The footsteps of the right used by the woman sounded like a hammer blow to the nail on my head.
NO TOK TAK TOK
There was a floating sensation during crossing the classroom hallways to get to the intended room. Cold sweat poured down my face, I wiped it with my sleeves.
NO TOK TAK TOK
NO TOK TAK TOK
And that voice.
NO TOK TAK TOK
The sound of footsteps made me no longer think.
…
“This is the room?”
I just nodded while opening the door, of course I knocked first, finding the teacher in question already waiting inside.
“Good day sir! I'm Risa from Malcolm Database.”
“Oh yes! Risa's mother, huh? Yes, yes I can already memonya from the principal.”
“Then the chat will be short.”
“Oh yes, yes.”
Suddenly the chatter stopped and all eyes were on me who had been standing before the door.
“Juno, why are you standing there?”
As I expected of Mr. David, always precise and efficient, not missing a single detail in his work. Including a student who had stood up like a person***** was looking at the woman he had just met. Without a word, I immediately announced.
…
I was still crossing the hallways of the classroom with a floating feeling. It felt like my head was made of cotton, very light and could crash at any time, to and fro. I don't know if it's a dream or a reality, it all looks just as surreal. The journey to my classroom felt very long and endless, as far as I could tell the distance between Mr. David's room and my class was not too far away. No, can't anymore. I have to rest, ah, yes in the hallway of this class is no problem either.
“Juno!!”
Someone called me, her voice sounded very distant, but also very familiar to me.
“Juno!!!”
Someone propped up my weight that slowly collapsed onto the cold wall.
“Juno, are you okay? Your face shoots that! Let's go to UKS!”
Ah, Weena.. I happen to meet him here, right now.
No, I'm sure he's also on his way to class from our secret place.
There are a lot of things I want to tell her, too many. He who spent his rest time alone behind the library on the second floor, must have been lonely without anyone to exchange quality bonds. Or maybe he chose to be engrossed in his laptop without caring about it. Well, maybe.
What was I thinking? At a time like this I even thought about how lonely this girl in front of me was spending her lunch time? Well, I can't think straight now. Even though Weena was currently wiping away the cold sweat flowing profusely on my forehead. I can't gather my thoughts that just broke into pieces.
Deep inside me, I was afraid of meeting that mysterious woman. All things related to him, this serial murder case, all his clues and investigations. I honestly don't want to deal with any of this, especially with that mysterious woman. Because from that day everything changed, terror and paranoia that I tried to suppress with rationality and logic. I wanted to believe that this serial murder case had nothing to do with me, and now the mysterious woman is at my school, patting me on the shoulder, talking to me.
I want to get away from all this, don't want to deal with any of this. I'm just an ordinary High School student who wants to live an ordinary High School life. And now it all feels like a dream from a faraway place.
Restore my life as it was!!!
I don't know who I'm addressing that frustrated scream. I want it all to go back to how it was before it all started. I want my usual daily life back, without terror and paranoia. I want my relationship with Weena to return to what it used to be, the days that we went through without fighting and the distance that was getting away. Weena. I don't want to see her worried face like this, and the loneliness I know she keeps tight.
“Weena..” My trembling hand is trying to reach his shoulder. I put a minute there in place of a million apologies I can't say.
He looked at my face with his worried eyes, trying to find meaning from the smile I was trying to force. Not understanding or maybe not accepting. His forehead puckered in disapproval, his lips trying to speak. But at this point we agreed that words were no longer enough to bridge this disagreement.
And I let go of that shoulder, whispering softly in a voice that only he could hear.
“I.. should go.”
I didn't look back after saying it. Just keep walking with still staggering steps. Not to my class, not to the UKS.
The only thing I can do to end this terror, I have to find that answer. And the only clue I have to find him right now is very close to me. I'm not afraid, I'm not gonna run.
I'll solve this case to the root. Up to all the questions I've always avoided were answered with no remainder. I don't want to keep lying to myself if this has nothing to do with me. I don't want to keep running away from the reality I have to face.
…