BROKEN BUTTERFLY; Beyond The Night That Differs Love And Lust
CHAPTER 07. A CHASE

The area is crowded as usual. Well as usual, it's like I used to spend time in this place at this kind of hour. Fact no. I had only been walking in this area for the first time during the day other than on weekends, ruling out the fact that this area was only a few minutes walk from my school. Although not as crowded as weekends or other holidays, this crowd is quite difficult for me to follow my targets. Yeah, I'm trailing the mysterious woman right now, after a week yesterday I spent in paranoia feeling stalked by her.

Even so, saying it is much easier than doing it.

“Hei, Juno! Comehere! You seem to be striking in the crowd” Alice pulled up my sleeves that began to lose direction amid people passing by.

I followed him without arguing.

“Tu, Wait!! Why are you here!?”

“People you follow that one right?” Ask while pointing his chin at a woman in a black suit, “Gery bright weather wear clothes items.”

“Bent! You haven't answered my question! Why.”

We both stopped, my sleeves pulled forcibly from his grasp. I finally got his attention.

“I know you skipped, during break hours I hung out in front of your class. I search. From the second-floor window I saw you quietly exiting through the back gate. I follow. I know you're not a kid who's gonna skip that for no reason. And from your gurgles it is clear that you are following someone again.”

Okay, it makes sense…

“Satisfied? Can we focus now? That guy just turned there.”

I honestly don't have time to serve Alice right now. Especially for now. I can't let my only lead just disappear.

The woman walked accordingly, like most people who also walked in the shopping area. While occasionally stopping to look at the items that the stalls offered along the way. I think it's quite natural. Until I realized some of the stalls he passed had a mirror or glass in his etalas, and from the way he stood there for a long time..

Damnit damnit! I'm busted!!

Someone pulled my hand from the crowd.

“Sini!!”

I was surprised instead of playing, Alice pulled my hand into a narrow alley between the rather secluded shops.

“Cepet undress you!!”

“Hah? What?”

He didn't respond to my stupid question and took something out of his bag, wait, when did he get the bag?

“Pake it!! Swab! that guy's starting to get suspicious if we follow him.”

He was watching the woman's movements while I was wearing the T-shirt he gave me.

“The first rule for skipping school, don't wander around in uniform!” he said steadily when I finished with this troublesome out fit affair. Not forgetting with a smile she put the hat she was wearing on my head.

“Come, Sherlock there's a case we have to solve!” His voice was excited while wearing his sun glass.

“Where did you get these things? You can't take all this from school, right?” Our steps are starting to align with the increasingly fast tempo.

“Improvisation.. I picked up from the store in the previous block.”

I looked at him suspiciously.

“I pay kok!”

…

The woman went into a cafe. The outside appearance offers a cozy atmosphere with a sofa and distinctive wooden ornaments. There was a big window glass in front of him so we could see the room inside, even if it was just the waist of an adult up, but that was enough, I could see the woman ordering and picking up a chair while waiting for her order.

Alice and I were sitting in the space provided in front of the five-foot stall along the store.

“Parfait..” said Alice while playing the big Thai Tea Cup in her hand. “The woman ordered parfait.”

“Observation outstanding.. What conclusions can we take from it?”

“I want to Parfait.”

I don't have time to listen to this girl's whining now. I haven't touched the iced coffee on my desk since. Now all my focus is on my smartphone. I searched the website of the company the woman mentioned. Malcom Databases..

“By the way why did you follow that woman to kayak gini? Who is he?”

Only now are you asking that!?! Haaah!?!?! Alright.. Focus Juno! Focus..

“Name Risa..”

“Whose visa?”

“He works for the company Malcolm Database, a company engaged in data processing for schools.” I read the home page of the company in question.

“...let me doubt that he really is like what he introduced the time in Mr. David's room earlier.”

My gaze was set on the woman enjoying the parfait in the cafe across the street.

“Why do you think so?”

“Entahlah.. Premonition.”

That woman is still there. Enjoy his parfait with a book he is reading.

“Ehehee.. he. hihihi.

“Why? What's so funny?”

“Ah, Engga.. There is nothing~” but the face looks even more rattling.

“Come said!” At this point I started to get distracted.

“Try to see, all around us!”

Whatdoes thatmean? Observation test? I don't see anything funny around me. Just people passing by, sitting around, eating, chatting, holding hands. I didn't see anyone fall into the funny category of the bunch.

“Try looking carefully!” Alice realized my impasse.

But I didn't find anything that could be the answer. Only young people were enjoying their time that afternoon. Nothing special.

“hehe.. if looked at kayak gini. we kayak again dating ya?”

…

The cup of iced coffee that I had ignored earlier I gulped down without rest. The cold helped me to stay calm against this annoying girl in front of me. Enough's enough! The disturbing level had already crossed the limit this time.

Unknowingly, I lost that woman. I don't know when he left the cafe, I don't know. Huuuh.today was really exhausting.

I opened the hat Alice was wearing, I put it on the table. While taking a deep breath I tried to calm myself down, letting the adrenaline that had flowed profusely recede little by little. Smarthphone on the table, showing a map of the city of Vandour and in another tab showing the website Malcolm Database. I took a deep breath once more, this time deeper and longer.

I let myself drift away in the warm atmosphere that afternoon. Twilight with the color of his waist, the shop lights that began to light up one by one. The aroma of food is diverse and inviting taste. I remember the first time I had this experience. A sense of calm and warmth after a day of racing with adrenaline. Just thinking about it, I don't think my day is so bad.

I lost my only guide. But what he left behind was more than enough for me to put together my next move. Well, it's not over yet, my adventure will still continue.

An adventure? I don't know why it sounds so nice to my ears. It was as if all day I was doing what I liked and looking forward to continuing tomorrow. Yes, I must admit I enjoyed what happened today.

I opened my chat app and sent a super long and detailed message to Benji. I hope he can understand the contents and respond quickly. Well, right now I'm not in a hurry, so maybe he can have more time. And again if it is necessary I can find this information myself, but it feels troublesome if you have to read one by one the relevant articles on the internet.

“Eh? Went where? Want to go home?” Alice asked to see me move from my place.

“Yup.”

“Hee? How was the chase?”

So he hasn't noticed yet. I turned my gaze to where the mysterious woman was sitting in the cafe across the street.

“Tuh! the guy doesn't exist.”

“Yah.. how is dong?”

“Ya go home.how again.”

Well, I feel today's pursuit is enough. There was nothing more I could do in this place, then I just waited for a reply from Benji and made plans for the next step accompanied by a cup of coffee at my study table.

Suddenly my steps were held back by the pull on my shirt. I tried to ignore it and kept walking out of the situation.

“Parfait!!”

That voice I can't ignore. And the two eyebrows that were bent by the sign of dissatisfaction were also lips that pouted after saying that sentence.

Whahuh? Whatdoes thatmean? Why suddenly? A parfait?

“Hmmmrggh..” Alice began to growl exerting pressure on her expression.

It took me a while until I found out what it meant. Long enough to make me feel so stupid to interpret the meaning of his words. Yeah, parfait.. Sure oes.

…

Next thing I know I've been sitting in the cafe where the mysterious woman spent her time this afternoon. Finally Alice with all her efforts managed to take me to this place and treat him parfait, plus the fact that he has helped me a lot today. More than that he managed to get me to order a parfait for myself. Another new experience for me, and ended up with two glasses of fruit parfait on our table.

I didn't pay much attention because I was watching him from a distance. But the woman has a very different taste in food than the way she dresses, I mean look at all the colors in this glass! Very contrary to his image. The spoon is still untouched, I still want to spend more time analyzing the object before my eyes. Maybe from here I can get more clues about the mysterious woman.

A message went to my Smarthphone. I let go of my attention from the colorful glass in front of me and immediately checked it out. It's from Benji, I never thought he'd be quick to answer. Not only that, he even gave a detailed answer like I asked. Journalists are great!

“Hei! How not to eat?”

I didn't answer Alice's question.

“Juno.. See what is so smiling?”

“Hmm.. Ehee.. Ehehee.”

Now it's my turn to bother him. Or well, at least make this girl upset.

“You want to know or want to know?”

…