BROKEN BUTTERFLY; Beyond The Night That Differs Love And Lust
CHAPTER 08. STILL ON A CHASE

I asked Alice to return the pen in my shirt pocket. A few pieces of tissue I had in such a way as to be easily used for doodling, I knew what I was doing next would be very troublesome. But I have no other way to explain what's on my mind right now to the girl in front of me. Alright Juno..

“Wait, wait!” Alice stopped me before I could start. “The explanation will be long? For a long time especially until beribet can I pesen one more glass?”

Damn it. He pranked me.

Another glass of parfait arrived at our table. I did agree to treat him earlier, and now I'm starting to regret that decision. Huuuuuh.okay, take a deep breath. Focus up!

“Can we start now?”

“All Green, Captain!” the answer was excited while scooping the strawberry pieces.

“Good.”

All right, where do I start? Damn, why now I'm confused where to start!

“Malcolm Database ltd. The company that the woman mentioned actually exists, and according to what she said the company is indeed engaged in the field of databases, and, and in addition to providing services for the school company it also handles other private companies as clients…

“...Unfortunately I did not find the name in question on the page containing the core staff of the company, so maybe he is just an ordinary employee in charge of handling technical matters or field employees.” Or maybe a traveling salesman like I originally thought.

“But on another page, precisely on the page that contains clients from the company I found some instructions. You know that in this city there are 20 public schools and about 30 private schools?”

“Hum, hum.. I didn't know there was that much.” The eyes were so sparkling with enthusiasm.

Seeing Alice who had been busy scooping her parfait I unconsciously joined the scoop parfait that I had been silent since. And yes, it's delicious too.

“So where were we? Oh, aye! The school! From there I know that some schools have become clients of the company and our school may also be the process to get there. Well from there I find out which other schools have not or may be in the process of working with this company..

“The results are quite a lot if coupled with private schools, around the 40s. But the amount can be reduced if considering the economic factors each of which the cost of services offered on the official website is quite high, we can cut the possibility to schools that do have a potential budget to use their services..

“Hoo... Did you find out that was all the time we were hanging out in front? Cool..”

“From there the possibility down so stay 15 schools. or well, more or less. So there are about 15 more schools that the woman might come to. So losing that woman today isn't too much of a problem for me. I can look for it again by following this pattern.”

Even if I said that, I obviously couldn't do it. Investigating 15 schools to find one woman who could come and go at any time was clearly a hassle. I can't possibly do that.

“Woooow!! Cool! Cool!! Pantesan was very relaxed so you know the woman was not here.”

I'm not relaxing. I'mtired.

“And just Benji giving critical data. All the victims of this murder, all three went to the schools I was referring to. So if that woman has anything to do with this case, we can meet her at these three schools.”

The point is that it's just a matter of simple elimination to remove some of the variables from the group and take some with the highest possible rate. The same way I used to find a lost phone at the inn the other day.

Well, the chances are slim. But this is the only lead I have right now, regarding the mysterious woman and this serial murder case. More than anyone else I understand best how weak my theory is.

“Ya, yes.. Hmmm.. Ngerti, understand.” Consider Alice who seems to be listening to my explanation. “Trus means these bulbs?” He pointed at my graffiti on the tisue.

“It.. School..”

“Trus these lines?”

“It.. The way.. Bus route.”

“I don't know what you are drawing.”

…

The three glasses of the parfait were finally empty.

…

“This is the bus route of this district and the surrounding districts, before I had seen the woman take the bus from this stop.” I pointed at a circle of tissue I brought from the cafe earlier.

The bright lights of the city in the shopping area became the background of our next conversation. Honestly I'm so tired, I hope I can still explain my plan well. Alice was still enthusiastic about listening to my explanation even though I knew she was already very tired.

“Well, he's up from this stop. Right at this hour about a week ago.”

I looked around in case the woman turned out to be here. And yes, he's not here.

“Serious you snot it? From a week ago?”

You should also inget. You were there at the time.

Before long the bus came and about a dozen people waiting at the stop came in, we were included in a dozen people.

“That time he took a seat here.” I continued the explanation that had paused.

It just so happened that the seat was abandoned by the passenger who had sat before. Alice and I got a seat on the bus that was starting to get crowded.

I didn't answer the question that was starting to sound sleepy. Just looking out the window from where the woman used to be. Those sad looking eyes..What did he see from this place? Just a view of the city at night, and the crowds that never seem to rest. What made him look at this world with that blank look?

I didn't find the answer.

All I found was Alice leaning on my shoulder.

I let him be like that. Not feeling disturbed in the slightest because I myself am already very tired at this time. Let all my complaints against him be saved for another day. For now let him rest.

The bus stopped at our stop. I woke Alice up carefully probably not wanting to surprise her. He was half asleep, with his eyes not fully open. Like a daze he follows wherever I lead him. I had to be a little extra careful while leading her down the stairs. Eventually the bus left us at the deserted stop.

The distance to my house is not too far, but the journey I have to take is not short. Especially since this girl who is now in my arms. Alice was still not so conscious from her sleep, her path was limped and it was very dangerous if I just let it go. As a result, a trip that usually takes five to ten minutes feels like hours. Alice seemed happy in half her sleep. I don't know what he's dreaming about right now.

We arrived at the park. It took him a while to recognize this place and the reason why we stopped here. Several times he needed to rub his eyes, before finally being able to open completely. I asked for my shirt back in his bag and intended to return the T-shirt I was wearing the next day.

“Ah, no need! Just for you, you fit in with that.” The answer is light as usual.

A moment of awkward silence.

“So...” I started initiating conversations.

“So I guess let me just get the information to the school you were referring to.”

“Hah? Why emang?”

“You have been striking in the crowd.”

Well, I haven't said anything about looking for information at another school. But maybe he has a point. I don't know how to extract information from strangers. Alice's sociable personality will make it easier for her to do this kind of work.

“Iya.. You really are about that.”

“You know what I have to do! What kind of information do you need to make an inquiry.”

He stretched out his hand, like asking for something..

“Sini! Pinjem your smarthphone.”

I'll just give you what he asks. He immediately typed something deftly. Before long the number had been stored there, and he also dialed the number from my smartphone so that my number was stored there.

He returned my smarthphone. I've prepared the closing sentence for tonight. I realized it was late and we both needed a break.

But he still had a surprise for today. With a gesture of his hand he hinted at me not to go home. And with the other hand he took off one of the bracelets he was wearing. Nylon bracelet with a distinctive knit, which I would expect to be handmade.

“Nih! Make you..”

He put it in my right hand, made a knot of rope I had never seen before and ensured the bond.

“It.. Make what?” I asked not to understand the meaning behind the gift.

“Create mementos today.”

“…”

“Still yes.. Today was great!”

He smiled with the rest of his strength in the day, a smile that looked simple and what it was. Before he finally turned around and walked back to his house.

“Goodnight, Sherlock!”

And his figure disappeared at that turn.

…

I've reached my desk. It was too late for me to miss my coffee tonight, not because I didn't want to but I was too tired to make it. End me at this table, face a pile of data to process and draw conclusions. But yeah, I think that's enough for today.

I change clothes I used to wear to sleep. And after a good look, I really just realized that the T-shirt Alice gave me to wear was a T-shirt couple. So all day I skipped school and wandered around town wearing this T-shirt, and accompanied by a girl. Really wonderful school time.

I'm still thinking about Weena and how to deal with her later, not wanting our relationship to end up with this kind of incomprehension. I owe her a lot of explanation considering what happened today. I was the one who suddenly skipped after the break, and our relationship was slowly drifting away. I had to get better with him, it felt weird because as I recall our relationship never got this far.

Also the case I'm currently officially handling. Well, maybe not really official in the eyes of the law, because obviously this case is being investigated by the police. I did an investigation because I wanted to, or even had to do it to escape the fear that had haunted me all along. And I hope that after all this ends my relationship with Weena can return to normal. Well I hope so.

Before going to bed I need to take off the bracelet in my hand. It feels itchy and uncomfortable. I'm not used to wearing these kinds of accessories before.

…