Followed by the Chaotic Creature
Doll fortune exchanger 4

DINAE

"Ha-ghost!" cry Lisa while pointing towards the fresh out student.

"Shut up, Lisa! He's not a ghost! She's also a student of this school!" I snatched at Lisa. I feel bad.

His face was pale as a ghost, with black lines under his eyes, and burns on his temples, to strangers he looked scary, but not to me who had known him since childhood. His eyes looked tired like they had not slept for days. Yes where could he possibly sleep after he lost his only brother.

I don't know if I said his name correctly. Celin and Celena are identical twins. They are very similar to each other. Except for one thing, their nature.

Celin is more open and easy to get along with others. He is friendly and kind to anyone. Instead Celena seems rude and likes to behave arbitrarily without thinking about others. Celena often fought with others because of her attitude. No wonder he was so far away and had no friends.

I know a fire that broke out in their home five years ago has killed one of them. And only one survived, Celin.

But Celin has changed a lot since that day. He is no longer the same as I used to know him. He was quiet and closed.

"I-I'm sorry, Lisa didn't mean anything bad" I said in place of Lisa's apology.

"It's okay" Celin then left us. Eli helped Lisa stand up.

I think he'll be angry and upset over Lisa's attitude. Or he'll be sad. But the voice still sounded cold and indifferent.

He did not look inferior due to the wounds on his face, he simply did not care what others thought of him. He lived his life as usual. To me she looks more like Celena than she used to be.

"Do you know that student, Din?" ask Riri.

"Yes, he's my neighbor" I replied. I forgot we were in school because since the fire I never talked to him again.

And I didn't think that we'd be one room with him today. I feel bad because of this incident. I ended up not focusing in class. I have absolutely no idea what the teacher explained in the class.

Damnit damnit! What good am I doing taking classes today! I lament in my heart.

Additional classes start from 9am to 1pm. We talked for a while in the cafeteria before heading home. It was almost 2pm when I reached the gate of my compound. But the sunlight still feels hot.

I saw the security guard at the post lying on his back on the chair with a hat covering his face. He must be hot, too.

My skin is burning because of this heat. I have to bring an umbrella tomorrow, I thought. I want to get home and drink cold water.

Almost at home, but my steps felt heavy as I passed the two-story house with a rusty black fence. The iron door creaked every time someone passed. The owner never locked the door.

Who would want to hide in that ghost house.

Since the fire, the house is notoriously spooky. The scorched smell pungent every time passing mixed with the smell of roasted meat. The memory that there was once a burning dead in the house gave me goosebumps.

I walked quickly through the house.

"Son!" A raucous female voice stopped my steps. I looked back.

An old woman with a messy bun and pale skin stood at the fence of the house. His face was filled with many wrinkles, his lips looked dry, and his eyes were clearly red. How long has she been crying? What every night?

"Did you meet Celena at school? He also took extra classes." he asked.

"So I met. But don't go home together, Auntie," I replied.

"Lately he's been coming home late. Just worry," he said again.

"Maybe in a moment, Auntie," I said as I opened the gate. I accidentally looked towards the window of the room on the 2nd floor of the house. The curtain seemed to sway for a while, like someone had just peeked out earlier.

I didn't realize the woman was still watching me. He followed in the direction my gaze was fixed. Then he waved, as if he was greeting someone who was there.

"Tante said Aunt's son hasn't come home yet, so who's in that room?" I asked while pointing towards the window where the figure was standing. The old woman looked in the direction I was pointing.

"Oh, that's his sister. She must be lonely because her brother hasn't come home yet" she replied with a strange smile. Feeling that something was wrong with her I immediately rushed into the house.

That woman is crazy! Just like people talk about. He thought his two children were still alive. People say he is often seen talking to himself.

But if his son was dead then who did I see in the window?

From my bedroom window I peeked towards the house next door.

The old woman was still standing outside. He waved towards his son's bedroom window in joy and laughed like an insane person.

Someone is still standing there. That room. I'm certain. And right now he's looking at me. What's he want?

The sound of the house phone ringing made me flinch in shock. I went down to lift it.

For a moment I hesitated to answer. What if the next door guy called?

I was silent until a voice came from across.

"Hello, Dina?" I was glad to recognize that voice.

"Yes, El. Its me. What's up?" sahutku.

"You know we're the only ones who haven't had a study group."

"Yes, because we're short of one person."

"We're going to have a group assignment later this week, that's going to be a problem."

"I know."

"I have an idea, how about you take your neighbor to our group."

"What did you say? You want me to take Celin?"

"True, try talking to him tomorrow. I don't think he has a group either."

How can I take him? I barely spoke to him anymore.