Revenge By Law's
ARTICLE 49

The prisoners watched the television carefully. They are seriously following the course of the story of one of the soap operas that are booming lately, Prahara Houses.

“Pradita asshole. I have a good wife, beautiful, obedient, still cheating. Human beings, never satisfied.”

“The girl was wrong too. Udah tuh guys have a bini, still just dammed.”

“Pak Warden! Please raise your voice, dong! This storm is man.”

“Nonton startinian, so the more miss wife.”

Abi could only silently watch the furore of his fellow one-ruths. He hopes the warden holding the remote changes channels to news events. But it looks like the warden is enjoying the soap opera.

“Lho, what is soap opera? Change the news,” said a new warden. His words made Abi smile and other prisoners protest.

“Halah, fill in the news about it-that's it. Tired of seeing it,” replied the warden of the remote holder. But, at the end of the day he switched the soap opera channel to the news channel, disappointing the prisoners.

“Viewers, horrendous news came back from PT. Laras Jaya Karya.”

“Tuh, right. News about the company again,” said the warden of remote holders supported by prisoners who still have not moved on with the soap opera Prahara Houses.

“Ya already, change again the channel after this news.”

“Jaksa Leroy Jerold Kurniawan, son of Louis Jithro Kurniawan, was found hanged at his residence. Suicide victims are suspected of suicide due to depression. Leroy Jerold Kurniawan is a reputable prosecutor. Over the past few days, PT. Laras Jaya Karya, which is a company of his parents suffered various criminal charges. This led to his status as a prosecutor. Many suspicions over his role in winning various legal cases that befell his parents' company.”

Like being struck by lightning in broad daylight, Abi was shocked when he heard the news. He did not expect it at all. All the joints in his body were limp and he almost fell down. He has a lot of plans that will involve Roy. Moreover, his grudge towards the man was not yet complete. Roy's death is like a blow to him.

Is this you, Lord Jireh?

                  *

“Roy suicide.”

Regina said it in a flat tone, like her expression since coming earlier. Unlike usual, he did not look cheerful when he met Abi. His face was always serious and not a single joke came out of his mouth. However, Abi did not notice it.

“Sweetest. Though my business with him is not finished,” murmured Abi. “Has autopsy been performed on his body? It is possible that he did not commit suicide, but was killed.”

Regina's eyes widened to look at Abi. He looked surprised and angry at the words spoken by Abi earlier. Meanwhile, the one who uttered it felt awkward looking at that gaze. He did not know what the meaning behind that sinister gaze was.

“In a situation like this, you still talk like that?” Regina raised her voice. “While you hate him, but he's Roy. People you've known since high school!”

The people in the visiting room looked at them. Abi felt a little embarrassed, but Regina seemed to not care.

“What's wrong with you? Hasn't it been you who scolded her more?”

“It's about someone's death! Show me a little bit of your empathy!” scream Regina. His face was red and his eyes began to glaze over. “Have I not realized that you are this selfish?”

“Good, I was wrong. I'm sorry.”

Regina was still crying for a while, before she finally wiped her tears and began to stare back at Abi.

“Actually I have been eager to say something to you, but I always say because I still understand the suffering that you have endured,” Regina said, still with teary eyes. “You have been entangled by the hatred of your past too deep that you always think that what you do is understandable.”

Abi raised his eyebrows. He did not expect Regina, the woman who had always been on his side and had been loyal to support him, to attack him.

“Have I hurt you too much?” Despite not accepting Regina's sudden attitude of being too confrontational to her, Abi tries to be gentle. “Well, I was wrong for not showing her grief. But I didn't kill him. I can't be a hypocrite by pretending to cry for it.”

“At least you realize that you caused it,” said Regina who made Abi quite surprised. “I know, your lawyer first investigated about the dilution scandal at his father Roy's company. Then you enlarge it by inciting investors who have collaborated with the company so that the news is as good as that. I know, you must have been involved with the corruption charges of her brother and sister some time ago, right?”

“Hey, you're a cop. Shouldn't it be good if a crime is revealed?”

“But all have procedures. You always act alone as if you never thought we, the cops, were in this world.”

“Come on, you must understand why I'm acting that way to the police,” said Abi. “I'm just trying to participate in law enforcement.”

“Not, you just want revenge.”

Abi's eyes widened to hear Regina's accusation which was unfortunately true. His face, which had previously looked soft, now showed veins of anger.

“Is it wrong if I want revenge, after everything they did to me, ruined my life?”

“No, it's just that you've poured your life into revenge so much that you've forgotten that there's more beautiful things you can achieve than you'll ever get your grudges done.”

“For example?”

Regina did not answer. There was no way he could have said if the more beautiful thing was his love for Abi, even though that was what he meant. Especially now that feeling has begun to recede.

“Not only that, you also make the people around you, who care about you, have to bear the terrible consequences of your revenge and you never feel guilty.” Regina did not answer Abi's question at all. “See your mother who was slandered burned someone's house down. Then your brother, Rama, was attacked by unknown people. Not yet me and the policemen who have been on honest duty should get a bad image because of your actions all this time.”

Abi was silent. For some time, he could not think of the right words to say, which could comfort Regina as well as defend herself. Until finally he spoke to his best friend in a soft voice so as not to hurt him, even though he knew these words were quite cruel as a reaction from Regina's previous words.

“Sorry, I can't stop. I have to get my revenge done or I will regret it all my life. All I can do is try to protect the people around me who might be taking their toll.”

As Abi had guessed, Regina looked annoyed at hearing his answer. The tough woman stood up and left Abi. However, just walking a few steps, he turned around and approached Abi again.

“If it is your decision, it means I will be your enemy. I will always watch over you and fight you if you do things that go against the rules. I'm not gonna let what Roy's been through happen to anyone else. Because if you want to punish someone, especially with the law, you should hand them over to us, the police. But if you do it yourself, it means you're breaking the law.”

Abi sighed. Her sad eyes continued to stare at the person who had filled her life since they were little. Then he said, “Even if one day we become enemies to each other, I hope never to hurt you.”

Regina turned around and walked away again. This time, he is no longer back. Abi had a feeling that the woman would never come back. If he returns, he will not return as an old friend.