The Murder of the Beloved
Chapter 25

Since being in class, Dinda has been unable to concentrate. Many times he remembered his mother. His mind was completely unsettled. For some reason, it was precisely at that time that he remembered Bram and his mother. And not just remember the two of them, but on something that used to feel awkward but not too thought about. He had several times caught Bram's evil gaze on his mother. From the experience of watching movies where the players act seriously, he learned to distinguish the meaning of the gaze of someone. Angry, vengeful, sad, hateful, and one evil, the other harassing.

But there is another difference that is much more important and very disturbing to the mind now. Bram's gaze at his mother was directed from behind, unbeknownst to his mother. Bram himself did not know that he was watching. But Bram's gaze upon him was done blatantly without hiding. In the first instance, Bram doesn't want to be known. In the first instance, Bram doesn't want to be known. But in the second case it is clearly opposite. Even though the authors say, that the gaze from behind actually shows the contents of the heart. If so, doesn't that mean Bram has no good intentions for his mother? If not love, why do we say love? It's not just hypocrisy. Well, Mom, you have to be careful. You cannot trust a sweet mouth.

Fortunately, Dinda sat behind 'em, until her dumbstruck attitude was not caught by her teacher. Even he continued his thoughts intensely. So deep that it felt like he could fly out of his body to go home to visit his mother. Unfortunately he could not see his mother who was confined in the house while he could not enter. He could only scream. "Momuuu! Ibu...!"

When he realized the situation, he was surprised himself. What has happened to him? He was still in class, among his friends. It seems like a long time ago that he lived. The first hour of rest is not finished. Such an experience has only been experienced. Suddenly, cold sweat poured out. He was so scared. Could it be some kind of alarm? He decided to talk to his mother immediately, directly and frankly, as soon as he went home from school for a while.

He will tell that his prejudice about Bram is not only based on instinct, but also reinforced by observation. Clearly, observation is what generates instinct. Whatever the results of his observations will be revealed, no matter his mother will be offended or angry. What he did was solely for his mother.

When the first break, he immediately ran away to the public telephone box. Because of his excitement he managed to get ahead of other children who were also interested in using the phone. He called his house. The important thing is that he can hear his mother's voice. Pretty long the phone was picked up. His heart was pounding hard during the wait. I was shocked to hear Aunt Della's voice. Well, did he play the wrong phone number to stray into his tantenya house?

"Where's mom, auntie? I want to talk" he said in a trembling voice.

"Silence, Din. Your mother suffered a disaster. Can you go home? Ask the principal for permission."

Without further ado, Dinda immediately put down the phone. It felt like being chased by a ghost. Of course he'll be home. Must home. He ran towards the school gate. There he was surprised again. Well, he hasn't asked permission and hasn't taken his bag. He ran back.

Finally, with a red face and gasping breath he arrived home. Aunt Della greeted him at the door and hugged him. "Where's Auntie? Where's Mommy?" yelled Dinda while crying.

Then Bustaman appeared and hugged her as well. Flanked by the two men, Dinda guided the inner chamber. He screamed loudly when he saw a body lying on the carpet on the floor covered with the whole cloth! He wriggled from the handle and then scattered there. He crouched down and pulled the cloth covering the face. His screams echoed again as he looked at the lifeless face of his mother. "Momuuu! Ibuuu! I'm sorry, buuu...!" the next moment he fell unconscious.

When Dinda regained consciousness she was lying on a couch in the arms of Aunt Della. He saw Aunt Della's face tear up. "Dinda darling. Are you conscious? Stay strong." Della rubbed her head. Dinda sat down and embraced her aunt. The two hugged each other, comforting each other. "Tell Aunt, what happened?"

"Bi Imah called me. She said your mother fell down the stairs, kept rolling down and her head hit the wall. At that time, she did not speak anymore and did not seem to breathe. Thankfully, the bus was still at home. Auntie quickly came here with him. The bus called an ambulance before coming here. But apparently your mother is dead, Din. Om Bus said his neck was broken. Let's go, Din. Mom died instantly. No more pain."

But Dinda's heart was very sick. He cried sobbing when he remembered his determination at school earlier. It turned out that the opportunity was not obtained. It's all been pointless. Already late.

Dinda nodded. "So mom died from falling down the stairs, Om?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Squeaky. How can it fall? Since living here, my whole life, I've never fallen down the stairs. It never slipped."

Della and Bustaman. Does that word contain a guess?

"Oh yeah, almost forgot," Bustaman quickly diverted. "Are you Om Bram's phone number? He had to be notified but I couldn't find his phone number on the wall. I don't know his office address either."

Dinda shakes. "What a shame, Om. I don't know either."

"Maybe it's on the note in her room, Din?" Della half suggested. "Let me take you upstairs."

Dinda immediately jumped up swiftly. He stepped so fast that Della had to chase him. But after climbing the stairs, it turns out that Dinda has another purpose. He examined each step of the stairs carefully. From the bottom up.

"Search for what, Din?" ask Della.

"If there's any intentionality, Auntie."

Della didn't ask anymore. He only observes and occasionally helps Dinda's examination. But all ceramic-coated stairs look clean and not slippery by oily materials. It was believed by both of them after rubbing with the fingers. Similarly upstairs, as the starting place of the fall of Lilis. They didn't find anything strange. Nothing is slippery and nothing can trip. Bi Imah also assured that.

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