The Murder of the Beloved
Chapter 31

"He seemed devastated after learning the lab results. I fucked him," said Della.

"According to my observation. He had been silent and aloof before the lab results were known" Bustaman argued.

"That's fine. Maybe because it's too tense. But I'm still wondering if the lab results are enough to make sure that Bram is innocent" Johan said.

Della and Bustaman looked at each other. "Do you have any prejudices too, Mom?" ask Della.

"That's the one who knows best is Dinda. He felt and saw. I think we should not lose confidence in him" Johan said.

"So you still suspect Bram?" ask Della.

"It's not. I don't know where I am. I told you, the one who knows and feels the most is Dinda. We can't underestimate his instincts."

"Insting can be influenced by personal feelings" Bustaman said. "At first he suspects Bram's bad intentions to her. That makes a lot of sense because the one who feels such a disturbance is certainly only the person concerned. Della and I believe in her prejudices. But in the next development I'm not so sure anymore. The accusation is not a joke. The argument that the police have put forward is very logical. And that sounds more logical than Dinda's analysis."

"Yes, I personally prefer Dinda to be wrong, although I really appreciate her opinion. I'd rather have Lilis die in sobriety and reasonableness" Della confirmed.

"Sometimes reality doesn't go the way you want it to, Del," Johan said. To him, that voice sounded cynical. He recalled the events of the past, namely the affair of Johan when he was still the husband of Lilis. Perhaps a husband who was once ugly is more able to sniff out ugliness than other husbands, because of his personal experience. It was almost said when she saw her husband's reminiscent gaze. This is not the time for a fight between us!

Johan is unaware of the meaning of Della's gaze. He was thinking. "If Bram wants to get rid of Lilis, what's his motivation?"

"Bram used to borrow Lilis deposits of fifty million, but they were returned. Lilis told me herself. After that I do not know if there are any similar cases or not. I thought, if there really was any, Lilis came to tell me. Usually he likes to have an opinion or share his taste with me" Della explained. Johan's seriousness softened his feelings.

"Then, there are no financial problems" Johan murmured.

"Maybe about girls? But time yes, anyway. The wedding was only a few months. Usually a new man cheats when his marriage is several years old." Della quips. Satisfied could reply when he saw Johan's reddish face.

"Yes. We can't let Dinda stay with Bram. Dinda does not want to get out of the house, so the one who has to come out is Bram. He is neither Lilis' husband nor Dinda's father" Johan said. Inevitably he became reminded of his own experience when he was thrown out of the house. He won't let. What horrified me most was how Bram took revenge on Dinda for humiliating her" Della said.

"I don't think he'll dare. Can escape the rarity now alone he is very happy." opinion Bustaman.

"Now he's happy. Tomorrow the day after tomorrow he thinks otherwise. Especially if he's as guilty as Dinda's guess." Johan agrees.

Della frowned. It seems Johan is leaning towards Dinda. Maybe there is a common descent? "But Dinda had no evidence or eyewitnesses until she was subjected to retaliation" Della denied.

"Anyway, we've agreed that Dinda should never go home with Bram. When the funeral's over, we'll talk to Bram." Bustaman ended the family meeting.

*****

The funeral is over. She returned to her daily routine. He has been back in school, studying and also practicing kung fu and breathing. But he trained on his own. His father had invited but he reasoned there was no time.

But Johan diligently picked her up from school and drove her home. For Johan it was the only way to meet and communicate. He was still reluctant to go to Dinda at his house, because he did not want to meet face to face with Bram. There is concern in Johan that the case could lead Dinda away from him again. Dinda's reticent and self-closing attitude was enough of a cause for concern. Until then he comforted himself by thinking, that it was certainly because Dinda was still sad over the death of her mother. But he was quite aware that the cause was not just that. Dinda was very disappointed to not be able to prove Bram's mistake. If only Dinda would express her heart, she could be more free to comfort and express her support.

Dinda never told her conjecture about the authenticity of the items she checked in the lab and were likely swapped out by Bram. He was convinced that Bram did. If you do not intend to do so, why Bram asked Bi Imah? If Bram didn't poison his mother, why did he need to ask about the cup? Is that important to the cup? And he was very stupid because he had given Bram the opportunity and flexibility to do the things he wanted. If only he hadn't come with Bustaman to the police station at that time. The regret still haunts him.

He kept it to himself because he felt there was no point in questioning. Who wants to believe it now? At most they just pretended to believe, so as not to make him sad. For sure their belief will not be enough to unite and insist on an autopsy! Oh Mother, did you really die peacefully and happily? How I wish that his condition was so true.

The days after the funeral he and Bram never said hello. It can be said that they also rarely meet face to face. Bram continued to do his routine activities by jogging early in the morning, then when he came home Dinda had left for school. Then Bram left and went home at night when Dinda had gone into his room. Sunday, which is a holiday, has not yet arrived, but Dinda has planned to spend the day at her father's house.

Although they avoid each other like that, there is also a time when they cross paths. At that time Dinda only realized that Bram's attitude was much different than when his mother was still there. Now Bram is not trying to fight or try to draw his eyes so that he can harass through the look in his eyes. Instead, he tried not to look at each other. The road is not near. Dinda realized, the change was certainly natural. Now the situation has changed. All he thought about was how Bram actually looked at him from behind!

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