THE TRUTH SEEKERS
[CHAPTER 1] : The Boy's World

~This world is like a place created just to torment me~

THE SEEKERS 1: The Boy's World

Kriet's... Kriet's...

Creesek! Creesek!

Kriet's... Kriet's....

Creesek! Creesek! Creesek!

A grekkk!

"Die?!!"

I squealed, just as a pushcart hit me. Surprised me who was in a hurry to choose some instant noodle products until it ended up dropping it.

"What's the same guy?"

The astonished voice of some other buyers dawned on me. I looked down, embarrassed when people looked at me with strange eyes. I rushed to get some of the noodle packs I had dropped and put them in the shopping cart I was carrying.

Worry is still enveloping. It was as if someone was watching. For a moment I looked at the train that hit me out of curiosity. And then my hair was made to stand.

From behind the thick glasses I was wearing, I could still see them. A figure of a woman with dangling hair swept across the middle floor looking at me. Pointing right at me with a blackish skinny fingers like the claws of a wild beast. Through a pair of eyes that showed deep darkness, as if intending to drown my entire consciousness.

"This change- uh mas-" Ignoring the shout from the cashier, I hurried away while carrying the bag of groceries with trembling hands.

......

Grek!

The door to my room closed a little hard and then I locked it twice. Legs stepped back, staring at the peeling brown painted door that felt so scary. Waiting for the next reaction with a gripping feeling.

THE BANG!!

Ngieeeekkk-

I fell down with a paled face. Take off the mask that feels stuffy and start breathing like a dying person. Strange sounds were still heard from outside. The sound of laughter mixed with the growl of a wild beast. The door was still being pounded, making my hair stand up, and the skin was cold. I hugged my slowly shaking body, trying to calm myself down.

"No what... They'll go... They're definitely going to leave..." Whisper to myself. Keep repeating it to reduce my fear. And before long, the voices that kept bothering me turned into a final goal before finally disappearing entirely.

Regulating the breath that felt tight, there was a sense of relief that slowly spread,

Thankfully.... Thankfully 'they' couldn't get in...

With weak steps, I dragged my feet while carrying groceries in a large plastic bag. Just put it next to the stove. I took off my thick glasses, and instantly my vision felt so clear and fresh. I took off, put it on the chair and walked towards the stove to prepare lunch.

Canned sardines are already quite luxurious in this state. If I can save money, maybe I can make a side dish for the next two days.

"Eh? Where's knife?"

I'm looking for the only kitchen knife I have. On the nightstand, near the stove, then the shelf. But I can't find him. Before finally something tickled me.

Kolong washbasin-

I crouched down then opened the small door under the sink slowly

"YOHHH!!"

My heart almost jumped out of place. Very surprised when he saw the figure of a child with skin as white as milk was staring at me while twirling a knife on the floor. I closed the small door under the sink and cried out in frustration,

"Why are you hiding in there you fucking devil!"

Fear turns to frustration. I grabbed the kitchen knife that was sticking out, then I kicked the door a little hard while threatening, he said,

"If you do it again, I'll completely kick you out of my house!"

My threat was countered with a typical ignorant giggle of small children. It echoed through the room before disappearing. I pinched my temple with my thumb.

This kid, because he's eating my food, it's gone completely. But I decided to keep taking the rice that had cooled above and the sardines that I had previously prepared. Sitting at the only table in a narrow room, which is split into three pieces, then eating it in silence.

To hell with the taste, as long as it can prop up the stomach is more than enough.

The tling!

An email notification appears on the laptop screen that opens on the table. I hurriedly opened it and felt surprised.

This is the message I've been waiting for two months!

I opened the message sent to my email and read it with my eyes full of twinkle. Hearts are unsettled. But as I read the words, my expression faded. My spirit previously just disappeared.

"I'm afraid again, huh?"

Sitting limply while reading the last sentence in the message. I closed my eyes, though,

I should have known that I would fail. So I don't have to try this hard. Everything feels bland and pointless. After three months of pursuing the deadline, the manuscript I submitted was rejected again.

Subjugate head. I saw my plate that still left half of my lunch. Thinking about what I should do now.

The money for my living expenses is running low. Even for today's shopping alone I was forced to use my precious savings. The online comics I've created over the past year are also still empty of fans, and the comic script I sent two months ago was also rejected by the publisher for the third time.

To survive I need money. But where can I get money if I don't even have a job? Is there a factory or place that wants to hire someone who is just a Junior High graduate? A place that would accommodate a 'problem' child like me?

When I thought about it, frustration filled my mind. Things are getting more complicated. This pandemic, the daily necessities, to the jobs I didn't get because-

-Because I'm an indigo kid and can see ghosts.

Yep. I can see that kind of thing.

I can't act normally if they keep harassing me. People say I look like a crazy person who talks to empty air or moves around on his own. If they could see, they would understand what I really felt.

How about when they see their bad figure, a stinging aroma that can make nausea instantly, a terrible sound that is like squeezing your heart, also a feeling of goosebumps to a piercing cold that makes breath tight.

That's all I always felt when they were present and harassed me. Even the last time I fell down the stairs I ended up being kicked out of the project because my leg was bruised and couldn't walk properly for two weeks.

And that's also because it's the waiter for the project.

I held my face with both hands. Depression feels like a life that is not like this. Offline work does not work, even online work does not produce results. If this is how... How do I continue to meet my needs?

Head rests on the neck of the chair. Raised arms cover the eyes.

"I'm tired..."

+Drrrttt... Drrr... Drrtr..+

My phone is ringing. When I looked, there was no name of the caller and the number was foreign. But I kept lifting it up, though,

"Hello?"

"........"

........

"Order for table No.8!"

"Ready!"

I rushed towards the counter, picked up a tray filled with food and carried it. Walk slowly towards table no.8 nervously. Unceasingly glanced through thick glasses that felt uncomfortable to wear. Maybe because I was not used to it either, the tray I was carrying seemed to be trembling like it was about to fall. I try to stay calm and be careful not to mess things up. The two people sitting at the table - a middle-aged man and a woman - nodded and smiled when I arrived before them,

"Please order."

"Yes take-ekh be careful!"

I was surprised to almost drop the drink on the tray. Lucky the guy grabbed it first and helped me put it on the table.

"Ma-pardon me-"

"Yes, that's okay. Next time be careful."

Bending my head in shame, I chose to continue my work. Clean an empty table and bring dirty dishes to the kitchen. Due to the difficulty of carrying with both hands, I opened the door with my feet. Yet unexpectedly someone appeared right in front of me and we almost collided,

"Whoa! Be careful to open the door!" Stewing. I hurriedly apologized with my head bowed.He snorted and I hurriedly entered. I put the dirty dishes in the sink that was already full and started washing them carefully. I thought I was doing it right, but without being able to prevent a plate from escaping my hand,

PYARR!!

My face paled, realizing the mistake I had just made.

Die me.

"What is this?!"

Getting stiff, I felt a strong pressure hit me. The figure of the Head Chef is now glaring at me with an inevitable fierce look. Eyes glanced towards the fragments of dishes scattered on the floor and immediately spurted out his anger,

"Why did the plate break so?! Can you wash anything?!"

"Ma-sorry sir. I accidentally dropped..." Light's afraid. He's getting glared, he's getting bigger,

"Not so bad you're making the restaurant lose out! Why can't you do this job right?!"

I lowered my head, not daring to reply because my guts shrunk. He's clucking, he's clucking,

"It's quick to sneeze the shards and just keep watch out there! The other plates will break as well!"

I just nodded and immediately picked up the fragments of the dishes that were scattered listlessly. Chief Chief is back busy with his work and someone has replaced me to wash the rest of the dishes. I heard a few soft sounds that were enough to be caught by my hearing,

"Liet's the new boy, got mad at Mr. Adam again."

"Kok can the boss let the kid like him do a job here? His job was never really."

"It doesn't have to be taken care of. At the most end of this he will resign from here. SMP graduates are indeed unreliable."

I'm mute. Choose to feign deafness and walk to the back to throw away the broken plates.

Grek-gruck

My back door closed, my back against the brick wall. Stare at the quiet street behind the restaurant and daydream for a moment. Looking for fresh air to clear the mind that has been very depressed since.

It's only been five days since I started working at this restaurant. Maybe there was a bit of luck tucked away because I could be accepted to work in this place with just my Junior High School diploma. Therefore I try to do my job as best I can because to get a job like this is very difficult for me.

But good things never come with me. My work-everything is terrible. Angry Chief to make a fatal mistake like that. Even the seniors who work in this place don't like me and keep complaining about my job.

Lip bite. I looked at the blue sky too brightly as if mocking me at this moment,

Do I have to quit this job?

But I really need the money right now. I have to pay off the rent for this month and next month or Uncle will kick me out and make me a bum. My savings are running low and I haven't been able to eat properly lately.

"I have to endure. At least two or three months until I have enough money to pay for the next contract..." I mumbled, bracing myself. I can't give up and give up so soon. Anyway I should try it first and survive as much as possible!

"Getcha!"

I then realized that I could not linger outside this way and go back inside. I saw the Chief Chief and the few people who helped him as a chef seem to be in the middle of a fuss in the kitchen.

"This kid-where have you been?! Come with me quickly! Take the push table in the back and bring these foods immediately to the special room! Don't make mistakes understand?!"

"E-eh s-ready sir!"

I took the push table in the back. The seniors helped me put a row of food on the push table with a serious miss.

"Let's eat Arman, you bring this drink, please." The figure of the Barista called out from the counter. I'm approaching, man,

"This is for what number table?"

"vip ROOM. Take it with care with Arman huh."

"VIP ROOM? I've never been in there - are there any special guests?"

Senior Barista nodded, "Yes. The restaurant owner came to visit the same meeting."

Ohhh... Worth the Chief looks baffled and- I can't deny- seemed very excited when cooking earlier. The owner of this restaurant came to visit.

Then I'll meet my boss dong?

I became more nervous when I had to bring a tray containing three cups of coffee different variants of this. Accompanied by coworkers who previously helped the Chief cook and was carrying a push table containing exclusive special menus directly to the Senior Chief's cuisine.

Speaking of the VIP room, this is the first time I've been asked to come in. From the start working here, Chief has been preventing me from going in there. Only a few staff were allowed in and the Chief himself held the keys to the room. The location goes inside-separately with the usual customer area and on his door the inscription "VIP" is plastered very clearly.

"You're the first one here, right? Don't make mistakes." Said the senior carrying the push table.

How many times do they warn me like this?

The door was knocked slowly, the sound of the pull of the handle from across was heard and the door opened. The Chief himself opened it for us.

"Be careful with her." I followed the chief and senior into the VIP room with their hearts pounding. Instantly I was amazed.

This VIP room is like a relaxing room in a minimalist home. The size is not so big, but the facilities inside are very complete. Not only is there AC, even televisions and sofas. Three pairs of shoes neatly arranged on a shelf near the door. I saw some people sitting on the couch in front of a rectangular table in the middle of which was a vase of live flowers. The Chief stood there and appeared to be acting like a five-star Chief who was grabbing the attention of customers with a friendly tone that was definitely made up.

"Ah, Mr. Chen. Sorry to wait so long because the restaurant is also crowded."

"Yes. Thank you for working so well."

"Of course sir! For you, I cooked it all myself. So you and not have to worry about the taste. My name is his guarantee."

I would love to sneer at this Chief's words while watching the figure being spoken to.

I think the owner of this restaurant is a pitak-headed om-om with a bulging belly and super fancy makeup. But it turned out that his figure was very far from my shadow.

The owner of this restaurant-he looks very young. A young man with an oriental-chinesse accent. Slender in a striped blue suit and a high-collared black inner. Her jet black hair is neatly combed back. His skin was white and he had thick black eyebrows that swooped so as to make him look very serious. The pair of narrowed eyes behind the glasses did not falter at all and remained focused on the batch of paper in his hand. Even he remained that way when Chief asked him to speak.

His charisma is incredible. Just by looking at him for a while, I was immediately convinced he was a successful man at a very young age.

Eyes switched. Next to the restaurant owner was a bule girl with pale blonde hair. Wearing formal office clothes and a half-thigh plisket skirt while sitting supporting the legs.

I hurriedly averted my eyes in embarrassment.

Then across, there was a man in a black and- um formal suit.. Difficult explain. His style... Kinda bit... Traditional? Or maybe because he's not here either? Maybe English or German? From his face-nose bangir and white skin as pale as if untouched by the sun. The hand in the middle leather glove holds some kind of document and flips through the pages. Then-was she dyed her hair so that it could be white? It looks real like it's not a wig.

Last but not least, a man too. I couldn't see it clearly because he was across the street from these three people. Sitting-eye more precisely-with a relaxed skipping style on a long sofa. A book-I recognize it as a shounen comic opens up and covers his face.

He when everything is so serious, why is he the only one who relaxes so? Even though the owner of this place just sat with great dignity and charisma with two other people.

Chief gave me a gesture to move forward. I understood and immediately put the three cups of coffee I brought on the tray and placed them on the rectangular table.

"S-please drink it." I speak as a formality. A little cursing because it has to stutter so. Suddenly something tickled my mind. Stare for a moment at the table, then switch to Chief, and then,

"Anu Chief, is the drink really only three?"

The movement of the paper that was flipped stopped in midair. The cup clinks when it comes in contact with the placemat. I blinked in wonder as each figure glanced past the corner of the eye with a strange look. My mouth was open, but I didn't speak immediately.

Did I ask wrongly?

The Chief had already pulled me back and whispered with angry glaring eyes, "Obviously only three need not be asked again right?!"

I nodded and nodded quickly. Don't want to get angry any further and end up getting a long talk. Chief pushed me and gave a gesture of expelling. I complied without much complaining and walked out of the VIP room feeling uneasy. I can still hear the Chief apologizing in a friendly tone made up until the door of the room was closed.

"When I just asked. Is it possible that the person who fell asleep on the sofa did not order a drink?"

I sniffed my shoulders and chose to go back to the job that tormented me.

I mean them, the ghosts.

This is the suffering of an indigo child.

Even these thick glasses I wore were still not enough to dispel my 'vision. Their form still looks so clear when caught by my eyes. While refraining from trembling, I greeted the customers who entered the restaurant in a friendly tone as possible while continuing to try to avoid the figures. Horrible figures 'accidentally' brought by customers. Like a parasite, it sticks unnoticed and gets carried away everywhere. But of course they are completely unaware that it has been 'pasted' like that.

Only I realized it. Only I can see it. The figures with such a bad look and strange shape. In such a terrible situation that he lost a limb. The figure of a small child under the table, grandmothers who sit next to a man, to a figure that is like an ape but as big as the body of children who wiggle on someone's back. The others I cannot even describe because of their strange and unusual shapes and looks. When they turned to me, I had to pretend I didn't see them and keep delivering orders. Even when one of them suddenly dropped on my back and looked me around, I couldn't possibly scream. I could only blur my gaze and pray in my heart that they would immediately step away from me.

I don't know when I'll survive like this. Facing customers who are sometimes fussy, in the middle of rush hour and crowded orders I also have to deal with ghosts....

At least I don't have to be tormented all day. Because at four o'clock in the afternoon, I was able to take a break from this mental torture. Lucky I can still get the morning shift ration, so I do not need to work late at night which is at night... It'll torture me a lot more.

Ghosts are more active at night.

I got a little excited as I approached shift time. I chose to stand guard near the door and greet the customer. Just then, a customer was about to leave the restaurant and I bowed to him.

He's the white-haired guy I saw in the VIP room.

Why would he go out alone? And--what's with that glare?

BRAKK!!

OHHMM!!!

OHHHHH!!

"OI WHAT IS IT?!"

I jerked. Suddenly such a deafening voice sounded from outside the restaurant. So loud that it resounded inside. People who previously sat back and enjoyed their meals started to fuss and went out to look for the cause. I opened the door of the restaurant and instantly my eyes were round.

On the highway there have been successive accidents involving two cars and one minibus. The horn roared loudly.

"There's been an accident! Jeez, the car's up to the renyek so!"

"Come there! I think it's so bad!"

"Police phones are the same Ambulance!"

"Donah!! Someone is down! It's under the god-" car"

The streets became suddenly jammed and people flocked to approach. Screaming in panic to help the victim or just curious and want to see. The customers inside the restaurant flocked out. I who was still standing in the middle was then pushed by the current. My head was knocked and accidentally the glasses I was wearing slipped off until they fell on the floor.

"Ah-- glasses-"

Kreek!

My eyes fiddled for a moment.

N-no.... My glasses

DUAAARR!!!

My attention was distracted by the sound of an explosion just now. The flames were moving wildly from where the accident occurred. Burned a family car metallic white and began seeping into the other car. Victims who are still trapped and squashed scream loudly for help. But it's all too late. The flames had engulfed their vehicles quickly and roasted their bodies alive.

A loud howl sounded to slice inwardly. It was horrible and so painful. Gooseflesh. The hands and face that poked moved with madness because of the pain received.

Then on the other side. A side that cannot be seen by ordinary people... Much more shaking me.

"GWAAKHH-" I screeched and fell down with limp feet. Looking at the horror of what appeared before my eyes.

Horrifically. It was so horrible that it made my body shake violently. The first time in my life I saw such a painful death. Until the souls scream and howl like crazy animals. Between the conscious and the unconscious, the souls looked at me desperately. As if asking for help.

But what am I supposed to do? What can I do? Just looking at it made me feel so scared. Chest feels tight like being hit by a heavy object. Tears come out without me holding them back. I had trouble breathing until it hurt inside my chest. My stomach was nauseous due to the various nauseating scents that suddenly filled the air. The atmosphere turned heavy and gripping.

Black hands came out, the figures creeping with various unpleasant looks. Staring at me with full of pain and shouting in a voice like a broken cassette,

"Please... Help me..."

My eyes cannot turn. My body cannot be moved. Cold spread to stab the spine.

"Hakhh-Hakh-"

Stuffy. Tight and painful.

Pl-please... Please stop... Please don't look at me like that

Grep

"If you don't want to see it, don't look at it."

The deg!

I was shocked when my eyes went dark. I lost my word and just opened my mouth trying to compensate for the tightness in my chest.

Somebody's... There's someone behind me-there's someone

The hand that closed my eyes was tight. I felt my back hit someone's body. The roar of breath spread to my earlobe. The low-pitched, hoarse voice sent a strange tremor tickling into his chest as he began to whisper the words so calmly.

"Breathe slowly. Don't let fear ensnare you. If you can calm down, your body will not tremble. Ignore the sounds you hear - cover your ears tightly if necessary. Re-feel your own presence."

Slowly, like a magic spell, calmness began to approach me. Breathing that previously felt tight is now starting to get back in order. The nausea and goosebumps that surround it disappear. The terrible pressure that ensnared me was being knocked out bit by bit. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to reduce the tightness in my chest.

"Smart boy. Now look at it more casually. Don't let empathy eat away at you and make you 'trustful'."

The hand that closes the eyes slowly moves away. I felt the figure at the back also drifting away, and then something was dropped on my head. I touched it slowly

A suit?

The sound of shoes clashing against the floor distracts me. Lifting up the neck of the suit that covered the face, I can now see his figure.

A gent. With a large body height of more than 180 cm. Wearing a white shirt and black cloth pants. His hair was black over his shoulders and tied half back. He stood behind me while pocketing one of his hands wearing a black watch.

When he turned his head and glanced at me, my heart was like it was jumping from its place.

DEG!

Injury near the corner of the lip. The ice-cold black marble that glanced through the corner of the eye. And a cocky grin full of confidence it-and

Not likely.... I couldn't have mistaken him.... I was so surprised that I could only be silent at the door with my eyes pounding.

This fellow... He's the guy I met at the studio that night...

[CONNECTED]