The Witness's
Chapter IX

Maddie pulls Denada's hand forcefully, enters the library and closes the door. It just so happens that the place filled with this book is empty. Denada brushed aside Maddie's rough hands as the girl turned to look at her.

"So what?" Ask Maddie ketus.

"You mean?"

Maddie let out a rude breath, "Why did you bear me in front of them?"

Without heeding Maddie, Denada instead walks through her and opens the library door intending to exit, but Maddie intercepts him. The girl did not care anymore that the door was open and the inhabitants of the school could see her fighting with Denada.

"Please." Denada flat word.

"My first answer."

Denada could feel Maddie's shield coming down. Maddie who is usually tough now is not. And that made Denada patiently face him. From the look of his face alone he was clearly confused, confused because Denada was suddenly good.

"I know you more then anything. They're lying." Reply Denada.

Maddie screeched, "Know where they lied from? I can take Zoe's boyfriend."

Denada hugged the front hand of the chest, giving Maddie a strange look.

"Only two things have changed from you. Rough and hateful. You've never been rude to anyone and you've never hated anyone. All this time I was the only student who was bullied since entering High School. I know the reason and I'm ok. I consider it your heartache that has been pendam for years."

"That's because-"

"Because of me! I know I'm wrong!" Denada yelled, "For three years I've always beaten myself. Because of a guy, I could lose a best friend." Denada's breath hunting. His eyes were emitting emotion.

"Why didn't you tell a story from the beginning? Why keep everything yourself? If only you told a story, you probably wouldn't believe it. I'm not going to put any flavor on Leon. I'm going to back off, for you!". Further. "After I thought this whole thing wasn't my fault. But lo! This time I'll be selfish. I take my words again. It's your fault."

"Denad.. I´m.. I'm.."

Maddie doesn't know how else to respond. After a long time of silence, Denada finally let out an emotion that was held in place. A few passing students stopped beside the library after Denada decided to raise his voice.

Denada realized this situation would be a school discussion. The girl sighed softly, scowling her head before deciding to leave the library.

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Arriving from school Maddie shut herself up, daydreaming. Emotions Denada who had been in the dam finally came out. Maddie was aware of her mistake but would not admit it. His ego was too high to say he was wrong or even apologize to Denada, even though he already had no feelings for Leon anymore.

Now one school knows their real problems. A friendship that cracks just because of a guy and he himself causes it. He who magnified this problem to enter the High School bench, not Denada. And Denada? He was silent, blaming himself for the breakdown of their friendship.

"Am I that bad?" Maddie Mumbled.

Shortly afterwards Gavin opened the door, without asking for permission. Maddie was about to reprimand him but Gavin's facial features were not as usual.

"Lo inget not the thing you told me about when Angelina happened?" Gavin immediately raised questions about Angelina's disappearance.

"Why?"

"Om Richard's got a wooden stick about the length of my arm. The stick was used to destroy the plant's fertilizer." Gavin.

Maddie jerks. The fear of Richard Hartono returned when he found out that Richard was probably a psychopath who was wandering around. Even more dangerous is that Richard is not suspected by anyone and is even considered a victim after Sophie was found dead.

"That wand is in GreenHouse?"

Gavin nodded steadily, "Hanging above the entrance. The stick is stained, I don't know what the stain is." Gavin slid down with eyes glaring at Maddie's ceiling, "I think your suspicions are real. Maybe the perpetrator that night was Om Richard, and Om Richard went back into his Green House to pick something up. And that's what he took."

"We have to be careful with Richard and probably Leon. Just in case." Gavin inexplicably makes Maddie's tears drop.

"They're.."

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"Thank you for coming home."

Leon smiled faintly and stroked Denada's head slowly. They've been dating for 3 years and they both know each other pretty well. Leon is very caring and pampering Denada. He dislikes Denada who was silent in the bullies, but now he knows why Maddie and Denada are no longer friends.

"Tomorrow I must go home." Said Leon.

"Again?" Denada complains. For almost a month now Leon continues to return home on Friday after school and back again for school.

"You know, Grandma lived alone there. I should take care of him more."

Denada could only nod. He understands Leon's family situation is not as close as other families. Only Leon and his Uncle, Richard, still visit his grandmother in the village. Leon's father had no intention of seeing the 80-year-old woman. Whether what happened in the past, it made a big change between Leon's parents, the grandmother and Richard Hartono.

"When to go?"

"Sunday night. Monday I'll pick you up again."

Leon came out, opened the door for Denada with a smile.

"There is no network. How do we want a video call?" Denada again sulks, considering she will be alone and will not tell each other with Leon.

"Just 2 days, Inca." Leon kissed her forehead, "It's not the first time, is it?"

"Yes, but after the incident with Maddie, I want to be in town. At least a phone."

Not only Leon, but all the school residents already know their problems and become hot topics. Denada needs a backrest, a place for her to talk.

"Tell me everything Monday. For the next 2 days you refreshing dong."

Netra brown Leon observed the minimalist house in front of him, "Tante Mala hasn't entered the house since this morning huh?"

"Kok know?" Denada asked back to make Leon instantly silent.

"Tante Mala doesn't usually leave the lights on. The outside lights are on, the lights on the side are on, the living room lights are on. It's only 4 o'clock." Obviously Leon while pointing at the lamp he meant. Denada who followed the direction of Leon's finger nodded in understanding.

Leaving the lights on in the afternoon was not the custom of Denada's guardian, the woman who helped Denada work at school as a Labor child and let Denada occupy her home, while Mala lived in the hallway next door with her son.

'Save electricity, Inca. You think it's cheap?'

That's what Mala Tumewan always said. And Leon knows it.

"Tante returns home. So I'm alone."

Leon nodded steadily and hugged Denada briefly before re-entering the car. He waved his hand and started driving the car.

"The lamp inside doesn't seem to turn on." Denada muttered that the middle room light did not appear to be on, especially from the distance he and Leon were. The girl looked down and looked for another position to see the light from inside her house, but was nowhere to be seen. Somehow Leon could see the lights inside lit up.

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