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"My parents have ngaku. Everything."

Arlan sits side by side with Manda near the school cafeteria. Unlike the usual day, they did not intend to have lunch this time. Arlan only wants to spend time with Manda, instead of having to talk to Dimas. Until this moment, Arlan or Manda are still silent about the true events in Dimas. Manda doesn't want to lure Larasati out at this time. Arlan wants to know how far Dimas will trick him.

"Lo's okay?" ask Manda.

"I'm lying if I say it's okay" replied Arlan. He looked at the blue sky without any clouds. The day looks bright. It is a great atmosphere for a walk, or a date with someone. Things that teenagers do in general, even Arlan can not enjoy. He was just sitting here thinking about how to survive.

"Don't forget that I'm here, Lan," Manda reminded.

Arlan smiled at Manda's words. Honestly, Arlan himself felt strange. The person he felt was most familiar with, it turned out to make him half-dead shocked. Meanwhile, Manda, who he just met, was willing to help him as if they were brothers.

"Do you have any plans for the future?"

"Mmm," Arlan hesitated for a moment. "Actually, I want to find the bodies of people who have been used as collateral for them."

"Seriously lo?" whisky Manda. He watched around, feeling the need to be careful as they talked about sensitive matters. "How'd it go?"

"Gue was browsing all day about missing persons cases lately" I'm Arlan. "Maybe, if I'm lucky, I can find some people."

"Then?"

"That's enough evidence for the police to conduct an investigation, right?"

Manda grabbed Arlan's hand and grasped it tightly. "It's not an easy job, Lan," Manda still whispered. "The risk is high. After all, your parents are not just anyone. That's too, if they're banged up and leave evidence on the body you found."

Arlan nodded. He himself understood the consequences he would get from performing this reckless act. Arlan does not not know how great his parents are in solving problems. Not only his father, his mother also had control over the people and could have used them at will. That's right Manda said. Her parents could not do everything alone, so their hands were kept clean.

"At least, I want to try even if it's just that" Arlan said. "Gue felt guilty after knowing everything."

"Hhh... Your sense of justice has, sometimes not in its place," complained Manda. "Okay, I'll help you if that's what you want."

Arlan sat up straight in his place. "What?"

"What?" Manda asked back. "Lo has decided so, I will also try to help. At least the terror will end for some."

Arlan only realizes that there is a glint of fear in Manda's eyes. Arlan lowered his head, trying to align his eyes with Manda's. Even though Arlan never denied, that Manda's eyes are the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen. "Is there anything you're worried about?" ask Arlan.

Manda bit her lower lip. He was nervous because Arlan was too close this time. However, Manda knew something had changed. Whether it was because he spent a lot of time with Arlan, or because of his mother's words about their future. Manda's heart beat faster, when the breeze of the day blew, carrying the fragrance of Arlan perfume to fill his parrot cavity.

"Lo can tell me," Arlan said softly without taking his eyes off Manda. This was a rare opportunity for him to look at Manda's face lingering.

"Gue... Fear..." Manda answered. Shame ran into him. But, he could not stop admitting what was bothering his mind. "Actually, the news about the number of teenage girls who disappeared, has reached my ears since a few years ago."

"A few years ago?" repeated Arlan. He could not believe that the news had just passed in front of him.

"News like this, it is not interesting for teenagers. I also actually will not know, if I am not told to know with Mom," continued Manda. "When there was news of a missing teenage girl, Mom became more strict with me. I can't go home at night, I have to take a lot of public transportation, and I can't go out with anyone."

"So, you have any information about the disappearance of those teenagers?" Arlan became enthusiastic.

Manda thought for a moment. "mmm... I don't know if this is the information you want. But, I can find some articles that I suspect are done by your parents."

"Help me, yeah!" pinta Arlan who answered with a nod from Manda.

***

"The father himself said that the boy could not do much!"

"Where do I know it's like this!?"

"Mama also felt, ever since Arlan knew the woman, she had changed. Arlan is no longer a submissive child."

"We have to get rid of the boy."

"But... Arlan already knows that we are subverting humans. Will Arlan not suspect us if suddenly the child disappears? Mama doesn't want to lose Arlan."

"You think, I got to acting this far, only to lose my flesh blood? After all, he is the successor of our family! We have to protect her at all costs!"

"Then, what is Papa going to do?"

"Let the Imam who intervened to finish off the girl know not himself!"

***

Arlan was shocked and woke up from his sleep. He looked around. The sky began to turn reddish, signifying that dusk had arrived. Arlan drew his attention from the sky to the face that was above him. Manda again lets Arlan sleep in his lap, as long as Arlan's soul is carried by Gina.

'He overslept, ' Arlan's mind when he saw Manda's eyes closed and did not react to Arlan's movements. Arlan chose to remain silent. He enjoyed every curve of Manda's face, carving it into as many memories as possible. Arlan had indeed heard about the future that Gina had spoken of. However, there is no guarantee that the future cannot change.

Apparently, the golden opportunity to look at the face of the scourge, did not last long. Manda woke up a while later. "Udah finished?" manda asked, when she found that Arlan had regained consciousness.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Yes, already! Wake, dong!" manda Protest. "My feet are tingling, right!"

Arlan. "Can you just in a minute?" asked Arlan in a pleading tone.

Manda snorted hearing it. But neither did Arlan's request. The sight of Arlan sleeping on Manda's lap after school was over, became a routine sight of students there, so now it is not something strange anymore. Rumors that they are dating have also been heard by every student. Initially, many gave Arlan advice to be aware and not to approach Manda. However, later it was reduced because Arlan remained attached to Manda and seemed to not heed the prohibition of his friends. Because of that, Dimas chose to keep his distance from Arlan.

"Manda, I'm taking you home, huh?" tawar Arlan's.

"Gue is waiting for Nanda" Manda refused. "So soon he'll be there, really."

"Tomorrow I'll drive home, okay?" Arlan did not give up.

Manda took a long breath. "Pity Mr. Imam if you have to take me too. I can go home by myself."

"Gue there's time for you to come home, so you're not alone." Coinciding with the end of the sentence, Arlan caught a glimpse of the strange expression on the face of the Imam waiting for them near the school gate. Arlan swallowed with great difficulty. His premonition said there was something Mr. Imam was hiding.

"Why, Lan?" manda asked, apparently aware of the change in Arlan's facial water.

"Gue has a bad feeling."

***