"Who are you?"
Tiara asked again, it made me have to turn away from her. I was wrapped in a blanket of fear now. If Tiara keeps asking "who am I", then there is no choice but to tell me honestly that I am her leader — no, to be more precise, her former leader.
But before that, there is one thing I need to confirm.
"Well... actually, what were we talking about?" Once again, I changed the topic of conversation to escape her question. "You know, you were talking about your leader, right? Then, why can you confirm that he changed?"
I'm so bad huh, made Tiara speechless because of my question. But it doesn't matter, whatever it is, I'll make sure I'll be able to make Tiara feel comfortable. Not only Tiara, everyone who is near me, but I will also make sure I will make them comfortable.
"Actually... it's about games." After thinking for a moment, Tiara finally spoke.
"Oh, game. So, we discussed games earlier? Hahaha." Since Tiara doesn't know myself pretending not to know, then I will continue to pretend. It's like playing a drama contest. Yeah, like that. By the way, when I was in high school, I did a drama contest. Cool, right? I became a tree with Rifai, and the audience loves our drama contest. I'm talented.
"You've seen me playing games in my room, right, yesterday?"
"Why did you bring up that matter again? I already apologized, didn't I."
"Hmm." Tiara shook her head slowly, "you know the game ENTER OF ADVENTURE? That's what I played, and Rifai also played the game. My leader used to introduce him to me. Therefore, when I saw him with you earlier, I was surprised to see you know him."
"Is that so. I know that game, many people talk about it a lot. After all, the game was 11 years ago, so it must have been known to everyone. So, why can you assume that your leader changed? Doesn't the game have a real face?" I burned a cigarette and raised an empty glass. "Already finished. I forgot."
"I don't know what his real face looks like. He even used a fake nickname for not giving up his identity. So, I can tell that he changed because of his nature. In other words, I can confirm that the changes."
"Is that so." Once again, I raised my glass. "Oops, empty." I put my glass on the table, "you're not an understand at all, huh."
"Hm?" Tiara looked at the glass, then looked at me, "you want more coffee?"
"No, that's not what I meant. Well, I wanted coffee too, but that's not it." My eyes met her, "look, are you stupid? Are your friends stupid too?"
"What do you mean by saying that?"
"I know that playing this game requires a helmet to be able to interact in the game. So, without that helmet, then you won't be able to connect to the game, right?"
"Yes." Tiara nodded once.
"Can't you think that your leader is a different person?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, listen! If it's your words that say he changed significantly, then it's likely someone else. It could be, right, your old leader has sold his account, or someone claimed he was hacked. Can't you guess that? Why can you conclude that he changed? Actually, if you think about it, then it will make more sense than to think that he changed."
That's what I want to make sure of. I can confirm that they, Tiara, Bagas, Joko, Elvina, Kahfi, and Helena; not considering it, my account was hacked. They are so strange, they think I have changed. I won't change for them, because that's what makes them feel good around me.
"What's changed!" I said in a low tone.
"You are right." Tiara looked surprised. "This makes more sense than I think he changed. Why, why don't I think about this? But…" Tiara's tone sounded sluggish, "you are like that, why did he just leave us, without wanting to say goodbye to me. I haven't had time to thank him."
So, she thought my account was sold huh. Geez, what a pain.
"What if the account is hacked by someone who is not responsible?" I asked. "Maybe, your former leader was looking for a new computer to be able to play the game."
Oh shit, I did it again. Ah, this is bad. This is bad. I did it… I did it again.
"Hacked?" Tiara thought for a moment. "But… how could that game owner's grandson want to do such a terrible thing. He definitely won't, because it will make his family name bad."
"Grandson? Whose grandson?"
"Hmm." Tiara shook her head slowly and looked at me. "Forget it!"
"Is that so." I know who Tiara means, but I still pretend I don't know. After all, why did Tiara have to hide Evan's name from me? Should have just said it, but there's no need to hide it either. Is Tiara trying to protect him? If so, then what is it for? Evan hack my account.
If it's like this, I have to tell the truth so Tiara knows that she doesn't need to protect Evan. What Tiara should protect is her happiness, not Evan's. I'm sure, Tiara, Bagas, Joko, Elvina, Helena, and Kahfi love the ENTER OF ADVENTURE game. After all, they had been playing it for quite a while and found joy in playing the game.
This is not just a game. Game ENTER OF ADVENTURE is a second life for them.
I opened my mouth after convincing myself. Then, I said:
"Hey, I have something to say."
"What did you say?"
"I am… me. No, that's not it."
"Hm?" Tiara tilted her head questioningly.
Why is expressing one's true self so difficult? Okay, one more time.
"I am…"
Is it true that I don't deserve to tell the truth, or is it fate? When I wanted to say it, suddenly a voice from Tiara's pocket rang.
"Ah, sorry." Tiara took her smartphone from her pocket, then picked up the call. "Hello. What is wrong?"
"Where are you, Tiara? I've got bad news."
I didn't hear their conversation through the smartphone.
"Ah, I'm at the cafe, close to the police station," said Tiara.
"Have you been arrested by the police?"
"No, I wasn't arrested. And, why did you conclude that?"
"Oh, what a coincidence, I was near there with Joko. The police station near your office, right?"
"Yes."
"I will be there."
"What for?"
"I just had bad news about our guild. I'll talk about it in full later."
"Okay. I'll wait."
When Tiara talked with that person, I saw my empty glass several times, and I played with the glass in the hope that it would be refilled.
Tiara hung up the call, put her smartphone in her pocket, and looked at me. "Sorry, my friend called earlier."
"Does not matter." My eyes met her eyes.
"So, what did you want to say earlier?"
I lost an important moment because of that phone call. If I say it now, it won't be cool anymore. Therefore, I introduced myself:
"I am Daylon Kenzo. Greetings."
"O-Oh." Tiara looked surprised. "I already know your name from your bio. But, nice to meet you too. My name is Mutiara Anisa."
"Is that so."
"By the way, why are you introducing yourself?"
I smiled a little, then said while looking at it. "So you know who I am."
***
From a distance, I saw two people, one boy, and one girl; heading towards where Tiara and I were.
I stood up. "Looks like, your friends have come. Then, I'll go home huh."
"You want to go home?" Tiara asked, our eyes met each other.
"Yes. I don't want to interrupt your chat. I'll go home first then."
"Is that so..." Tiara looked sluggish and looked down.
"Oh yeah, I can go back to work tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. I'm sorry about earlier, OK."
"Then, tomorrow I will go to your room again."
After I said that, Tiara was surprised with a blushed face.
"W-What for?"
"You still have promises to me that you haven't kept."
"Promise?"
"Well, that is to make me the owner of your company."
"Hah?"
"No, that's not it. Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to your room." I turned around. "See you."
However, my steps stopped when Tiara suddenly stood up saying, "Wait!" to me.
"What is wrong?" I asked, seeing her suddenly smiling face.
"Thank you, Daylon."
In the end, I saw Tiara was not sad anymore. I did it. Yeah, I did it.
"You're welcome." I turned my body and walked away from her.
While I was walking I passed the two people and we passed each other. When I passed it, I realized again that the woman had disappeared from beside the man.
I turned around to find out the woman's whereabouts. And apparently, the woman was already at Tiara's place.
"Long time no see, Tiara."
"Yes, long time no see, Elvina."
I can't hear their conversation, I can only read their lips.
And while I was looking at the woman and Tiara, suddenly the man looked at me with suspicion.
"Hey, uncle! Why do you see Elvina and Tiara like that? You look like a pervert, watching the two women with your eyes."
I was surprised to hear him speak, it was because his voice felt familiar to my ears. Then, I muttered while looking at the boy's face, "Is that so… so that's how it is. You are Joko and Elvina. Thank goodness, you are all right."
"Hey, Uncle! Don't look at them like that!"
Joko didn't hear what I said. Knowing that I approached him and tapped my shoulder once.
"Please take good care of my boss! I'll be back in a moment. And during that time, please take care of the two of them for me."
"Hah?" Joko was surprised. Yeah, it's only natural for a stranger to say that all of a sudden. Then, Joko said, "What do you mean, Uncle?"
I ignored him and turned around, then raised my hand saying, "See you soon."
"Hah? Oy, you're not exactly a person!"