On the first day of school after a two-week vacation because of the case, Karin suddenly became a trending topic for the school community. She couldn't relax for a second. Even when she had just set foot in the school gate, there were already many students swarming around her like a swarm of ants finding their food.
Karin had to struggle to get to class. The last year of school, which should have been filled with busy preparations for university or work, was now crowded thanks to this case. It was really very tiring.
Selin even had to keep people who were curious about Karin away. Thanks to her efforts, Karin could at least breathe a little easier in her seat. Although she knew that even if people were prevented from approaching her, their gazes were enough to bother Karin.
"Is it okay, Rin?" Selin patted Karin's shoulder after she sat next to her.
"No better than yesterday." Selin knitted her eyebrows in confusion at Karin's words.
Reluctant to talk to someone who seemed to be in a bad mood, Selin chose to remain silent and play with her gadget. Beside her, Karin could only daydream about the incident.
Ever since she entered this school, the memory of that incident kept playing like a broken record. When she saw the school wall, she recalled the time when she struggled to climb the wall. She saw the social studies building, the place where behind that building she ran with all her might to save her life.
Everything kept repeating itself, giving Karin a headache. There was a sudden feeling of nausea, but Karin tried to hold it in as best she could. It would be very embarrassing if she vomited on the spot.
"Rin." Selin patted her friend's shoulder. "Are you really okay? You're pale."
Karin sighed heavily. "I don't know. I just feel bad all of a sudden." Karin got up from her seat. "I'm going to the infirmary. I can't study right now."
"Should I accompany you?" Selin was ready to stand up and accompany her. Honestly, Selin was too lazy to study right now.
"No, there's no need." Karin gave Selin a simple smile. "I can do it myself." Karin patted her friend's shoulder. She was trying to assure her that she would always be fine.
Without listening to Selin's reply, Karin left the classroom. Now she wanted to be alone without anyone beside her. Her original intention was to go to the infirmary to rest, but it somehow made Karin feel hungry after walking through the hallway full of students passing by. So, she decides to skip class and go for a meal outside the school. Hunger makes her old truant nature return, but now she is trying to repent so that she can enter a high school at the level of the University of Indonesia. Hopefully, Karin would be able to get into such a prestigious university.
There are two ways out of this school. The first was of course through the front gate and the second was through the hole in the back wall of the center building. There was no way for Karin to go back behind the center building. The things that happened back then would immediately play in her head when she was near the center building. So, let's avoid the center building as much as possible, and the only way is through the front gate.
Karin stepped quietly past the security guard who was busy playing with his phone at the post. She tried to look casual. This was her first time skipping school after being a good girl for so long. In the past, she might have been able to go out without fear, but now she had a purpose.
Karin quietly started walking towards the gate. She tried to look casual so as not to arouse suspicion from people around. She saw that the security guard was still busy with his phone, making it easier for Karin to get out. Without any significant obstacles, Karin managed to get out of school safely without being noticed by the security guard. Now her task was to find food that could relieve this unpleasant feeling in her heart. As well as her hunger too. Maybe one of the factors she felt bad was because she hadn't had breakfast this morning.
Walking out of the alley, Karin looked left and right looking for something suitable to eat. Until her eyes fell on a fried chicken stall across the street that looked very tempting. Eagerly she went there across the street. However, Karin didn't realize that she was crossing without looking at the traffic.
She would have been hit by a car if someone hadn't suddenly pulled her by the collar. Karin's heart was racing. She almost died because of the car. It wasn't funny when she managed to save herself from a killer, but died because she didn't see the road while crossing.
"Be careful."
Trying to catch her breath, Karin turned to face her savior. "Than-"
"Thank you-" Karin's pupils widened at the sight of someone in front of her. The person smiled kindly, but it didn't feel like it. Karin was dumbfounded by what was in front of her.
Somehow around this person, Karin felt a bad feeling. She had The same feeling when she set foot in this school after the case. It felt suffocating inside her chest.
That person, is a man in a batik shirt and black pants. There were large-lensed sunglasses framing his eyes. He looked very suitable with those glasses. His age also looked young.
Trying to control herself, Karin then said, "Thank you, sir." Looking panicked would only make her look like a freak.
"Yes, you're welcome." The man tapped Karin lightly on the shoulder. Karin's malaise intensified when the man touched her. Her heart beat faster. "You're a student of Cakrawala High School, right?"
"I-yeah, sir," Karin said as she backed away slowly trying to give the man some distance.
"Can you take me there?"
"Yes, sir."
Karin's intention to skip class was now dashed because of this one person. She really felt uncomfortable around him. During the trip, Karin was silent. Only that person kept talking and Karin would only answer once in a while.
"I heard there was a murder case here?" The topic suddenly changed, making Karin shiver around this person.
"Yes, sir. Two weeks ago," Karin replied simply. Now she just wanted to get to the office quickly and leave this strange man behind.
"It's good, right? You guys got two weeks off."
Karin could only laugh awkwardly at his words. There was nothing as exciting as watching someone's corpse with blood pooling everywhere.
Arriving at their destination, the office. Karin immediately left after a bit of small talk. She glanced at the clock on her wrist, it was almost 8. Study time had started, but she was still reluctant to study now.
In the end, Karin returned to her original goal, which was to go to the infirmary.
***
At 10:15, it was time to change lessons. Class XII Science 1 seemed to be able to breathe a little easier after learning Chemistry in the first lesson. There was a break of about 10 minutes before the second lesson started. So, they can rest for a while.
Arzan stares out the window. His mind was still wandering when he saw Karin who had been surrounded by many curious students this morning. Actually, he wanted to talk to the girl too. Discussed the murder case involving the two of them, but he didn't dare to approach her. Especially if it was directly about the murder. Arzan would be considered as much of a freak as the others.
In the end, he spent the 10 minutes just staring out the window. His reverie was interrupted when the students began to return to their respective places. That meant the physics teacher would be here soon. But something was different this time.
A young man in black pants and a batik shirt entered the classroom with authority. The sound of his footsteps was firm, making all attention focused on him. His bright smile drew the attention of the girls in the class.
"Hello, guys." He waved his hand excitedly. The twinkle in his eyes showed how enthusiastic He was among everyone in the class. "I'm Ali, your new biology teacher."
Almost everyone seemed quite enthusiastic about this new teacher. Especially for the female students, seeing a young new teacher with a friendly smile is sure to make their eyes refreshed. Never mind 2 hours, even 10 hours they can study if the teacher is like Mr. Ali.
But not Arzan. The man standing there was the one who had been plaguing Arzan's mind. He was trapped by what he saw. At that moment, he felt that the person who had killed Mr. Budi was the person in front of him, but on the one hand, because of his fear, somehow the memory of that moment became vague. It gave Arzan a headache.
"Nice to meet you all." Arzan's expression, which seemed different from the majority of the class, made Mr. Ali glance at him. "Let's all be good friends," he said, smiling at Arzan.
Suddenly Arzan got goosebumps.