"You should go to school," Shana said, resting her head on Dirgan's strong thighs, effectively anchoring herself to the sofa and joining him in watching television.
"School is boring without you. Go to sleep. Why are you still talking?" Dirgan chided gently, munching on Shana's favorite almonds and occasionally stroking her short hair while they watched the thrilling fantasy movie unfold.
"My eyes are sore, but I can't sleep. I keep remembering Intan," Shana confessed.
"You need to try to move on, Shana. Dwelling on the past won't bring her back and will only hurt you further," Dirgan said casually. Shana chuckled, knowing he wasn't offering much in the way of emotional support. She closed her eyes, making a genuine effort to sleep.
A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the gunshots and moans from the film and the occasional sound of Dirgan sipping water. The sudden clinking of a glass against the table startled Shana awake.
"How are you?" Dirgan inquired. Shana slowly opened her eyes, realizing how long it had been since she had last seen him.
"Fine."
"You didn't ask about me?" he teased.
"How are you?" Shana echoed.
"Fine, even without you," he said, a hint of playful annoyance in his tone. He had given Shana a week to process the trauma of Intan's death; now it was his turn to receive her attention.
"I'm sorry, I didn't visit you," Shana apologized. Several of Dirgan's associates had urged her to visit him in the hospital, but she had declined every invitation, despite his requests.
"Yes, I know you are very busy. It doesn't matter even if you ignore my messages and calls," he said. Shana laid back on the sofa and gazed at Dirgan's strong jaw as he focused intently on the television.
"You're close to other men while I'm away, aren't you, Shana?" he inquired a hint of possessiveness in his voice.
"Close, with Agus and Bayu," Shana replied.
"Oh, those two are exceptions," Dirgan conceded, a small smile playing on his lips. Shana chuckled, amused by his expression. Dealing with Dirgan was indeed a challenge. His possessiveness towards her was often excessive, making it difficult for her to form genuine friendships with other men. Dirgan had even resorted to violence in the past, confronting men who had merely offered Shana chocolate or invited her to join them for dinner and a movie. These encounters had effectively deterred others from approaching her.
"You're getting more beautiful," he commented, a thoughtful expression gracing his features. Shana noticed the genuine admiration in his eyes.
"You too. It feels... different," Shana said, unsure how to articulate the shift in their dynamic.
"Different?" Dirgan lowered his head, a look of confusion crossing his face. Their usual pattern was quite predictable: he would initiate contact, she would comply, and he would often ignore her, demanding her complete attention before. However, in the past two days, he had been unusually attentive, seeking her company.
"Forget it," Shana said, closing her eyes. She didn't want to dwell on the past, fearing it would only bring back painful memories. Perhaps he was simply missing her after their prolonged separation. Shana decided to enjoy his company for now, pushing aside any anxieties about his ulterior motives.
***
"Wow! This lesson was truly dreadful. Why do we have to endure such a challenging trial test when Shana is absent?" Crystal lamented, slumping onto the canteen table. The four friends were dejected, their mental energy depleted by Mr. Damar's demanding math lesson.
"Oh yeah, how is Joshua doing? Shana entrusted him to you, Gus?" Lisa inquired.
"I don't know; I would have preferred to be assigned a female," Agus grumbled. He was growing increasingly frustrated with Joshua, who seemed incapable of following simple directions and had a tendency to wander off.
Lisa rolled her eyes at his complaint. As the class president's secretary, she was responsible for assisting Joshua, a task she was beginning to regret. She stood up, determined to locate him. He had become notoriously lost in the school's labyrinthine corridors, and their homeroom teacher had already warned them about their lack of attention to their responsibilities.
Lisa wished she had installed a tracking app on Joshua's phone. Navigating the sprawling school, with its six imposing buildings, was proving to be a significant challenge. Squinting her eyes, she scanned the horizon and spotted him near the ceremonial field.
"Joshua!" she called out. However, her voice was lost in the ambient noise. Joshua, oblivious to her calls, was entering an abandoned building on the left wing. Lisa groaned and placed a hand on her forehead in exasperation.
"Damn! Even though he's new, he shouldn't be this reckless," Lisa cursed under her breath. Joshua, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, had disappeared into the abandoned building, a place strictly off-limits to students. Lisa hurried inside, calling out for him.
She called Shana, who was peacefully sleeping in Dirgan's lap. He barely glanced at the ringing phone, his attention riveted to the suspenseful movie playing on the television. Lisa gasped as she stepped into the eerie building. Dust lay thick on the floor, and the air was heavy and still. Joshua was nowhere to be seen on the first floor.
The building felt strangely unsettling, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the rest of the school. Lisa noticed a trail of footprints leading deeper into the building, a chilling reminder that she was not the first to trespass. The footprints were numerous, far more than Joshua could have made alone. She remembered that Dirgan had explored the building two years ago, but surely his footprints would have vanished by now.
Lisa cautiously followed the trail of footprints up the creaking stairs to the second floor. The two imposing buildings, once bustling with activity, now stood eerily silent and unused.
Suddenly, Lisa's footsteps faltered. She heard a woman sobbing and the laughter of two men echoing from within one of the rooms.
"Come on, honey... Take off your clothes," a gruff voice commanded. Lisa crept closer, her heart pounding. She cautiously peered inside and witnessed a horrifying scene: a young schoolgirl was disrobing under the watchful eyes of two men who were recording her with their phones, their faces hidden from view.
Lisa's ex-boyfriend, Putera, stood dejectedly nearby, seemingly resigned to his fate. This was a dangerous situation. Lisa knew she couldn't get involved, that witnessing such a horrific act could put her safety at risk. She quickly retreated, her breath catching in her throat as she brushed past a man standing guard at the entrance.
"What are you doing here, hm?" he growled menacingly.
To be Continued…