Chapter 19

Mentari, Senja and the others had been waiting for almost ten minutes in the park.

However, there is no sign of the culprit showing up until now. Mentari became restless. She bit her nails and looked around. It's so quiet. Over and over again, Mentari looked at the cellphone in her hand. No incoming calls and messages from the culprit. Then, Mentari looked at Senja who stood beside her along with Awan. The guy crossed his arms and looked around the park.

"Maybe he or she is already in the park, but he or she is hiding because he or she knows we're here too," said Mentari suddenly, breaking the silence. Senja lowered his head to look at Mentari and nodded.

"You're right, Mentari." Senja then took a deep breath and started walking around the park to find out if there were any suspicious people. "Let me check first."

Hearing that, Mentari immediately stood up from the park bench and held Senja's hand. "Sir, I'm coming with you."

"Don't, Mentari. It's too dangerous. Let me do that. You, Vivi and Yunifer just wait here and let Awan protect you guys." Senja looked at his friend. "Awan, please take care of the three of them."

Awan nodded, but Mentari shook her head. "No. I have to go, Sir. So that I know who has threatened me and taken all of my friends' stuff, including my necklace."

"But—"

Senja had not finished speaking, but Mentari immediately turned to the other side when she heard her name being called. The girl blinked and stared in shock at Mila who suddenly appeared carrying a backpack. Her classmate smiled and looked at Mentari as well as the others.

"Mila? Why are you here?" asked Mentari.

"I have been at my aunt's house since noon. I was about to go home. My aunt's house is over there," Mila pointed to the distance, followed by the gazes of Mentari and the others. "What are you all doing here?"

"Huh? Oh...." Mentari was busy looking for the right excuse. The girl smiled awkwardly and scratched her head that didn't itch. "That's... mm... I was hanging out with Vivi and Yunifer, then I accidentally met Mr. Senja and Mr. Awan. The two of them immediately lectured me and the others because we were out of the house at this time of night."

"I see." Mila nodded and held Mentari's hand. "Since I met you here, can I talk to you for a moment? Just the two of us."

"Just the two of us?" asked Mentari. For some reason, it didn't feel right. She let Mila put her arm around her shoulder and froze when she heard Mila's whisper.

"I told you to come alone, but instead you brought your friends and also Mr. Senja. Now, tell them to stay here and not follow the two of us."

Mentari nodded and smiled at Senja and the others. "Me and Mila will go over there first to talk for a bit. She wants to... talk about the person that she likes. If something goes wrong, just scream, okay?"

Vivi and Yunifer nodded and smiled back, but Senja looked uncomfortable in his place. He looked at Mentari and Mila's departure with a worried look. Senja didn't even notice that Awan had squeezed his shoulder.

"Hey, that girl is suspicious," Awan whispered so that Vivi and Yunifer couldn't hear them. Then, Awan looked at Senja who had looked at him first. "I think she has something to do with this case. Mentari's attitude also became strange when Mila asked her to talk."

"I know," Senja nodded. "Please take care of Vivi and Yunifer. Let me take care of Mentari and Mila."

Senja immediately ran slowly and kept his distance so as not to be caught by Mentari and Mila. Seeing Senja chasing Mentari, Vivi and Yunifer immediately looked at each other. Then, Vivi approached Awan and looked up. They stare at each other. Awan smiled, but Vivi just glared.

"You must know something."

"What do you mean? I don't understand at all, really." Awan shrugged and cleared his throat, then looked up at the stars in the night sky. Seeing that, Vivi immediately pulled Awan's hand so that Awan's body bent towards her. Awan's eyes widened and he held his breath. Didn't expect to be this close with Vivi, to the point he can smell Vivi's baby-like scent. Suddenly Awan's heart pounded loudly.

"Mr. Senja's attitude was strange just now," said Vivi. "Now you're telling me, what's wrong with Mr. Senja? Why is he chasing Mentari? Do you guys suspect anything? Are you suspicious of Mila?"

Awan took a deep breath and was forced to nod.

###

Mentari followed Mila to another side of the park.

The night wind blew hard, making her whole body shiver. Even though she was wearing the jacket that Senja gave her, the coldness was different. This was not only the chill from the night wind, but also from the fear. Even though she and Mila are both girls and the same age, Mila is someone who dares to threaten to kill other people. This is no longer just a suspicion, but Mila clearly said earlier that she had told Mentari to come alone.

After walking far enough, Mila stopped her steps and Mentari followed her. The girl took a wary attitude, then glanced around her surroundings. Quiet. There was no one around. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. It doesn't matter. She can handle all of this. She could fight Mila, should Mila attack her. She is a brave girl.

"So, why did you bring them all? Isn't my instructions clear, that you have to come alone? Are you not afraid that I will hurt and kill Mr. Senja as well as your friends? I don't play with my threats, you know."

Mentari tried not to be swayed by Mila's provocation. She clenched her fists at her sides. "Did you steal all those things, including the necklace left by my deceased mother?"

"Do you have to ask the obvious?" Mila asked in a cold tone.

"Why? Why did you do that? What are our friends' mistakes, including me? Why did you threaten to kill my friends and Mr. Senja?!" shouted Mentari full of anger.

"Because I hate all of you!" cried Mila. Her eyes stared intently at Mentari, making Mentari froze in her place. This really isn't Mila. What's with her classmate who is always kind and gentle? "You are all rich children who have never experienced how hard it is to live as a poor person! You guys always flaunt luxury goods and foods in front of me! And you, Mentari, you are the most annoying of them all! You are beautiful, you are rich, you have everything I dream of! Wealth, popularity, friends, including Mr. Senja!"

Mentari's brow furrowed. "Why did you involve Mr. Senja?!"

"Because I'm jealous! You're close to him! Because I love him!"

Mentari is silent. Her eyes were widened and she didn't know what the right thing to say right now.