chapter 43

We sat across from each other in the garden in front of the building. Jemy looks very sad over Selena's tragic death, it can be seen from his gloomy face. He told the beginning of his introduction to Selena.

They used to go to the same school at Harbor Junior High School, but different classes. During the 8th grade promotion exam, the teachers chose seats for their students at random. This aims to minimize the possibility of them cheating each other. Jemy gets the same seat as Selena. That was how they got to know each other. Selena is quite a smart and friendly child. Unlike most other smart kids, Selena generously gives Jemy answers to questions she can't work on.

When they went to grade 9, they unexpectedly got the same class. They also got acquainted with Avi, Alby, Eva and Max. They became a famous gang at school. The teachers and other students branded them as a gang of bad boys. They are always truant, do not work on assignments and are often hostile towards other students. Alby has been caught smoking in class, Jemi himself has slept during class, they all always make trouble until they repeatedly go in and out of the student chart room.

Alby and Max both like Selena. However, Selena was too expensive and did not choose both. Selena tells Eva that they don't fit into her ideal category. Avi told Jemy about it. Jemy chose silence and did not interfere with their suggestions.

When stepping on the second semester, Alby and Max changed. They moved away and chose their own path. Jemy and his gang are confused by their attitude. However, they think that Alby and Max left the gang because they don't want to see Selena. Selena didn't care about it either. Be the gang only the four of them. Until graduation arrives and they choose their respective further schools, they stay together.

"What about Caroline?" I asked.

"About that ... Umm ...." Jemy looked nervous. "But you have to promise that it's only us who know."

"Anything else besides that?" I asked.

"I do not think so."

"Are you sure?" asked Sherly.

"Of course."

"Very well, thanks for the information. We have to go now. "

We left Jemy.

"Bethany!" Brian's call caused us both to turn toward him. "Your face is very similar to Caroline."

Oh my God! Jemy's words suddenly surprised me. Towards the parking lot, Jemy was still standing there when we left the baseball practice building.

Jemy's words made me wonder how similar I was to Caroline. I am only an only child, there is no way anyone can look so much like me. Sherly denied my words, she argues that twins don't have to be in blood. Many people in this world are twins without having to be born from one womb. Sherly's words have some truth, I'm very dizzy right now. Brian's cell phone number wasn't active when I tried to reach him. The Whatsapp message I sent also only ticked one. This makes me even more dizzy.

***

After three days off, today we are back at school. Just past the school gates, someone called me from behind. I already know who he is by his voice. It's Brian, I stepped closer and asked him why his cell phone couldn't be reached from yesterday. Brian refused to answer my question and instead turned it into something else. He told me to go to his house after school. I was curious to ask what was wrong, but he refused to answer now. He left after saying that and I continued walking into the school.

Even though Eva's death had passed for three days, apparently that didn't stop the students from talking about it. There are even some of them who embellish the scary and mystical stories in this school. Ghosts, for example, some of them believe that this school is haunted, then link Selena and Eva's death as a sacrifice to the ghosts who inhabit this school. What a ridiculous and absurd theory.

After school lessons ended, I headed to the school hall to practice extracurricular drama. I think if I enter this extracurricular activity it will add to my experience about how to get along well. To be honest, I'm an introvert who is more comfortable in my world than hanging out with other people. I can't deny that what Brian said at that time was true that my friend was just Sherly, nothing else. However, this time I wanted to learn to get along better.

"Bethany, I thought you weren't coming today."

Tiffany greeted me when we happened to bump into the hallway of the building hall.

"Why? I can't possibly miss it, you know that I am very happy with this extracurricular. Moreover, it is only done once every two weeks. "

"You sent me a Whatsapp chat this afternoon if you had a need and told me to ask Mr. permission. Richard that you were absent today. "

"Oh really? I didn't do it, "I replied in surprise.

“Are you serious? Why don't you try checking your message? " Tiffany just left.

I immediately checked the Whatsapp chat on my cellphone. Sure enough, written a message that I sent to Tiffany exactly as she said. I don't even remember sending this at all. I put some stuff in my bag and left immediately The plan to go to practice drama failed at once. Let Tiffany tell Mr. Richard that today I'm absent.

Sherly was nowhere to be seen at school. She must have left earlier because she knew that today's drama extracurricular schedule. The parking lot looks quiet, there are only a few cars neatly lined up and most of the teachers' cars have not returned home. While I was in the car, I saw the teachers were very upset. What's all this again? I chose to leave and ignore it.

Lately my head has been in a lot of pain and sometimes I have become very forgetful too. When I entered the house, I didn't see anyone. I repeatedly called mother but she did not answer If mom left, she must have locked the door and left a memo. However this time the door was not locked. I feel bad, I'm afraid there are thieves into the house.

Not long after, I faintly heard the sound of sobs coming from the mother's room. I opened the door slowly. Sure enough, mom was sitting with a folder on her lap. It seems that she did not notice my presence. Only when I called her, she turned and immediately put the folder into the drawer. She wiped the tears roughly. Mother asked how my school is, I just answered what it is. I told them that lately I have had headaches and have become more forgetful. Mother just smiled and invited me to lunch.

The food in front of me didn't make me feel like eating it at all. I kept pushing and forcing my mother to tell me what happened. At first my mother didn't want to tell, but because I kept cornering her, she finally told me that the insurance company had gone bankrupt and all the money she had deposited could no longer be retrieved. I believe what mother said, this is sad. Money earned with hard work must just disappear.

Father's car sound was heard from the second floor, the clock was already 06.37 PM. I opened the laptop, I don't know what to do this time. The teachers didn't leave the assignment for us. I sent a message to Sherly via Messenger, but she's not active. Brian never replied to my chat. What are they doing, I really feel so bored.

I remembered what my mother said this afternoon about the insurance company where she was a customer was going bankrupt. I tried searching using a search engine. One thing is surprising, there is not a single news that the company is going bankrupt. Then what happened, why did mother lie to me? I felt like something was wrong with all this.

* to be continue *