Chapter 13 — May We Be Reborn and Meet Again (Dim Moon in the Sky)
Tit... tit... tit...
The sound of the oximeter pulsed softly, drifting into
Bulan’s blood-stained ears, coaxing her eyelids to open slowly as the hospital
lights seeped into her vision. With one sharp intake of breath, Bulan jolted.
Ssshh!
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling
with fear. She instinctively sat up in bed as if to flee, just as her bloodshot
eyes locked onto Angkasa’s.
“Sir... why are you here?” Bulan looked down in
terror, her face shielded by her disheveled hair. “I warned you not to be kind
to me. You’re too good; that’s why your life is so miserable.”
Angkasa stood rigid by the bed, his eyes glistening
with unshed tears as he looked at her.
“You think I only killed someone. I did more than
that; I even bugged your phone. I feel loathsome because of what I've done.”
Bulan bit her lip hard, fighting the sobs rising in her eyes.
Angkasa swallowed hard. “Thank you... for staying by
my side.”
Bulan was stunned by his words.
“You heard how miserable my life is, yet you still
chose to be on my side...” Angkasa sighed softly. “The fact that a young woman
like you has faced such a heavy life... it breaks my heart.”
Bulan’s eyes grew swollen as her composure finally
broke. “Sir... do you really not hate me?”
“Promise me that you will always be happy, and in your
happiness, I will find mine...” Angkasa looked down, adjusting the strap of his
messenger bag. “You are far too young to be pitying an adult like me.”
Bulan closed her eyes, reciting a memory in her mind.
“I... I like seeing you adjust your bag strap. It makes you look like a man who
holds firmly to his principles.”
Angkasa went silent as he listened.
“I love every sound you make,” Bulan’s voice
whispered, followed by tears falling from her closed lids.
Memories played like a film in her head.
Tuk... tuk.
The sound of Angkasa’s footsteps echoed in her mind.
“I like the tapping of your shoes when you walk
slowly.”
“You... just getting home?” Angkasa’s voice echoed in her thoughts.
“I like your bass voice when we meet in the roar of
the street.”
“Huh, being good is never a mistake... Evil people
often come from good people who are restless.”
“I love the sound of your sighs and your kind words.
Your voice calms me. For the first time, I felt like I was seeing a real human
being.”
Angkasa remained still.
“Truly... I like you.”
He didn't answer. He simply looked down and adjusted
his bag strap.
☾ ☾ ☾
Angkasa’s car took Bulan from the hospital to the
Chinese food stall. Chandra, who was standing out front, was shocked to see
them step out of the car. Bulan’s head was wrapped in bandages, and her left
arm was in a cast.
“Did I get a new roommate?” Chandra smiled brightly.
Angkasa smiled back. “Take good care of Bulan, Sis.”
“You are welcomed with open arms, Bulan.” Chandra took
Bulan’s hand.
Bulan’s steps faltered for a moment. She turned back
to see Angkasa standing by his car.
“The spy app...” Bulan’s hand was stiff as she held
her phone. Her lips did not smile. “I’m going to delete it.”
Angkasa nodded. “Take care of your health—”
“Eish, so dramatic! Your house is only a few minutes
from here,” Chandra interrupted with a grin, making Angkasa chuckle softly.
Chandra waved as Angkasa’s car drove away. She then
led Bulan inside.
The second floor was cold, furnished only with a thin
mattress. Their mother was already fast asleep. Chandra and Bulan sat on the
terrace, gazing at the stars.
Tuk... tuk.
The sound of Angkasa’s footsteps came through the earphones in Bulan’s ears,
transmitted from his bugged phone.
“I’m at the market... do you want some martabak,
Dara?” Angkasa’s bass voice floated softly as he called his ex-wife.
Silence. No immediate reply.
“I don't want martabak, Angkasa... I want
noodles.”
Bulan stared at her phone, her eyes tearing up as she
cherished the sound of his footsteps and his breathing against the silence of
the night market. Her finger hovered over the delete button. It loaded as the
echoes of his steps filled her ears.
Silence. Angkasa’s voice vanished. The app was
successfully deleted.
Bulan closed her wet eyes, letting the wind brush
against her under the dim glow of the moon.
Back at home, Angkasa opened his door to find a
sobbing Dara. His bag strap slid off his shoulder. He approached his ex-wife,
embracing her slowly while stroking her back.
“No matter how hard you try to hide a crack, it will
eventually widen, Angkasa... Let me tell your mother, your sister, and everyone
else that I cheated.” Dara sobbed harder.
Angkasa held his breath, continuing to pat her back.
“You are the best person in my life, Angkasa... I’m
sorry I hurt you. I promise I’ll make everything right.”
Angkasa eased the hug and patted Dara’s shoulder.
“You’ve been my friend since we were kids, Dara... I can’t bear to see you
hurt. I’m sorry I couldn't be more open with you before.”
He gently wiped away his ex-wife's tears.
☾ ☾ ☾
The sun shone brightly, casting a silhouette on the
car parked in front of the Police Headquarters (POLDA). Angkasa stepped out,
followed by Bulan from the back seat. They approached Dara, who stood smiling
at the gate with Komang.
“Take good care of Bulan, Dara...” Angkasa said. “And
take care of yourself, too.”
Dara waved as Angkasa’s car left the premises. She
looked at Bulan with a faint smile as they entered the waiting room. They sat
together, waiting for Baskara.
“Don't worry...” Dara held Bulan’s hand gently. “Thank
you for fixing everything.”
Bulan looked at Dara. “Why is everyone thanking me?
When I hate myself so much... and why are you so kind to me, Auntie? When I
used to hate you so much.”
Dara’s hand trembled at those words.
“I was jealous of you every time Mr. Angkasa went out
and offered you martabak... he even brought fuyunghai home every
night, whether you were there or not. If I were you, I would have cherished
it.”
Dara’s eyes welled up.
Baskara arrived and invited Bulan into the room. She
stood before Bara, separated by a glass partition.
“Does Uncle have any last words for his 'old auntie'?”
Bara growled, his face flushing with rage.
“I have one last message for you, Uncle...” Bulan
smiled at him. “I hope you can grow into a tree in prison.”
Bara fell silent.
☾ ☾ ☾
Ketapian Market was crowded. A laptop was connected to
several flash drives at once. Bayu’s eyes widened as he listened to the
recordings through a headset. His friend was busy tracking Bara’s movements via
phone.
“He’s a deputy... Wow, he must be terrified looking
for these recordings. If we sell this to him, we could get at least 100 grams
of gold,” Bayu’s friend chuckled.
Bayu didn't answer. He was focused on the conversation
between Bulan and Angkasa as they walked home together.
“Can I hug you one last time? To give you support,” Bulan’s voice said.
Bayu smiled spitefully.
“No need... I’m already encouraged,” Angkasa replied.
Bayu played the recording from the beginning.
“Back then... Bayu used to carry my mother when her
father beat her. After I stabbed him, Bayu started torturing me.” Bulan’s voice sounded hoarse in Bayu’s ears.
Bayu froze, staring at the time bar on the laptop.
Crash!
“Damn it!” Bayu cursed as Kendra’s men burst into the
loan shark's office.
Bayu snatched the flash drives, grabbed the laptop,
and leaped from the window onto the market stairs. Kendra’s men restrained his
friend, searching for the files.
“Hey, don't run! Just sell it to them!” his friend
screamed. But Bayu kept running.
“There he is!” Bara’s henchmen pointed.
Bayu sprinted through the maze of vendors, knocking
over tables of vegetables. As Bara’s men grabbed his shirt, Bayu hurled the
laptop to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
Shatter!
Bayu escaped on his Scoopy, speeding unsteadily toward
Renon. He arrived in front of the pawnshop during lunch break. He slapped a box
filled with flash drives into the hand of the new security guard.
“Deliver this to Angkasa Putra... if it goes to the
wrong person, I’ll roast you!” Bayu's clenched fist left the guard bewildered.
The name on the box prompted the guard to go inside
and find Angkasa.
“Sir, a delivery for you.”
Angkasa and Feri were stunned to see the pile of flash
drives on the service desk. Meanwhile, Bayu stood still on his Scoopy. His loud
exhaust painted the blue sky with pollution.
“His eyes glinted with spite because he couldn't
suppress his affection mixed with rage... He is just like me. A good teenager
wounded by the loss of a parent figure. I hope we are reborn and meet in a
better circumstance. I miss the person he used to be,” Bulan’s words from the recording echoed in Bayu’s
head.
The sun was hidden behind heavy clouds. Bayu walked
through the hustle of Ketapian Market, lost in thought.
☾ ☾ ☾
The next chapters of this novel has been removed because it’s going to be published. Please look forward to the book! <3 Thank you so much for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts and support in the comments, and feel free to share the link if you enjoyed it. Stay spirited, everyone! <3
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