18

“You’re such a drama queen! You weren’t even hit, the hell did you faint for?!” scolded Lina while sitting beside the hospital bed which had Jeremy on it.

Jeremy was quiet. I bet it hits a sore spot. Gedik! Lina complained internally.

Honestly speaking, Lina was the type of person who just loved scolding people who were sick. Defense mechanism – wanting to prevent or hide her worry and uneasiness from showing. As for how worried she was when hearing Jeremy collapsed; only God knows. That’s why she followed along in the ambulance.

“It did it, Lina…”

Jeremy’s voice came out between his breathing and whisper. At first, Lina felt like continuing her babbling, but looking at Jeremy’s pale white face, she closed her ear to his mouth.

“What did you say, My?”

“That thing… that thing made Arul like that…”

Lina was stunned. She had already thought that it wasn’t Jeremy who did it, but never would she have thought…

“Arul… he’s in a bad condition, right?” Jeremy asked.

Lina nodded. “He’s in the ICU. Too much blood was lost.”

“What should we do, Lina? I didn’t do it. It’s that thing. I swear!”

“I believe you. But… you’re the only one there, My…”

“No! Mut and Wan were there too! They saw…”

“They saw you kicking Arul,” Lina finished Jeremy’s sentence.

Jeremy laid down and looked up the ceiling with a surrendering look. “I didn’t do it, Lina. His nose suddenly started bleeding… then everything too! After that, I heard… I heard…”

“What did you hear?”

Jeremy shook his head. It’s pointless to say anything. Even if he did, people would only think he’s crazy. Hearing voices, delusional – there might be people saying he had schizophrenia. Especially when he’s a person of art. People like that were the ones commonly inclined to having mental illnesses, right?

As Jeremy was planning on what kind of friend he would make in the asylum, Lina was suddenly visited by someone.

CGTSS’s counsellor was standing beside the bed, with another person that Jeremy felt familiar…

“This man… this man….!”

Jeremy was like a girl in her teens who found her idol. Lina looked at him weirdly, the counsellor made a face saying ‘it can’t be helped’ and Khalil looked confused.

“Brother! I’m a huge fan of yours!” Jeremy said while reaching for Khalil’s hand and shaking it a few time.

The confused Khalil looked at the counsellor. She smiled and just shrugged. What’s with this kid? Was he hit in the head or something?

“He’s really your number one fan. Because of you, he’s trying to revive the CGTSS’ Drama Club,” explained the counsellor.

Khalil nodded in understanding while Jeremy nodded energetically like a cartoon character.

“See what I mean?” she said again.

When she said so, Khalil suddenly observed Jeremy, making him become somewhat agitated. He suddenly felt self-conscious when his idol was checking him out like that.

“I don’t see the resemblance. What’s similar?” Khalil questioned.

“It’s not the looks, but the characteristics… personality, probably,” answered the counsellor.

Lina and Jeremy exchanged glances. What are they talking about?

Khalil observed again, then looked back at the counsellor. “This nerve wrecked kid? Same personality as mine? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Lina laughed quietly, and as she expected – Jeremy snapped. He clammed up and looked someplace else.

“Be nice, Khalil,” reminded the counsellor.

“What about Arul?” Lina asked, changing the topic so as to allow Jeremy to coax himself.

“The doctor said that the blood loss was too much, but there’s no internal bleeding. There’s not even a sign of beating. He wants to see his condition after the blood transfusion” the counsellor explained.

“Ha! Look! There’s not even a trace of beating. It’s proof that I didn’t hit him!” Jeremy suddenly sounded. His anger gone.

“Nobody said you hit him, Jeremy,” said the counsellor. “But… if possible, I want you to tell me what actually happened.”

Jeremy was quiet. He looked at Lina. Lina made a sign to just tell her. Jeremy sighed – haih, to the asylum I go. That’s okay too. I’ll have lots of materials to make a story.

Jeremy told everything, and when he arrived at the last part… the part where the ‘thing’ talked to him… Khalil suddenly stood up from the chair, his face pale.

“What did he say?” Khalil wanted a confirmation.

“He said – as long as I’m here, I will…”

“… protect you,” Khalil finished Jeremy’s sentence.

Khalil’s chest was heaving like waves – his breath going up and down at a high speed, like someone who just finished running.

“I… I… I’ll be outside for a while,” said Khalil while moving out.

“Khalil… Khalil!” the counsellor called out to him while following behind.

Jeremy and Lina kept looking at each other.

“I can’t do this…”

“Khalil…”

“I understand now why you can’t settle this problem all this while. I can’t do it. I can’t”

“Khalil, you yourself said to me… saying that we need to convince ourselves to think that it’s no longer him…”

Khalil was quiet. It’s easier said than done.

“We’re sending him to a better place, Khalil.”

“But what if he’s happy just staying there? It was the best years of his life… of OUR lives.”

“He’s not happy,” she said while moving her hair behind her ear.

And Khalil saw something on her wrist.

“You’re still wearing it?” he asked.

The counsellor just smiled.

“He never went anywhere without it. Except for that one night…”

“Yeah, I know.”