Bottle of Stories (41)

"I'm sure that I'm still holding it a while ago." Rey persisted.

"This is what I was saying," Annie said like she knows that is going to happen.

"If you only didn't punch, then I won't be able to let go of the cap when Zhein fell," Rey said.

"Then why you didn't dodge?" Jayson asked with a trace of insult.

"Stooop! Let's just go back there we might still find it!" Annie said to Rey and Jayson.

***

Rey "I can't see it."

Annie "Me too."

Jayson "We will never be able to return."

Annie "Maybe someone already picks it up..."

Rey "Maybe Zhein saw it."

Annie "Who is it?"

Rey "The girl a while ago. The one that Jayson punched."

Annie "Jayson that's too much you punched a girl. I think she earned a bruise."

Jayson "I didn't punch her. She blocked it."

Annie "Huh?"

Rey "Oh yeah. She intended to make your punch hit her. Exactly in the face right?"

Annie "Eh?"

Jayson "Tsk." (She's faster than me. I'll be able to hold it when she suddenly- damn it)

Rey "Not only that, but she was also so happy when Jayson punched her."

Annie "That's scary."

Rey "..."

Rey "Where is she."

??? "Are you looking for the girl earlier?"

Rey nodded.

??? "She returned inside the school. I saw her almost crying."

Silence...

??? "You guys are in trouble."

Annie "Let's go, Rey."

Rey "Did you saw a cap here?"

??? "What cap?"

Rey shows the bottle.

??? "Ayyy I don't say anything. That's too small."

Rey "Ah. Okay, thank you."

They crossed the road.

Rey "Let's wait for her to go out."

Jayson "Then I'll say sorry even it's not my fault?"

Rey "We have no choice. She is the only one I talked to when I'm still holding the cap. Maybe she picked it up when I lose it."

Annie "I'm okay just you will be the one to talk to her."

***

Rey's point of view.

We're here sitting beside the plant. Minutes have passed but I still don't see Zhein. Why the guy said she was almost cried when she is going back? She said she was happy? Maybe tears of joy...

"Hey!" Annie tapped my shoulders.

I'm surprised.

"Haha, you were surprised." Annie teased me.

"No, I'm not," I said back.

"How did you know that I won't be able to go back to my place?" Jayson asked me.

"..."

I just felt it... I remember I watched something on the TV. That no matter what they do, they only go to different places but they can't go back to the place they already visited. But they can only go back to one certain place...

Haaay. I don't know! I'm not watching that, I only saw it accidentally when the TV is open while sis is cleaning.

"Rey! That's-?" Annie points.

I turned my head.

It's Zhein!

"Zhein!" I called because she is walking away.

She didn't stop walking. She continues to walk.

I run towards her and tap her shoulder just like the first time I met her,

"Zhein."

She was surprised and look at me quickly.

She looks different than the first time. She is holding a plastic (ice inside it) that is covered by a towel applied to her left cheek.

"A-are you calling me?" She asked.

"Yup," I answered.

"D-do we know e-each other?" She stuttered.

"Huh? Do you have amnesia? We only met each other a while ago you already forgot?"

Zhein was surprised by what I said.

She turns away from me and said,

"That was not me."

I don't believe it-

Jayson pulls her right arm, "Wait, we are still talking to you."

Zhein faces us and Jayson releases her arm.

"Where's the cap," Jayson asked.

"What?" Zhein asked back.

"Cap," Annie answered.

"What cap?"Zhein asked again.

"Cap of a bottle?" Annie said.

"Huh?" She asked again like she doesn't hear what Annie said.

"The cap of the bottle. Deaf!" I said annoyingly.

"Haha. IDK." She laughed.

"Are you sure," I assured.

"I don't really know. Why are you asking me?" Zhein asked.

"Cuz, when you fell-"

"Who did that to you?" Jayson asked while he points Zhein's left cheek.

"..."

She remained quiet.

"My classmate." She answered with a weak voice.

"Liar," I said.

"I don't know." She answered with a weak voice.

"What?" Jayson asked.

She looks up and says, "I don't know!" She squeaked while wiping her eyes using her right hand.

"You will make your bruise worse if you are going to continue to cry." We looked back as we heard a voice.

"Sir..." Zhein said.

"I'll bring you home." the man said.

"Ok..." Zhein replied.

"Wait-" I said.

"Hmm?" The man asked.

"We are still talking about something," I said.

"Ah. You can chat while we are walking towards my car. It's... pretty far."

"No," Annie said.

"If you want I will bring you back here. We will pass this school anyway."

We look at each other.

"..."

"Let's go," I said.

"Okay... If that's what you want." Annie agreed.

"It would be nicer if we don't go," Jayson said.

"But majority wins Jayson."

"..."

"Okay," I said to the man.

***

At last, we are here in front of the car. About Zhein, I don't talk to her a lot. We just did one question, one answer. Oh, I asked her a lot that has no connections to the cap. But I feel that she will tell me soon when she's ready.

The man opens the door near the driver's seat. I only realize now that we followed a stranger and we will enter a car. I think...

No. I trust them.

The man enters the car and sits on the driver's seat. Zhein opens the door for us. Oh her name is not Zhein. She said I should call her Cy. Why did she doesn't want to tell her whole name?

"Wait a minute." the man said.

So that's why Zhe--- Cy let the door open.

After a minute...

"It's ok now." the man said.

I was going to close it but Cy preceded. I just put my hand down.

"Leave it to me," Cy said.

Then she closed it.

"Wait, I think I forgot something." said the man that immediately goes outside and shut the door of the car.

She went to Cy and it's like... he is speaking to her.

"Annie!" Jayson shouted.

I turn aside.

"What?" Annie asked.

"Dodge........" Jayson's words faded and fell to Annie.

"What........" Annie's words cut and lost consciousness.

What is happening? Is it wrong that I trusted him? Them?

I felt an ant's bite near my feet. I was going to reach my hand at my feet to remove it when

my vision starts to dim...

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