Just Wanna Live in The Place
By Lista
Date: July 24, 2024
Ch. 2Package


Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Green came to Noona Cafe after several months of not giving it a second glance, only to order a Strawberry Cheesecake, sitting alone quietly at a table near the front transparent door. He had no scheduled activities other than her SME and campus duties. So, his Sunday would certainly be a relaxing day of leisure, at least before going back to see Matcha on Tuesday during the SME assembly.

There are only two chairs facing the round table. There were pots in every corner, adding to the cool atmosphere. One of the reasons why Green used to come here so often was because Sage was the owner.

He opened his phone, looking at the SME group that had suddenly become crowded since the new members came in last night, but there was no sign that Matcha would message there other than this morning because Yudha-his partner who kept teasing Green about Matcha-bothered the girl in the group. Even then, it was only replied to with Anya Forger stickers.

There was one message that bothered Green when an anonymous number sent a Twitter link in the group. As soon as he opened it, there was a fleeting feeling of dread. Then, when he returned to the group, the thing he was afraid of: Matcha saw it, only to be saved by a deleted message with the added text of sorry for sending it wrong.

It was only for a moment, but Green's worries lingered for a long time. He glanced outside the Cafe. It was almost dark. So, he grabbed his jacket and hurried to his feet.

"Uh, Green. Where are you going?" shouted Sage as he came down the stairs. The man made a small run towards Green. "Have you seen it yet?"

"What the hell? Your bird can walk already?" he chirped.

Sage chuckled, leaned closer, and showed me his phone. The same post that was sent in the group earlier.

"Om Aryan's affair. Bringing it up again."

Green sighed. It was as if he had expected this to happen. What scared him was ... "Why did Matcha's face have to be posted at all? How did you know?"

---

"I'll go first, sis."

Matcha smiled a little, nodding. It was Alkena, the last kid out of the 12th grade high school math tutoring class. She closed the door tightly, locking it. She had all the bus keys because she lived closest. Also, Neon trusted Matcha the most.

She walked down the street to the dormitory. Usually there was a bullock cart near the gate for Matcha to ride to the dormitory to make it faster, but since she was leaving late today-at half past six in the afternoon-the bullock cart was no longer in operation.

The room lights are already on. Also, the garden lights on the side of the road. The most striking is the rectorate building, which is a sign that we're about to arrive at the dormitory.

"Just back home, Cha?" Sisil-her roommate-entered from the north gate. Matcha just nodded. "There was a package earlier. At the post. Mr. Awan kept it."

"Okay. Thank you."

"I'll go to my room first."

Again, Matcha only nodded. She walked to the north gate, where the post was in front of her, while Matcha had entered the east gate earlier.

"Mr. Awan? Any packages?" asked Matcha.

The man in the brown security suit and hat that had now come off turned his head.

"Oh, yes, there is."

Then took a medium-sized box from the table, handing it to Matcha.

"Thank you, sir."

At first, Matcha was about to rush to the dormitory, on the 3rd floor. However, a loud noise that made both her and Mr. Awan wince, held her back. Mr. Awan came out first and stuck his head out.

"There was an accident!"

The noise even made Sisil come over to him again. She came out of the gate. Seeing Mr. Awan quickly calling an ambulance. Another motorcycle with a full-face helmet pointed at the victim's Beat bike, making Matcha frown. Then ... Matcha gasped afterwards. The person lying in the middle of the road with his helmet off, and the blood flowing down the side of his temple, made the package Matcha was holding fall over, until Sisil turned her head. Confused.

Matcha hurriedly ran towards the victim. Her knees were bent at the person's side.

"Green!" she screeched loudly. His hand checked the side of Green's neck. "Can you hear me? Green!"

However, Green's eyes remained closed. Matcha's chest rose and fell, rumbling violently. Forgetting everything that had happened to them. Or his decision. Her anxiety was too high to think about those things.

When the ambulance arrived, Matcha went inside, keeping Green by her side. Until the ambulance entered the hospital yard of the emergency department, the attendant explained to the two doctors and one nurse who arrived, which Matcha added. However, Matcha was restrained from following. Her knees were weakening. Seeing how Green was pushed by the attendant who reported his pulse and blood pressure, then she heard nothing more. Because they were getting further away.

Her body fell limply on the chair near the long table in front of the emergency room door and contacted Wira in her anxious moment. She looked down after that. Her hands were intertwined. Until Wira came, past her.

Matcha spent a few hours transfixed. Until, "Her brother has been taken to the ICU."

One of the doctors approached her. Matcha said thank you. Just walked to the side of the emergency room, continuing to walk away. Looking at every piece of writing on the door. The Intensive Care Unit was written in front of it. So, even without going inside, she could already see Green from here because her bed was on the far side.

Green was still closed with the tube in his mouth. So, Matcha went back to waiting in the chair, unable to enter. Thinking that... She would stay the night.

"Cha."

Matcha looked up. Seeing Wira approached her. Sitting next to Matcha. His breath came out. Very heavy.

"Chances are, Green won't regain consciousness today, but the doctor said... tomorrow or in two days. Let's wait."

"Green had emergency surgery," Wira explained again. The man with his hair and tie still looking neat smiled. "Green will be fine."

Matcha gave a small nod, as she tucked her loose hair to the side. Matcha's hair became messy.

"Green should be fine, Mr." Then she glanced at the ICU door again. Matcha thought back to that day. "He got through it all."

"Aamiin."

Matcha sighed as well. Repeating the word 'aamiin' silently. After that, Wira tapped her on the shoulder, entering the room after inviting Matcha. She glanced at the clock hanging on the white wall of the hospital. It was already eight o'clock. So, Matcha chose to go home.

She sneaked into the backstreet of the dormitory for fear of being caught by the guard mother. Then walked to the side of the stairs, climbing them slowly. Until the door at the far corner of the hallway came into view. Once inside, the other two residents were already fast asleep on the top mattress. Except for Sisil who was still dealing with her laptop on the study table.

Inside the dormitory, there are four bedrooms, each with two beds. There is an assisted staircase to climb on the side. And four study desks. Also, a closet each.

"I put the package on the study table, Cha," Sisil whispered.

"Thank you."

Matcha whispered back. She took the package, then sat on her bed after reaching for the scissors, opening the package. Until the box was fully opened. There was one large puzzle in black. There were certain dots there in red.

She had never bought anything like this before. While thinking about it, Matcha's head lay back against the pillow, picking up the puzzle. Shifting it lightly. Then... Matcha's body seemed to be pulled. Harder. It was as if the skin of her hand was about to fall off. Although seconds passed, the pain faded a little.

Matcha opened her eyes slowly. Her body jerked back as she looked at the envelope with dots of gore she was holding. The envelope was now thrown into a room. As soon as Matcha turned her head, there were many lockers lined up. Strange.

"BLUE!"

She turned her head to all sides. However, Blue was nowhere to be found. Until Green appeared from behind the stairs. Approached her. And...

"Blue!"



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