Chapter Text
The morning sun was high in the sky, its rays touching every corner of the sky. It was perfect weather for walking to school. The streets were bustling, filled with groups of teenagers wearing white shirts and long grey pants. Some wore their shirts neatly, tucking the bottom of their shirts into their pants. Some other students seemed to have their own preferred uniform styles, like this teenager who was walking leisurely to class.
The teenager wore an orange sweater over his white shirt. His tie was the same color. Not to mention his well-known hat. A sweet smile adorned the teenager's young face. Just looking at him made anyone feel calmer.
"Oh! Yo, Boboiboy!"
"Hi! How are you?"
His name was Boboiboy. He was 14 years old. Everyone knew him as an obedient, intelligent, and active student. Besides his cute and adorable face, his humble demeanor and personality attracted everyone and instantly took a liking to him. From the girls and boys, to the teachers, the security guards, even the school cleaning staff, they all loved his presence.
Although good rumors about him circulated throughout the community, Boboiboy felt he wasn't what they thought.
"Okay! Do you want to play after school later?"
"Um, no, sorry. I have something to do. Thanks for inviting me," Boboiboy looks regretful about that.
"Hey, no problem. Bye!"
"Bye!" Boboiboy waved back at him. Then continued his way back to the class.
As he walked down the hallway, several teenagers passing by or standing near the windows glanced at him. Many of them wanted to greet him, but they understood not to disturb him too much. Although Boboiboy looked perfectly healthy now, he actually had a medical condition. But no one knew what it was, except that ‘one’ friend.
"Dey, you're late. Do you want Teacher Papa scolded you again?"
One of the students approached him as soon as Boboiboy stepped into his classroom. It's not that Boboiboy was surprised to see his best friend already standing near the door, it’s because Boboiboy knew he did it almost every morning. Don’t know the reason, but one day Boboiboy caught him trying to surprise Cikgu Papa before class started.
"Ahahah.." Boboiboy rubbed the back of his head, "How late? The other students are still passing by in the hallway, and as you can see, Cikgu Papa isn't in class yet"
"Yes, that's it. You must have forgotten again. Teacher Papa always comes at 8 in the morning, you know."
"Well, if it's like that, I'm not slow, Gopal. It's still 30 minutes past 7"
His best friend, Gopal, looked at him flatly before shaking his head. "Do you see that time?" Gopal pointed at the clock on their classroom wall.
"Yeah. It's 30 minutes past 7, right?"
"That's right, my good friend. Do you see the watch on my hand?"
"What are you pestering me about, Gopal? I also have a watch-!"
Boboiboy was shocked to see what appeared on his watch. Gopal is right. At that time, the clock hands shifted to exactly 8 o'clock, just a few seconds after Boboiboy looked at his watch.
"G-Gopal-! This means- Teacher Papa will appear soon!"
When Boboiboy looked back at Gopal, no one was standing in front of him. Then he saw that all his classmates were sitting in their respective seats, including Gopal who was sitting next to his seat near the window. Leaving only Boboiboy alone who was still stunned standing near the classroom door.
"Young man"
"AHHH!!," Boboiboy was shocked and turned to where the sound came from, and found his teacher already behind him. “T-teacher Papa!”
"How long are you going to stand here? Hurry and sit at your own table, young man!"
“O-okay teacher!”
-----
The school bell rang. All students returned to their homes. Although some of them decided to go play or just walk longer before arriving home, like the ‘duo’ who were known to many people in their residential area.
“AHAHAHAH!”
"It's not good to laugh like that, Gopal... I almost had a heart attack, you know."
"GYAHAHA! This is spectacular, Boboiboy! I've never seen Cikgu Papa looking at you like that near the door this morning, hyahaha," Gopal held his stomach, holding back the pain from laughing too much. The stocky teenager couldn't erase the expressions of Cikgu Papa and Boboiboy from his mind. Boboiboy looks confused when he sees his friends, while Cikgu Papa is also confused when he sees Boboiboy. Both of them looked confused for different reasons, which is why Gopal found it hilarious.
"Huh, don't you remember that Cikgu Papa was angry with you after sports activities?"
Gopal stopped laughing and gave his friend a blank look. "Hey, no need to bring that up. Okay, sorry for laughing so hard earlier."
"Hehehe, awesome," Boboiboy gave a thumbs up.
Their house was in the same neighborhood. Since childhood, Boboiboy and Gopal often played together in the park. Boboiboy didn't remember much about their first meeting, but Gopal always made a fuss about how "he won the race the day they met." Whatever Gopal remembered, Boboiboy could only agree, as he didn't remember that much.
The two walked quietly. There weren't many vehicles passing by in their neighborhood. The atmosphere was often quiet. Even so, Boboiboy liked his mother's choice to live in that neighborhood.
The memory of his mother made Boboiboy stop walking.
Gopal realized his best friend was no longer walking beside him and slowed his pace until he stopped a few feet away. "What's wrong?"
“..I forgot”
Gopal looked at him flatly, "What else this time? Don't tell me you want to pick up your assignment book from school? If that's the case, I don't want to accompany you, get it yourself," Gopal waved his hand.
"No Gopal. I... I need to get that thing"
Gopal frowned. He didn't understand what his best friend had just said. They have been friends for over 9 years now. But sometimes his forgetful best friend speaks his own language which may or may not be understood by Gopal one day.
"That thing.. What do you mean by this ‘thing’?" One of Gopal's eyebrows raised.
"That thing, Gopal!," Boboiboy shouted in frustration in front of his best friend. "Ah, no, I can get it myself. Bye Gopal!" Boboiboy waved slightly at Gopal before running off, leaving him alone in the middle of the road.
"Eh-wait, Boboiboy!" Gopal tried to catch up, but his best friend ran faster than most people. Gopal loses track of him.
"Haih, never mind. I'll just ask him tomorrow."
Gopal turned around and continued his journey home, not knowing that tomorrow would not be a good day for either of them.
–––––
“Hah, hah.”
Boboiboy was racing against time. At least if he couldn't get there before Mak Cik's shop closed, maybe he could contact the old woman beforehand. Unfortunately, Boboiboy's phone was at home.
Rintis Island also didn't have public telephones since the vandalism began. The government had removed several public facilities that could potentially be damaged by anonymous individuals. Boboiboy didn't complain, it was faster to run than take the time to contact Mak Cik. The shop was still a long way off from closing time.
Boboiboy was so focused on running to the shop that he forgot to pay attention to his surroundings, and ended up accidentally bumping into someone.
“Ah, so—” “Ah, I am s—”
Boboiboy turned his head at the same time as the person he bumped into, and they separated at the same time too.
That unique incident happened in the blink of an eye. Boboiboy accidentally bumped into someone, and the next thing he knew the person disappeared from his sight. Actually it wasn't a trick or magic, it was just that the crowd of people passing by in the shopping district began to stir because one of the stores was shouting out a steep discount.
“Haih… I don't have time to think about this. I hope that person is okay. I got—”
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Boboiboy turned his head quickly, glancing at the crowd. His head darted around, searching for something—or maybe someone.
Never in his life had he felt so threatened. Boboiboy felt like prey being watched from a distance by a wild animal. He couldn't find a better explanation because his own body was trembling with the sensation.
He felt uneasy. He felt like someone was stabbing a knife into the center of his chest. His breath became shallow and shallower. Boboiboy remembered Gopal's story about his favorite anime, describing a character who could make people around him submit with just his aura. Maybe this is what it felt like.
His hands wouldn't stop shaking. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead one by one. Boboiboy tried to calm himself amidst the crowd. Frightened, he saw a shop sign with familiar writing. The shop was a few meters away. He tried to stand and walk as if "normal" though fear still gripped him.
Come on, come on! Just a little bit more to go!
Boboiboy hoped that whoever was sending out that intimidating aura would leave him alone.
Once he reached the shop door, at his “usual” pace, still pretending nothing was wrong, Boboiboy opened the door with slightly trembling hands and entered the shop. Before then, he briefly glanced at the crowd.
That ‘person’ won’t follow me all the way in here...right? Boboiboy swallowed nervously.
"Oh, look! It's Boboiboy, my dear! How are you?"
"GUAH! MAK CIK! Seriously, I was shocked!"
"Well, why, dear? I was standing here before you came in. Eh, are there so many people outside?"
"Hmm, there's a shopping discount, Mak Cik"
"Oh, I remember Siti's sister wants to open a discount this afternoon, that's why I will do.."
Boboiboy tried to listen to what Mak Cik—a middle-aged woman who had devoted her life for more than 5 years as the owner of the 'Sweet & Cake' shop—said. However, no matter how hard Boboiboy tried to listen to Mak Cik, he could still feel the threatening gaze from outside of the shop.
How long will this…’person’ want to watch over me?
"Dear!"
"Ah, yes, Mak Cik? Sorry, I was a little sleepy earlier, hehe," he rubbed the back of his head.
"Aish, you must have slept late, right?," the woman who was called Mak Cik walked behind the cashier and entered the room behind it.
Boboiboy followed Mak Cik's steps and stopped around the cashier's desk, "Oh, that's it... Lately I had assignments that needed to be completed."
"You won't finish the task right away. You need to take good care of yourself, my dear," Mak Cik came out of the room carrying a medium-sized box. He handed it to Boboiboy who stretched his arms, ready to accept the box. "Moreover, you already live alone with your mother. She is also a woman who I know loves you, dear."
"Yes... That's right, Mak Cik," Boboiboy smiled sadly. He stared at the box containing the cake for his mother's birthday that day. The only reason why he ran here quickly before going home.
"That's it, dear, the important thing is that you understand. It's already afternoon. It's good for you to go home quickly."
"Ah, yes Mak Cik. This is the money-"
Mak Cik looked at him in confusion, "eh? Didn't you already pay before this, dear?"
"Eh? am I?"
"Yes." Mak Cik bent slightly under the cashier's desk, opened the drawer and took out a piece of paper. She handed the paper in front of Boboiboy. "You must have forgotten again, dear. Look at this payment, it was 'paid' two days ago."
Boboiboy stared at the paper in confusion. What she said was true, the payment for his mother's birthday cake had been completed. The printed word 'PAID' was clearly emblazoned on the stamp.
"Ah, eh... that's right, Mak Cik... I forgot about it, haha."
This situation has become a common thing for him. Boboiboy has a mental illness that only those closest to him know about. He got diagnosed with partial amnesia. This illness causes him to forget when he's afraid or anxious. He can't remember details of events or words clearly.
Boboiboy first became aware of this condition when Gopal complained that he often forgot their playdates. But admitted he never intentionally forgets anything, especially when it comes to promises. He does sometimes play pranks, but he's not that kind of kid who wants to harm others.
"Okay, Mak Cik. Time to go home now," he said, turning to head for the door.
"Be careful on your way, dear."
"Okay, Mak Cik," Boboiboy nodded at her with a slight smile. Then opened the shop door with his back. He walked cautiously, carrying a box of cookies in his hands. "I have to be careful, or else—"
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Oh shit—!
One problem solved. Only one more to deal with. Boboiboy had no idea how this situation had escalated.
I don't even know this person. But why this person upset with me? Is that the person I just bumped into earlier?
Boboiboy didn't bother looking for the person who was sending him this intimidating aura. He was afraid, but he was also tired of letting that fear continue to haunt him. At least he wanted the person to realize his discomfort. Maybe then he could receive mercy from the person who threatened him.
This person wouldn't want to cause a commotion in the middle of a crowded pavilion, right? If that's the case, I don't need to worry about looking even from—
The cardboard box containing the cake in his hand nearly slipped if Boboiboy hadn't tightened his grip.
He saw that ‘person’ standing across the street.
A male teenager—probably close to his age—was wearing a maroon jacket, long black pants, and shoes that matched the black of his pants. People passing by would only glance at the teenager occasionally because of his unusual style of clothing. Some would stare for a moment but quickly avert their attention elsewhere. As if the teenager wasn't even standing there. Unlike them, Boboiboy couldn't look away even for a moment. He felt like he'd been caught red-handed checking him out.
What made it even more frightening was how the teenager was staring at Boboiboy. From parts of his face Boboiboy could see, the color of his irises was the most striking. The rest of his face was covered by a black mask and hat.
Blood red. How terrifying it was to see someone's irises as red as blood. Boboiboy wasn't even sure someone's irises could be that red.
No one has eyes like that! Am I seeing a ghost?
His body wouldn't stop shaking violently. His eyes were wide open, watching every move the teenager made. The cardboard box he was carrying was about to fall back down if Boboiboy hadn't quickly grabbed it tightly. Less than half a minute had passed, and sweat was pouring down his forehead. The courage he had just moments ago had vanished, instantly, after meeting those eyes that radiated hatred.
Boboiboy felt small. He didn't know what to do to make the teenager feel at least a little better. Even though the teenager seemed to be standing casually across the street, his hands in his pockets—he could feel it.
The burning anger. As if Boboiboy had done something he could never forgive himself for.
Why…? Did I—do something wrong before?
Vehicles occasionally passed in front of them. Crowds of people milled about, too. But Boboiboy and the teenager remained standing where they were. Neither of them showed any signs of moving anytime soon.
Then a loud voice was heard. Boboiboy gasped softly. His eyes darted toward the source of the sound.
“DISCOUNT! DISCOUNT! BUY TWO, GET A FREE SOAP!”
His breath hitched, realizing the metallic sound Boboiboy had heard came from one of the store employees with a club in both hands. When Boboiboy glanced back across the street, his face paled.
The teenager disappeared.
His heartbeat quickened. His body turned this way and that, his eyes darting wildly around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the teenager’s clothing, or a glimpse of his red irises (although Boboiboy didn't particularly like looking at them).
But nothing. Boboiboy couldn't find the teenager anywhere. It was as if he'd simply vanished without a trace.
"Hah...hah...hah..."
His breathing quickened. Sweat, which had initially only been beading on his temples, now covered half his body. The panic he felt was palpable. If he hadn't briefly averted his gaze, Boboiboy wouldn't be feeling so paranoid now. He didn't know if the teenager had truly left his sight or was simply hiding in the crowd, waiting for the right moment to ambush him.
If he wanted to play, I'd have to think smart!
Boboiboy considered using the tactic of pressing his back against the wall of the building while walking away from where he stood. This tactic would allow him to focus on observing the situation in front of him without having to worry about someone ambushing him from behind. Although this tactic was less than ideal because Boboiboy needed to cross the road to enter the alley he was walking through. His back would be exposed and he would have to turn 360 degrees to take in his surroundings.
This tactic is not right. Oh, Gopal came up with this tactic when he wanted to prank Cikgu Papa. I should know…
He took a deep breath.
If anything happens, so be it, I'll just scream later. Besides, there are lots of people nearby. Wouldn't he want to do something wrong in this crowd? People will know you're doing something suspicious, right?
With a worried heart, Boboiboy walked carefully and continued his journey back home. Sometimes he will turn his head to the right or left to pay close attention to his surroundings. Don't want to give the attacker the slightest chance.
Step by step he went through it. He crossed the street, then entered the alley, and accelerated his pace. Boboiboy's steps took him further from the entrance of the alley he was passing. Far, far, and—
Stop.
The orange-hat teenager stopped in his tracks. Then slowly turned his head around.
Nobody was there. He didn't see anyone near the alley entrance. Only a few people occasionally walked past the alley without entering. The street he was walking on was often deserted because it was used as an alternative route. Few people used this road except for those who had lived in the area for a long time.
In fact, Boboiboy himself had already noticed something before entering the alley. He no longer felt the intimidating aura directed at him. The teenager had probably left since Boboiboy averted his gaze.
Thank goodness he didn't follow me all the way here… I don't know what to do if he does. Okay, I'll hurry back home now!
His feet quickly moved down the path leading to his house. Boboiboy hoping nothing more would happen.
But little did he know, that encounter would bring a major change to his life.
–––––
A crowd gathered at one of the shops to take advantage of the steep discounts advertised before the sales day opened. People came with their acquaintances and family to help select ingredients quickly to avoid being snatched up by other shoppers. As a result, the pavilion was much busier than usual. Even small vehicles like bicycles and scooters couldn't move smoothly without stopping for a moment—waiting for the crowd to move or walk by.
However, the crowd didn't bother a teenager standing quietly on the side of the road. The teenager appeared relaxed among the overflowing crowd. He wasn't affected by the wave of people around him. He wasn't even interested in seeing what was happening. The teenager seemed to be enjoying himself. No one could see his face clearly because his black hat and mask covered it.
Until another teenager emerged from the crowd and walked over to the teenager standing alone on the side of the road. “Brother! Sorry I'm late. There are so many people coming here. Luckily, all the ingredients I need are in the store. Let's—”
The teenager who just arrived realized something. The teenager he called "brother" didn't even look at him. He just stood there, his head bowed.
He was about to call out his name, thinking his voice might be inaudible over the crowd. But after leaning in to see the look on the teenager's face, he decided against it. After a moment, the other teenager decided to ask cautiously, "what's wrong?"
A low snort came from the teenager. Despite wearing a mask, the other teenager could clearly see the slight smirk behind it. The teenager's gaze sharpened, looking toward the alley where the teenager in the orange hat had passed moments earlier.
"Huh. It's nothing. Let's go back."