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Chapter 17

"Ezlan already gave you the bag, right?" Salma's voice hits Khaiser's eardrum from the other side of the phone.

"Yeah, he did. Thank you, grandma." A slight tone of awkwardness escapes from Khaiser's mouth together with his words. A smile is carved on his face as if he is talking to his grandmother in person. He walks around in his room in a circle as the conversation goes on. He has been doing the same thing even before he made the phone call. Deep down, he feels awful for feeling awkward toward his grandmother.

"That's good. I don't mind keeping that for you. Even your uncles, aunts and cousins sometimes forgot their belongings here. But I'm not sure when will you come back here again, and that thing seems important. That's why I asked Ezlan to give it to you." Salma explains. As usual, she sounds energetic and excited when she gets to talk to her grandchildren. Khaiser just listens and nods a few times.

"It is kind of important yes, but it's not that important. I'm still going to be fine without it though. But still, I'm so sorry grandma, for troubling you." Khaiser bows a little. Deep in his heart, he really does feel guilty.

"It's fine. Don't worry too much about it." Salma's giggles tickle Khaiser's eardrum., wiping away the guilt in his heart. His little smile returned on his face. "Are you working tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I am." Khaiser closes his eyes for a brief moment before opening them back slowly. His voice has become 'gentler' than before and his head feels heavier. His mind can no longer generate any words for him to say as his social battery is draining. It is about time it will die out completely.

"I think that's everything for now. I don't really have anything important to say actually. Go get some rest. You don't have anything else to say I suppose?" Salma's words refresh her grandson a bit.

"Not really, I don't think so. Thank you again grandma and sorry for troubling you." Khaiser apologizes once more and just like before, he bows a little.

"You're welcome. Send my regards to your parents and sisters." Salma gives a final request before ending the phone call. Khaiser waits a few seconds after his grandmother hangs up the phone before putting his phone on the table in front of him. A smile is still carved on his face. Talking to his grandmother just now somehow gives joy to him, even though it was quite tiring.

Khaiser steps toward the bed and lets his body drops onto it. His grandmother's request echoes in his head as he stares emptily at the ceiling. He glances at his phone on the table and stares at it for a while.

"I'll tell them tomorrow, I guess. I'm tired right now." Khaiser adjusts his position on the bed to get comfortable and gets ready to sleep.

As Khaiser adjusts the pillow below his head, his right hand accidentally touches something hard. He immediately gets up in a jolt and brings his eyes to the right side of his pillow. He massages his chest in relief.

"What is this book doing here?" Khaiser reaches for the black book and pulls it closer to him. "Well, maybe I can fall asleep easier if I read something." He lies back down and starts diving into the book.

***

The night sky is as pitch black as it can be, like a veil that covers the earth beneath. However, the full moon shines brightly, as if comforting the residents on earth and protecting them from the evils of the night. Together with the moon, the stars are also shining brilliantly, watching and guarding every single soul on earth. It is truly a beautiful and peaceful night.

Five male students are among those who are enjoying the night. But instead of feasting their sight on the glorious radiance of the moon and stars, they chose to feed it with the blinding light from their phones' screens. They are staying in one of the rooms in their school dormitory building. The whole building is empty of other human beings as all the students were going back to their hometowns for holiday. Feeling like it is not worth it to spend the holiday in their hometowns, they decided to just stay at the dormitory. Plus, it is only just for a few days. Of course, none of the teachers and wardens knows about what they are doing. They will surely forbid them to stay there if they know. As an extra step of precaution, they chose a room that is a bit hidden and isolated from the other rooms in the building.