Chapter 9
Don't Come Alone
The message was read in less than five seconds.
Keira: Van, I need you.
The typing indicator appeared almost immediately.
Jovan: Why?
Keira stared at the screen.
Her fingers were cold.
For a few seconds, she still hesitated.
If she told Jovan, he would definitely get angry.
He might come right away.
He might do something without thinking.
But if she didn't tell him, she'd repeat the same mistake.
Keeping it to herself.
Guessing on her own.
Making decisions on her own.
Keira closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she sent screenshots of everything.
The threatening messages.
The photo of the letter.
The photo of herself in the hospital.
And the last line.
I know where you live too.
There was no reply.
One second.
Two.
Five.
Then her phone rang.
Keira picked up immediately.
"Hello."
"You at home?"
Jovan's tone was different.
Not raised.
Not panicked.
Just too calm.
Keira recognized it as the most dangerous version of Jovan.
"Yeah."
"The door's locked?"
"Yeah."
"Your parents there?"
"Dad and Mom are here."
"Okay."
"Van—"
"Don't go outside."
Keira frowned.
"I know."
"Don't reply to that number."
"I haven't."
"Good."
She heard a door close on the other end.
Keira immediately grew suspicious.
"Where are you?"
"Home."
"Did you just leave?"
Silence.
"Jovan."
"I'm going to your house."
Keira stood up at once.
"No."
"Kei."
"Don't."
"He said he knows where you live."
"Which is exactly why you shouldn't come here alone in the middle of the night."
"I won't—"
"Van."
Keira closed her eyes.
"We agreed just a few days ago not to act on our own."
Silence.
Jovan let out a long breath.
"Yeah."
"So?"
"I'll call Bima."
"No."
"Mr. Hendra?"
"That makes more sense."
Keira sat down again.
"And my parents need to know."
Jovan was quiet for a moment.
"You want to tell them?"
"I have to."
"The hospital photo too?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
Keira almost smiled.
"Why do you sound like a teacher?"
"Because when I say it, you usually argue."
"I can still argue."
"Kei."
"Fine."
There was a pause.
Then Jovan's voice softened.
"You scared?"
Keira stared at the photo the stranger had sent.
A photo of herself.
Taken without her knowing.
"Yeah."
She didn't try to look strong.
Not this time.
Jovan didn't answer right away.
"I should be there."
"Don't start."
"I'm just—"
"I know."
Keira took a breath.
"Just call them."
"I won't hang up."
Keira swallowed.
"Okay."
And for some reason, that one word was enough.
Keira's dad read the threatening message twice.
Then three times.
His face grew harder each time he read it.
Her mother sat beside Keira, one hand wrapped around her fingers.
"Since when?" Dad asked.
"Just tonight."
"What about before this?"
Keira lowered her head.
"There were anonymous messages too."
Dad looked at her.
"You didn't tell us?"
Keira slowly shook her head.
"Because at first it was just about school."
"Keira."
Her father's voice wasn't angry.
That only made Keira feel guiltier.
"I thought I could handle it."
Dad let out a breath.
"Once there's a threat involving your home, this isn't just a school matter anymore."
"I know."
"Save the number. Don't delete it."
"Okay."
"Don't go anywhere alone tomorrow."
Keira nodded.
Jovan was still on the call.
Keira's phone sat on the table.
Her dad saw it.
"Jovan's still on the phone?"
Keira shifted awkwardly.
"Yeah."
Dad picked up the phone.
Keira tensed immediately.
"Dad—"
"Jovan."
Jovan's voice came through the speaker at once.
"Yes, sir."
"Don't take Keira anywhere tomorrow without telling us."
Keira closed her eyes.
Jovan answered quickly.
"Yes, sir."
"And don't try to handle this yourself."
There was a split-second silence.
Keira could almost picture Jovan's expression.
"Yes, sir."
Dad handed the phone back.
Keira took it.
Jovan whispered,
"Why does everyone know my reputation?"
Keira almost laughed.
"Because it's obvious."
Her mother looked at Keira.
"Are you still going to school tomorrow?"
Keira nodded.
"If the school knows about this, it's safer than being home alone."
Dad thought about it.
"I'll take you."
"Okay."
"And I'll pick you up after school too."
Keira was about to protest.
But she stopped.
This wasn't the right time.
"Okay."
Dad took screenshots and sent them to his own phone.
"I'll talk to the school."
Keira nodded.
"And if necessary, we'll report it."
That word changed the mood.
Report it.
Not just look for the admin.
Not just delete the post.
Keira finally realized how far everything had gone.
After her parents went to their room, Keira sat back down on her bed.
Jovan was still on the phone.
"You haven't gone to sleep?"
"You haven't."
"That's not an excuse."
"It's enough for me."
Keira leaned against the headboard.
"Van."
"Hm?"
"Are you angry?"
"Very."
"At who?"
"Everyone."
Keira smiled faintly.
"Be specific."
"The person who sent the messages."
"Then?"
"Felix."
"Then?"
"Reno."
"Why Reno?"
"Because he made that stupid account."
Keira held back a laugh.
"And?"
Jovan was quiet.
"At myself."
Keira stopped smiling.
"Why?"
"Because if I'd given that letter to the right person from the start, maybe it wouldn't have gotten this far."
"Not necessarily."
"I was the one who kept it."
"Van."
"And I was the one who dragged you into my family's problems."
Keira sat up straight.
"Don't."
"Kei—"
"Don't start again."
Jovan fell silent.
Keira continued,
"I got involved because that person chose to involve me."
"Not because of you."
"But if—"
"No."
Keira stared at the screen, even though it only showed the call duration.
"You can't take responsibility for everyone's decisions."
Silence.
"You know that, right?"
Jovan answered quietly,
"I'm learning."
"Good."
"My teacher's strict."
Keira smiled.
"I charge a lot."
"How much?"
"Bread every day."
Jovan let out a small laugh.
The sound made Keira's chest feel a little lighter.
Then Jovan said,
"Kei."
"Hm?"
"Don't go to Titik Sore tomorrow."
Keira knew immediately.
"But we need to know who shows up."
"You don't need to be the one who goes."
"We can't just ignore it."
"Mr. Hendra can help."
"Or the police."
"You're serious?"
"If necessary."
Keira was quiet.
Jovan continued,
"I don't want to take the risk."
"Me neither."
"Then we agree."
"Agree to what?"
"You're not going."
Keira sighed.
"I'm not going alone."
Jovan said immediately, "Keira."
"I didn't say I was going."
"The way you said that doesn't make me feel better."
"We'll talk to Mr. Hendra tomorrow."
Jovan didn't answer until several seconds later.
"Okay."
Keira smiled faintly.
"Progress."
"I can cooperate."
"Sometimes."
"Mean."
The next morning, Jovan was already waiting by the gate when Keira's car stopped.
Keira got out.
The moment she saw him, she frowned.
"What are you doing here?"
Jovan leaned against the gatepost.
"Waiting."
"Since what time?"
"Not long."
Bima, standing a few yards behind him, immediately said,
"Twenty-five minutes."
Jovan turned sharply.
"Bima."
"What? It's a fact."
Keira looked at Jovan.
"Twenty-five minutes?"
"He's lying."
"I have the chat receipts," Bima said.
Jovan pointed at him.
"Go."
Bima laughed and walked into the school.
Keira shook her head.
"You didn't have to wait."
"I know."
"Then?"
Jovan looked at her.
"I wanted to see you arrive safely."
Keira didn't answer right away.
Something warm moved through her chest.
But she covered it by raising an eyebrow.
"I came with Dad."
"I saw."
"So I'm safe."
"Yeah."
"So can we go in now?"
Jovan smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
They walked side by side.
Not too close.
But close enough to make several students turn and look.
Keira noticed.
So did Jovan.
"Here we go again," Keira muttered.
"Let them."
"You say that because Tasya isn't the one who's going to question you."
"Bima questioned me."
"Worse?"
"Way worse."
Keira almost laughed.
Then Jovan lowered his voice.
"Any more messages last night?"
Keira shook her head.
"No."
"The number?"
"Dead."
"Good."
"That doesn't mean it's over."
"I know."
They reached the main hallway.
Mr. Hendra was already waiting.
His expression was serious.
"To my office."
Jovan and Keira looked at each other.
Neither of them joked anymore.
Mr. Hendra wasn't alone.
The vice principal for student affairs was there too.
Keira's father had called ahead.
Ms. Laras had also learned about the threat from Jovan.
The meeting lasted almost forty minutes.
Mr. Hendra asked for all the screenshots.
The sender's number.
The time the messages were sent.
The photos that had been sent.
And the posting history of @TheNextHallway.
"Don't delete anything," he said.
Keira nodded.
The vice principal looked at Jovan.
"Felix isn't here today."
Jovan clenched his jaw.
"Reno and Selma?"
"They're here. They've been instructed not to contact anyone connected to the account until the school's investigation is complete."
Keira asked,
"What if last night's message was from Felix?"
"We don't know yet."
Mr. Hendra folded his arms.
"And I don't want either of you jumping to your own conclusions."
Jovan looked dissatisfied.
But he stayed quiet.
Keira watched him.
Progress.
Small.
But real.
"As for the meeting at Titik Sore," Mr. Hendra continued, "you two are not going."
Jovan nodded immediately.
Keira stayed quiet.
Mr. Hendra looked at her.
"Keira."
"Yes, sir."
"You're not going."
"Yes, sir."
Jovan glanced at her.
Keira glared back.
Don't smile.
The corner of Jovan's mouth still twitched.
Mr. Hendra continued,
"This information will be passed on to your parents and the appropriate authorities."
"What if the person shows up?" Keira asked.
"That's not your responsibility."
The answer was firm.
Keira finally nodded.
"Okay."
At lunch, Devin appeared at Keira's table.
He was carrying two cartons of milk.
He set one in front of Keira.
"Free again?"
Keira raised an eyebrow.
Devin sat down.
"No. I bought it this time."
"Why?"
"Because you look like you haven't eaten."
Keira stared at the milk carton.
Then she let out a small laugh.
"Why is everyone suddenly worried about whether I eat?"
Devin shrugged.
"Maybe that means you really do forget a lot."
Tasya, sitting across from her, immediately said,
"Exactly."
Keira ignored her.
Devin looked more serious.
"I heard about the threat."
Keira turned to him.
"From where?"
"Reno."
Tasya tensed immediately.
"You talked to Reno?"
"He came looking for me."
"Why?"
Devin rubbed his chin.
"This is the weird part."
Keira waited.
"He said Felix had asked about me before."
Keira's heart lurched.
"What?"
"When?"
"A few days ago."
Devin looked confused.
"He said Felix asked where I transferred from, who I knew, and why I joined the journalism club."
Keira looked at Tasya.
Tasya didn't look happy either.
"Why would he care about you?"
"Exactly. I don't know either."
Devin pulled out his phone.
"Then Reno said there was one more thing."
"What?"
"Felix once asked for access to the journalism club's member list."
Keira froze.
"Why?"
"He said it was for the school account."
Keira knew immediately that was a lie.
Felix wasn't part of the publications team.
He wasn't in journalism.
He had no reason to need the member list.
Devin looked at Keira.
"Your name is at the very top as the coordinator."
Tasya whispered,
"Then he could find out Kei's schedule."
Keira felt the back of her neck go cold.
Meetings.
The Media Room.
Publication activities.
The places she usually spent time.
Following someone wasn't difficult if you knew their routine.
Devin continued,
"I already told Ms. Melinda."
"Good."
Keira nodded.
"Don't go looking for Felix yourself."
Devin raised an eyebrow.
"Why does everyone think I'm going to get into a fight?"
Tasya answered,
"Because the guys around Keira have that disease."
Keira shot her a sharp look.
"Tas."
Devin laughed.
Then a voice came from behind them.
"What disease?"
Keira knew who it was immediately.
Jovan stood there with a tray.
Bima was beside him.
Tasya grinned.
"The disease of acting first."
Jovan sat at the end of the table.
"I've changed now."
Bima choked on his drink.
Keira held back a laugh.
"What?" Jovan asked, looking at Bima.
"Nothing."
"Are you laughing?"
"No."
Devin leaned back.
"By the way, I've got some information."
Jovan immediately turned serious.
Devin told them about Felix.
Not one person interrupted.
When he finished, Jovan said,
"Then he probably started looking into Keira before the threat."
Keira nodded.
Bima said,
"Or before the story about your family broke."
Everyone fell silent.
That was worse.
If Felix had been watching Keira before the news came out—
then he might have known that Keira and Jovan's relationship could be used.
Jovan stared at the table.
"I need to tell you one thing."
Keira looked at him immediately.
"What?"
"Last night, Mom's lawyer checked the transaction records from Bagas's letter."
"But the physical letter is gone."
"I took photos of a few pages."
Keira froze.
"You have copies?"
"Some of them."
"Why are you only telling us now?"
Jovan quickly raised a hand.
"I just found them in my cloud backup last night."
Keira held back her comment.
"Okay. Go on."
"There were several transactions to a vendor company."
Bima frowned.
"Which vendor?"
Jovan looked at Keira.
"One of them belongs to the Adhitama family."
Silence.
Devin leaned back.
"Felix?"
"His dad."
Keira drew a breath.
"Then there's a motive."
"Not proof," Jovan said.
Keira was slightly surprised.
Jovan looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm just proud."
Jovan frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you said it's not proof."
Bima raised both hands.
"Character development."
Jovan kicked him under the table.
Bima yelped.
At 3:45, Keira started getting restless.
The meeting requested by the sender was scheduled for four.
Mr. Hendra had already forbidden them from going.
Keira obeyed.
So did Jovan.
But knowing that something might be happening only a few miles from school made it hard for either of them to focus.
The meeting ended early.
They sat in the Media Room.
Celine, Tasya, Bima, and Galen were there.
No one was really working.
3:58 p.m.
Jovan checked the time.
Keira looked at him.
"Don't."
"I'm just checking the time."
"I know."
3:59.
4:00.
Nothing happened.
Of course.
They weren't at Titik Sore.
Keira's phone vibrated at 4:07.
An unknown number.
Everyone immediately looked over.
Keira didn't open it by herself.
She set the phone on the table.
First message:
Unknown Number: You didn't come.
Second message:
Unknown Number: Smart.
Jovan clenched his jaw.
Third message:
Unknown Number: But that means you told someone.
Keira felt her chest tighten.
Then a photo came in.
The back parking lot of Titik Sore.
Empty.
Taken a few minutes ago.
Then another message:
Unknown Number: I still have the letter.
Bima whispered,
"He really did come."
Jovan had already taken a screenshot.
Keira said immediately,
"Don't reply."
"I'm not."
The next message came in.
Unknown Number: Now it's my turn to choose the place.
Keira stared at the screen.
A location was sent.
Not Titik Sore.
An old warehouse in an industrial area on the outskirts of the city.
Celine immediately said,
"Don't."
Jovan gave a short laugh.
"Obviously."
Keira looked at him.
Jovan raised both hands.
"I'm serious."
The last message came in.
Unknown Number: Tomorrow night. Bring Jovan.
Everyone froze.
Bima looked at Jovan.
"So he wants you."
Jovan didn't answer.
Keira felt something ice-cold run down her back.
All this time, the threats had been aimed at her to make Jovan move.
So maybe Keira had never been the main target.
Just bait.
"Don't react," Galen said.
It was the first thing he'd said all afternoon.
Jovan nodded.
"Screenshot everything."
Keira watched his hands.
Clenched into fists.
But he didn't move.
He didn't call anyone.
He didn't look up the address.
He didn't run outside.
This time, he held himself back.
And for some reason, that scared Keira even more.
Because if Jovan could be this calm, it meant he truly understood how dangerous this was.
Mr. Hendra came back five minutes later.
The messages were forwarded.
The location was recorded.
Their parents were called.
Keira and Jovan were told to go home.
Not alone.
Keira's father picked her up.
Jovan waited with Bima for Ms. Laras.
Before leaving, Keira approached Jovan by the gate.
"Van."
"Hm?"
"Don't go anywhere tonight."
Jovan almost smiled.
"I won't."
"Promise."
"Promise."
Keira looked at him for a long moment.
"You look too calm."
"I'm learning."
"I'm serious."
Jovan lowered his head for a moment.
When he looked up again, his voice was quieter.
"I'm scared."
Keira fell silent.
"I just don't want fear to make me do something stupid again."
Keira felt her chest grow warm and ache at the same time.
She nodded.
"Good."
Jovan smiled faintly.
"Am I being praised?"
"Don't get cocky."
"Too late."
Keira's dad's car was already waiting.
Keira walked a few steps.
Then she turned back.
Jovan raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Keira glanced around.
A few students were still there.
She didn't care.
Keira hugged Jovan.
Briefly.
Very briefly.
But it was enough to make the boy's body go rigid.
Keira herself almost regretted the reflex.
But before she could pull away completely, Jovan hugged her back.
Not tightly.
Not holding her there.
Just one hand on her back.
Keira could hear his heartbeat.
Fast.
Apparently, she wasn't the only one.
"This doesn't mean we're back together," Keira whispered.
Jovan let out a small laugh near her ear.
"I know."
"Don't smile."
"I can't help it."
Keira let go.
Jovan was definitely smiling.
"You're seriously annoying."
"Yeah."
Keira walked toward the car.
Before getting in, she glanced back.
Jovan was still standing in the same spot.
And for the first time, Keira didn't mind the entire school seeing.
That night, a photo of them hugging made its way into the junior class group chat.
Not @TheNextHallway.
The account was still gone.
Someone had taken the photo from a distance.
The only caption from one of the students was:
Okay, so what is this?
Celine sent it to Keira.
Celine: CLARIFICATION.
Keira replied:
Keira: There's nothing to clarify.
Celine: YOU TWO HUGGED.
Keira: Your eyes work great.
Celine: KEIRA.
Keira let out a small laugh.
Then a notification from Jovan came in.
Jovan: The whole school knows we hugged.
Keira closed her eyes.
Keira: Your fault.
Jovan: I got hugged.
Keira: You should've dodged.
Jovan: I might as well get expelled.
Keira couldn't hold back her smile.
Keira: So dramatic.
Jovan: Kei.
Keira: What?
A long pause.
Then:
Jovan: Thanks.
Keira knew what he meant.
Not just the hug.
For staying.
For not leaving.
Keira typed:
Keira: You're welcome.
A few seconds later, another message came in.
Not from Jovan.
An unknown number.
Keira immediately tensed.
But this time, the contents were different.
There was no threat.
No location.
Just one photo.
An old photo.
Three adults stood in front of a company building.
Jovan's father.
Bagas Wiratama.
And another man Keira had never seen before.
On the back of the photo was handwritten text captured in the image:
Damar — Bagas — Reza, February 14.
Keira immediately sent the photo to Jovan.
His reply came quickly.
Jovan: I don't know the guy on the right.
Keira stared at the name.
Reza.
Then another message came from the unknown number.
Unknown Number: If Jovan wants to know who really set up his family, find Reza Mahardika.
Second message:
Unknown Number: Felix is just a kid who's too afraid of his father.
Keira froze.
Third message:
Unknown Number: You've been chasing the wrong person this whole time.
And for the first time, all their assumptions about Felix began to crumble.