Chapter 10

Two days after the incident in the school cafeteria, Mentari felt someone was watching her.

She herself didn't know what made her feel this way and who—if he really was—watching her. The girl continued to be wary of all her friends in the class. It's been two days too, Mentari, which usually shows its feminine and gentle side, has disappeared. Her beautiful face always looked restless and tense, making her friends worry, but no one dared to ask.

"Tar, what are you doing?" asked Vivi, when she could no longer bear to see her best friend's attitude. It was like a rabbit who was anxious to be devoured by a tiger. The girl immediately flew to Mentari's desk when the math teacher had finished teaching and left the classroom. There were only ten minutes left before the lunch break bell rang. "You've been like this for two days."

Today, Yunifer did not go to school because of illness. However, the girl also felt the strangeness of Mentari's attitude for the past two days and agreed with Vivi's proposal to interrogate Mentari. You see, Mentari is the type of person who doesn't want to make other people anxious and worried about her problems.

"I feel like I'm being watched, Vi," said Mentari, half whispering. She looked seriously at her friend's beady eyes, which were now stiffening in place. Vivi then gulped and pulled Sinyo's chair, who had bolted to the canteen to get his favorite VIP spot. "I don't know why either, but I always feel... that's how it is."

"What do you mean by that?" chase Vivi.

Mentari rolled her eyes. She paid attention to her surroundings for a moment and after feeling safe, not feeling the prying eyes right now, then Mentari felt sure to tell Vivi. All this time she had not told her two friends for fear that she would get them into trouble.

"I… like being watched from afar.," Mentari repeated. "Two days ago, when we were in the canteen and it was raining, together with Mr. Senja and Awan, that's how it started. I deliberately didn't tell you because I didn't want to make you worry too. But, there was someone who was staring at me at that time. And I also saw a figure who had been hiding behind the school pillar, then just ran away. I didn't get to see or recognize his face."

"A girl?"

"A boy," Mentari answered confidently, having previously shook her head in response to Vivi's question. "He's a tall guy and his body is quite full. His hair is thick."

"Mm… could it be that he wasn't hiding, but was cleaning his body which might have been soaked by the rain? After that, because he felt that he was dry enough, he ran again?"

"I hope that's the case," said Mentari, taking a deep breath. "But, the past two days, it's not just the watching and stalking stares that I've gotten. I too… lost a few things."

"Lost items?"

Mentari and Vivi turned their head, when they heard the voice. Both smiled at Mila who smiled back and nodded to say hello. "Sorry, I overheard your conversation. Tar, you lost some of your stuff in this class?"

Mentari raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement. Immediately, Mila's face began to turn pale. "Me too. Items that are quite valuable, money even my lunch box. And not only me. Dewi, Dhea, Bobby, Sinyo, four people have lost their belongings like me and you. That means, there are already six people in this class who have become victims."

"Do you think, the one who stole the things was in this class?" Vivi looked at the rest of her friends who were still in the classroom, with a suspicious look. Mentari and Mila subconsciously followed Vivi's behavior.

"It's possible. But, maybe not," said Mentari. She feels dizzy now. Her watch and some of her money had disappeared in the past two days. Of course she didn't report it to her father because she didn't want to worry him. "We don't have any evidence to accuse someone, unless we catch the person in action."

The three girls were silent. Then, Mila said goodbye because she wanted to buy food at the canteen before it ran out. Because Mentari and Vivi felt that there was no point in thinking about this—especially when they were hungry—when they didn't have any evidence, the two finally decided to go to the cafeteria while giving Yunifer this information.

On the way to the canteen, Mentari and Vivi met Senja. Looks like their teacher will also have lunch in the cafeteria. If Vivi smiled politely and nodded to greet Senja, then it was different with Mentari. The girl immediately put on a grumpy face and a lazy look. She still remembered about the incident in the cafeteria two days ago.

"Hey, what's with your face? Why does it look like you want to make a fuss like that?" asked Senja who realized the meaning of the expression on the face and the look from Mentari. Fortunately, things were quiet around the three of them, so Mentari didn't bother to cover up her distaste for Senja.

"Oh, it's good to know that you're aware," said the girl. "I really want to make a fuss, Sir. Do you have time to make a fuss with me? It doesn't take long, five minutes is enough, Sir. Because within five minutes, I'm sure I can immediately make Mr. Senja K.O."

Senja snorted and continued walking towards the cafeteria. The man glanced over his shoulder and found Mentari and Vivi following him towards the cafeteria. Vivi is seen trying to calm Mentari while occasionally grinning, and Mentari is sticking her tongue out at him. What an annoying tomboy girl, Senja thought. Luckily he only acts as a teacher in this world for Mentari and not as a boyfriend let alone a husband. Maybe, his sanity will disappeared without a trace if that happened.

"Tar! Mentari! Mentari!"

The shout made Mentari and Vivi's steps stop. Even with Senja who was not far in front of the two. He's not curious, it's just that the voice of the person who called Mentari sounded very frantic, and....

Okay, he's curious. Satisfied?

Mentari frowned as Mila ran towards her. Indeed, the girl had already returned to class when Mentari and Vivi just decided to go to the canteen. Mila's face turned pale and sweat dripped down her face.

"What's wrong, Mila? It's looked like you're being chased by a ghost," said Vivi innocently.

"Your backpack, Tar. Your stuff. It's all messed up and splattered on the floor!"

Immediately, Mentari's body froze. Unknowingly, she gripped Mila's arms so tightly that her friend grimaced. "How come?! Isn't the class crowded?!"

Mila shook her head. "Anna said, when you two left, the class was empty. I didn't even go straight to class when I met you in the hallway. I went to the next class because my friend, Siska, called me. Then, when I saw Anna and Liam returning to class, I followed suit. And… your backpack and your belongings are a mess!"

Hearing that explanation, Mentari hurriedly ran to class. Vivi followed closely behind, along with Senja. Absolutely outrageous! His students dared to commit theft in broad daylight like this?!

"Metari Jingga! Don't run on the stairs! You will fall!" exclaimed Senja. He overtook Vivi and rushed after Mentari. Senja had held Mentari's arm, but immediately released it because Mentari struggled. Of course, Senja didn't want anything dangerous happened because the girl was struggling to be released. It's possible that later the balance of his body will be lost and Mentari will fall, right?

Arriving in class, Mentari, who was panting, immediately froze. Anna and Liam were in the classroom looking regretfully at Mentari. The girl walked slowly and knelt in front of her backpack. Her eyes stared wildly at her belongings strewn on the floor. With her shaking hands, Mentari looked for something. Her eyes began to feel hot and the tears flowed profusely, along with the roar of her racing heart.

"Hey, Mentari," called Senja who came closer and knelt beside the girl. "Is there something go—"

Before Senja had finished speaking, Mentari immediately gripped Senja's arms tightly while shouting hysterically.

"Necklace, Sir! My mother's necklace is missing! My precious necklace! I got it from my mother, Sir! It's nowhere! The necklace is gone!"

Senja froze and clenched his jaw. He looked at Mentari's belongings with a sharp gaze.

"My necklace, Sir! Please, help me find it...."

And this time, Senja was sure that he didn't like seeing Mentari cry like this. Just like two days ago.

Just run and hide, you damn little thief, thought Senja. Because, wherever you run and hide, I will definitely find you and I will immediately lock you up for stealing Mentari's valuable necklace!