CHAPTER 23 : I LOVE YOU

"Today, we eliminated four Strays, two from each group. No sightings of other Mutants," Mei reported on the results of their patrol that day. All the members of HOPE had already removed their costumes and were dressed in casual clothing."A few times, I managed to detect a Mutant, but it was faint. Mutants don't emit the same aura as Strays; our aura is much smaller and can only be sensed up close, so finding other Mutants is quite challenging even with my powers," Mei explained."That's okay; we'll think of a way to detect other Mutants tomorrow. For now, thank you all; you did great today. We'll continue our work tomorrow," Khalid said to all the members of HOPE with a smile."So, how was your first day as a superhero?" Kyoko asked, walking alongside Mikael as they exited Mei's house. Mikael lit a cigarette and took a puff."It felt like I'm still a police officer, just wearing different uniform. Still have to work under the heat, trying to make sense of the nonsensical situations, and... seeing all kinds of awful things," Mikael replied. Kyoko chuckled at his words and reaction."Interesting perspective," she said.Khairul and Nasuha walked out next, heading toward Mikael and Kyoko."See you tomorrow, Kyoko... Mr.Mikael," Nasuha greeted, waving her hand."Puff! Mr. Mikael? Hahaha..." Kyoko laughed again, while Mikael looked at her with a tired expression."What's so funny?""Nothing... Ouch... You don't get it. It's just so awkward for you to call him 'Mr.' Just call him 'Uncle' while you're at it," Kyoko teased again."Enough of that." Mikael lightly kicked Kyoko's leg, almost causing her to stumble."Just call me Mikael," he insisted."Ah, okay," Nasuha nodded in understanding."I have to go too; I promised Hazim I would help him after finishing up here..." Khairul said."Did you get your job back at the burger stall?" Mikael asked."Yes," Khairul smiled, and he and Nasuha began to leave Kyoko and Mikael."I'm heading back too. See you tomorrow, 'Uncle Mikael,'" Kyoko stuck her tongue out playfully before taking off with her lightning powers, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Mikael exhaled cigarette smoke and shrugged his shoulders."I can give you a ride there," Nasuha offered."Uhm... but... Hazim doesn't know about the Mutants yet; I haven't told him anything," Khairul replied."Come on, I'll drop you near our park," Nasuha coaxed again. Khairul finally relented and accepted her offer.They both flew into the air, with Nasuha looking like a comet streaking across the night sky. Khairul gazed down at the city from above, where not many cars were on the roads, and most of the building lights were off, making the city appear a little gloomy."Let's stop here for a moment," Nasuha suggested."Huh?"Before he knew it, Nasuha brought them down on a bridge. It was the same bridge where Khairul had saved Nasuha previously."Hehe... I noticed and wanted to take a look for a bit," Nasuha said, walking toward the bridge railing and touching it. A bittersweet smile appeared on her face as Khairul approached, exhaling a deep breath."It feels like it's been a while since I've been here. I used to come here whenever I didn't want to see my dad's face," Khairul said."Why?" Nasuha asked."Because this is where my mom and I had the accident," Khairul replied, causing Nasuha's expression to change to one of shock and concern."I-I didn't mean to make you remember bad things..I'm sorry..." Nasuha said, lowering her gaze. Khairul just smiled."Don't worry; I'm okay. I'm here not to feel sad. I just want a reminder. I got a second chance... Not many people get a chance like I did, living after such an accident. The doctors said my chances of survival were slim, but here I am," Khairul explained. Nasuha listened attentively, the evening breeze lifting their hair slightly. Her eyes focused on the scars on his face, neck, and ears."I used to feel it was so heavy to continue living, I kept wondering, 'What does it mean for me to live after that accident, why didn't I die?'" Khairul's expression turned slightly sad, and his smile became bittersweet."Khai..." Nasuha also looked sad seeing Khairul's face."But my life has changed now. Suddenly, everything that used to feel so big to me feels so small. Before I knew it, I was fighting monsters, there are alien creatures on Earth... We've faced so many things together. Even so, there's still part of me that feels stuck here." Khairul became cheerful again, looking at Nasuha, and he fell silent, noticing how focused she was on him at that moment."Khai, I—" Nasuha called out, but when Khairul looked at her, she froze and clenched her hands."The feelings of Khairul and Nasuha are something beautiful. When I was in their minds, I saw the many hardships they faced. They're younger than us, but their hearts are strong.""Falling in love will only hurt you, don't fall in love yet... Unless you really feel you love them and they truly love you back."Oh, Khairul... How am I supposed to tell you?Someone like me, am I worthy to be with you? Everything we've faced together, you've always been hurt, I'm a burden, I'm not strong like you.Why are you so nice to me? Why do you take care of me? Why do you care about me, protect me?I want to know your feelings so that my heart doesn't feel like it's tearing apart. I can't take this feeling anymore... I have to tell you...Khai, I—"I like..." Nasuha said softly."Huh?" Khairul couldn't hear clearly, so he leaned in a little closer to Nasuha, her eyes widened, and her face flushed crimson.Memories of their time together played in Nasuha's mind, from when they first met behind the school. When Khairul saved her, when they ran to Ipoh together, their times playing and eating. When they lay together in a hotel bed, and the battle on the Ipoh highway."Without you, the light of hope... the future will fade. At least, I can... die as someone who is... good. I'll prove them wrong!"Khairul, you almost died because of me. My powers came because I wanted to protect you too... Because I..."Khairul, I—"Khairul just looked at Nasuha, patiently waiting for her to say what she wanted. Nasuha took a deep breath.I don't want to let this slip away from my grasp again.A memory of them together on the sofa at Rose's house, watching television and eating together. Nasuha reached for Khairul with both hands and hugged him gently.In the end, I'm a coward."Nasuha?" Khairul was confused by Nasuha's sudden action, her embrace only tightening."Who am I... to you?" Nasuha asked.Please say it. Say what I want you to say. Tell me...That you love me too, just like how I love you.Khai..."You—Nasuha, you..." Khairul hesitated to respond, Nasuha's face buried in his clothes. Khairul's eyes softened, and his hand gently stroked Nasuha's head."You are someone important to me. Nasuha, I—I love you." Khairul said softly while returning Nasuha's embrace."I... love you too, Khai. I've felt this way for a long time..." Nasuha replied, her voice slightly hoarse, Khairul continued to observe her condition, and Nasuha looked at Khairul, smiling with tears streaming down her face."W-Why are you crying?" Khairul asked worriedly."This... This is happy tears. Hehe." Nasuha said, and Khairul smiled gently, then they slowly released their embrace."S-Sorry. You were talking about yourself... but I made it about me instead." Nasuha sighed."Don't say that...""Hah... It feels like a burden has lifted off my shoulders..." Nasuha looked relieved as she wiped her tears, while Khairul processed everything that had happened, his ears turning red. He turned to look at the river below the bridge and let out a long breath."So... Why all of a sudden?" Khairul asked."I don't know. I just felt it was the right time? I was still too cowardly to say it before." Nasuha sighed, and Khairul fell silent."Say it...""Huh?""Say it to me first." Khairul requested, turning back to face Nasuha."Oh..." Nasuha froze for a moment, and they looked at each other for quite a while. Nasuha felt anxious, trying to calm herself by tapping her cheeks."Phew... I—I love you, Khai..." Nasuha stammered. Khairul laughed at her."You—You're laughing at me!""Hahaha. Is it that embarrassing? Haha.""Y-You!" Nasuha shot a beam of light at Khairul, pushing him back slightly."Ahahaha!" Khairul just laughed again, and Nasuha giggled at his reaction.I've never seen Khairul laugh and smile like that before. I'm relieved to express these feelings.I'm relieved..."I'm sorry for being late." Khairul rushed to the burger stall, quickly putting on his apron."Chill, we just opened a little while ago..." replied Hazim, watching Khairul as he moved closer."Is something good happening, Khai?" Hazim asked."Huh? What do you mean?" Khairul opened several packets of burger buns and arranged them. Hazim crossed his arms and smiled."Hey, whatever happens... it's good for you, Khai. I'm proud of you." Khairul smiled shyly."Thank you, Hazim." Khairul responded, surprised by Hazim's reaction."You've really changed, Khai...""I'm back." Nasuha walked into her house and headed to the living room. Ehsan was working on his laptop; she slowly approached her father and poked Ehsan slightly with a small beam of light."Ah! Oh, is that you, Nasuha?" Ehsan exclaimed."So much work... I rarely see you bring work home.""What can I do? The office is under quarantine, so I have to work from home. I already ate earlier, there's food on the dining table. Sorry, Nasuha... I can't keep you company for dinner." Ehsan replied, and Nasuha smiled faintly."It's okay, Dad, I'm going to shower first before eating." Nasuha said and then walked away."Oh, alright." Ehsan was surprised by Nasuha's sudden smile.She seems happy; that's good.Nasuha lay on her bed, hugging her pillow and kicking the air repeatedly. She rolled over and bumped into the wall."Ouch..."Nasuha smiled, imagining Khairul's face.I can't wait to see Khai tomorrow.Several people were lined up at the bank's ATM. Syakir entered the bank and walked toward the line. After a while, it was finally the turn of the person in front of Syakir to use the ATM.Syakir extended his right hand, and from each finger, wires with small snake heads emerged from the tips. The wires slithered into the clothing of the person in front of him."When you're outside, you will give all your money to the girl with long hair and green stripes. You will forget what happened." Syakir said, and the man in front of him used the ATM as usual before walking out. Syakir retracted the wires.As the man walked out, he stopped in front of Lilly and handed her his money. He walked away as if nothing had happened, while Syakir exited the bank."How much?" Syakir asked."Not much." Lilly replied."Tch... I should've tried that woman with lots of gold earlier. Never mind, let's try another place." Syakir responded, stuffing both hands into his pockets while Lilly followed him."As long as there are many Strays cases, more banks and ATMs will keep closing. How much longer can we continue this work?" Lilly asked."What do you want to suggest, Lilly?""Syakir... Remember what Sui'ra said? Our powers have many more ways to be used besides this. Plus, joining HOPE will give us a way to stop the Strays.""You are beyond stupid if you think a group dreaming of becoming heroes will change anything. I won't bow down to anyone." Syakir said, and Lilly fell silent. They both got into a gray car together, with Syakir sitting in the back while Lilly drove."Find any ATM that's still open, just do your job, tool." Syakir ordered."Okay." Lilly just listened to his instructions and drove away from the bank."Do you want me to save you...?"I was surrounded by a Stray, my arms and legs injured from being attacked by the creature's sharp claws and teeth. Suddenly, Syakir appeared, looking at me with a cold gaze and a sly smile."Help me!" I cried out."Say that you will be my tool... and I'll save you." Syakir ordered.I was confused, but the Stray moved forward, roaring several times, showing its teeth and claws. I was too terrified to think clearly, and finally..."I'll be your tool! Please save me!"Quickly, Syakir jumped and landed between me and the Stray, pointing his hand forward. Several wires emerged from his fingers and entered the Stray."Kill yourself."The Stray pulled its own head off, tearing it from its body. The creature died, blood spraying everywhere, splattering on Syakir's face."Alright, tool. I will make you useful." Syakir turned his hand toward me, and the snake-headed wires approached.With his control power, he forcibly turned me into a Mutant, controlling my will and myself...There was no choice left for me; I couldn't return to my family because I was a Mutant now. I couldn't trust the authorities; we had seen for ourselves what happened to the Strays they captured...I was bound.