APARTMENT 909 looked very quiet, even though there was someone inside, but the room was as if haunted. Alyx sat beside the window, hugging her knees. She had not left her place, since last night. There was no light whatsoever in that room. She did not turn on the lamp or even open the window to let the light come in.
"Michi…" occasionally she mentioned her cat's name. Michi had been with her for almost 7 years, even before she lived in this apartment. For her Michi was her best friend. And now she had lost Michi.
Alyx's smartphone rang, making her lift her head. The light from the smartphone made her squint her eyes. She tried to reach it with her foot.
Alyx looked for a moment, seeing the name that appeared on the screen. "Nick…" she decided to accept the call from Nick, since yesterday Nick had been trying to contact her. "What's the matter?"
"Where are you? You make me worry. There is something I must tell you. This is important."
Did Nick not know, that Alyx's heart was truly broken. Alyx put the phone down beside her. Letting Nick ramble on the other side. Not long after, the call disconnected. Perhaps Nick already felt bored of speaking to himself. Meanwhile Alyx returned to hugging her knees.
Two days passed, Alyx looked—perhaps already looked better. She opened the window, tidied up her room, and made breakfast. She ate her breakfast in silence. After eating, she turned on the TV, watching the news which day by day became increasingly scary. When feeling bored with her viewing, she took her phone. And immediately contacted Nick.
Since that day, Nick no longer contacted her. So, it was better if Alyx was the one calling him first. Several times connected, but no one answered her call. And during the last attempt, someone accepted Alyx's call.
"Boss," Katie's voice was heard.
"Katie, why are you…" Alyx's sentence stopped, asking the interlocutor to continue her words.
Katie sounded confused. "I heard this ringing and immediately picked it up. But boss, the director is not here, only his phone is in the office."
"Then where did he go?" asked Alyx who also became confused.
"Yesterday too I didn't see him, but wonder why his phone is here, huh," Katie clearly wondered, but the one she told also didn't know it seemed.
"Is that so?" Alyx scratched her forehead, she thought she had ignored Nick and it was her friend's turn not giving her even a little bit of news. "Alright, I will go there," she gave info of her arrival which was followed by Katie's murmur.
After taking Nick's phone from the office, Alyx was already at the large residence of Nick's family. The high gate towered, several guards made someone unable to enter easily inside without clear details.
"Is Nick inside?" asked Alyx, she had since earlier let the people know about her presence, until finally she had to brave herself first to greet.
"Who are you and what business do you have?" asked one of them.
"Ah," Alyx gaped for a few moments, "I am a debt collector. I want him to return his loan," Alyx said with a serious face.
"What?" exclaimed the guard. "How much anyway?"
"Yes. Two pounds," answered Alyx randomly.
"Two pounds? Two you said," the guard laughed, sounding condescending.
"Why? Do you want to pay it?" Alyx frowned, the weather was also hot, but she instead made a strange joke out here.
"Let me be the one paying it then, that is very little," that guard murmured. "Only two pounds, you come to this place," he hissed.
"Alyx…" a shout was heard from the direction of Nick's house yard.
Alyx turned around and found Charlie, one of the butlers who knew her.
The guard who had just reached into his pocket was confused.
"Why didn't you open the door for her?" asked Charlie.
"Ah? Fine," the guard panicked and immediately opened the gate.
Charlie brought Alyx inside, feeling the girl surely was already quite annoyed being held there for a long time.
"But, is it okay if I come in, Charlie? It seems the security has become tighter here. Is there a problem?" Alyx instantly realized.
Charlie smiled and turned around telling the guard from earlier. "Can you contact the Master tell him that…" before finishing his sentence, the guard had already entered his guardroom.
"Master, there is someone looking for you, she wants to collect a debt, two pounds," he said innocently to Nick.
Laughter from the other side of the phone instantly was heard. Nick right away knew that it was his good friend. "Let her come in."
The head of the gate guards gaped at the window. "Ah, OK."
"Come on." Charlie invited Alyx to walk. Passing through the yard that was so vast. "He does not want to receive guests, he said, but it seems he cannot refuse your arrival."
Alyx smiled, although her expression returned to being serious. "Then what happened?"
"I think he will tell everything," Charlie shrugged his shoulders, looking like he didn't want to speak too far. "Alright, please come in." he opened the door to Nick's residence.
"Thank you, Charlie." Before entering, Alyx turned around looking at the main residence where Nick's parents lived. She had been here several times, always when Nick had to be captured—asked to go home by his parents.
"Do I really have a debt?" this sentence was what greeted Alyx upon entering.
"Sure, you always ask me to pay for sandwiches for you. Then, what happened?" asked Alyx directly.
"I was almost kidnapped," exclaimed Nick without making any small talk.
"What? Who? Your parents?" Alyx's brows met.
"No. A group of people, with all-black suits. They came to the office at night. Even though there was still a lot for me to do. Fortunately my mother's hired people arrived quickly," Nick rolled his eyes, he leaned his head on the shoulder of the sofa. "This time, I have to thank my mother for the placement of her spies," he murmured, still trying to give up.
"But why? In your opinion did they really want to kidnap you? Are you sure? I mean, what's good about you?" Alyx took Nick's phone out of her pocket, it seemed clear why the object could be at the office.
Nick smirked. "What do you mean?" His hand was lifted as if wanting to punch, but it was his index finger that then landed on top of Alyx's head. "I heard this is all because of father. I also don't know mother's intention. But… who knows," he looked like he didn't understand what happened.
"Who knows what?" Alyx said in a protesting tone. "You make me confused, you tell the story when you already understand this problem," she grumbled but instead found Nick who was still silent. "Have you reported to the police? Checked the CCTV?"
Nick shook his head. "My parents have handled everything. They said as long as I do not go away from this palace, tch, I will be fine."
Alyx bit her lip, looking thoughtful. "I'm actually curious, but I thought this is an upper-class affair, right?" Her sigh was heard, "actually I am also not doing fine. I just lost Michi."
"Ha, what's wrong with him? Want me to tell people to look for him."
Alyx shook her head. "He is already in a good place."
"Ha?"
Alyx stood up from her seat. Moving behind Nick, touching that man's shoulder, giving him a brief massage.
Nick looked up, asking for an explanation.
"I'm going home now, if you need something let me know," murmured Alyx.
Nick nodded slightly. "I will contact you immediately when I understand. But, Alyx, you don't need to meet someone named Benjamin."
"Benjamin?" Why now are we discussing this person, thought Alyx, but she then moved her head. "Oh, right, it seems Katie indeed once mentioned that person's name. Why exactly?"
"I know there is something wrong with his head," Nick smirked. "I think he has something to do with this problem I'm facing. And he will never stop when getting what he wants."
"What exactly does he want?"
"Who knows."
"Why do you always say who knows? What exactly did you guys talk about?" Now Alyx was already truly annoyed, but decided to sit back down for a moment hearing Nick's story.
Nick then moved his hand, telling Alyx to stay calm. "He told me to find out something. Told me to discuss regarding this matter. And he always talks about this SOS this, that," he tried to explain, though only ended with a sigh.
Alyx listened with full attention. "SOS?"
Nick nodded. "He is very excited about this, I have searched about SOS on Google, but that is not what he meant."
"Then what?"
"Maybe like an organization," Nick laughed cynically, though it sounded more like a snort. "Who knows," he murmured pressing his temples, "what's clear is you don't need to meet him."
"Ah, okay," Alyx tried to agree. "If he doesn't contact AM magazine again, I of course won't meet him. But if he contacts me directly, I will go."
"I told you don't, so don't. I have forbidden you."
*