Chapter 3

Kenzo was deep in thought, when he heard a noise beside his room.

               Awakening from his own imaginary world, Kenzo frowned and put out his cigarette. He went into the house — previously, the twenty-five year old guy was smoking, thinking about Khanza and her supernatural abilities on the veranda — then headed for the bedroom door. After turning the key twice, Kenzo opened the door and looked into the next room.

               To Khanza's room.

               What happened to that anti-social girl? Why are there so many noise from inside the room?

               Leaving the door to his room slightly open, Kenzo approached the door of Khanza's room and stood in front of her room. The guy hesitated. He wants to knock and ask what's going on, but he's too lazy to defend himself if Khanza says he's too meddling in other people's business. Indeed, Khanza is his student. But, it's already outside school hours. So, Khanza is no longer his responsibility.

               But...

               Again, there was a noise. This time it was louder than before. Some of the other occupants of the boarding house apparently also came out of their respective rooms, standing in front of their bedroom door, grumbling to question what sound they had just heard and where it came from. Then, their eyes simultaneously headed towards Khanza's room, where Kenzo was standing at the door of the room and could only snorted.

               Knock on the door and ask what's wrong, hurry!

               Approximately, that was the sudden telepathy that some other occupants of the boarding room gave to Kenzo. Taking a deep breath and hissing in annoyance, Kenzo knocked on the door of Khanza's bedroom.

               "Khanza? Something's wrong?" Kenzo asked firmly.

               No reply. Kenzo's forehead frowned again. After the noise that had continued a while ago, it was now very quiet inside. He doesn’t know what happened to him, but he couldn't stop the wild beating in his heart. It feels so tight. His body suddenly became cold and sweaty. One hand clenched tightly until it turned white.

               He's scared.

              

               No, not because he was afraid of the invisible creatures that had been bothering him all this time. Kenzo has been used to it since childhood. It's just that, now he's afraid that ... something might happen to Khanza.

               What's up with him now? Why is Khanza could worry him like this? Didn't they just meet today? Isn't Khanza just one of his students who is anti-social and always cold to everyone? Isn't he the type who doesn't want to interfere with other people's business?

               Then, why am i like this right now?! Who is she? Why she can make me like this?

               She can see, hear and feel them. Not only that, she can also drive them away. She had this ability since childhood. Because of that, she was constantly harassed and attacked by them. It's just that, because Khanza is weak, that ability often puts her life in danger ...

               The words of Khanza's older cousin, Keanu, this morning came back to him. Now, the wild pounding on Kenzo's heart grew stronger. His imagination began to wander. He imagined, what if ... what if ...

               SHIT!

               Kenzo was now knocking at Khanza's boarding room loudly, almost blindly. Some of the other occupants of the boarding house looked at each other and wondered. What's up with Kenzo? Why does that guy look so worried?

               “KHANZA! YOU BETTER OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR RIGHT NOW, OR I WILL— "

               "What will you do?"

               The cold and flat voice made Kenzo flinch and turn his head. He could see some of the other residents of the boarding house blinking as they looked at Khanza who had just appeared on the second floor and was standing by the stairs. She looked at Kenzo with the look of her signature: cold and sharp.

               Then, Kenzo just fell. He fell on his knees and adjusted his glasses. His heart, which had been beating like crazy, until it felt so tight, slowly began to subside. The sweat was still visible, running down Kenzo's handsome face. His head was bowed down and now, Kenzo was chuckling indistinctly in his place.

               Makes Khanza raise an eyebrow and the other boarders stare in horror at Kenzo.

               "Khanza," someone called. Khanza glanced around and nodded curtly at Rio. Rio and Khanza are the same age. The guy had only lived in this boarding house about two years ago, when they were new as a high school students. "Earlier, there were noises from your room. We are all worried about you, that's why Kenzo has been knocking on your room."

               Sound? Said Khanza in her heart. Ah ... he's acting up again.

               Khanza just nodded again in response to Rio and she walked towards her room. The other residents of the boarding house have entered their respective rooms, leaving Khanza who is now standing in front of Kenzo who is still on his knees.

               "You ... just got home ...?" Kenzo asked in a low voice. Shit! Even his voice sounded very embarrassing now. The guy looked up and gasped when he realized that Khanza's face was very close to him right now. Who knows since when, that girl has knelt in front of him. In fact, now Kenzo can smell a strawberry in Khanza.

               Without realizing it, Kenzo moved away. The guy cleared his throat and got up. In her place, Khanza looked up to find Kenzo looking away while ruffling his own hair. And then, Khanza also stood up and took out her room key from her bag.

               "Why are you just got home at this time?" Kenzo asked again, looking at the wristwatch on his left hand. Nine o'clock? "Then, the noise from inside your room ... what's that sound?"

               "He's acting up again."

               Kenzo was silent. He?

               When Khanza opened the door to her room, Kenzo could see it. The guy’s eyes widen when he realizes Khanza's messy room. Several items were lying on the floor. Khanza came in and left the door wide open, because she was sure Kenzo would also come inside.

               "This ... why ...?"

               Khanza didn't answer. She threw her bag on the bed and started tidying up all her messy things on the floor.

               "He's acting up again. Because I came home late, he got angry and messed around in my room."

               "He? Who do you mean— "

               “KHANZA! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! WHY ARE LATE COMING HOME?! YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IS IT, HUH ?! WHAT IF YOU ARE ATTACKED BY AN EVIL?! YOU KNOW, RIGHT, IF THEY— "

               At that moment, the voice stopped because he realized Kenzo's presence. He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Oh, can you see me?" he asked sarcastically.

               Inwardly, Kenzo cursed. The invisible creature before him was very annoying.

               "Yes, more or less like that. I have the same abilities as Khanza." As if he had just remembered something, Kenzo turned towards Khanza and crossed his arms. "Didn't you come home with Keanu this morning because you fainted?"

               "I-"

               “Khanza! You passed out?! You must be pushing yourself too hard to get rid of those who bother you, right?! Is not it?! Confess!"

               Khanza took a deep breath and stared at the transparent figure before her and Kenzo. A handsome long-haired guy. The guy was wearing jeans and a Tosca green long-sleeved shirt. Khanza has known this transparent figure since the first grade of high school, two years ago.

               "I'm not pushing myself ... there are quite a lot of them and I'm just alone."

               "Why don't you just run away?"

               "It's useless, Ven ... they'll keep chasing me. So, I better get rid of them right away, right?"

               Kenzo could only listen to the conversation between Khanza and a ghost named Ven. Inwardly, Kenzo wondered, who is Ven? Why did Khanza just come home this late when he sent her home with Keanu this morning?

               "Khanza, where did you actually run out of?" Kenzo asked again.

               Khanza glanced at Kenzo. The girl sighed again and put her tiny body in front of Kenzo. Her eyes stared firmly at Kenzo, to which the guy replied no less firmly. A few seconds passed, until finally Khanza gave up and snorted.

               "I went to the hospital."

               Kenzo's eyebrows rose together. "Hospital? Why? Do you still feel the effect of you driving out the evil ghosts in class this morning?”

               Khanza didn't answer. The girl looked down and bit her lower lip firmly. The corners of the girl's lips were bleeding now, making Ven startled and immediately approaching Khanza.

               "Hey, Khanza! You alright, right?!”

               Not understanding what happened to Khanza and Ven who looked very worried, Kenzo immediately approached the girl. Then, Kenzo gave a violent jolt when Khanza's body just fell. As quickly as possible, Kenzo immediately caught Khanza's body, before the girl kissed the hard marble floor.

               “Khanza?! Hey, Khanza! What happened?!"

               Khanza didn't answer. The girl closed her eyes and looked like she was in pain. One hand was on her chest and squeezed her school uniform firmly. The girl's body broke out in cold sweat. Kenzo looked in all directions and saw no other ghosts — especially a ghost with an evil aura — apart from the presence of Ven.

               "Khanza!" shouted Kenzo again. The guy cursed and lifted Khanza's body.

               When Kenzo was about to put her tiny, cold sweaty body on the bed, Ven stopped him. The ghost stared flatly at Kenzo who looked angry.

               "What is wrong?!" exclaimed Kenzo. "Why did you prevent me?"

               "Khanza must be taken to the hospital."

               "Hospital?" why go to the hospital?

               "If you don't get taken to the hospital immediately, Khanza will—"

               "He's right."

               The voice made Kenzo turn his head. Keanu's figure stood in the doorway of Khanza's room. The guy put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and exhaled heavily.

               “You… since when were you here? Why are you here?" Kenzo asked.

               “We have to get Khanza to the hospital. If that girl passed out, he will endanger us all."

               He? What does Keanu mean ... Khanza? Khanza will harm us all? What does it mean?

               Before Kenzo voiced all the questions that were running through his mind to Keanu, the guy gasped. It feels so hurt and sore in the upper arm. Without even realizing what had happened, now Khanza stood upright in front of him, staring at the bloodstained scissors.

               "Khanza? You .... ” Kenzo could not find the right sentence. He stared at his bleeding upper arm and immediately squeezed the blood so it wouldn't come out any more. Then, his gaze turned to Khanza who was now playing with the bloody scissors, smiling coldly. Her eyes were so dark and empty.

               “Oh, hello Keanu… how are you? You didn't think that I would be imprisoned forever, did you?”

               Kenzo frowned. Why is Khanza speaking in that voice? Why is Khanza language so standard and formal?

               “Oh, hello ... long time no see, you f *ck*ng evil spirit! Leave her right now, or i will kick your ass!"

               Khanza laughed loudly and shook her head. She looked at Kenzo and gave her coldest smile. “Heh ... can you see me too? Very interesting! Can you also ward off ghosts and evil spirits like Keanu and my little girl?"

               My little girl?

               "Leave her alone!" exclaimed Keanu. He stretched out his right hand, opened his palm and prepared to make a sound, as Khanza pointed the scissors at her own neck.

               “Uh-oh, stop right there. If you make a sound, I will take my little girl to hell."

               Keanu clenched his fists. He stared at Khanza with his sharp gaze and the guy's jaw was now hard. Seeing that, Kenzo took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment and as soon as the guy's eyes opened again, the aura around him began to change.

               Keanu, who realized Kenzo's change, could only be stunned. The bespectacled guy now glared at Khanza and started walking towards the girl.

               "Kenzo, stop!" shouted Keanu. He wanted to stop Kenzo because he’s afraid that the evil spirit possessing Khanza would harm the girl, when Ven stopped him. Confused, Keanu stared at Ven and froze. Ven looked at Kenzo with ... scared?

               “Oh… you don't care about my little girl? Didn't you hear what I said earlier? If you come near me, I will take this little girl to hell right now!”

               “Nonsense! Don't f *ck with me! Give her back!"

              

               Khanza laughed and pointed her scissors closer and closer to the veins in her neck. This made Kenzo inflamed and clenched his hands at his sides. His eyes grew more and more angry.

               "I SAID, GIVE HER BACK TO ME!"

               Suddenly, Khanza's room falls apart due to a strong wind coming from somewhere. Keanu and Ven stared in amazement at Kenzo. The guy approached Khanza and grabbed Khanza's hand that was holding the scissors. He jerked the girl's tiny hand until the scissors fell, then with one swift motion, Kenzo pulled Khanza's body into his arms.

               "Come back to me, Khanza ...," he whispered softly.

               Khanza shouted loudly and the next second the girl fell silent. Then, Khanza fell unconscious in Kenzo's arms, and the sudden wind stopped. Keanu stared in disbelief at Kenzo. The guy was still hugging Khanza's body tightly and taking a deep breath. Then, Kenzo dropped his own body onto the bed while still hugging Khanza, so that Khanza was now on top of him, in Kenzo's arms.

               “Shit! I lost my energy right now,” complained Kenzo as he closed his eyes. However, one hand was still hugging Khanza's waist who was still unconscious, the other was stroking Khanza's hair.

               At his place, Keanu swallowed hard. He looked around Khanza's room. The traces of the evil spirit had completely disappeared. But, that didn't mean that damn demon had completely vanished. Keanu was sure, he would come back again.

               The question is, who Kenzo really is. This morning in the health room, the guy couldn't notice the existence of this evil spirit. An evil spirit who was Khanza's main enemy. Then, just now, Kenzo managed to get the evil spirit out of Khanza's body with just one sentence and a hug.

               Ven was silent in his place. The ghost looked at Kenzo and Khanza. His transparent hands clenched into fists.

               "Could it be ... you are ... master ...?"