The next day...
That morning, Gabriela walked down the school hallway with renewed determination. She knew that the two names written on that scrap of paper, Nia and Damian, could be the key to uncovering the mystery of Arina's death. Her first step was to find out if those names were among the students at SIS.
Gabriela began to subtly ask her friends in the 10th grade, slipping the questions into light conversations. However, no one knew a student named Nia or Damian in their grade. Feeling unsatisfied, Gabriela continued her search to the 11th grade. But the result was the same. No one recognizes those names.
Gabriela began to feel frustrated. Are Nia and Damian students at this school, or perhaps they come from outside? He tried to calm himself, thinking that maybe they were in an older grade. Finally, she went up to the higher floor, where the 12th grade was.
As Gabriela walked down the 12th-grade corridor, she saw a group of young men playing ball in an empty classroom. Their voices were loud, laughter and jokes filled the air. Gabriela glanced at them with a hint of hesitation, wondering if she should ask directly. But before she could decide, one of them shouted loudly:
"Damian, pass the ball here! Hurry, dude!"
Gabriela flinched. That name, Damian, she finally heard. His eyes immediately searched for the source of the voice, and he saw a young man with a tall stature and slightly tousled hair, wearing a sports jacket. The young man laughed casually while throwing a ball towards his friend.
Gabriela stood still in place, trying to calm her racing heart. There was a mix of tension and relief within her. Finally, she found someone named Damian, but this is just the beginning.
While standing near the classroom door, Gabriela observed Damian more closely. She had to find a way to approach this young man without looking suspicious. However, one thing is certain: Damian is here, at this school, and he might be the mastermind behind Arina's suffering.
Gabriela tried to think hard. How should she start? If he directly approaches Damian and asks about Arina, it's highly likely that Damian will deny it. That approach is too conspicuous and could make Damian suspicious. While continuing to rack her brain, Gabriela walked aimlessly, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. She didn't even realize that she had walked back and forth in the same place several times.
Unbeknownst to him, he began to approach the music building. The building was still cordoned off with police tape, marking the scene of the incident that left many unanswered questions. Gabriela paused for a moment, gazing at the building. For some reason, her legs felt heavy, but something compelled her to keep moving forward.
As she got closer, the air around her changed. Gabriela felt the temperature suddenly drop drastically. She hugged herself, trying to fight the bone-chilling cold. He glanced around, but there was no one. His steps slowed, and suddenly his whole body tensed.
In front of her, only about 10 meters away, a figure stood with a blank stare. That was Arina, or more precisely, her spirit.
Gabriela froze. The scene was so real and haunting. The spirit of Arina stood with her hair flowing, her empty eyes seemingly piercing through Gabriela. Her body was motionless, but her aura felt so strong that it made Gabriela difficult to breathe.
Suddenly, without warning, Arina's spirit shot towards Gabriela. Quickly, like a flash of dark shadow approaching in the blink of an eye. Before Gabriela could react, the figure was already right in front of her face.
Gabriela stepped back in panic, her heart seemed like it was about to explode. However, before she could move any further, Arina's spirit opened her mouth, emitting a hoarse, intermittent sound.
"phone...phone...nya..."
The word sounded like a moan from hell, echoing in Gabriela's ears.
"His... cellphone?""Gabriela repeated with a trembling voice, trying to digest what she had just heard." But the spirit had already vanished, leaving Gabriela in a deafening silence.
Gabriela stood frozen in place, the hoarse voice echoing in her ears. "His...phone..." The atmosphere around her returned to normal, but her body still felt cold, and her breathing was irregular. Arina clearly gave a hint, but Gabriela still didn't fully understand its meaning.
Slowly, Gabriela's mind began to connect all that she had known so far. If Arina wasn't talking about her own phone, then it was likely someone else's phone she was referring to. Damian. That name immediately crossed her mind.
Gabriela recalled the fragments of the journal she had found. Damian is described as someone depraved, someone who might be hiding something dangerous. What is on Damian's phone? Could there be a key there to uncover what really happened to Arina?
Although scared, Gabriela knew that she had to do something. If Damian's phone indeed holds the answer, she must find it. But how? Damian is not the type of person who is easy to approach, especially if he tries to ask about Arina.
Gabriela walked away from the music building, her mind constantly spinning, searching for a way to get Damian's phone. She realized that this was a risky move. If Damian was truly involved in something bad, he wouldn't stay silent if he knew Gabriela was trying to find out.
"There must be a way," Gabriela murmured softly. She decided to observe Damian from a distance first, looking for the right time and opportunity. While continuing to walk, Gabriela planned her next move.
The clue was clear: Damian's phone was the key. Gabriela just hoped she was strong enough to face whatever she might find inside it.
Gabriela was sitting on a school park bench, her gaze blankly directed towards the field. Her mind kept racing, searching for a way to approach Damian without raising suspicion. However, his mind was disturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps. When she turned around, Shiro, Arina's childhood friend, was standing in front of her.
"Gabriela," Shiro called out in a serious tone. "I heard you're looking for someone named Nia. Why are you looking for her?""Gabriela," Shiro called out seriously. "I heard you're looking for someone named Nia. Why are you looking for her?" Gabriela was taken aback.
Gabriela was surprised. She didn't expect that Shiro would find out about her search. He tried to come up with an answer that wasn't too suspicious. "I'm just curious." There are a few things I want to know about Arina, and I think the people close to her might know something.
Shiro sighed deeply and sat on the bench next to Gabriela. "I don't know what you're really looking for, but there's one thing I know." As far as I know, Arina once had a friend who was quite close to her, named Hernia Ginawati. People called her Nia. But strangely, she never came to school again after Arina's death."
Gabriela was astonished. Hernia Ginawati. So this might be Nia's full name mentioned in Arina's journal. "Do you know why she hasn't come back?" Gabriela asked, trying to suppress her curiosity.
Shiro shook his head slightly. "I don't know for sure." I don't know him well, but I did see them talking secretly quite often. It was as if there was something they were hiding. After Arina passed away, Hernia was never seen again. Even I heard that she didn't ask for permission or anything, she just disappeared.
Gabriela felt a strange vibration in her chest. The name Hernia Ginawati has now become an important part of this puzzle. She tries to connect the facts she knows: Hernia, Arina, and Damian. What is the relationship between the three of them? What are they hiding?
"Shiro," Gabriela decided to ask further. "Do you know where I can find Hernia?"
Shiro frowned, then shook his head again. "I don't know. But I heard he lives in the Wiyung area, if I'm not mistaken. That's all I know."
"Thank you, Shiro," Gabriela said sincerely. Although this information is not entirely complete, at least she now has a new direction to search for answers.
Shiro stood up and gently patted Gabriela's shoulder. "I don't know what you're looking for, Gabriela, but be careful, okay?" I think whatever this is, it might be bigger than you imagine."
Gabriela nodded slowly, her eyes now filled with determination. After Shiro left, she took a small notebook out of her bag and wrote Hernia Ginawati's name next to Damian's name. One step closer to the truth, he thought, even though he knew this path was fraught with risks.