Light and Night: Across Two Worlds

Chapter 19: Joni

Eleven years ago... In the year Cahaya being born...

Joni was observed the monitor in the police caravan car. Tania Angkasa reportedly disappeared and released important experimental subjects. Joni was assigned to keep an eye on Angkasa's main residence. This work made him not go home for weeks. For Joni, this was a boring task and made him really tired. He would rather be involved in the process of arresting criminals, not just waiting and observed nothing suspicious like this.

When Joni felt a little tired, he asked permission from his partner to get out of the caravan car to stretch his legs, buy coffee and food at a food truck nearby caravan. At that time, he saw a maid coming home on the side of the road, carrying groceries in a plastic bag that had been slightly torn. The plastic bag was torn because of the weight, and the fruits inside fell onto the streets. Joni hurried over and helped her to collect the fallen fruits.

"Oh, my dear, thank you so much. I am very careless," said the maid worriedly.

"With pleasure, ma'am," Joni said.

"Melati. Just call me Melati. And your name, sir ... " asked Melati.

"Joni. Just call Joni. "

"Okay, thank you, Joni, for the help. Oh, how do I bring all this home?" complained Melati to herself.

"Let me deliver it. It is okay. Is the house still far away?" Joni asked.

"No, not far away. Thank you very much, Joni. Sorry to bother you," Melati relieved.

Melati and Joni walked together to the front of the gate. Melati pressed the bell in front of the door, and the screen showed Matias's face. Joni raised his eyebrows. This was a coincidence that was beneficial for him. This house was the residence of the Angkasa family, which was the target of his observations for weeks.

"Why do you ring ..."

Melati cut Matias's words immediately.

"I bring guests. Can you open the door? My hands are full of goods," said Melati.

"Okay," Matias immediately understood.

Matias came out and opened the gate. He immediately helped to take the groceries in Joni's hands.

"Thank you for helping, Sir. Let me take the groceries," Matias said.

"Ah, nothing," Joni said.

The situation became a bit awkward because Matias didn't let Joni enter. Melati felt really bad. She felt it would not be grateful to drive Joni away. Moreover, this man had helped her. After all, this guy looked like an ordinary man.

"Ah, Joni. If you don't mind, please come in. We could have lunch together. At least, I want to thank you," said Melati.

Joni's face was happy. Matias cast a look of objection towards Melati, which Melati replied with a pleading look.

"Okay, just this time. Master doesn't like uninvited guests," Matias answered.

"Thank you, Matias. Ah, we can use House of Tea," answered Melati.

Matias nodded. Melati and Joni rode the golf car. The car took them from the front garden towards the side area. Matias dropped Joni and Melati in a small side house separate from the main house. The house had a comfortable living room with sofas and lots of pillows. No wonder the house was called House of Tea because it seemed to be intended to relax while drinking tea or coffee.

"Please sit down, Joni. Coffee, tea, juice?"

"Coffee, please. Thank you," said Joni.

The atmosphere inside the house was very peaceful. There was a fragrance of essential oil that makes Joni relax. The sofas were very soft, making Joni forget that he was on duty.

Melati came to deliver coffee. Joni sipped on the scented coffee. This coffee was delicious and of high quality.

"This is delicious, Melati," said Joni.

Melati smiled happily. "Do you want some more?"

"Yes, please. If possible, I want to bring a glass of coffee for my partner, "Joni answered.

"Oh, of course. Do you work near this house? "asked Melati.

"Very close, actually. I am the police officer assigned to monitor the area around here. I’m here to ensure the security in this area," Joni said carelessly.

For a moment, Melati's body tensed and became stiff, but she tried to be relaxed.

"Oh, what are the threats so the police need to supervise? I promise not to say, anyone," said Melati.

"Oh, no big deal. There are only loose, experimental subjects. I was only asked to supervise if there were oddities or abnormal activities," Joni answered.

"Are there any signs of abnormalities around here?" asked Melati curiously.

"Not so far. Everything looks normal," said Joni.

"Thank God," answered Melati. She sent a text message via cell phone to Matias.

"I get the coffee again for you. I put in tumblers to carry. How many people are your colleagues?"

"Thank you very much, Melati. It’s very kind of you. I’m with one partner only, so far," Joni answered happily.

Matias came to bring two luxury lunch boxes for Joni. Joni was pleased with this treatment. He was very grateful for Melati's hospitality. He rarely could enjoy good coffee and fancy lunches. Melati was lovely. From his chat with Melati, Joni found out that Melati was still single. Maybe this was a good opportunity for him to have a love partner. At least, Joni wanted to try to make friends first with Melati. He hoped to get the opportunity to meet Melati again, just for chatting while eating snacks.

A few days later, at night, Joni watched the Angkasa residence alone. His colleague asked permission to go home sooner because of illness, and his replacement had not yet come to the location. Joni sat watching the screen. He felt bored because there was no abnormal activity at all. Only his desire to meet Melati made Joni still passionate about this job.

That night, the sky was dark as usual. There was no suspicious activity. But towards midnight, the energy detection engine showed an increase in abnormal energy on the dashboard screen. Damn, Joni was alone. He wanted to go to the location immediately, but an officer must record this incident in the caravan for backup support. This was the moment he had been waiting for—one by one, the indicator machine in the caravan c***k and broken one by one. Joni couldn’t wait anymore. He ran out of the caravan and headed to the gate of the Angkasa house. If there really was danger experimental subject around here, Melati was in danger.

When Joni reached the gate, he saw the Angkasa residence was very bright. The light inside the house grew brighter, so Joni could see nothing and was forced to close his eyes. Suddenly his body felt weak, and fainted out. When he awoke, Joni found himself lying in the hospital. Ten days have passed since that incident. When he opened his eyes, Joni couldn’t see anything. His eyes were temporarily blind. Joni took a month in hospital for recovery. Finally, after one month, his eyesight back to normal. When Joni was ready to work, he found that he had been transferred to the traffic police section.

"Did you see Tania Angkasa there?" asked Angkara Ufuk impatiently, his face looked disappointed with Joni's explanation.

Joni shook his head. "I’ve told you what I saw. I didn’t see her," Joni said.

"In that case, I should find Melati to ask," Angkara said thoughtfully.

"Ah, but ... maybe she also didn't know anything," Joni said hurriedly, regretting his own story.

"We'll see. Thank you, Mr. Joni. You may leave," Angkara said, waving his hand to his man.

Angkara's man took Joni away and dropped him in front of his apartment. Before leaving, he gave an envelope filled with money and asked Joni to forget about today’s conversation, or else he will be killed for sure. Joni nodded. He felt guilty because he said Melati in his story and put her in danger. Joni understood that the people who interrogated him were not good. They could do cruelty to get the information they wanted. Joni had put Melati in danger. He really regretted it and felt guilty. Joni made a quick decision. He must found Melati and warned her before Angkara’s man found her.