Chapter 149: Shattered Illusion

My body stiffened instantly. A bad feeling suddenly washed over me. “Please be clear, Dara. What happened to Grandpa and Grandma?”

“Your grandfather and grandmother were in an accident. They died on the spot, Frel.”

It felt like my heart stopped beating. My whole world collapsed in an instant. My voice caught in my throat.

This is impossible. They couldn’t have left me.

“Frel? Answer me, Frel! Where are you right now?” Dara kept calling, but I had lost the ability to speak.

I stood frozen, at a loss for words. My hands trembled violently until the phone in my grip slipped away. I curled up in the corner of the shelter, my body shivering. My eyes moved restlessly, looking in every direction with a chaotic feeling.

Grandpa? Grandma? No, no, that’s impossible!

“You promised you wouldn’t leave. You already promised,” I whispered over and over.

The same sentence kept repeating in my head.

I clenched my own hair, trying to push away this bitter reality.

Thunder and lightning came again with an even more deafening sound. The flashing light made me immediately cover both of my ears.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m scared.”

I was truly terrified. Usually, in situations like this, they would hug me with so much affection.

“Frel is here, Grandpa, Grandma. Please help me,” I sobbed between my cries.

I shivered in the corner of the shelter, curling up while hugging my knees tightly. The trembling in my body would not subside, forcing me to press the soles of my feet as hard as I could against the cold surface beneath me.

I buried my head in the folds of my knees, feeling stiffness spread through all my muscles. The fear pressed in harder every time the voices in my head screamed hysterically, judging the mistakes I had made toward Grandpa and Grandma.

It was my fault, even though I stubbornly refused to accept this bitter reality. However, Dara’s words kept echoing, shattering every illusion I tried to build to protect myself.

“Frel?” A voice suddenly called my name. “Frel? Is that you?”

I flinched and immediately looked up at the second call. I blinked repeatedly, trying to drive away the tears that blurred my vision.

“Kenn?” I asked in a hoarse voice.

He looked at me with such gentle eyes. “Yes, it’s me.”

I could hardly believe seeing Kenn’s presence in front of me. However, when he curved a calming smile that I had longed for, my body moved reflexively. I crawled on my knees, then threw myself into his arms.

“Kenn, I’m scared,” I whispered trembling while holding him tightly. “I’m so scared.”

Kenn returned my embrace with the same strength. “I’m here now, you don’t need to be afraid.”

His hand lifted to stroke my hair, letting me pour out my sorrowful tears.

“Kenn, Grandma and Grandpa,” I sobbed softly. “They left because of me, Kenn. This is all my fault.”

“Sst, yes, I know. Don’t blame yourself right now,” he said in a soothing tone.

Kenn took off his jacket and immediately wrapped it around me. Gently, he took my hands one by one and slipped them into the sleeves of his jacket.

“Wear this, your body is very cold,” he murmured softly.

He pulled the zipper up carefully. I remained silent, not resisting his treatment at all. My gaze was empty, fixed on the emptiness ahead.

I felt his strong arms slip under my knees and behind my neck. He lifted me until I rested against his chest.

“I want to go home.” I looked up with a pleading gaze. “I want to see Grandma and Grandpa. Take me home now, Kenn. Please.”

Kenn paused for a moment and looked at me deeply. “Yes, we’re going home now. Everyone is already waiting for you at home.”

He walked away, carrying me in his embrace. Not long after, Kenn seated me in the car and made sure the seat belt was properly fastened on me.

“Stay leaned back, this trip won’t take long,” he said before closing the door.

Throughout the journey, I only stayed silent, staring out the window. Memories of Grandpa and Grandma pulled me back into a reality I could no longer deny. My tears flowed even more heavily.

Deep in my heart, I still kept a small hope that when we arrived, Grandpa and Grandma would welcome me as usual. However, that hope shattered instantly. Upon arriving in front of the house, I got out of the car immediately without waiting for Kenn and walked with unsteady steps.

It was not Grandma’s cheerful greeting that I heard, nor Grandpa’s warm smile that I saw. There was only a crowd of people filling the yard and the inside of my house. The people who had been sitting on chairs lined up along the terrace immediately stood up when they saw my arrival.

“There she is, Frel has arrived,” someone whispered among the crowd.

I walked slowly, sweeping my gaze over the faces around me. Many neighbors had gathered, even Mr. Mamat was among them.

“Be patient, Frel,” Mr. Mamat said softly as I passed by.

I hated that sight. They all showed the same expressions, looks and smiles filled only with pity.

I shifted my gaze straight ahead, toward the people inside the room. They immediately made way as I entered the house. I froze at what lay before me. Two bodies, their entire forms covered in white shrouds, lay stiffly on the blue carpet.

“Frel, you finally came.” Dara rushed to hug me while sobbing. “Before this happened, Grandpa had called me to ask about your whereabouts. But when I answered that you weren’t with me, I suddenly heard Grandpa and Grandma screaming loudly, then there was the sound of a very hard impact. Forgive me, Frel, I didn’t know they were on the road at that time.”

Dara turned and hugged Tomi, who was standing behind her.

A tear rolled down my cheek again, followed by many more.

“Frel, be patient. I’m sure you are a strong girl. You have to stay strong for them,” Rian said as he approached and stroked my hair. I just stood there motionless.

“Frel.” I heard Mrs. Nita call me. I turned my head, but my soul felt as if it had died. “You are not alone. You still have us. Right, Dear?”

Mr. Dira nodded weakly, “Yes, we will take care of you.”

Before Mr. Dira could say more, Mrs. Nita had already hugged her husband and cried bitterly.

I remained unmoved. Several people came one after another to hug me and offer their condolences, but I stayed silent like a living statue.

“Frel, calm down. Kenn and I won’t stay silent and let that hit-and-run perpetrator escape without responsibility.” I immediately looked up at Tomi. “Yes, based on the latest information we received, there was a witness who saw the incident. This is a hit-and-run case.”

Hearing that, it felt as if thunder exploded right above my head. The strength in my legs vanished instantly, and I fell to the floor.

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