Chapter 92: * A PROMISE KEPT

Leina sat back down in her chair, and Kiki placed a new glass in front of her. "This is the extra order," Kiki said. "Bagas said the drink is good."

Leina stared at the glass—iced tea with ice cubes floating on its surface, with a lemon slice caught on the rim. She lifted it and took a sip. It tasted sweet—sweeter than what she usually drank—but not bad. She took another sip.

"Leina," Melati said from across the table. "Do you still remember when we ran away from PE class and hid behind the storage shed?"

Leina laughed softly. "I remember. We got punished for a week."

"But we didn’t regret it," Kiki said.

"Of course not," Melati said. "Back then I’d rather be punished than run around the field five times."

Leina took another sip of her drink—more this time. She felt something warm spreading down her throat, and for a moment, she felt a little more relaxed. She looked at her friends—Kiki telling a story about her job, Melati laughing at it—and she smiled. Tonight wasn’t as bad as she had worried.

Time passed. Leina didn’t notice how long—she only knew that her glass was empty, and she had drunk more than she should have. Her eyes started to feel heavy. She blinked several times, trying to chase away the sudden drowsiness, but her eyelids felt like lead.

"Leina?" Kiki’s voice sounded distant. "What’s wrong?"

"I’m... I’m sleepy," Leina said. Her own voice sounded strange—slow, like someone speaking from underwater. "I don’t know why."

"Me too," Melati said. Her voice was also starting to slur. "My head is heavy."

Kiki blinked. "Me too... I feel..." She didn’t finish her sentence. Her head fell onto the table with a dull thud.

Leina tried to stand—but her legs wouldn’t support her body. She fell back into her chair, and the world around her started to spin. She saw Bagas stand—with a calm face, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes—and she felt the man’s hand grab her arm.

"I’ll take you," Bagas said. "You look tired."

Leina wanted to refuse. She wanted to say she didn’t need to be escorted—that she could go home on her own. But her mouth wouldn’t open. Only an unclear mumble came out, and she felt her body being lifted—with strong hands, with movements too careful.

She saw Kiki and Melati—they were also being lifted by other men—and she wanted to scream, wanted to tell them to stop, but her voice wouldn’t come out. Her eyes closed. The world went dark.

Bagas carried her through the corridor—past closed doors, past stairs, past a quieter hallway—and he opened a door. Inside was a room—with a bed in the center, with dim lights, with curtains covering the window. Bagas laid her on the bed—slowly, with careful movements—and he stood there, staring at Leina lying with half-closed eyes.

"Leina," Bagas said. His voice was soft, but clear. "Can you still hear me?"

Leina didn’t answer. She just stared—with heavy eyes, with awareness starting to fade.

"I’m the one who made you dizzy," Bagas said. "I’m the one who put something in your drink. I’ve been planning this from the start."

Leina opened her eyes wider—but her body wouldn’t move. She could only stare at Bagas with eyes starting to glisten.

"I fell in love with you, Leina," Bagas continued. "Since school. Since the first time I saw you. But you never saw me. You were always busy with your friends—with Reina—with anyone except me."

Leina opened her mouth—trying to say something, trying to refuse—but only an inaudible whisper came out.

"I knew you would refuse," Bagas said. "But I don’t care. I’ve waited too long."

He stepped forward—and Leina felt his hand touch the collar of her dress. She felt the fabric being pulled—and she wanted to scream, wanted to fight, wanted to push Bagas far away—but her body wouldn’t move. Tears started to flow down her cheeks.

In her heart—in the deepest place, in the place the drug couldn’t reach—she called out to someone. Kai. Kai, please.

The door burst open—with an ear-splitting sound. Bagas turned—and before he could see who had entered, a kick hit his groin. Bagas doubled over—with his mouth open, with his eyes wide—and he fell to the floor, not moving.

Kai stood at the threshold—with his black suit, with the dark glasses already removed, with the radio on his chest. He stared at Bagas lying on the floor for a moment—then he walked to the bed, to Leina, still lying with tears on her cheeks.

He untied the rope on Leina’s hands—the rope Bagas had already loosened—and he reached for the girl’s hand. "Leina," he said. "I’m here."

Leina opened her eyes—and she saw Kai. His face—usually flat, usually empty—was now a little softer. He didn’t say anything. He just opened his arms—and Leina fell into them, with a sob she couldn’t hold back anymore.

"Mr. Kai," she said—her voice broken, with tears wetting Kai’s suit. "I... I was scared..."

Kai held her—with one hand on her back, with one hand on her head—and he let Leina cry. "It’s okay," he said. "You’re safe now."

After a moment—when Leina’s sobs started to subside—Kai gently released her. "Are you alone?" he asked. "Is there anyone else?"

Leina lifted her head. Her eyes were still wet—but there was something there. Something firmer. "Kiki," she said. "Melati. They... they were taken too."

Kai nodded. He stood—and he walked to the door. He stopped at the threshold for a moment, turning to Leina. "Wait here. Don’t go anywhere."

Leina nodded. Kai left—closing the door behind him—and he started walking down the corridor. Room by room. He opened the first door—empty. The second door—empty. The third door—there was a man inside, with a girl lying on the bed. Kai entered—and before the man could turn, he had already struck the back of his neck. The man fell. Kai turned to the girl on the bed—Kiki—and he untied her. "You’re safe," he said. "Wait in Leina’s room. Room number three at the end of the corridor."

Kiki nodded—still with glistening eyes—and she ran out. Kai continued. The fourth door—empty. The fifth door—there was a man, with Melati. Kai entered—and he hit the man with one punch to the face. The man fell. Kai untied Melati—and he lifted the girl. "Come on. Kiki and Leina are waiting."

Melati nodded—with hands still trembling—and Kai brought her to Leina’s room. Inside, Kiki was already sitting beside Leina—with their hands gripping each other—and they looked at Kai when he entered with Melati.

"You’re safe," Kai said. "I’ve ordered a car. It’ll be here shortly."

They nodded—still with glistening eyes, still with trembling hands. Kai stood near the door—with his hands in his pockets, with eyes watching the corridor—and he waited until the car arrived.

The car arrived. Kai brought them out—past the now-empty corridor, past the back door, past several men Kai didn’t recognize—and he opened the car door. "Get in," he said. "Go home. Don’t stop anywhere."

Leina—already sitting in the back seat—turned to Kai. "Mr. Kai... aren’t you coming?"

"I have business," Kai said. "I’ll follow later."

Leina looked at him for a moment. Then she nodded—with a small smile, with eyes still wet. "Thank you, Mr. Kai."

Kai nodded. He closed the car door—and he stood there, watching the car until it disappeared around the corner. Then he took out his radio.

"Bear," he said. "There’s a problem. I need you at the back door."

Bear arrived a few minutes later—with his black shirt already wrinkled, with tattoos shining under the corridor lights. He looked at the men lying on the floor—Bagas, and two other men Kai had beaten—and he furrowed his brow.

"You," Bear said. "You’ve only worked two days, and you’ve already caused this much trouble."

"They’re the ones who caused trouble," Kai said.

Bear stepped toward one of the men—still conscious, with an already swollen face—and he bent down to see the face more clearly. His eyes narrowed.

"I know him," Bear said. "He’s an adult film maker. I’ve seen his face somewhere."

Kai looked at Bear. "Adult film?"

"Yes. He and his crew—" Bear pointed at the two other men, "—they often make films in places like this. They rent rooms, bring women, and—" he didn’t finish his sentence. He just shrugged.

Kai nodded slightly. "What are you going to do with them?"

Bear looked at him. "That depends. What do you want?"

"They’re not my business," Kai said. "I just want them to not bother anyone again."

Bear smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I’ll hand them over to my superior. He has his own way of handling people like this." He paused for a moment. "And you know the rule—no business inside the club area."

"I know."

Bear nodded. He stepped toward Bagas—still lying on the floor—and he lifted the man with one hand, like lifting a sack. "I’ll take them. You can go back to your post."

Kai nodded. He turned and walked back to the VIP door—with the dark glasses already on again, with the radio on his chest, with his hands in front. He stood at his post—upright, with eyes staring straight ahead—and he waited.