This story was originally written in Indonesian. I used AI to help translate it into English, so I apologize in advance for any translation errors or awkward phrasing that may appear.
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Back to the moment when Santi punched Siska on the school rooftop.
Santi's hands trembled, her breath ragged as her fist landed squarely on Siska's face. But instead of crying out in pain, Siska laughed.
"Haha… Even if the price was high… I finally got my revenge…"
Santi froze. "What do you mean? What did you plan?!"
She grabbed Siska's collar, shaking her violently, screaming without caring who might hear.
In an instant, Siska pulled away—then leapt backward, past the rooftop fence.
"Eh…?"
Time slowed. Santi ran to the edge and looked down. People screamed. Sirens began to wail.
Amid the crowd, Siska's body lay still, blood seeping from her mouth. With ragged breath, she raised a trembling hand and pointed upward—at Santi.
"S-she pushed me… on purpose…"
Then, with a bitter smile, she lifted her middle finger... and breathed her last.
Santi stood frozen. The world around her fell silent.
---
Interrogations. Accusations. Hatred. All came like an endless storm.
Siska's diary was found—filled with complaints about being bullied by Santi. Classmates became witnesses, cornering her without hesitation.
And then, Siska's final letter to her imprisoned father fanned the flames:
> "Dad… I might die today. I was called up to the rooftop by the one I hate the most. You know what that means."
Santi's father couldn't hold back his rage. He slapped her, screamed at her, even beat her like she wasn't his daughter. Her mother tried to protect her, only to get slapped as well.
That night, Santi exploded. She poured out all the hatred she had buried deep inside—about her father's affair, the years of abuse.
After that, their family shattered. Her parents divorced. And Santi… had no one left.
---
She moved in with her aunt, but there was no warmth. She rarely came home. Her face now wore a constant frown, eyes empty like the living dead.
One day, she returned to where she used to hang out with street kids. But this time, all she got was hostility.
"Because of you, we all got expelled, you piece of shit!" someone shouted.
They beat her. No mercy. Even though she could fight, the numbers were overwhelming—twenty-five against one.
She collapsed in the street, rain pouring down.
"It hurts… I really am an idiot…" she mumbled, crying alone.
Then a voice called out.
"SANTI! SANTI!"
She looked up—her mother was running toward her.
With panic on her face and tears in her eyes, her mother embraced her bleeding daughter and called an ambulance. Santi sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Mom… I'm sorry I was a terrible daughter…"
Her mother stroked her head gently.
"No matter what happens… I'll always love you, sweetheart…"
---
Santi decided to change. She moved back in with her mother, vowing never to hurt the only person who loved her.
She took on odd jobs. It was hard—especially with her reputation. But Santi didn't complain. As long as she could come home and see her mother's smile… that was enough.
Two months later, she finally got a stable job as a cleaner at a small restaurant.
On her first payday, she bought flowers and visited Siska's grave.
"I'm sorry, Siska… I know I don't deserve forgiveness… But maybe… if we meet again in another world… we can be friends…"
---
Days passed. Life slowly felt peaceful again.
Until one night, Santi opened the door—and saw her father beating her mother.
"DAD! STOP!!!" she screamed.
Her mother told her to run and call for help, but she couldn't move. Then she saw the knife in his hand.
"Dad, please… don't hurt Mom… I'm begging you…"
Her father looked at her with pure hatred.
"Because of you two, my life is ruined! The woman I loved left me! You're nothing but burdens!"
Then he hit her mother again.
Santi couldn't take it anymore. She attacked—managing to subdue her father. But rage blinded her—she kept hitting him until her mother called out, begging her to stop.
She finally let go. Helped her mother up. They walked toward the door, but then—
"SANTI! LOOK OUT!!!"
Her mother pushed her aside. Santi fell, and when she turned around—a knife was already buried in her mother's body.
"No… Mom… please…"
With a weak smile, her mother whispered,
"I love you… and I always will…"
She died in her daughter's arms.
Santi's father laughed. Then revealed the truth.
"I never loved any of you. I only wanted money. And now… even that's gone."
He grabbed the knife and—before Santi could react—stabbed himself. Dying with a satisfied smile.
---
Neighbors came, but it was too late. They found Santi covered in blood, holding the knife.
No cameras. No witnesses. The once-beautiful house now in ruins. All evidence pointed to her.
Santi didn't answer the interrogators. She was… already broken.
And so…
> Name: Santi
Age: 19
Status: Suspect of triple homicide.
Sentence: Death. At the request of the accused herself.
Everything was lost. No more hope. No more reason to live.
But perhaps… the end was only the beginning.