Episode 16

Subsequently, Roy pressed Toni's phone to his ear, waiting as the call connected but was met with no answer from Kevin.

"Drat, where is this kid, not picking up his phone," grumbled Roy, clearly irritated.

Roy tried calling Kevin again but to no avail.

Toni, overhearing Kevin's phone ringing nearby, alerted Roy.

"Roy, it sounds like Kevin's phone is ringing not too far from here," Toni informed him.

"Really? Let me try calling again," Roy responded, pressing Kevin's number once more.

Sure enough, the faint sound of Kevin's phone could be heard.

"Yes, you're right Toni, the phone's coming from over there," Roy pointed towards the direction of the warehouse.

"Yes, Roy, let's go search," Toni chimed in.

Together they traced the source of the ringing until they reached the school warehouse door.

"Roy, the ringing is coming from here?" Toni said, pressing his ear against the warehouse door.

Deciding to investigate, they agreed to open the warehouse door to search for Kevin.

As Roy swung the door open and stepped inside, they were stunned to find Kevin's body hanging lifelessly, eyes bulging and tongue protruding.

Roy immediately rushed to Kevin's hanging body, embracing his legs.

"Kevin, why did you do this," Roy lamented the loss of not just Kevin, but of another close friend, Edo.

Toni, having never witnessed such horror, was in shock, unable to utter a word.

"Toni, call the teacher, we've found Kevin lifeless," Roy instructed.

"Y-yes Roy," Toni stammered in panic before dashing off to find the teacher.

Toni ran as fast as he could back to the classroom, panting heavily.

"I-it's Kevin, over there," he managed to convey to the teacher, gasping for breath.

"What's the matter, Toni? Take it slow, I can't understand you," the teacher replied.

Collecting himself, Toni explained more calmly, "Roy and I found Kevin hanging himself in the warehouse, sir."

"You must be joking, Toni," the teacher replied, skeptical of such dire news.

"It's true, sir, Roy's still there," Toni insisted, convincing the teacher.

Alarmed by the tragic news, the teacher dashed out of the classroom towards the warehouse.

The classroom erupted into chaos, with the 11th-grade students rushing out to witness Kevin's state upon hearing the news from Toni.

Arriving at the warehouse, the teacher was horrified to see Kevin's body suspended.

"Mercy be, how could this have happened," the teacher exclaimed in disbelief.

"Sir, even Roy doesn't know why Kevin would do this," Roy said, his face etched with sorrow.

"Come Roy, help me lower Kevin's body," commanded the teacher.

The teacher, along with Roy and Toni, carefully lowered Kevin's body.

Having done so, the teacher urgently called an ambulance. Outside the warehouse, students gathered, trying to glimpse Kevin's body.

"Disperse and go back to your classrooms," the teacher ordered.

The students returned to their classes, while the teacher went to inform Mrs. Yasmi, Kevin's homeroom teacher, to notify Kevin's parents of the situation.

"Roy and Toni, wait here until the ambulance arrives; I have to tell Mrs. Yasmi," the teacher said.

"Alright, sir," Roy and Toni complied.

In the teachers' room, the teacher informed Mrs. Yasmi, who was reviewing test papers.

"Mrs. Yasmi, there's been a tragedy," said the teacher.

"What happened, Mr. Ardi?" she inquired.

"I sent Roy and Toni to look for Kevin because he missed my lesson, and they found Kevin had hanged himself in the warehouse," Mr. Ardi relayed to Mrs. Yasmi.

Mrs. Yasmi was taken aback by Mr. Ardi's words.

"Good heavens, is that true?"

"Yes, Mrs. Yasmi, I've just called an ambulance, please immediately inform Kevin's parents," Mr. Ardi urged.

Mrs. Yasmi promptly called Kevin's parents to deliver the heartbreaking news.

Kevin's mother was utterly shocked upon hearing the news.

Some time later, the ambulance arrived, and the medics transferred Kevin's body to the vehicle before taking it to his home.

Thirty minutes passed, and Mrs. Yasmi, Mr. Andre, and some students representing the faculty and peers arrived at Kevin's house.

Kevin's body was carried from the ambulance into his home.

Kevin's mother cried bitterly upon seeing her son's lifeless body, dying in such a dreadful way.

"It's your fault for not taking care of our son properly," Kevin's father accused.

"Sir! Stop blaming me; did you ever make time for Kevin? You were too focused on your new family and kids."

"I am but a father; I've always done my bit for Kevin. It should be you, his mother, who's closer to him, but you've been preoccupied with your lover instead of looking after our son," the father retorted, not accepting the blame.

The atmosphere intensified as Kevin's parents blamed each other, until Mrs. Yasmi intervened to calm the situation.

"Mr. Anton and Mrs. Serli, we're all grieving for Kevin. You both should set aside your egos, at least momentarily. Look at your son—aren't you ashamed to argue over his body? Please, Mr. Anton, Mrs. Serli, let's put your differences aside," she implored.

Taking counsel from Mrs. Yasmi, both parents fell silent.

"Yes, Mrs. Yasmi, forgive us. Maybe we, as Kevin's parents, are to blame for not being there for him," Anton reflected remorsefully.

"Yes, I too am at fault as a mother who failed Kevin," Serli sobbed.

Gradually, they set aside their egos and apologized to one another.

An hour later, Kevin's body was returned to the ambulance to be buried that same day.

At the cemetery, the burial was swift.

Erin wept uncontrollably as she watched her son being covered with red earth.

"Forgive me, my dear, it's my fault this happened to you," Erin cried, caressing Kevin's grave marker.

And so did his father.

"Forgive me, Kevin. I wasn't there for you. I deeply regret it—if only time could turn back, I promise to cherish you more and pay you the attention you deserved," Erin's words mingled with guilt.

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