"So she refused?" Rangin was still trying to hold back his laughter.
Hadyan just sighed roughly, "Should I just take her by force?"
"Yes.. if you want to sleep with an empress who hates you with half of her soul, go ahead..."
"Then what should I do? I'm already attached to her. I shouldn't have had to go down to the beach that night."
Regretted? Of course not. Hadyan was just surprised, he wasn't used to this kind of situation.
"Hahaha.. I like seeing your face like that, Hadyan. You look like a real man... who's in a breakup.." Rangin's laughter was responded with his brother's annoyed look.
"I have a suggestion for you." He said by patting Hadyan's shoulder who then glanced at him indifferently, but a look of curiosity radiated perfectly from his handsome face. "You've marked her, didn't you? Make her love you before it wraps around her body. Promise to yourself and also the sea of course."
His brow furrowed, "How?" Hadyan asked.
"But.. you have to make a promise to yourself. This is because she is a human and you are a demon. If you still fail after the mark is fused, you must give up forever and leave her."
"Why it must be like that? I've never heard of such a condition." He protested, not accepting it.
"It's just a condition that you make between you and yourself and is witnessed by the universe." Rangin's explanation hung.
"I still don't understand. Then what is your plan?" Hadyan responded in annoyance.
"My plan is.."
**
"Was it my fault, Ta?" Patra asked heavily.
"This incident? Looks like this time is not your fault, Patra." Tata answered.
"You know, sometimes I can't hold back what I say and usually you guys will get trouble from it. Like what happened at the warehouse in the past, I really am sorry about that. Even though I always act silly, I seriously feel bad for you guys."
Tata rubbed her friend's shoulder who was acting seriously. This kind of thing may only happen once a year, "It's okay, Patra. We understand. And this time it really wasn't your fault. I'm serious, there was something strange about Tasia from the start." she said. The worry was clearly visible on Tata's face.
"Strange? What's strange?" Patra asked curiously. Especially when Tata was the one who said it.
"Excuse me!" Suddenly two policemen came into the room.
"Ah.. yes Sir? Is there anything we can help with?" Said Tata, immediately standing up from her seat.
"May we have a minute of your time? We have a few things we need to ask for the police report."
"Yes, Sir. We can talk outside so our friend won't be disturbed." Patra nodded, then they all came out of the room and continued chatting in the hospital corridor.
Unbeknownst to them, there was a pair of eyes that were watching from outside of a small room window. A pair of very sharp black eyes. Hadyan immediately entered through the window when he saw an opportunity. Then he stopped beside the bed where Tasia was laying unconscious.
"I'm back, my future empress. Sorry, I scared you. Now you don't have to remember that incident anymore." Hadyan said softly while stroking a little hair that framed Tasia's pretty face.
He brought his face closer to Tasia's and kissed her forehead. Then a blue light slowly started to escape from the girl's forehead and was absorbed into Hadyan's mouth.
He straightened his body again and his hand stroked the beautiful girl's cheek. He smiled softly, again.
"You are very beautiful, Anastsia. When you love me, I will take you home and make you happy forever." He said before he changed his form back into a snake and went through the same window for him to enter.
***
Two days had passed after Tasia was found stranded on the beach. Now her condition was very good and she was finally allowed to go home.
Tasia received a call from Aunt Janet who had received the news that she had been admitted to the hospital. Tata was the one who contacted her by phone. But she called Aunt Janet after Tasia had regained consciousness. She knew the nature of his best friend's family. Tata didn't want to make them worry and do unnecessary things. She knew Tasia well that she didn't want to bother her aunt's family who was willing to take care of her to this extent.
Tasia said that she only drowned a moment and swallowed a little salty water until she was taken to the hospital. But what actually happened was that she disappeared in the middle of the sea and suddenly reappeared mysteriously.
"I really don't remember anything," Tasia said for the umpteenth time.
They were currently on their way home in the car. This time, Patra kept his promise to drive home.
But things were different this time. The tense atmosphere in the hearts of Tasia's friends could not be hidden. The incident was very strange and mystical. They even felt reluctant for joking. It was like someone was following them home.
"Well, Tasia. If you don't remember, that's okay. After all, it can be explained logically. Isn't that right, Jordi?" Marya answered. Again, Jordi was sacrificed.
"Um .. Yes?" replied the poor guy. If he knew it would be like this, he preferred to just drive home to be free from all the strange questions.
"That's right, Tasia. Maybe you were taken by a dolphin to the beach." Mark added with his logic, which was like a clown in the funeral. Not helpful at all.
"Eum.. that sounds absurd actually," Tasia said.
"Tsk! Anyway, all of that was a miracle from God who still loves Tasia. Therefore, even though she had drowned, she can still survive! About how she got to the beach, it was all a divine secret!" Tata said annoyed at her friends' conversation which was getting more and more unreasonable and only made Tasia more confused.
"That's right.." Marya nodded in obey.
"Hem.. that's fine. The important thing is that I survived and this incident didn't reach my grandmother's ears. Ugh.. I'm so sorry guys, I even bothered you all. This holiday should have been fun, but it turned out to be a mess like this." Tasia played with her fingers nervously.
"Nah.. don't talk like that, Tasia. This holiday is fun. Really!" Marya cheered Tasia up and immediately hugged her.
Finally, their vacation was over three days earlier than planned. After that, they spent time at their own homes before the school day came back.
Tasia spent time in her room, just like usual since her parents died, she had become a bit quiet and often locked herself in her room. Tasia didn't like studying and reading. She liked to play building simulation games more. She often built up palaces or large houses. And simulate a big happy family.
"Ah.. this is the first time I feel bored playing games." She muttered as leaning lazily on her sky blue gaming chair.
"I'd better take a shower and play over to Marya's house." She thought and immediately took a towel and went to the bathroom.
Tasia removed the clothes covering her body and started to turn on the shower.
After showering, she was about to take out her new clothes which she put on the dressing table. But she stopped when she found something strange on her body reflected through the mirror.
"Huh? Wa.. what is this?" She turned her body backwards to see a strange red mark that for some reason was on her back. That line like mark ran down to her waist. There was a branch-like shape at the end which made the mark look like a snake's tongue.