The waves were calm that night. The sea was seen reflecting the moonlight that shone brightly alone in the wide sky.
Deep in its depths, a palace stood firmly with a pensive prince alone on the palace balcony, contemplating the right way to win the heart of the girl he loved.
"You come?"
Hadyan turned his head lazily in response to the voice. Rangin smiled mischievously at his brother.
"If it turns out that I came just to get your taunts, I'd better go," Hadyan complained sarcastically.
"Hey.. I haven't said anything yet." He laughed by giving a brief hug to his brother who was in a dilemma.
"So.. how is it going? Are you starting to get close to Tasia? Is she starting to like you?"
Hearing Ragin's question, Hadyan couldn't help but take a deep breath. Then he shook his head with difficulty, "I don't understand why it's so hard even just to be able to talk to her. She's a coward and I often can't control my own emotions."
For a second, Rangin seemed to flash an amused smile, but he quickly hid it and returned his serious face.
'Hadyan was too picker all this time. Once he knew what he wants, he got a very hard one.' Thought The sad-eyed man. Inside, he was laughing out loud.
"Maybe you can go with the old fashioned way."
"Old way?" Hadyan repeated.
***
Tasia pulled her blanket up because the temperature in her room was getting colder and colder. But she was too lazy to get out of the cosy lump of blanket and bed sheet she just changed only to reach for the Air Conditioner remote from the top of the cabinet and click the button to raise the temperature.
Until finally she coughed as she felt her throat tickled and her nose getting colder because of the air.
'Why is it so cold? Even though it wasn't raining outside. Well.. I'd better raise the temperature than tomorrow I' might catch a cold.'
Reluctantly, Tasia hung her legs one by one from the bed and prepared to feel a startling cold sensation from the white tiles of her room which had been exposed to the cold temperature of the room.
Hupp!!
'Huh?? Why is it not cold at all?'
Tasia confusedly saw what solid object she was currently standing on. She immediately thought of the leather bag her friends had given her on her birthday last year. Maybe she forgot to put it in the closet and somehow managed to move it under the bed.
But it wasn't her leather bag. If so, it was the largest and longest leather bag she had ever seen.
On closer inspection, it was more like a giant black snake poking out from under her bed.
Arrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!
She immediately jumped back onto the bed and pressed her back against the cold wall behind her. Now, she couldn't see what is under her bed, because she was sitting against the wall with a confused mind.
'S... Snake? It's Impossible! I must be dreaming! How could there be that huge snake in my room?! Unless I live in the forest!' Tasia thought to herself, trying to think logically. She could be crazy if keep experiencing something like this.
Slowly, she reached for the table lamp and pressed the button until it emitted light. The room that had only had moonlight from the window, had now become brighter, at least bright enough for her to be able to see what was actually under the bed.
The room was very quiet, the only sound was the ticking clock and the buzzing air conditioner. And also, in her ears, all those voices were defeated by the sound of her heart beating wildly.
Tasia glanced from the edge of her bed. Curious about what she had stepped on, but still scared even though she tried to think logically and positively.
'What?! There is nothing. So, what did I step on? How strange.' Maybe she really was crazy. Maybe when she was drifting in the ocean, her head unknowingly hit a rock, so now her brain had some problems.
With a higher curiosity mixed with confusion and wonder, she jumped straight to the door, jogged, then turned on the main light switch located beside the door until the room became brightly lit.
'There is nothing. Underneath too...'
She thought as she stepped back to the bed and crouched down to check under the bed. Nothing. Just a box containing a collection of novels and comic books that she hadn't read in a long time.
'Hmmm.. nothing..'
"Woof!! Woof!! Woof!!"
She almost jumped in surprise when she heard the sound of a dog barking very loudly.
'Whose dog is that? This early in the morning?! Which family dares to let its dog out at this hour in the neighbourhood?'
As grumbling in annoyance, Tasia stepped to the window and peeked out. Sure enough, a medium-sized brown dog was barking loudly from outside the fence, it kept staring at the window of Tasia's room. The dog barked like it wanted to eat whatever was behind her bedroom window. It barked like a mad dog, making Tasia's forehead furrow in surprise. Then, she pulled the window curtain shut.
'A.. Again, something looked at my window.'
Whoosh!!!! Tasia suddenly turned around when she felt something quickly walk past behind her.
'W.. what is it?!! Ghost!! Definitely a ghost! No wonder the dog barked at my room!' She was hysterical in her heart.
Immediately, she jumped back onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her chin. Her body was shaking with fear and cold. She didn't have time to take the AC remote, and now the room temperature was getting colder.
"I'm scared!! Mom, please!! I miss you and dad! I'm afraid to live alone" She continued to cry in silence and continued to complain about her fear and longing for her family who had passed away.
Until finally, slowly the air temperature of the room was no longer as cold as before. Everything gradually warmed and the atmosphere was no longer tense. Without realizing it, Tasia had fallen asleep with the two-room lights on brightly.
**
If she could choose, Tasia would have chosen minus eyes so that she could wear glasses to cover the severe puffiness in her eyes at this time.
"What's wrong with your eyes? Did you cry last night?" Patra asked worriedly.
Tasia nodded weakly, "Last night there was a ghost in my room."
Instead of being concerned, Tasia's statement was responded to by the laughter of her friends. She was not angry, because she was used to the cruel treatment of her friends.
"Hahahahahaha! Your eyes are swollen like that just because of your imagination?! Because you're afraid of ghosts?!" Patra couldn't hold back the words that were jumping happily in his mind.
"Gosh.. I still can't understand it.." Marya couldn't speak anymore. She knew Tasia was a coward, but did not expect it to be that far.
"Not all ghosts intend to interfere, Tasia."
"What?!" At the same time, everyone gaped at Hadyan's words. It turned out that he was as crazy as Tasia. But only that Hadyan was brave and didn't overdo it.
"I didn't expect you to believe so much in that kind of thing, Hadyan." Jordi laughed as seeing Hadyan's serious face. The guy didn't seem to be joking.
"He's the same.." Patra chuckled with Mark.
"I believe. And I know, they really exist." He turned back to Tasia with a sorry face, "No need to be afraid. Not everything you think is evil, is really evil and will hurt you."
Everyone gaped again when Hadyan opened a bottle of mineral water which was still sealed and told Tasia, "Your voice is hoarse, you must drink a lot."
"Owwww!!"
"How sweet!!"
Everyone began to tease, feeling there were special vibrations from the two young people.
"What's wrong with you guys?!" Tasia scolded out of shame. Luckily, her eyes were already puffy and her nose was red, otherwise, maybe the blush on her face would be showing now.
"I'm also thirsty, Hadyan. Why has only Tasia been given a drink? Cough! Cough!" Marya gave her exaggerated coughing act.
"Oh..!! What an attention seeker!" Mark sneered.
"Like I care?!" Marya replied before sticking out her tongue.
Hadyan laughed and handed her a bottle of coke from the same plastic bag. He opened the seal and the lid, then gave it to Marya who blushed with joy, "You are so funny. You know that?"
"Oww... Thank you Hadyan. You are very kind. You are... the every girl's dream boyfriend." Marya complimented him with her coquettish style. Reaping laughter and mockery from her friends who were disgusted by her stupid behaviour. Even so, they were never looked down on Marya's figure.
'But I also want a coke..' Tasia thought to herself, looking at Marya who was excitedly drinking the cold bottle of the bubbling sweet drink from Hadyan.