Navarro shifted his body slightly, now staring at the wall of his room. He curled up slowly, his mind sinking into memories of this world. A world that felt both familiar and foreign at the same time.
This was not his world. He knew that. He was not Navarro Samudrawijaya, not the teenage boy with that identity.
One day, without warning, he had woken up in this body, in a place completely different from his previous life.
***
A Body with a Different Soul
It took Navarro some time to fully understand what had actually happened. When everything began to make sense, the reality felt like one big joke—a joke that wasn't funny at all. He had entered the world of a book.
The last book he had read before everything changed was a young adult novel with a horror-romance genre. Its title was My Runaway Ghost, a simple story blending love with a supernatural atmosphere. It wasn't anything extraordinary, he had thought when he read it, but now…
"So, I'm here," he murmured softly, his head still resting on the pillow.
The story in the book followed a new female student at Citra Samudra High School—a school that was now a part of his life. The girl, the protagonist of the novel, was a simple, beautiful young woman from a poor family. She moved from the village to the city, managing to enter the 11th grade through hard work and a full scholarship she had earned.
Her name was Julia. She had moved to the city with her mother, leaving behind the small village where she had grown up.
In My Runaway Ghost, Julia was portrayed as innocent and kind-hearted, a simple girl with a calming aura that made those around her feel at ease. But behind her gentle nature, Julia harbored a great secret—one she wasn't fully aware of.
Julia possessed a "white soul." In the world of the novel, a white soul was something very rare and valuable, a primary target for supernatural forces that sought to exploit it, or for humans hungry for power. A white soul acted like a magnet, attracting creatures from other realms, setting off a chain of events that would change Julia's life from the moment she stepped foot in Citra Samudra High School.
Her ignorance made Julia even more vulnerable. She didn't realize that her arrival at the school had triggered a series of strange events, starting with a mass possession that shook the entire school. Her presence was like a small fire burning slowly, drawing the attention not only of supernatural beings but also of the people around her.
Julia, with her sweet face and simple nature, became the center of attention, both in positive and negative ways. Some students were drawn to her calming aura and seemingly genuine kindness, while others were repelled by her. In the novel, Julia's innocent demeanor was seen as an act by some people who disliked her, accusing her of pretending for attention.
This led to a small group secretly harboring animosity towards Julia. They didn't attack her openly, but the intimidation they subjected her to caused Julia a lot of difficulties. One of the most striking incidents was when Julia was locked in the sports storage room—a dark, cramped space that caused her to panic.
And from there, the story began to follow its main path. The incident in the storage room brought her face to face with the male protagonist, the main lead. Their dramatic and unexpected meeting, full of tension, marked the beginning of the relationship that would develop between them—and the start of the great conflicts awaiting Julia ahead.
Julia's encounter with the male lead, as expected from a cliché story, was filled with tension and awkwardness. The man, with his cold aura and indifferent attitude, initially saw Julia as just another girl—weak and seeking attention. When he found Julia crying in the dark, dusty storage room, he assumed her tears were just a cheap trick to garner sympathy.
However, the situation quickly changed. In the dark corner of that room, something was lurking, a dangerous supernatural being. The man's presence, though uninvited, seemed to disturb the creature, forcing it to retreat—at least for a moment. But from that instant onward, both Julia and the man became targets of a series of eerie and terrifying events that would haunt them relentlessly.
From that incident, their relationship began to evolve. Though initially filled with suspicion and coldness, they gradually opened up to each other. They grew closer, protecting one another from the relentless magical threats. Ultimately, this bond led to feelings of love blossoming between them—a love that was not only sweet but also fraught with struggle.
However, as in any story, their romance did not unfold smoothly. Magical attacks continued to test their strength, while Julia also had to contend with the presence of the 'second male lead,' who quietly developed feelings for her. This love triangle became one of the central conflicts of the story, sparking an inevitable drama.
So, where did Navarro fit into all of this? Unfortunately for Navarro, he was nothing more than a secondary antagonist with a tragic life. As the younger brother of the second male lead, Navarro was a boy desperate for attention. He constantly sought ways to get closer to his brother, but his brother's attention was often directed toward Julia.
This jealousy and hatred slowly grew into a dark obsession. Navarro began to despise Julia with all his heart, viewing her as an obstacle preventing him from receiving his brother's affection. He resorted to any means necessary to get rid of Julia—even attempting dangerous actions.
At the peak of his obsession, Navarro decided to team up with the story's main antagonist. Together, they devised a dark ritual meant to sacrifice Julia. But, as is often the fate of minor antagonists, their plan failed miserably.
The ritual instead backfired, destroying Navarro. He met his end in a tragic, pitiable way, his body shattered by a force beyond his control. But his suffering did not end there. Navarro's soul was trapped and enslaved by a dark creature, becoming a powerless tool in the hands of a much greater force.
And for Navarro, that marked the end of his tragic tale—merely a footnote in the protagonist's journey, a reminder of the cost of blind obsession and hatred.
***
And how was he going to avoid that? By doing nothing.
"All of this started with the old Navarro," he thought, "the one who was too busy seeking attention and consumed by envy." So, he decided not to follow that path. No effort to attract his family's attention, no envy towards Julia, no attempts to involve himself in other people's lives.
"Let them fight with demons, spirits, or whatever," he muttered quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "I'd rather sleep."
Navarro let out a deep breath. Why should he care about other people's fates? Julia, who was the target of supernatural beings? That wasn't his concern. His own fate, ignored by his family? Enough. The old Navarro, who thirsted for attention from his older brother and longed to be acknowledged by his family, was dead.
He had died along with the blood that stained the water in that bath. The blood he had drawn himself, erasing the traces of the suffering of a boy named Navarro Samudrawijaya. Now, he was just an observer. Someone who would keep his distance from the chaos of this story.
"Goodbye, old Navarro," he thought as he lay down on the bed. The world could continue, but he would not involve himself in its plot. No more shattered hopes. No more tragic endings.
***