That night, Tama couldn't sleep. He lay in bed, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling above him. His heart felt heavy, as if weighed down by all the guilt he'd been carrying. Thoughts of Nadia haunted his mind like shadows under the moonlight. He felt horrible for ignoring her, especially after all the effort she had made to stay connected with him. His intentions were noble—he chose to serve Princess Kirana just so he could be granted a second chance at life, and in turn, be with Nadia. But now? His time was slipping away, spent chasing a different dream—finding the reincarnation of General John Willem for Kirana.
Tama sat up and walked to his bedroom window. He opened it slowly, letting the cool night air brush across his face. The stars glistened like scattered jewels across the sky. He gazed at them in silence, and in the patterns of the stars, he imagined Nadia's smile—soft, radiant, warm.
"I miss you…" he whispered into the night, as if the wind could carry his words to her.
He didn't know how to reach her anymore. His time to become human again only came during the full moon, and without Kirana's permission, there was no way he could use the enchanted carriage or leave the villa freely. Should he kneel before Kirana? Beg her for a night of freedom? But she was cold—icy, even. Asking might only anger her more.
As Tama wrestled with his thoughts, a sudden hissing noise startled him. He turned around—and jumped.
"Baa... kekokkk... weeeeekk!"
It was Limbur, appearing out of nowhere, flicking his long snake tongue and attempting to scare Tama.
"Limbur! You lunatic!" Tama shouted, gripping his chest. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Limbur chuckled. "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
"I could ask you the same. What are you even doing up?"
"I'm on patrol, obviously."
Tama blinked. "Wait... you mean there are night patrols here? What kind of haunted villa is this?"
After a brief chat, Tama returned to bed. He eventually drifted into a restless sleep. That night, he dreamed of Kirana—but not the stern, distant princess he knew. In his dream, she was radiant, laughing as she played on a swing alongside General John Willem. It was a moment frozen in time, a glimpse into the joyful past. But something in the dream caught Tama's eye—the General was wearing a bracelet, the same kind an old man had once given Tama. It felt like a clue... a thread leading toward something bigger.
The next morning, Tama woke up late. The sun had already risen high in the sky, casting bright beams through the windows. He leapt out of bed, grabbed a broom, and began sweeping the villa's front yard. He watered the garden and tidied up the walkways. But something was strange—the villa was too quiet.
"Where is everyone?" he muttered. "Why does it feel like a ghost town?"
He headed to Kirana's office to check if she was there, but the room was empty. He looked for Denok—no sign. Even Limbur, who was usually stationed at the gate, was nowhere to be seen.
With a smirk, Tama stretched his arms and said, "Perfect timing. If they're all gone… why not take a quick trip to Jakarta?"
Tama dashed to Kirana's office, borrowed the landline phone, and called Devan.
"Bro, I need a favor. Can you drive me to Jakarta? I can't use the golden train without Kirana's magic."
Devan groaned on the other end. "Ah, you're such a pain. Just come to my house yourself, okay?"
Soon after, Tama arrived at Devan's home. Devan, now used to his ghostly friend, wasn't scared anymore. He rolled his eyes, grabbed his car keys, and waved Tama over.
"Come on. Get in."
At that exact moment, Ara happened to pass by Devan's house. She paused, raising an eyebrow when she saw Devan sitting alone in his car, talking and laughing like someone possessed.
"That boy gets weirder every day…" she said under her breath. "I'll just visit tomorrow."
She turned around and left, unaware that Devan was actually talking to a ghost.
By the time they reached Nadia's neighborhood, night had fallen. The streets were quiet, lit by the soft glow of street lamps. Tama stood across from Nadia's house, his heart pounding. Devan waited nearby in the car, watching closely.
Suddenly, the front gate creaked open. Nadia had just arrived home, her purse slung over one shoulder, a tired expression on her face.
Tama stepped forward, smiling.
"Nadia…"
But she walked past him, not seeing him at all.
Tama's heart shattered. She hadn't even noticed him. It wasn't her fault, of course. Without the full moon or Kirana's help, Tama remained invisible—just another lost soul drifting beside the living.
Inside the car, Devan wiped tears from his eyes.
"Sob... sob... you're not lucky, bro. This is just tragic..."
Tama climbed into the car, defeated.
"Van, why are you crying?" Tama asked, surprised.
Devan turned to him with teary eyes. "Because you look so... so pathetic. It's killing me, man."
"I don't know what to do anymore."
"Alright, listen. I'll help you. I'll be your messenger."
Together, they composed a heartfelt letter to Nadia. Tama poured all his feelings into that letter—how he still loved her, how he never meant to disappear, how he was trapped between two worlds.
Devan folded it neatly and promised to deliver it.
Later that night, Devan dropped Tama off at the edge of the lake where Princess Villa was hidden from mortal eyes. Only during the full moon could normal people see it.
"Thanks, bro. You've got my back."
"Always," Devan replied.
Tama walked silently toward the villa. As he passed the security post, he noticed Limbur fast asleep, snoring loudly. Tama tiptoed past and entered the villa without waking him.
He reached his room—but froze when he opened the door.
Kirana was standing inside, arms crossed.
"Well, well... You remember where your room is. I was starting to think you'd run away."
"I'm sorry, Princess. I only went out for a little while," Tama said, lowering his head.
"Next time, ask permission. Don't forget—you belong to me now."
"Yes, Princess."
Kirana brushed past him and left the room. Tama sighed and locked the door behind her.
"Ugh... Why is she so sensitive? I was only gone for a day."
He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind kept replaying the moment Nadia walked past him. Her silence, her distance—it all hurt deeply.
"Is this my fate now? Trapped between worlds… invisible to the one I love?"
He shut his eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek as sleep took him.
The following morning, Devan received a phone call. He had been invited to a job interview at a prestigious media company. Overjoyed, he prepared himself with enthusiasm. It had been months since he'd felt this hopeful.
When the interview day arrived, he traveled to the office, where he met with the show's producer—a sharp-looking man of Dutch descent named Eric.
Unbeknownst to Devan, this man looked exactly like General John Willem—the same face Tama had seen in his dreams and at the night market. But the only photo Devan had ever seen of the General was a blurry black-and-white painting. So, he didn't recognize Eric.
Devan nailed the interview. He was accepted as part of the creative team for a mystery-themed show.
He would start the following week.
"I'm finally employed again!" Devan cheered, pumping his fist into the air.
But little did he know... fate was already moving its pieces.