Morning in Jakarta with a quiet sense of melancholy.
Nadia sat alone at her desk, her eyes locked on the calendar. The pages turned, but her heart remained still. Days passed, then weeks, and yet—there had been no news from Tama. No messages. No explanations.
People say "no news is news"—the kind of news that offers no clarity at all. A lack of certainty is its own cruel certainty, one that keeps you hoping for closure that may never come.
With her chin resting on her palm and her mind adrift, Nadia stared blankly at nothing. Her thoughts swirled like fog in the morning sun. That was when she heard her name.
"Nadia, please come to the meeting room," the HR representative called.
Snapping out of her trance, she stood and made her way there, heart pounding for reasons she couldn't explain. Inside, the head of the department was already seated, waiting with a composed expression.
"Please, have a seat, Nadia," he said.
"Okay, sir," she replied, trying to keep her composure.
The meeting began without delay. HR shared that the company was planning to open a new branch in Seoul, South Korea. Nadia had been selected to lead it—as the branch head. It was a promotion many people dreamed of, the kind that could launch her career to new heights.
Nadia was stunned.
Her heart leapt with excitement at first. It was an incredible opportunity. But the image of Tama crept into her mind, shadowing the joy with uncertainty.
"So, Nadia," the department head asked gently, "Do you accept the offer to be transferred to South Korea?"
Nadia hesitated. "Sir… may I discuss it with my family first?"
"Of course. You'll have a month to consider. But be aware—if you decline, it's unlikely you'll get another chance like this."
"I understand. Thank you for the opportunity. I'll let you know once I speak with my family."
After the meeting, Nadia stepped out with a heavy heart. Her thoughts were scattered. She barely noticed her friend Dewi running up to her.
"Nadia! Congratulations on the promotion!" Dewi cheered, beaming.
Nadia looked surprised. "How do you know?"
"We were eavesdropping outside the room," Dewi grinned.
Nadia sighed. "You guys…"
Dewi nudged her playfully. "Come on, just admit it. You're not hesitating because of your parents—you're hesitating because of your ghosting boyfriend."
"Please, Dewi, I'm not in the mood to joke," Nadia replied sharply.
"Hey, wait—don't be mad!" Dewi called out, running after her.
But Nadia kept walking. Her heart was already full.
---
Meanwhile, at Villa Putri, the morning air was calm. Kirana was still fast asleep, snoring softly—something rare for her. Denok peeked into her room, tempted to wake her up, but changed her mind.
"This is the first time Princess has slept this soundly. I don't have the heart to wake her," Denok whispered.
She quietly placed a tray of breakfast on the table in Kirana's spacious room. The room had a noble atmosphere—complete with a dining table, bookshelf, wardrobe, and closets for bags and shoes.
Once finished, Denok headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Tama. But when she arrived, she caught Limbur—now dressed in a security uniform—sampling the food with his fingers.
"Hey! Stop that! If you want to taste something, use a plate and spoon!" Denok snapped, dragging him away.
"Okay, okay! Sorry!" Limbur whimpered.
Denok handed him a proper tray. "Here. Take it and eat outside!"
"Why don't you serve me like you do the Princess and Tama?" he complained.
"Because you're not the Princess or Tama! Now get out before I give your food to the stray cats!"
Terrified, Limbur took the tray and fled.
Denok laughed and resumed preparing breakfast for Tama. When she arrived at his room, she knocked.
"Tamaa… Handsome Tama~ I brought breakfast!"
No response.
She knocked again.
Knock knock knock.
"Huh? Is he already working? The room's locked too."
Curious, Denok transformed into a snake and slipped through the crack under the door. Inside, she found Tama still asleep—snoring like Kirana.
"Astaga! Just like the Princess! Did something romantic happen last night between them?" she giggled, imagining the two in bed.
Embarrassed by her own thoughts, she quickly unlocked the door and set the food on the table.
"Sleep tight, my handsome ghost," she whispered before slipping out.
---
Time passed quickly, and before anyone realized it, the clock struck 11 a.m.
Tama finally woke up, showered, and ate his breakfast. Then he focused on finishing his work.
Kirana, on the other hand, had just woken up.
"What?! It's already 11?! Aaaargh!" she shouted, rushing to the bathroom.
---
By evening, Tama had completed everything and prepared to leave for Jakarta. He had been waiting for this moment—tonight, he would meet Nadia.
As the sun set, Tama stood near the lake and transformed into his human form. His heart pounded with anticipation. The woman he had loved since childhood was finally within reach.
Back in the villa, Kirana was deep into her financial report.
"Hmmm... plus yesterday's jewelry sale… my God, 5 billion rupiah?! Should I keep hosting big events to earn like this?"
She wanted to ask Tama's opinion but realized he wasn't in his room. On her way, she met Denok.
"Oh, Princess—Tama's been gone since sunset. He turned into a human," Denok said.
"Hmph. That annoying butler. Did he forget he belongs to me?"
"We should lock him up tomorrow," Denok suggested.
"It's useless. With the Grim Reaper's power, he can escape whenever he wants."
"Ehh? Brother GR? You mean the Grim Reaper?! He gave power to Tama, not me?! I knew him first!"
"I'm getting a headache," Kirana muttered as she walked off.
Denok chuckled as she watched Kirana's sour expression.
"She's jealous… obviously jealous," Denok whispered.
---
In Jakarta, Tama had arrived at Nadia's house only to find out she was still at the office. Without hesitation, he went to her workplace and waited patiently in the lobby.
By 9 p.m., Nadia finally left the building.
Her steps were slow, her expression drained. The weight of her decision loomed heavy—should she chase her career in South Korea or continue waiting for a man who vanished without explanation?
Then, as she reached the lobby, her heart skipped a beat.
There he was.
Tama stood tall, smiling warmly, his hand raised in greeting.
"Tamaaaa!!!" Nadia shouted, her voice trembling.
Without a second thought, she ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. Tama wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her back.
They stayed like that for a long time, holding each other, letting the silence speak the words they couldn't say.
Their longing, their pain, their confusion—it all melted away in that single embrace.
But a question still lingered in Nadia's heart.
Would she forgive Tama for disappearing?
And would she choose love over ambition?