"Princess, wait!"
Tama ran after Kirana, who had just entered the villa ahead of him. He was breathless, confused, and frustrated all at once.
"What now? I'm tired, you know," Kirana snapped, not even turning around to look at him.
"Why did you go out with Devan? And where did you two go?" Tama asked, trying to catch his breath.
"To a restaurant in BSD," Kirana replied nonchalantly, shrugging off the question.
"BSD? That's really far! Why go all the way there?"
"So what if it's far?" she countered, folding her arms. "Is it a crime to go far with a friend?"
"I was just… worried. I mean… if my princess goes that far with Devan, I—"
From the security post nearby, Denok and Limbur were peeking through the window. Both were grinning from ear to ear at Tama's flustered expression.
"Wow, he's totally jealous," Denok whispered gleefully.
"Just say you're jealous already, Tama. What's so hard about that?" Limbur chuckled.
Meanwhile, Tama was still fumbling with his words. He didn't understand what was going on with himself. Was he really worried about the distance Kirana went to—or was it the fact that she was with Devan?
"So?" Kirana pressed, stepping closer. "Are you worried because I went somewhere far? Or because I went with Devan?"
Tama opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
"Hah! You can't even answer," Kirana said sharply. "I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted."
She stormed off toward her room, leaving Tama standing there, stunned.
"Ehhh… Princess!" Tama called after her, but she didn't stop.
He trudged to his room, his mind racing. Why did he feel like this? Why did the thought of Kirana spending time with Devan make his chest feel tight?
Back at the security post, Denok let out a long sigh. "Ugh, why didn't he just say it? That was the perfect chance for him to tell her how he feels! Doesn't he realize that Kirana could be his true love—not just an obsession like Nadia?"
"Be patient," Limbur said, patting her shoulder. "Maybe Tama still doesn't understand what's really in his heart."
That night, while the entire villa slept peacefully, Tama was plagued by strange dreams. In the first dream, he saw a grand palace. A soldier burst into a hall and knelt before a king and a prince with a blurry face.
"Your Highness, I bring urgent news—Princess Kirana has been confirmed dead. She was a victim of a terrible natural disaster."
The prince froze. "What…? No… I need to see it for myself."
The king nodded slowly. "Very well. Travel to her kingdom. Speak with Prabu Sanjaya directly."
The dream continued. The prince, leading a troop of men, galloped across the lands to Kirana's kingdom. There, he was greeted by Prabu Sanjaya and Crown Prince Wardhana.
"We are sorry for your loss," Wardhana said solemnly. "The castle where my sister resided has sunk. We have no hope of recovery."
He led the prince to the edge of a vast lake. The ruins of Kirana's home lay submerged beneath the water.
The prince stood in silence, tears glistening in his eyes. He reached into his robe and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"If in this life we are not destined to be together," he wrote in Sanskrit, "then I pray we shall meet and be united in the next."
He folded the letter into the shape of an airplane and released it into the wind. It fluttered gently before landing in the lake.
---
Tama woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat. The clock read 3 a.m.
"What kind of dream was that…?" he whispered. "I thought General John Willem was her only past love. But who was that prince?"
He laid back down, hoping to return to the dream and find answers. Eventually, he drifted off once more.
This time, he found himself at a wedding. The villa was no longer underwater—it had surfaced, pristine and beautiful. The area was decorated elegantly, and guests dressed in white filled the courtyard. It was magical.
Denok appeared beside him.
"Tama, come on! The bride and groom are waiting!" she said, tugging his arm.
"Wait… who's getting married?" Tama asked, nervous.
She smiled. "Princess Kirana and Devan, of course."
Tama's heart dropped. He followed Denok with trembling steps. And there, standing before a grand altar, were Kirana and Devan, dressed in elegant wedding attire.
---
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Tama screamed, waking up everyone in the villa.
"Ouch! Who the heck is screaming this late?" Kirana sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes.
She, Denok, and Limbur rushed to Tama's room, where they found him sitting upright, clutching his chest.
"Sorry," Tama said, breathing heavily. "I just had a… really bad dream."
"What kind of dream makes you scream like that?" Kirana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I—uh—it's nothing. Really."
"Tch. Useless," Kirana muttered. "Disband. Everyone go back to sleep."
The others reluctantly returned to their rooms.
But Tama lay awake, thoughts racing.
"Was that dream a sign? Could Devan be the reincarnation of that prince? Is he… Kirana's true love?"
He thought back to when Kirana had shared her story about General John Willem. Back then, Tama felt calm—supportive even. But now, the idea of Kirana ending up with Devan made his chest tighten painfully.
"Why do I feel this way? Why does it hurt to think of her marrying someone else?"
He clutched his chest, trying to calm the storm inside him.
Morning came, and Tama had barely slept. Heavy bags under his eyes, he sat up just as Denok entered with breakfast.
"My handsome Tama," she teased. "Here's your breakfast, lovingly delivered by me!"
"Thanks, Miss Denok," Tama muttered, forcing a smile.
But curiosity got the better of him.
"Miss Denok… do you know who the prince was supposed to be? The one who was engaged to Princess Kirana in the past?"
"Oh, that?" Denok replied as she set the tray down. "His name was Prince Lingga. Handsome, noble, and deeply in love with her."
Tama's heart skipped a beat.
So… the dream wasn't just a dream. It was a memory—or maybe a glimpse into a past life.
And the worst part?
He didn't know if he was the prince… or just the man watching it all unfold.