Even though Devan's expression was clearly unserious—his lips curved in a teasing smile, his tone light and joking—Tama took every word straight into his heart, as if Devan had just crossed an invisible line.
"Why are you calling me a devil, bro?" Devan laughed softly. "If anything, you're the devil here."
Tama clenched his fists.
"Ah, yeah," Tama replied flatly. "I'm the devil."
Devan leaned back on the sofa, crossing his arms. His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Wow, you're not even trying to relax. You're jealous, aren't you?"
"I'm not jealous!" Tama snapped instantly.
The denial came too fast.
Too sharp.
Too emotional.
Devan raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
"I'm just worried," Tama continued, turning his face away. "Kirana is like family to me now. I don't want her heart to get hurt."
Devan sighed and straightened his posture. His tone softened slightly.
"Calm down, bro. I told you already. This is just work. I have a project for my program, that's why I made Kirana my resource person."
"What project?" Tama asked. "And then why do you eat together so often?"
Devan smirked. "See? You're jealous."
"I'm not!" Tama insisted. "You know I'm in love with Nadia."
Devan stared at him quietly for a moment. Then he spoke, his voice unusually serious.
"You and Nadia don't love each other, Tama. What you feel isn't love. It's obsession."
Tama froze.
"Think about it," Devan continued. "Right now, you're more worried about Kirana than Nadia. If Nadia were surrounded by other men, would you feel the same way?"
Silence fell between them.
Tama lowered his gaze.
His chest felt tight.
Images of Nadia suddenly flashed through his mind—her smile, her laughter, her daily routine. And yet, strangely, he didn't know what she was doing right now.
"It's true…" Tama thought.
What is Nadia doing at this moment?
Unbeknownst to them, three figures—and one not-quite-human being—were watching the entire scene unfold.
At the security post of the Villa, Limbur and Denok stood beside the grim reaper, peering into a magical basin filled with shimmering water. Inside the basin, Tama and Devan's conversation played out clearly, like a supernatural television screen.
"See?" Denok said with a frustrated sigh. "Sir Tama is already in checkmate."
Limbur nodded. "Total defeat."
"Alright, that's enough for today," the grim reaper suddenly said, lifting the basin. "I need to take this back."
"Ah, come on!" Denok protested. "So stingy!"
"This basin is for tracking runaway spirits from the afterlife," the grim reaper replied flatly. "Not for watching a love soap opera."
With that, he carried the basin away.
Just then, Kirana returned to the Villa after finishing her work. She frowned when she heard noise at the security post and walked over.
"What's all the fuss about?" she asked calmly. "Hmm… is that a grim reaper?"
The grim reaper turned stiffly. "Ah—sorry, Princess. This is just… a basin."
"A basin?" Kirana narrowed her eyes. "Let me see."
Before she could take a closer look, Denok and Limbur quickly covered the basin with their hands.
"Nothing important!" Denok said nervously.
Kirana clicked her tongue in annoyance. "You're all acting strange."
With that, she turned and walked back to her room, unaware that she had almost witnessed Tama's inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Tama was still at Devan's house.
"When will your project with the Princess be finished?" Tama asked quietly.
Devan thought for a moment. "After she invites me to the snake demon world. This Saturday."
Tama stiffened.
"But that's not all," Devan continued. "We also have another project—a magic festival on the night of the full moon next month."
Tama frowned. "Why didn't the Princess tell me?"
Devan looked at him meaningfully. "Because every full moon, you're busy looking for Nadia. So I asked Ara to help instead."
"With Ara?" Tama repeated.
"Yes."
Tama fell silent again.
For the first time, a strange thought crossed his mind.
Why does this feel like I'm betraying someone?
On one side, he was still clinging to Nadia. On the other, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving Kirana behind.
Have I split my heart in two? he wondered.
After pouring out all his worries, Tama finally left Devan's house and returned to the Villa. As he passed the security post, Limbur shouted after him.
"Sir Tama!"
Tama didn't respond.
He kept walking, his thoughts far away.
Suddenly, a cold voice called from behind him.
"Ananda Pratama. Are you a spirit who died today? Come with me to the afterlife."
Tama spun around in shock.
"Uncle Grim Reaper?!"
The grim reaper frowned. "Why are you just daydreaming in the middle of the road?"
Tama suddenly remembered the indigo old woman he had met earlier.
"Uncle… about the gatekeeper of the afterlife," Tama asked carefully. "Is it true?"
"Yes. He's my coworker."
"And… does he really sell cellphones to ghosts?"
"Yes," the grim reaper replied. "But any ghost who wants one must answer his question. If they fail, they can never leave the afterlife."
Before Tama could say anything else, Kirana passed by and overheard the conversation.
"What afterlife?" she snapped. "Don't you dare take my servant there!"
The grim reaper raised his hands defensively. "No, no! I wasn't going to. I was just explaining."
Kirana turned to Tama. "Why are you always involved in strange things?"
"I'm sorry," Tama replied quietly.
The grim reaper soon left, and the Villa returned to its usual calm.
Saturday arrived.
The day Kirana and Devan had promised to visit the snake demon world.
Kirana looked stunning in her casual clothes, her aura bright and confident. Denok escorted her to the lake's surface.
Devan soon arrived.
"Wow, Sir Devan is really handsome," Denok teased. "You might even beat Sir Tama in a handsome competition."
Devan laughed. "I believe I can."
"Enough," Kirana said. "Let's go."
"Have fun, Princess!" Denok waved.
As Kirana and Devan left the Villa, Tama could only watch from behind a tree.
That night, after finishing his duties, Tama decided to go to Jakarta.
He needed to see Nadia.
At 8 a.m. in Jakarta, Nadia was jogging around the Senayan area, circling the Bung Karno Stadium. After twenty laps, she stopped to catch her breath.
"Hosh… hosh…"
Sweat dripped down her face as someone handed her an ionized drink.
"Please drink."
She turned and smiled. "Oh? Sajang-nim?"
"Just call me Lee Yeon Oppa," the handsome man said. He was the owner of her favorite Korean restaurant. Dewi stood beside him.
"Are you alone?" Lee Yeon asked.
"No," Nadia smiled. "Oppa is with me."
"Then let's run together."
"Okay! Let's race!"
They laughed and ran side by side.
Not long after, Tama arrived in Jakarta.
Nadia wasn't home.
He overheard her mother telling a neighbor that Nadia had gone jogging in Senayan.
Tama rushed there immediately.
Flying above the streets, he searched until he finally saw her.
Nadia.
Running.
Laughing.
With another man.
"Who is that man…?" Tama whispered.
And for the first time, his heart truly trembled