That night, Arya's dorm room felt quieter than usual. The fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling cast a soft yellow glow, painting gentle shadows on the walls. On his desk, Arya's laptop screen still shone, displaying a blank page with a cursor blinking slowly—proof that he hadn't touched it in a while.
Arya sat in his chair, chin resting on his palm, eyes occasionally glancing at the screen, though his mind drifted elsewhere.
On the bed, Rika lay on her side facing the wall, one hand propping up her head while the other hugged Arya's body pillow. Her curly red hair fell messily over her face. Normally, she would already be chattering away, teasing Arya about his "silly habits," but tonight she was silent.
"This ghost… usually can't stop talking. Why is she suddenly so quiet?" Arya muttered to himself, glancing again at Rika, who was staring at the patterned bedsheet as if reading some hidden spell.
The digital clock on his laptop read 8:30 p.m. Arya tapped his fingers on the desk, then an idea struck him. He turned toward Rika, trying to break the silence.
"Rika," he called.
Rika only shifted her gaze slightly, looking at him with the detached expression of a sleepy cat.
"Hm?" she replied softly.
Arya swallowed hard. "How about… we go out for a walk to Malioboro?" he asked, his voice hesitant.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Suddenly, Rika's expression changed dramatically. Her previously dull eyes sparkled with excitement. Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. She rolled onto her back and stared at Arya, eyes shining with playful intent.
"Eh? Is this your way of asking me out, Arya?" she teased.
Arya panicked instantly. His face heated, his ears burning. He quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the laptop screen he hadn't touched all evening.
"I-I mean… if you don't want to go, that's fine…" he stammered, his voice slightly higher from embarrassment.
Rika chuckled softly, then sat up on the bed, tossing her hair back. "Hahaha, just kidding! Of course I want to go. Let's go now~" she said, her bright smile erasing any trace of her earlier mood.
"Quick, change your clothes, Master Arya. Don't make this lady wait too long~" she added, pointing at him with a mischievous grin. Arya sighed, but a small feeling of relief settled in his chest.
Soon after, they left the dorm and headed toward the nearest bus stop. The night air was warm, a gentle breeze carrying the familiar scents of the city—a mix of exhaust smoke, the aroma of street food satay, and a faint earthy smell from the rain earlier that afternoon.
At the bus stop, Arya leaned against a support pole, while Rika stood beside him, casually, her curly red hair shining under the streetlights. She looked like an excited child eager for an adventure.
"Are we taking the city bus?" Rika asked, glancing at him.
"Yes," Arya replied tersely, without turning.
A few minutes later, a bus stopped in front of them. It wasn't crowded—only a handful of passengers were scattered inside, mostly absorbed in their phones.
Arya stepped inside first, choosing a seat by the window. Rika sat next to him, leaning slightly toward him with barely contained excitement.
"What are we going to do there?" Rika asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Arya shrugged. He stared out the window at the passing city lights, letting the thought linger unspoken.
"Who do you want to meet there?" Rika pressed, voice teasing.
Arya remained silent, arms crossed.
"Will it be crowded?" she continued, chin resting on the back of the seat, eyes fixed on him.
"…." Arya exhaled, still pretending to be absorbed by the scenery. In his mind, he was uneasy. If anyone else could hear, they'd probably think he was talking to himself.
Rika noticed his stiff expression. Her smile widened, and she leaned closer, whispering into his ear.
"Are you embarrassed to sit next to such a pretty lady?" she teased.
Arya flinched, glancing at her quickly. His face turned bright red. He cleared his throat and looked back out the window. "Annoying ghost…" he muttered under his breath.
Rika giggled softly. "If you stay silent like this, I'll keep teasing you all the way~" she sang, her legs swinging lightly with the rhythm of the bus.
A middle-aged woman across from them glanced at Arya strangely. He quickly adjusted his posture and pretended to check his phone. Inwardly, he cursed Rika for being so carefree, as if she were the only one who could see and hear him.
After several minutes, the bus finally stopped at the Malioboro stop. The glittering streetlights welcomed them warmly, blending with the rich aromas of street food and the faint scent of perfumes from passersby.
Rika jumped off first, her steps light as if discovering the world for the first time. Her curly red hair fluttered in the night breeze as she ran toward the sidewalk.
"Aryaaa! Hurry up! Come on!" she called, waving her hands like a little child calling chicks.
Arya descended more slowly, hands in his jacket pockets, stealing glances at Rika. "This ghost… people would probably think she's an overexcited foreign tourist," he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Stalls lined the sidewalks, selling everything from batik souvenirs and wooden bracelets to woven bags and street food. Merchants called out to passersby, while the soft tunes of angklung music from buskers mingled in, creating a lively Malioboro night.
Rika ran around the stalls, stopping to admire things that caught her eye, her eyes sparkling like a child in a theme park.
"Look, Arya! So many people here!" she exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the crowd as if watching a grand parade.
Arya followed slowly, footsteps heavy with unease. His eyes lingered on Rika's back as she darted ahead. Nagini's words from earlier that afternoon echoed in his mind, nagging like a thorn he couldn't remove:
"Cherish it… while time is still on your side."
"Arya… Arya… ARYAAA!!!"
Rika's sudden shout jolted him back to reality.
"H-huh?!" Arya jumped.
She stood before him, hands on her hips, a mix of worry and annoyance on her face.
"What were you thinking about? I've called you three times until my voice is hoarse!" she said, voice slightly raised.
Arya looked down, quickly making up an excuse. "Ah, sorry. I… I was just thinking about a school assignment," he said, trying to hide what was really on his mind.
Rika furrowed her brows, staring at him as if she could see right through him. A brief silence stretched, making Arya increasingly uncomfortable.
Then Rika's expression softened. She sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Alright," she said calmly, choosing not to press. Her usual small smile returned, and she walked ahead, waving.
"Come on, slowpoke Arya!" she called teasingly.
They moved further away from the bustling Malioboro streets, leaving behind the glow of lamps and the chaotic shouts of street vendors. No buses passed by anymore; only the sound of sandals squeaking against the damp asphalt remained. They followed narrow, empty alleys, where streetlights flickered like tired old eyes.
After a few minutes, they arrived at Alun-Alun Kidul. The wide, open field stretched out before them, dominated by two massive banyan trees standing side by side. Dim streetlights cast soft reflections on the ground, creating long shadows that twisted like giant hands reaching for the sky.
The night air felt cooler here, carrying the scent of wet grass and the faint traces of incense from a recent ritual.
Rika's eyes lit up. "Wow! This place is amazing! Arya, look! Two huge trees… like an elderly couple staying loyal together!"
Without waiting for him, she dashed to the middle of the field, her steps light as a child discovering freedom. Her hair swung with every movement.
"Hahaha! It's so big! If I could bring all this grass to your room, Arya, you wouldn't need to buy a mattress!" she shouted, laughing.
Arya stood at the edge of the field, hands in his jacket pockets, watching her with a faint, amused smile.
"This crazy ghost… lying in the middle of the field like that," he muttered softly.
After a while, Arya stepped closer. Wet grass soaked the tips of his shoes. He sat beside Rika, leaning back with his hands behind him, gazing at the starry night.
Rika glanced at him, then grinned mischievously. "I thought you'd stay standing there like a statue. Finally, you're sitting too, Master Arya?" she teased.
"Arya… it's beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper carried by the wind. Arya looked at her, catching the satisfied sparkle in her eyes as she gazed at the stars—a joy so pure it was hard to put into words.
He paused, warmth spreading in his chest, a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Will you take me here again?" she asked, voice full of small, sincere hope.
Arya tilted his face to the sky. The stars seemed to dance between the thin clouds.
"Of course. I won't come alone without you," he replied gently. His words were simple but enough to make her smile even wider.
She turned to him with a playful grin. "So it's a date then, huh?" she teased, raising her eyebrows.
Arya quickly looked away, a faint blush coloring his cheeks despite the night's shadows.
"It's not a date…" he said quickly, his voice trembling slightly.
Rika giggled, the sound cutting through the night air like a clear bell. "Ohhh, so it's not~~" she said, enjoying his flustered reaction.
She stood, brushed off her skirt, and walked toward one of the towering banyans, her steps light, hair swaying in the breeze. Arya watched her from afar, a mixture of warmth and unease settling in his chest. There was something about her tonight—joy so pure yet somehow fragile.
When she stopped beneath one of the trees, Arya noticed her speaking to someone.
An old woman stood there—slightly hunched, dressed in traditional kebaya and batik. Her face was blurred, wrapped in a thin swirling mist, giving her an otherworldly glow.
Rika's cheerful gestures contrasted with the old woman's silent, mysterious presence. Every once in a while, the woman nodded slightly but made no sound.
Who is she…? A human? Arya wondered, brows furrowed. A sudden chill crawled over his skin, making his hair stand on end. His heart raced.
Unconsciously, Arya stepped closer, every footstep sounding unnaturally loud in the quiet night. The air grew heavier, colder, and damp—nothing like a normal evening. Rika's once lively voice now sounded muffled, like trapped behind an invisible wall.
Arya approached slowly, the grass crunching beneath his feet. Only a few steps remained, and he could see Rika standing relaxed, shoulders slightly raised, conversing with someone.
Then he saw it—a hunched old woman, hair tied neatly, her face blurred by a thin mist swirling like incense smoke. Arya squinted, trying to see through it, but his chest tightened instead.
The woman turned toward Arya. Her empty gaze pierced him, freezing his steps. He wanted to speak, to ask who she was, but his mouth felt locked.
Without a word, she slowly turned and blended into the banyan tree, disappearing as if swallowed by the night. Arya stood frozen, scanning the trunk for an explanation.
Is she… one of the spirits of this place? he thought. His heartbeat quickened, cold spreading to his palms.
"Aryaaa~"
Rika's cheerful voice startled him back. She ran to him, hair bouncing in the wind, smiling as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Who were you talking to?" Arya asked quickly, curiosity urging him forward.
"Me? Oh… just the old lady," she replied casually. "She called me and asked—"
Her words faltered. Her face flushed faintly under the moonlight.
Arya narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
"Asked what?" he pressed, voice rising slightly.
Rika looked down, glancing aside, then replied lightly,
"Aah~ she asked if I had eaten."
Arya snorted softly, eyes narrowing. Rika's tone was far too cheerful for such a simple answer.
"You're lying, aren't you?" he accused playfully, though a trace of unease lingered.
Rika spun around, hands clasped behind her back, walking a few steps away. "Actually… what the old lady said?" Arya stepped closer, trying to catch her expression from the side.
Rika turned partially and replied mischievously,
"S-E-C-R-E-T~"
The way she enunciated each letter made Arya exhale in frustration, though a part of him wanted to laugh.
"Why does it have to be a secret?" he asked, trying to hide a smile.
Rika twirled fully, grinning at him. "You kept something secret too, didn't you? So we're even~" she teased.
Arya froze, face warming as he remembered Rika teasing him about his dream the night before. "Aaaa… that… that…" he stammered, quickly changing the topic.
"Enough, let's go home. It's late," he said, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks.
Rika smiled triumphantly and walked ahead. "Fine, if you insist… but~ if I remember what the old lady said, I'll tell you. Maybe."
Arya could only shake his head, following her. But his eyes kept darting back to the banyan tree; the unease hadn't completely left. Whatever the old lady said… it's not ordinary.