The Beginning of Jealousy

Not in the ancient world. Not in the modern world. Good-looking men always attract the attention of women.

It turns out the same thing happened to Yada. After spending the whole night searching for her missing hairpin, Kamaniya had to reluctantly ask for his help this morning.

As soon as the sun rose, someone knocked on Yada's door. There were three young girls who came to deliver various sweet and savory snacks.

"Wow, thank you. Are you joining me for breakfast?" Yada asked, whether casually or seriously, his expression was difficult to read.

"No, Mas Yada. We still have to go to the garden," replied one girl dressed in bright yellow.

Kamaniya furrowed her brow upon hearing what the girls called Yada. The term "Mas" was commonly used to address men in the Javanese region. This form of address, which began to be used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, replaced the term "kakang" which was frequently used by ancient Javanese society.

It should have been a normal form of address. However, in Kamaniya's ears, it suddenly felt strange and awkward. Even her heart ignited with annoyance every time the three girls called "Mas Yada" in a coquettish tone.

At least, that's what caught Kamaniya's attention. Coquettish and seeking attention, that's how she perceived the girls' attitude.

"Lucky break. We got fried bananas and stuffed tofu. Shall we have breakfast, Kama?"

Just as Kamaniya was about to answer, another knock was heard. This time, it was a group of mothers heading to the rice fields.

"The rice pecel, Professor. Don't be late for your meal," one mother wearing a typical farmer's caping hat advised.

"Professor?" Kamaniya asked as soon as the door closed, leaving them both in silence.

"That's how the locals here address me. When they found out I'm a lecturer, they started calling me Mas Professor," Yada explained as he arranged the rice pecel and various snacks on a plate.

The aroma of boiled leaves mixed with thick peanut sauce tantalized Kamaniya's hungry stomach. Unfortunately, the traditional Javanese dish was only one package. Kamaniya felt annoyed again, remembering the disproportionate number of mothers who delivered food compared to the amount of rice pecel given to Yada.

"This is for you only. I'll eat the fried bananas."

"I don't want it," Kamaniya refused curtly. "I'm not hungry."

Just two seconds after she stopped talking, Kamaniya's stomach betrayed her with an unwelcome rumble. A loud growling sound emerged from her stomach. Immediately, Kamaniya pressed her stomach tightly, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.

Yada burst into laughter. "Oh my, if you're hungry, just say so, Kam. Don't pretend like that. You'll know what hunger feels like if you starve."

"Even with a serious injury, I didn't die, let alone just from hunger." Kamaniya pushed her chair and sat in front of Yada.

"Enough, just eat. I'm fine with it, as long as you're happy."

Kamaniya remained indifferent. Finally, she reached for the plate and started eating the rice pecel.

"Why are you so nonchalant?" Yada asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Aren't you feeling shy or coy?" Yada probed.

Kamaniya looked up with empty eyes. "Why should I?"

"After all, I was just flirting with you."

Kamaniya stared at him blankly. "You were flirting with me? Is that how you flirt in your world?"

Yada choked on a piece of fried banana he was eating. He coughed heavily, and Kamaniya offered him some water.

"Oh my, who are you?" Yada asked.

Kamaniya enjoyed chewing her rice pecel. "I'm Kamaniya."

"Yes, I know. But why do you seem... like..."

Kamaniya raised an eyebrow.

"Like a very experienced woman?" Yada shook her head.

[Because I've been alive for over five hundred years longer than you, Yada.]

Kamaniya smiled mischievously in her heart. She listened to Yada's puzzled ramblings about Kamaniya's cold demeanor.

Then, the third knock came. This time, Arum arrived with two other young girls. Their lively laughter disappeared instantly when they saw Yada sitting at the dining table with Kamaniya.

"Who is this, Mas?" one of the girls asked.

"This is Kamaniya."

"Kamaniya who?" the other girl pursued.

"She—"

"I'm his grandmother," Kamaniya quickly answered.

Four heads turned towards Kamaniya. Yada, Arum, and the two guest girls widened their eyes.

"Gr-grandmother?" Yada trembled, holding back laughter.

Kamaniya let her hair loose. The beautiful strands of silver immediately captivated Yada's guests.

"I'm just a youthful grandmother," Kamaniya said again. "Please, feel free to chat. I'll go to the backyard."

Kamaniya didn't wait for Yada's permission. She walked straight to the backyard. Since last night, Kamaniya had designated the teak chair under the banyan tree as her favorite spot.

She couldn't remember how long she had been sitting there. Her mind wandered after finishing breakfast. The woman wanted to go to Gong Cave as soon as possible. However, she was directionless.

The only way was to ask Yada for help. However, Kamaniya suddenly felt reluctant after seeing Yada's guests, who were all women.

"He's quite famous here," Kamaniya said sarcastically, not bothering to hide her tone.

The woman fell silent. The conflicting emotions made Kamaniya uncomfortable. She fidgeted restlessly, eager to leave the place.

Gong Cave was momentarily forgotten. Kamaniya's mind was filled with Yada's laughter in response to the girls' jokes in the dining room. Irritated by her own imagination, Kamaniya finally stood up and paced back and forth under the banyan tree.

"Are you performing a worship ritual?"

Kamaniya's steps came to an abrupt halt. She instinctively turned around. Yada walked towards her with two cups of coffee in hand.

"The guests were just left like that. The host is so impolite," Kamaniya replied curtly.

"They've already left. They just took their dirty clothes to be washed."

Kamaniya snorted. She slumped back into her chair.

"Something is bothering you, it seems." The man placed the drinks on the table.

Kamaniya bit her tongue, restraining herself from asking what kind of drink Yada brought. She had raised enough suspicions in the man's mind for now. There was no need to add to it with her stupidity of asking the name of the drink Yada brought.

"I want to go to Gong Cave," Kamaniya quickly stated.

"Oh, there again? What for? Aren't you traumatized by what happened there?"

Kamaniya answered cautiously. She took a sip of the dark liquid in the cup. Her eyes widened instantly.

Sweetness and bitterness intertwined. The hot liquid slightly burned her tongue, but it was compensated by the refreshing taste of the drink. Kamaniya's brain felt infused with drops of enthusiasm, bringing joy.

"Do you like Brontoseno coffee?"

Kamaniya looked at Yada.

"It's a popular coffee product from Kediri. The coffee has been exported to various countries."

[So, this is called coffee? Alright, I'll remember that.]

Kamaniya took another sip of her drink.

"You haven't answered my question. Why go to Gong Cave again?"

Kamaniya quickly brainstormed. "I need to search for something."

"Evidence from your assault case?"

The woman didn't want to bother explaining. She simply nodded and chose to busy herself with finishing her coffee.

"Come on. While the sun is still up. The cave lights are often turned off at night."

Kamaniya and Yada finally set off in the car towards Gong Cave. The nearly one-hour journey was adorned with refreshing views of Pacitan.

From the dense buildings made of brick and tiled roofs, their journey gradually transitioned to hillside walls and smooth asphalt roads. The village of Bomo they passed through was indeed the main route to one of Pacitan's main tourist attractions.

As Yada suspected, the atmosphere at Gong Cave was quite lively, although not as busy as on weekends and holidays. Young visitors scattered along the road leading to the cave.

"It's crowded," murmured Kamaniya.

[How am I supposed to search for the hairpin in the midst of this crowd?]

The woman was perplexed. The process of searching would undoubtedly take time and risk arousing suspicion among people. Kamaniya's stomach twisted with dread as she realized that someone might have already found her precious ornament, which doubled as a tiny weapon.

"Are you serious about looking for evidence?"

Kamaniya turned to Yada. "Can we wait until night? It's too crowded now."

"We need to bribe the cave guard to allow us in at night," Yada explained.

Kamaniya swallowed hard. She was currently destitute. She had no preparations when she left the Valley of Virgin.

In the Valley of Virgin, there were piles of gold that could be exchanged for a substantial amount of money on Earth. A small piece of the Valley of Virgin gold could sustain her for several months in this place.

"Is the bribe expensive?" Kamaniya asked in a low voice.

"It's quite costly. When I found you initially, I had to give almost my entire month's salary to the cave guard."

Kamaniya winced. She didn't know Yada's exact salary, but it must have been significant judging by the man's sour expression.

"Let's try to find it first, even though I'm not sure we'll succeed."

Kamaniya exited the car first. She walked quickly towards the entrance of the cave. Kamaniya placed her palm against the cold cave wall, which had been equipped with air conditioning.

A surge of warmth congested her throat. Kamaniya couldn't sense the same aura as Lonji Hill. Her face turned pale as she realized that Gong Cave might not serve as the time portal to return to the Valley of Virgin this time.

In addition to being a weapon, the hairpin's uniqueness lay in its navigational capabilities. The hairpin was the key that could direct the Earth's time portal to return precisely to the Valley of Virgin.

Without the hairpin, Kamaniya would have to exert more effort in finding a cave that matched the coordinates of Lonji Hill. Even then, Kamaniya couldn't guarantee that she would be able to open the time gate since her magical powers were still depleted.

The hairpin, Kamaniya's magical powers, the precise location, and a specific time were the main requirements to open the time gate. Now, everything seemed futile because Kamaniya was severely injured.

"Alone, my dear?"

Kamaniya's daydream was shattered. She realized that she had entered Gong Cave alone. Yada had disappeared somewhere.

Now, three middle-aged men stood next to Kamaniya. They had a simple appearance, dark skin, and messy hair. A faint scent of alcohol emanated from their breath.

Kamaniya stepped back and approached the roadside barrier. The three men advanced, positioning themselves to surround Kamaniya.

"Instead of being alone, why not join us? Let's explore the cave and visit a place full of pleasure."

Laughter erupted from the three men. Kamaniya felt disgusted. She readied herself, adopting a stable stance. Her fists clenched at her sides.

There was no time to entertain these drunkards. Kamaniya was racing against time. She glanced around, ensuring her surroundings were safe, before swiftly launching herself towards the three men.