Emptiness

It took almost two days long on the road for Tasia and her friends. Not because of traffic jams, but sometimes they choose to stop at several recreational areas along the road they pass.

Until that afternoon, they finally arrived at their destination beach.

"Argh!! Finally! Arrived!!" Marya shouted as she stepped out of the car door, relaxing her squeaking hip muscles and joints.

"Sleep! Bed! I need to sleep on the bed!" Tasia exclaimed with dozed eyes.

"Come on. We got to take out our luggage first, bring them into the resort." Tata's orders were immediately carried out by Patra, Jordi, and Mark without complaining or giving thanks. Immediately moving after Tata ordered, was already in their instincts.

Tata walked in the front with Jordi beside her along a path made of rocks that were neatly arranged with decorative plants lined up on both sides, to get to the resort. Meanwhile, her other friends followed her on the back while joking around.

They entered an ethnic concept building with many carvings on its wooden walls. Inside, there was a long table with two women dressed in traditional clothes, standing behind it. They were the receptionists of the resort.

"Welcome to the Kencana Resort, may I help you?" Greet one of the receptionists in a friendly manner.

"We want to check in, please. I have booked online, on behalf of Riata Anjasani," Said Tata by showing what was written on her cellphone screen to the receptionist.

"Okay, Miss. We've checked and the booking is correct. Here are the keys for the two rooms at numbers 12 and 11. Thank you." She explained by giving two keys with flat coconut shell pieces key chain, engraved with their respective room numbers.

"Okay, Thank you." Said Tata.

"Your welcome." She answered.

Then Tata gave the key to room number 12 to Jordi. While room number 11 she kept for herself for the girls' room.

Tata was really good at finding accommodation. This time, the resort they stayed at was not like an ordinary resort. Each room, facing directly to the expanse of beach sand with a wide sea. Even the sound of the waves rustling could be heard in the room if the room was a bit quiet.

That's right, the resort owner had bought several hectares of the beach area, including the shoreline. So they could build each room like a cottage on the beach.

The path to each room was made of merged bamboos. Each room was separated by three meters. The rooms were built like a beach hut.

"Uwa! What a great resort, Tata!" Tasia Admired with sparkling eyes.

"Yes, that is so."

"You are the best mommy!" Patra said intending to hug her.

"Hey! Don't even try!" Shouted Mark, pulling the back collar of Patra's t-shirt.

"It would get stretch, Mark! It would get stretchy!" He exclaimed, trying to get Mark's strong hands off his favourite grey t-shirt.

"Hahaha! He hasn't paid the instalment of that t-shirt." Marya laughed.

"Don't be like that, Marya. Don't talk about how much his debt." Tasia added to tease Patra.

"As long as you're still handsome, then it's not a problem." Patra folded his arms in front of his chest while leaning against the door, imitating the pose of an animal magazine model.

"Never mind.. That's our room, I'm tired of driving all day." Jordi complained by looking at Mark sarcastically.

Mark smiled amused "Sorry, dude. Next, I will be the one who drives home. I promise."

"Hmm," Jordi replied as he walked into the room, followed by the others who also went into their rooms.

***

The royal doorman shouts the arrival of The Prince Rangin. His voice was loud with magical power so that it sounded evenly throughout the palace.

Hadyan immediately came out of his room to meet his brother. He was indeed the closest to Prince Rangin who controlled the coastal kingdom of Papuma.

"Welcome my brother, Prince Rangin!" Hadyan greeted by hugging his brother warmly.

"I miss you so much, Hadyan! You rarely hang out with us, so I always have to come here instead." Rangin complained. Hadyan was used to his brother's nagging about him being always busy.

"Yes, I know and I'm sorry. But Queen Dewi Roro rarely comes to this ocean, so I have to keep an eye on the work."

"I'm sure you must be lonely." Rangin laughed, which according to Hadyan, was very didn't relevant to the topic of their conversation.

"There are a lot of bodyguards here that I can talk to, Rangin." He was cynical, even though he never spoke to them once.

Rangin chuckled by seeing his brother's annoyed face, "At least find a beautiful woman, so you don't have to talk to the castle demons only."

"I would! But just haven't found the right one yet." Said Hadyan by throwing his body sitting on the sofa carved with dragons pictures.

"What are you looking for, Hadyan? The princesses are lined up waiting for you to point a finger at one of them. You're only giving yourself trouble."

"They're all the same. I just don't like them!" Hadyan said with a dizzy face. Again, his brother asked about this matter.

"I know that only humans are capable of liking the same gender," Rangin Muttered.

Then Hadyan glared at him until Rangin laughed freely, "I was just joking at you."

"Never mind. Facing you will only irritate me more!" Hadyan Mumbled. "Tomorrow I will see the state of the beach. Kasno said humans were built some building there again."

"Yes, over time they would build their buildings on this sea. Sometimes we have to act decisively so that they would know the limits." Rangin shrugged his shoulders.

"You're right. They need to realize who's really in charge here."

Rangin's arrival made Hadyan very happy. Actually, he was really lonely like what Rangin always said. But he always avoided it because he often closed himself. Regarding Queen Dewi rarely came, so he had to supervise the kingdom that made him rarely sees his family, which was just also an excuse.

Hadyan had a charming appearance. Her long, silky, straight hair was always tied up. His stocky and strong body was more looked amazing when he was wrapped in gold-plated armour. He was also the strongest snake demon in the east sea. In fact, he was a foster child of the goddess queen who was respected by other kingdoms.

It was true that many princesses were after him. But Hadyan did not like them. He was tired of the nature and behaviour of royal princesses who all looked the same. They were polite, quiet, obedient, gentle, and always smiling. If in the human world, maybe they had been equated with robots.

Because of that, Hadyan's heart was always closed even though he was lonely.

"Should you leave this soon? It feels like you only arrived yesterday." Asked Hadyan.

"My empress asked me to go home, Hadyan. She said there was something important about the palace. I couldn't refuse. Sorry if it's too sudden." Rangin explained while wearing his royal clothes with the maid's help.

"All right. I'll take you to the border by ship. I also want to feel the night air."

Rangin smiled sadly, "I'm sorry brother. We already have our own duties because we are not children anymore." Only in front of prince Rangin, the famous scary Prince Hadyan could show his child side. Because basically, he was the little brother.

"Yes, I know it," Hadyan replied as he stood up from his chair after seeing Rangin who had finished packing.

Then they stepped aboard Hadyan's big ship. Then the ship immediately rose from the bottom of the sea, split the ocean and rose to the surface of the water, greeting the dark night sky.

The ship sails on the calm choppy sea. The night was so gloomy, the stars in the sky were hiding for fear of the gloomy heart of the Prince Hadyan. Only the full moon dared to shine its light.

Finally, they reached the border. There, prince Rangin got off the ship.

"Are you sure going to the kingdom by yourself? I can take you to your palace." Asked Hadyan.

"Don't underestimate me, Hadyan. I'm not a child, I'm 600 years old." He laughed. He knew that his brother actually didn't want to accompany him, he was just lonely and wanted to pass the time.

Then Rangin transformed into a giant brown scaled snake from the waist down.

He shot into the sea. Hadyan watched him from the side of the ship. Then Rangin came out of the water again. His lower body was strong enough to match the height of the ship until he came face to face with Hadyan.

"Find a companion, Hadyan. You are already too lonely. Don't always expect war to erase your boredom. I'm going home now, take care of yourself." He said as ruffling his little brother's hair.

Hadyan didn't answer, he didn't even fix his messy hair. He just stood on the edge of the ship looking at the sea which was too calm.

The ship sailed back to the seacoast of Scales Beach. But Hadyan's sharp eyes caught the figure of a girl walking alone on the beach.

Hadyan was surprised. When his heart was gloomy, the sky around the beach would dim until the clouds covered the stars. He knew that this phenomenon was always scaring the humans, making them think that he would drag victims if anyone dares to play on the beach when the sky was so dark.

But that girl seemed to have a lot of guts. She played on the beach which was clearly empty without a single person.

"You all go back to the palace. I'm going to the beach." Hadyan exclaimed to the crew.

"Understood, My Lord!" They answered.

Then Hadyan changed his form into a large black snake and shot out of the ship.

He swam in the sea to the shore and hid behind a rock to spy on the girl. In his heart, he wondered what exactly she was doing? But he could not fight the curiosity that suddenly took over his mind.

"Maybe she is a visitor."

The girl walked with her mouth pouted and her feet occasionally kicking the sand.

Hadyan smiled amused by seeing her, "Maybe she will know the ban on playing on the beach after this." He thought, planning to prank the girl.

Then he swam closer to the shore and transformed into a cute little boy in black clothes.