Flying Creatures and Selamet

How embarrassing!! My eyes dropped to my tied wrist—I felt like a prisoner. Maybe I really should start learning Indonesian.

I glanced at him, but he remained indifferent. I eventually drifted back into my own world as we walked in silence. Once we reached the parking lot, I helped him load the bags as soon as Arjuna untied the string.

"Gita's family owns a car rental business. We’ve been partners for quite a while," Arjuna explained.

"Oh... soka! No wonder you two seem so close."

"Yup, we’ve known each other since we were kids. She’s three years younger than me. She’s a good kid, always cheerful."

Stupid! Is it even polite to praise another girl in front of one? You’re definitely no prince!!

"All set! Let’s head home."

I climbed into the car, pulling the door shut with a bit of a slam. The engine vibrated, and we drove off. I leaned my forehead against the cold windowpane, watching the rows of frangipani trees and shops blur past.

A 'Prince' is supposed to be the image of a perfect man; there’s no way he’d be this annoying. Even if... he is handsome.

I went back to reading my web novel to distract myself. Occasionally, I peeked outside as the orange glow of the setting sun began to pierce through the glass. Suddenly, a hand reached over and lowered the sun visor on my side.

I stole a glance at him. He remained focused on the road, acting as if he hadn't just done something so thoughtful. I looked back at my phone, a smile creeping onto my face beyond my control.

Wait... why am I acting like this? Since when!? It’s probably just him being polite. His teasing is just for his own amusement; there’s no way he’s serious. You don’t want this either, Koharu. A prince is perfection. Snap out of it!!

We finally arrived back at the guest house. As the car stopped, Gita immediately walked over from the reception desk.

"Koharu-chan, you’re our guest. Let me handle this, okay?"

Suddenly calling me 'chan'? Are we really that close already?

"I-I can help!" I stammered, frantically grabbing one of the grocery bags before Gita could get closer to Arjuna. Gita only nodded with a smile.

We went back and forth carrying the groceries, dividing them among the three kitchens. Once finished, Gita went home, and Arjuna waited by the reception desk. I retreated straight to my room and collapsed onto the bed.

Today had featured far too many humiliating moments!

Triiiiing-ring-ring! Pyu-pyu-pyu~!

vaguely heard my phone ringing. With heavy eyelids, I fumbled around the mattress until I found it. It was a video call from Mika.

Beep…

I saw Mika, but my vision was still a blur. It looked like there were three Mikas, each acting differently. I blinked a few times. Ah, it was Shiori and Nao too.

We talked for a long time—everything from Shiori’s new apartment to Nao showing off a Taehyung-inspired beanie she had made herself. It hit me then that I was still in Bali. A sudden wave of homesickness washed over me, but I fought it back so they wouldn't worry.

Brak…

The sudden noise made the hair on my neck stand up. I whipped my head toward the door. Arjuna burst into the room, his face—usually as calm and composed as a high-end fashion model—now contorted in a mask of pure, unadulterated panic. He gripped a bundle of stiff, yellowing sticks—something that looked like a Japanese 'hoki', though I didn't know its local name—with white-knuckled intensity. He wielded it more like a desperate survivor in a zombie flick than a graceful prince.

The moment that creature took flight, his 'cool' aura evaporated instantly. I watched, paralyzed, as he scrambled onto the empty bed, his long legs flailing as he dodged and weaved with the frantic energy of a cornered boxer. The 'Prince of the Airport' was gone; in his place was a man engaged in a life-or-death struggle with a two-inch insect.

Wh-what is he doing!? If you're going to sweep, you don't hold it up like that, right? Is he going to hit me? Should I ask?

"A-Arjuna, wh-what are you planning to do with that?"

"A cockroach got in. I’ve been chasing it since I was upstairs."

"A COCKROACH!! GET OUT, YOU FILTHY CREATURE!!!"

Plak…

Why was he making such a fuss over a cockroach? Does he hate them that much? It’s just an insect. You’re right, Koharu. A prince is an elegant figure, not... whatever this is.

As Arjuna scanned every corner, the cockroach suddenly took flight, heading straight for him. I watched blankly as he panicked, jumping onto the empty bed and dodging like a boxer in the middle of a championship fight. He struggled to land a hit because the roach kept landing on him, sending him sprinting out of the room in a frenzy. Unfortunately, the cockroach followed him.

I turned slowly toward my phone on the table. Mika, Shiori, and Nao looked just as stunned as I was. The ramen Mika had just picked up slipped from her hand. We continued talking until late at night, though the mood had definitely shifted.

The next morning, light seeped through the gaps in the curtains. I pulled them open, and the reality of my 'escape' rushed back to me. After freshening up, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Would Arjuna be embarrassed? That behavior was so bizarre for someone with such a handsome face. And then there were those three... what on earth was that all about! I’m not even involved with the guy who caused all that fuss, no matter what they say. But honestly, being here... it almost makes me forget I’m even running away from home.

When I arrived at the kitchen, Arjuna was scurrying around as if searching for something, wielding a spray bottle with a crossed-out insect icon.

Look at him!!! When we first met, he was straight out of a novel or a manhwa. Those girls who were staring at him at the mall would lose all feelings if they saw him like this.

I ignored him and opened a drawer, finding some instant noodles. However, I had no idea how to prepare them.

Thud…

"Ouch!!"

A sudden, solid weight pressed against my back, and I spun around instinctively. It was Arjuna. For the first time, there was no barrier—no cold plastic, no sterile distance. The slightly rough, warm texture of his bare skin grazed my left arm, sending a jolt through my system that made my breath hitch. It felt as if I were standing barefoot on flowing lava; the heat radiated from the point of contact, spreading until my entire body felt like it was simmering at a boiling point. I was a statue, frozen by the sheer electricity of a simple, accidental touch.

We... we're TOUCHING!!! I’M FEELING HIS ACTUAL SKIN WITHOUT ANY GLOVES!!! WHAT DO I DO!? Is he not aware? Should I say something? Better try, before I turn into a permanent statue.

"Ahem!!!" Our backs were still brushed against each other. "AHEM!!! COUGH-COUGH!!!"

"Oh! Koharu, sorry, I didn't see you." We faced each other, but his eyes were darting everywhere. "By the way, are you coughing? I have cough medicine. Do you want some?"

"Eh... no, no need!"

Tap... tap... tap…

I could hear my own footsteps accelerating, like a high-speed chase scene from Kung Fu Hustle. As I slowed down near the lobby, I noticed a man sitting at the reception desk.

Is he a guest? Wait, why is a guest eating at the reception desk? How rude.

"You’re that Japanese guest, right? The first one since the guest house reopened."

I looked right, left, and even behind me to see who he was talking to.

"You. I’m talking to you."

"Oh! Yes, that's me. I'm Koharu."

"I'm Selamet. I actually work here, but since we were closed for a bit, I took a temporary job with Gita's family."

Se... who? Se-la-me-to? Selamet? It must be a local name.

"Want some porridge? I'll order some; the vendor is still parked out front."

My head bobbed up and down rapidly. Porridge is usually food for sick people, but I didn't care—I WAS HUNGRY!!!

He got up, left his food, and stepped outside. I waited on a long iron bench. After a few moments, he returned with a bowl. I accepted the bowl from Selamet, the steam rising in inviting swirls that carried the savory scent of turmeric and fried shallots.

"In Indonesian, we call this 'bubur'," Selamet said while taking a spoonful of his own.

"Strange, this is supposed to be food for the sick."

Selamet only laughed. We ate together in the lobby since the bowls belonged to the vendor. Even though I wasn't sick, the first spoonful felt like a warm embrace for my empty stomach. The porridge was creamy and rich, punctuated by the crunch of crackers and the saltiness of shredded chicken. I found myself eating with an almost desperate hunger, my cheeks puffed out as I finished every last grain, momentarily forgetting the chaos of my life in the simple, messy joy of a local breakfast.

Selamet stacked our bowls and took them back to the vendor. Not long after, Arjuna appeared, still clutching his insect spray. When Selamet returned, he started laughing and pointing at the spray. He looked at me, trying to stifle his laughter.

"I'm laughing because whenever he carries that, he’s definitely holding a personal grudge against a cockroach. He’s terrified of them! Hahahaha."

I felt a bead of cold sweat form on my temple. It was surreal seeing him hold such a serious vendetta against a single cockroach. The 'Prince' image from the airport was crumbling even further. Arjuna suddenly crumpled a piece of paper and stuffed it into Selamet's wide-open mouth. Looking annoyed, he headed up the stairs while muttering something.

"He told me to go pick up a guest. Someone will be arriving here soon. I hope it doesn't disturb you."

"Don't worry about it. Etto... thank you for translating for me."

Selamet grabbed something from the desk drawer and headed out, but then he suddenly turned back. He pulled out a car key and handed it to me.

"I forgot, please give this to the young boss. This is his operational car; tell him the maintenance is finished. It was supposed to be ready yesterday."

"Alright, I'll let him know."

Selamet gave me a thumbs-up with a smile and left the guest house. I looked down at the car key in my hand. It felt unexpectedly heavy, the cold metal biting into my palm as I stared at the luxury emblem.

A luxury car? And a new guest is coming... but what kind of person? Where are they from? A man or a woman? OH! WHAT IF IT’S ACTUALLY AN AGENT SENT BY MY FATHER?! 

My heart started to race, and I couldn't stop my eyes from darting toward the entrance. This is just like a thriller movie... the hunter is finally closing in on me, isn't he?