Parallel Love

(POV)

Today in the morning,

The clinking sound of spoons and forks colliding on a transparent glass plate. Taran thinks this cool morning is lovely. He enjoyed his breakfast solemnly without saying a word. Every now and then, Taran looked at a woman sitting right in front of him. The woman chewed each of her breakfast quickly. Finally, Taran's enjoyment was interrupted when the woman stood up without a word and shifted the chair until it made an ear-piercing sound. She walked to the back, holding her plate of leftover food, and placed it on a kitchen bar.

The woman had short hair and looked arrogant and boring. Of course, for Taran. Taran Wisesa. Tall and handsome, his personality looks-wise, and his skin is a bit brown because of the influence of the tropical air on the island surrounded by beaches. Maybe it's getting hard to describe because Taran looks perfect. Compared to the woman who distracted Taran from enjoying breakfast. The woman is Maya Fitria. The woman's face was tense. Not much to say. In fact, she returned to the dining table to take the plate in front of Taran even though Taran had not finished his fried rice breakfast.

"You're always like this," Taran said resignedly as he chewed the rest of his breakfast and immediately took a sip of the rest of his orange juice.

"You will be late," Maya said with a straight face.

"Can't you just let me enjoy breakfast to the end?" Taran starts to complain.

"You will be late," Maya said again; she was busy tidying the dining table.

"How could I be late?! It's my own company." Taran was getting fed up. He rose from his seat. He left Maya, his wife. Of course, Maya was still busy with her dining table.

Taran didn't look at his wife. His wife is not what she used to be. His wife changed when he married her. Taran is also aware; he too began to change after marrying Maya. Taran had thought that marrying Maya was a terrible decision for him. Maya is the wrong choice. He was starting to regret it. The figure appeared again. Wait. The one who had already driven Taran mad to death?! Why did it appear recently? He just wanted the woman in his dream to come true. Not Maya. Maya was not the woman he was referring to all along. Dream? Last night Taran had another plan. After a long time, he had not seen the woman he loved. Again, of course not Maya.

At night,

Maya drives her car carefully. Her eyes focused on the future. The street she was walking on was really dark. There were no street lights along the way because Maya passed through the wilderness on her left and right. There are only a few houses with some distance from one place to another. Finally, Maya arrived at her destination. A forest was quite close to the beach. Maya can hear the sound of the waves from a distance. It was as if the night wind that blew brought the sound of the waves to Maya's ears. She parked his car at the edge of the forest. No one has touched this forest. Although there are some logs of logs in some places. Yes, the thick shrubs and some thorny plants make it difficult for lazy people to enter this forest. But not with the beach. On weekends, this beach looks crowded. Next to it is a well-maintained garden. Tonight, it is unlikely that any visitors will come to this beach. It's ten o'clock at night!

Without any fear, Maya walked toward the forest. She was tired of the beach and the sound of the waves. Before getting married, she asked Taran to build her dream house near the beach. So that she could see the sparkle of the blue sea water from the reflection of the scorching sun. Moreover, when the full moon appears across the ocean, accompanied by the appearance of many stars.

Today, it occurred to her that she wanted to go to the forest to calm down. Keeping her face away from her husband. Maya knew her husband was acting as if he didn't care about her because of her own doing. What did she did? Maya didn't feel like doing anything. The anger that she had been suppressing for months finally peaked tonight. She wanted to see how her husband would think if she wasn't home tonight. After a few months of marriage, Maya knew it was as if her husband didn't want her anymore. Her husband wanted another woman.

In the forest, she only heard the sound of dry twigs being trampled. Wrong. She should have worn sports shoes, not heels. This decision was sudden. The backpack that she had been carrying for a while now felt heavy. Her heartbeat also began to feel fast, and she was curious to go further into the forest alone. Only this half of the forest, then she will build a tent here. Suddenly, Maya saw a light that appeared slowly and then became brighter. Pretty dazzling eye. The woman was flabbergasted, astonished, and curious. She approached the ever-widening circle of light. The wind blows from time to time. Her short hair fluttered. The wind emerged from the halo. Until finally, Maya tried to touch it, and it was as if the circle had a magnet pulling her inside, then the light disappeared without a trace in an instant. The forest was dark again. Maya disappeared. Only the light of the full moon can be seen illuminating the forest. Even this time, there was no sign of life.

Five hours later,

All the police officers scattered into the forest. Only a silver car parked at the edge of the woods. Maya's car. No sign of robbery or anything in the car. Not even a hint. Taran looks panicked when he finds out that his wife is not answering his calls. Maya's tactic worked.

"Is this what you want?" said the man with rather long hair, his skin darker than Taran's.

"It's not the news of loss that I want. This makes me sad. The divorce that I want." he said. His voice trembled. There was a feeling of guilt in him.

"Divorced?!" The man with long hair glared at him. "Where have you been..." He stopped talking. Shocked to hear Taran's words.

"Just this morning crossed my mind, Danil." Taran calmed his friend, who was still shocked to hear Taran's words. Danil stood frozen.

"Yeah, this is worse than a divorce. He disappeared, not even a sign of her leaving this island. It's a small island." he said again, looking at his cell phone.

"I've already checked. Not a single human left this island. You know, right? Today is the day when all the ships are not sailing." Danil explained. Taran knows that. Taran leaned his shoulder against the car seat. He looks resigned. He was lazy to answer Danil's explanation.

"Within ten hours, the residents on this island are not found, just let it go," Danil explained again. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His shoulders lifted as he took a deep breath. He also looks resigned.

"FUCK!" Taran hits the steering wheel hard. He was annoyed. Maya makes things up.

***

(Alice)

Seven hours ago the same night,

I am thinking. I want to live in another world.

I am thinking. I want to erase all my bad memories.

I am thinking. Don't want to go home.

Hold me with your wish that I don't come back.

Make me happy.

What kind of party is this? I was told to dress ridiculously like British royalty! A long, puffy shirt, wide and heavy. I even wore an iron brace to make the clothes look puffy. The corset left me breathless. I can't believe that my best friend spent money bringing these clothes from London. Yes, my best friend married an English woman of royal descent, and this marriage happened because of me. Just because my name is Alice, my best friend's future wife got the idea for a wedding party concept, Alice in Wonderland.

I saw all the guests who came from every corner of this restaurant. Many guests stay at this island resort. The resort is located on the outskirts of the beach, quite far from the city center. Guests look elegant and dazzling in British royal attire. I really wonder where the clothes they get from? Their laughter and voice filled my ears. I realized I was alone; no one wanted to approach me or just chat. I'm the strangest woman, a broken-up woman who is now mentally ill.

"Alice!" My best friend Molly startled me from behind. He looks handsome. Yesterday he still had long hair, a thin mustache, and a beard that he still allowed to grow wildly on his face. Now? He's really handsome, especially with a shirt and coat like Prince Charles. I sighed. How lucky he is.

"Didn't reach the single men over there?" He pointed to the corner of the room in this restaurant. A group of men who are indeed single is gathered there because soon there will be a "flower throwing" event. I shook my head with a disgusted smile until I tried to take a deep breath and exhale hard.

"Thank you, Molly. I just want to enjoy the wedding party, not introduce myself to single men." I lowered my body and put my left foot back like a noble's daughter. This time it was Molly who sighed. Then I left him, kissing his cheek. I went to the dessert stand, and he was still looking at me from a distance while talking to the guests who approached him.

I walked out onto the balcony, taking in the fresh night air and munching on the cake I picked up earlier. This resort is on the outskirts of the beach; from a distance, I can hear the waves crashing very clearly. Even though the space is only a few meters, I can still see the white foam of the waves rolling on the beach sand. It's stunning. The sound of the beach rustling calms my heart, and even the occasional wind brushes my face. I think all the guests present looked happy except me. But it's not that I'm not unhappy when Molly is married. I'm just... jealous. My envy stopped suddenly because my cell phone vibrated inside the party pouch. An old man called me, and he said he was already downstairs waiting for me. I rushed to the exit and approached the old man waiting in the jeep. Maybe Molly saw me through the crowd of guests onto the path of the resort rooms.

"It's been a long time, sir waiting for me?" I greeted him friendly because I saw several incoming calls that I didn't answer before.

"Not really, Non," he said with a Malay accent with a friendly smile. His body is slightly bent.

I opened my pouch and handed him an envelope. Of course, it contained money because he wanted to take me out for a night's walk.

"Just paid right away, sir. As long as I remember." I put the envelope on the dashboard.

"Thanks, Non," he said.

Previously he was reluctant to take me to the forest. Where the forest is close to a beach. Oh yes, the island I visited is surrounded by beautiful beaches. The waves in November are not so big rolling up the sand. Bangka Belitung Island is one of the provinces in the form of an island located close to Palembang. And Molly chose to hold the wedding because Molly had a month's business trip here. This island consists of two islands. The biggest and busiest island in Bangka Island. The island I'm on now. Street lighting in one of the cities far from the provincial capital is not very good; my eyes work because the streets are pretty dark.

"What do you need, Non, to the forest? Problem e here is a lot of forests. So, you don't really understand, Non." The father started the conversation. The Malay accent made me think twice.

"Just near the beach, sir. Forest near the beach. At least I can still hear the sound of the waves." I answered the original.

Even which forest I don't know. My left and right are all forests. Although there are several houses with a reasonably far distance from other places.

"Yes, No." Then the father didn't talk to me anymore. Finally, my father stopped me in the forest. The road is a bit run down and narrow. I almost got sick of it. This damn corset makes it impossible to eat big and even breathe.

"No, where's Grandma? These are the nights. Dark Non." The father was starting to worry; the funny thing was he even gave me a rather large flashlight. I began to turn on the flashlight. Bright enough.

"Just a moment, sir. Just one hour. Then I will come back here again."

Maybe I saw the father's eyes widen in surprise.

"You can just wait here. Yes....maybe not even an hour, sir." I reassured. The father could not move.

"Okay, No. I'll just wait here. I hope Non doesn't get lost." His voice was resigned.

I started the flashlight. Testing how far the flashlight can illuminate its journey into the forest. Oh, pretty good. This flashlight is a long-range flashlight. I did not look back at the father. Though he watched me until I disappeared into the forest. Sure enough, I heard the sound of the waves crashing in the distance. The sound of the waves could be heard faintly. My intention was to go into the forest because of my dream last night when I arrived on this island. I've had this dream before. But... I totally forgot. I've met that guy before, but... yeah, I forgot.

Yesterday evening. Dream.

My feet move fast. My long hair is flowing. I realized that I was not wearing shoes. My feet stepped on the very white sand beach. I could see it was white in the moonlight. I was suddenly startled by a male voice that I thought I had known for a long time.

"Alice... you want to wait there?" The man pointed towards the wilderness next to this beach. His long arms wrapped around my waist. I glanced at him for a moment, then my eyes quickly fell on where he was pointing with his free hand.

"What for?" I'm surprised.

"I will hide you." He smirked. "You are my prisoner."

I frowned.

"Oh, Alice! I am kidding!"

I smiled too.

"Okay... wait for me, Taran."

After that, I woke up. I woke up still in bed with Kate, Molly's future wife. I sat on the edge of the bed. My feet dangled, and I saw that my feet were dirty, filled with sand.

Forest near the beach. Okay.

Two hours later,

In the forest near the coast,

I complained in my heart; the ground I stepped on was bit wet and sticky. Luckily the shoes I wore were semi-boots. I walk straight. Not turning. Without realizing it, I've been walking for more than 15 minutes. Maybe I'm already in the middle of the woods, I thought. The sound of the waves sounded very close now. I fumbled for my pouch and took out my cell phone. The phone screen only had two signal bars left, and even the internet data wasn't on. I laughed inside. Of course. What to expect if you have entered the forest like this. I just wanted to take a walk because of a dream last night.

The more I walked inside, the more I couldn't see anything to my left and right because of the state of this forest, where there were so many big trees that the sky couldn't be seen at all, covered in tall tree leaves. I tripped many times while walking. My steps are small. Very careful; still, I tripped. I stopped in my steps when the light of my flashlight caught a large tree; there was an old wooden plank hanging there. The writing was barely legible to my eyes. The light from my flashlight couldn't even catch all the words on the board. With heart and patience, I traced all the letters.

STEP CAREFULLY

Even without the writing, I've been careful to walk. I took a deep breath. I don't know how long the board had been standing there. Maybe because there is a flowing river or a swamp in front of this forest. Then my footsteps started to get heavy. The ground I stepped on was getting wet and sticky. My boots sink deeper into the ground. Damn. Correct! It's a swamp. If I'm sucked in and can't be found... I don't go on with my thoughts anymore, die. Do you want to die, or do you want to live? This question has been in my mind for a long time. The feeling of wanting to die is more incredible than continuing to live happily. I went further with difficulty. Moments later, I heard strange noises that seemed like water. River? Is it a waterfall? I sharpened my hearing; the sound of the waves was still evident. The sounds caught by my ears cannot be filtered by my brain clearly.

How can this forest have rivers flowing and even waterfalls?

Finally, I decided to turn around. Looking for another way because my steps are already heavy. I almost tried to lift my legs up, but the marshland was sucking me in even more. Is this land alive? My heart started beating fast. Panic. With My little steps, I struggled to get out of the mud trap of the swamp. After that, I dropped the flashlight. I stupidly tried to pick it up, and I was sucked into the swamp mud quickly. I could see a white light in the mud slowly pulling me deeper. It's over!

BYUURR...!

It turned out that the white light threw me into the water. It really makes me sick all over my body. I can still see my flashlight floating in the water. Then, the light from the flashlight died suddenly. I can't see anything. Really. I find it difficult to swim because of this dress. I'm in the water. There was a great fear inside of me. I'm afraid of being eaten by sharks or similar marine animals. Or I follow the flow of the river and get carried away somewhere. I could conclude that I was at sea because the water was salty. But is there a sea in the middle of a forest like this? Isn't it a river? Wasn't the one I stepped on the swamp land? So, when I was sucked into this swamp mud, I fell into the sea? I decided to swim up and breathe; the light slowly faded away. Dim. Then it got dark, and I was still trying to swim, and I was starting to run out of breath.

I just remember. I accidentally got caught in the mud of the swamp. Get sucked into it. It turned out that a white light pulled me in and threw me into the sea in the mud. I think I'm starting to understand. God answered my prayer. Is my death near? Hopefully, I was beginning to run out of breath. I would be happier if no one knew where I died, for what, and by whom if I died. I was excited mixed with great fear. Another light appeared. This time it was beautiful.

***

(Taran)

A few hours after Maya disappeared

The same few hours after, Alice was sucked into a hole.

Danil smoked his cigarette, which was only inches away, and inhaled it deeply. I watched and waited for him to blow the smoke out of his body. I have mixed feelings.

"You know the rules in this country..." said Danil. He threw the butt of his cigarette into a pot plant with leaves that I don't know the name of. Even though I grew it. Yes, Maya has never touched any of the plants in this front yard. "A person who has been missing for more than three hours is considered missing."

"Are you sure the police have mobilized their troops to look for Maya?" I asked doubtfully. Danil looked at me as if I was living in another world.

"What kind of guarantee do you want? There's no trace of Maya at all." Danil looks frustrated.

I am quiet.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Daniel narrowed his eyes at me.

I choked.

"But not disappearing like this. I don't even know if she ran away or...." I didn't continue my words. My voice is low, so the neighbors don't hear us chatting. Although the distance from one house to another is about 30 meters. There are only a few houses in this area. You could say this area is an area that has good views or is elite; I built this house before I married Maya.

"We'll see tomorrow. Whether we find Maya's body, she was indeed an accident or something." Danil's voice also decreased.

I saw Danil. My heart is broken, and the guilt overwhelms me. I shouldn't have mistreated Maya from the beginning. I should have known that Maya was not the woman I wanted, but I was waiting for Maya to become the woman I wanted.

Danil ignored my feelings. He's tired of confronting me about the woman I've been dreaming of for decades. Danil stepped open the fence and disappeared in his car. While I was still sitting quietly in the courtyard, I saw Kasim coming with the net he had rolled up.

"Night, Sir." His voice is sad. I know he is saddened by the loss of my wife. A skinny, skinny man looked strong. His skin color is jet black. Characteristics of a hardworking old man. He worked for my family longer than any other household assistant.

"Want to sail?" I asked Kasim.

"Yes, Nyai Dasimah told me to stock up for the next few days," he said.

"I'll come with you."

I am standing. Opened the door that connected to the living room while Kasim stopped walking. He was walking towards the side alley that led directly to the beach.

"What do you mean, Sir?" Kasim couldn't believe it.

Because I haven't sailed in a long time. Since I married Maya. She doesn't like me sailing because of the smell. Even though I came home from sailing several times, I always took a shower before meeting Maya.

"I just want to sail, Kasim," I said weakly. "Wait for me."

"Yes, Sir. I'll be waiting by the boat."

I entered the house and saw the whole house. The presence or absence of Maya seems to be the same. Maya often goes with her friends. My footsteps faltered towards the kitchen. I was hungry and had no intention of opening the serving hood that covered some of the side dishes on the dining table. I just took a glass of water and gulped it down.

The breeze that entered the house through the air holes made me realize that I had been daydreaming for a few seconds.

"Master, not eating?" asked Nyai Dasimah when she appeared in the kitchen. Nyai Dasimah is an almost old woman. She started working for my family when I graduated from high school. Her face is beautiful, and her skin is a bit dark. I like Nyai Dasimah because she works to take care of my family. Now take care of me. Kasim is her husband.

"Not. Tonight will be sailing with Kasim. If there's anything, let me know as soon as possible."

I can't predict Nyai Dasimah's feelings. Either happy or sad.

"Oh yes, Sir."

(POV)

Kasim was busy arranging the nets he had brought from home. He was forced to walk from his house, which was quite far, to his Master's house tonight. The reason is that his wife, Nyai Dasimah, told him to go fishing. His wife has had a bad feeling since she discovered that Maya had disappeared. So, the stock of food must be a lot. So she said.

"You think we will hold a prayer or something at home? Did you think Madam died!!?" spray Kasim did not like the thought of his wife. He was holding his cell phone, which was old school this afternoon.

"Yes, I just told you." His wife's voice sounded guilty. What can I do? Kasim followed his wife's words.

Tonight Kasim went to sea looking for fish. Surprisingly, when his Master's wife disappeared, his master went to sea with him. Even though it had been a long time since he married, his master had not gone to sea with him.

Kasim had finished two cigarettes while waiting for his master.

"Let's go." reprimanded his master from behind. His master was seen carrying two large bottles of mineral water. "Have you had dinner, Kasim?"

"Yes, sir."

"If not, go eat. There's still plenty of food in the kitchen."

"Yes, sir. It is okay. The weather is fine tonight, and we'll be home quickly."

"Bring a lot of fish?" The master asked.

Tired face. Always like this. It's been years. Reportedly, ever since his master's study abroad, he has had a difficult life. Kasim didn't know exactly what it was. What is certain, when returning from abroad, a few months later, Great Master, Master Junior's Father, died suddenly and made the Master shut himself in the hill house for several months. Kasim also heard rumors from his wife that his master was heartbroken.

Kasim and his master took turns boarding the boat. Kasim had already removed his little anchor, and SHIT!

"What is it, Kasim?" rebuke the master.

DUUUKK.

Kasim walked to the back of the ship and looked down. The ocean isn't that deep; it's still around an adult's chest.

"There seems to be something up, sir," tell Kasim.

"Stone? Seems impossible, huh? It doesn't sound like that."

"Let me go down first to check," Kasim suggested.

"Wait! Wait. Just me." His master agilely got off the boat and jumped. His whole body was drenched.

At first, Kasim did not have any thoughts.

"KASIM!!!!" shouted the Master.

Kasim poked his head down. A human. Her clothes were strange, and she had long hair. Geez! Kasim choked.

Finally, Kasim shifted his boat. His master dragged the body to the shore. Kasim's breath was still out of breath from shock. What if the body is dead?

Kasim quickly got off the boat, dragged his boat back to the shore, and looked for a small anchor. He saw his Master laying the body in the sand, away from the waves. There is something strange. His master looked panicked when he saw the body and called out a name that Kasim thought was familiar. A woman.

"Alice? Alice?" His master patted her cheek against the body he had just discovered. Her long hair was pulled back, and her body was limp and blue. Taran decided to make artificial respiration. "Kasim calls an ambulance!!" he shouted. "Alice! Wake up, Alice!"

The master panicked half to death. Almost crying.

"Help Alice!" His master repeatedly gave artificial respiration and pumped the body's chest that turned out to be a woman. Named Alice. His master had stuck his index finger to the woman's nostril. Then check his pulse. No reaction at all. Taran just stuck.

"KASIM!!!" angry him. Then Kasim ran away from Taran to get his cellphone placed in the kitchen cupboard.

When Kasim ran, he clearly heard his Master shouting at the woman.

"Alice, please... Just this once, Alice, please."

***