Episode 12

"Ahhh!" Clarissa's anguished scream pierced the air.

Clarissa's body hit the ground as the baseball bat connected with her head. Her traditional kebaya, though elegant, hindered her escape, its snug fit making it difficult to run.

Nonetheless, Clarissa persisted, attempting to flee even as her head throbbed painfully from the blows delivered by her own cousin.

"Ha ha ha," the mocking laughter of her own family felt like a cruel blade against Clarissa's heart. Tears streamed from her eyes as she continued to sprint away.

THUD!

THUD!

Her cousin struck her again and again with the baseball bat, each hit causing her to stagger until her head collided with the massive banyan tree nearby. Clarissa's vision faded to black as she saw her parents standing close by, looking at her with smiles.

Returning their smiles, Clarissa felt her life slipping away from her exhausted body.

"Clarissa! What you did is unforgivable!" Uncle Jack's voice boomed as he approached Clarissa's motionless form. "She's probably just unconscious, Dad. Let's check," a scared Clarissa suggested.

"Clarissa is dead!" her father exclaimed in a panic.

Thump!

Dimas woke with a start as he heard something fall in his room. Gasping for breath, his dream had featured someone he knew entangled in the brutal demise of Clarissa.

Disoriented, Dimas realized it was a book from his desk that had fallen. Sitting up, he tried to gather his scattered thoughts, as sweat drenched his body, trickling all the way down to his hips. It was a sunlit day, yet his dreams had been dark.

One thing Dimas distinctly recalled from his nightmare was Clarissa being beaten to death by a girl named Clarissa. It felt so vivid, it could have happened in reality.

Seeking clarity amidst a sudden headache, Dimas grabbed the water bottle from his bedside table and drank half its content. Soon after, he felt a sense of calm return.

Standing up, he headed to his desk to retrieve the fallen book. Bending down, he picked it up and placed it back on the desk.

Turning to leave his room for a breath of fresh air, he didn't notice the kebaya-clad woman from his dream standing near the desk, silently directing Dimas to help free her spirit from the cold, lonely place she was trapped in. She longed to pass on in peace.

Exiting his room, Dimas's hunger led him to consider lunch. In the kitchen, he rummaged through the fridge, finding only eggs and sausages in the freezer.

With limited options, Dimas decided to whip up fried rice with the available ingredients. "No side dishes, but fried rice it is," he informed himself.

His housemates Riko and Satrio, chatting outside, caught the scent of his cooking, and their stomachs growled in anticipation, coaxing them indoors.

Before long, the fried rice was ready, filling three plates—Dimas had cooked enough for his friends.

Riko and Satrio beamed, thankful for Dimas's cooking. Their faith in his culinary skills meant they didn't doubt the quality of the meal before them—even if it was a simple dish of fried rice.

Riko corrected Satrio's playful complaint about their meal. "If anything, we should feel grateful, Sat. We're about to be well-fed," clarifying that their satisfaction came from both the food and the camaraderie.

Dimas shook his head, smiling at their good-natured debate. His friends' eagerness to enjoy his cooking filled him with pride.

Dimas teased them about their audible hunger before they all settled down to eat. The meal was satisfying, especially paired with sweet iced tea on such a blistering day.

Once the meal concluded, Dimas turned the conversation to his troubling dream about a girl named Clarissa. Riko and Satrio listened intently as he recounted his vivid nightmare.

Dimas expressed curiosity about the inclusion of the name Clarissa and her eerie resemblance to a Clarissa who worked at the government office.

Taken aback by the implications, Riko mentioned the ghost rumored to haunt the banyan tree, suggesting Dimas's dream might be a message from the spirit.

"How can we tell if it's a clue or just a product of sleep?" Dimas pondered aloud.

"True, it could be the spirit's way of seeking help through dreams," Satrio added, supporting Dimas's speculation.

Riko, weighed down by their conjecture, proposed they consult with Grandpa Jake, who was due to arrive the next day, hoping he could shed light on the enigmatic dream.

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