"IONA!" Joe screamed so loudly from inside the car, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. "STOP, SIR! STOP!" Joe commanded, shouting right into the driver’s ear.
As soon as the car screeched to a halt, Joe flung the door open and ran with all his might toward his beloved, who lay helpless on the ground. His heart shattered at the sight of blood oozing from numerous wounds on Iona’s body. That fragile frame was broken, mirroring the devastation in Joe’s heart at that moment. It felt as though a nightmare was clawing at his soul with the jagged edges of reality. Guilt consumed his conscience. Now, only a relentless loop of 'should haves' echoed in Joe's head.
I should have tried to listen to her. I should have answered all her calls and messages. I should not have been so rash in accepting this arranged marriage. I should have stopped sooner and held her.
(Sumber: Gemini)
Joe knelt, leaning over Iona’s lifeless body. He lifted and embraced her with profound tenderness, holding her so tightly that his tuxedo slowly stained a deep crimson. A few curious bystanders gathered, drawn by the sound of the violent impact. Among them was Manda, still in her beautiful, shimmering wedding gown. It was a hauntingly tragic sight—so heartbreaking that even Manda broke into sob, overcome with guilt.
Suddenly, the man stopped his wailing and screamed, ordering the crowd to call an ambulance. He followed his beloved to the hospital, completely indifferent to the fact that his wedding guests were waiting for him at the church. Though he initially refused to accept the reality of Iona's death, Joe eventually understood and left his lover’s remains. He watched as that petite body disappeared behind a wooden casket, which was then buried beneath the earth.
On the day of Iona’s funeral, Jena appeared consumed by guilt and apologized to Ira. Their family relationship, once fraught with tension and resentment, slowly returned to normal, though still heavy with regret. Joe, predictably, spent his days lost in thought and tears—not much different from Vigeno, who had loved Iona with all his heart. That event changed everything about Jodhokerto and everyone within it.
＊✿❀ ❀✿＊
The girl woke up with a jolt. She blinked repeatedly. It turned out it wasn't a dream. The proof lay in the fact that she had awakened in a strange room, inhabiting a body that wasn't hers. An unfamiliar pain throbbed throughout her frame. Her legs and arms stung, and her back felt incredibly stiff—as if she had been lying in bed for days.
Iona’s head throbbed. She closed her eyes in horror, remembering the sensation of being hit by a truck at high speed. The last memory burned into her mind was Joe’s scream and the agonizing pain piercing her heart. Joe... that man must be as shattered as she was now. Iona wanted to cry; she wanted to find a way home to Jodhokerto. She wanted to know where Joe was. How was he doing? Had he gone through with his marriage to Manda?
However, the stinging pain in this alien body forced her into reality: she was no longer the petite Iona. She had to figure out where she was before she could even think of a way back to Joe. She had to fight for everything, no matter what it took.
A large mirror standing directly in front of her clearly revealed her current form—this person named Stella. She gently traced her face—her eyes, her nose, her lips. Stella was strikingly beautiful with sharp, defined features. She was a stark contrast to Iona's former cute and petite appearance. Stella’s body seemed taller, too; even her feet felt larger.
She surveyed her surroundings, startled to find the room filled with red furniture and decor. It seemed Stella was truly obsessed with the color. From the wall paint to the desk, the chairs, and even the sheets and blankets covering her—almost everything carried a deep, dark red tone.
For a moment, Iona paused, unsure of how to feel. Should she be happy or mournful? Though she was back in the world of the living, she was now trapped in a new body—Stella—someone she didn't know at all. Remembering something, she quickly climbed out of the large bed. With limping steps, she began to explore, searching for any information about who Stella was.
Iona walked over to a dark red desk in the corner of the room. She opened and inspected the books one by one, looking for a journal, a private letter, or any form of identification. Anything. She then moved on to open every locker she could find. Luckily, she found a maroon wallet in one of them. She slowly opened it to pull out the identity card.
(Sumber: Gemini)
Province: Central Java
Regency: Purnapura
Name: Stella Viviana
Place/Date of Birth: Parirejo, January 19, 2005
Gender: Female
Blood Type: AB
Address: Red Rose Vanney No. 12, Purnapura, Indonesia.
A Capricorn, apparently—the polar opposite of her own sign, Cancer. Call Iona silly for believing in zodiacs, but for her, they helped a lot, especially in understanding someone’s personality. However, Iona felt uneasy about who Stella truly was. Why had she woken up in such a gruesome state, with so many slash wounds and bruises on her body? Had she been in a massive fight? Or was she actually a member of the mafia?
Iona fell silent, staring again at the ID card of the girl who was two years younger than her.
"Purnapura is a city famous for its mafia and high crime rates... it’s possible Stella is the daughter of one of them," she muttered, studying Stella’s photo on the right side of the card. "At least it’s only Purnapura... the distance to Jodhokerto is probably only six hours from here."
Iona exhaled and tucked the card back into its place.
"Looking at all this furniture, Stella clearly comes from a wealthy family. But who is she?"
Just as she finished her monologue, her vision suddenly went dark. Everything felt empty again. Iona felt as if she were standing but not touching the ground—perhaps she was floating. She couldn't feel her body; she felt weightless.
"Your time is short."
Iona gasped. A very familiar figure approached her—a man dressed entirely in black, suddenly standing tall before her.
"Time...? For what?"
"She has arrived."
Iona clamped her mouth shut, swallowing her question. From behind her, the ghost of Stella appeared, looking restless and breathless. Iona watched in awe as a figure as light and transparent as a hologram materialized before her eyes.
(Sumber: Gemini)
"Sister... please convey my apologies to everyone at home, especially Father." Even as a spirit, her hands could reach out and firmly grasp the hands of a shocked Iona. "Please return all the love he gave me... make him happy. Make him realize that what he’s doing is wrong..."
After saying those words, her soul unraveled and vanished. It was as if she were swept away by the wind, consumed by time. She left without a trace, without a sound. Iona shuddered in horror. It felt as though she had just seen a ghost—which, in reality, she had.
"Where did she go?" Iona asked reflexively.
"It is not your right to know."
Iona went silent again. She felt she had crossed a line set by the figure. It was probably better not to know. What was a secret should remain a secret. Moreover, the reality was that she was going to live in this world again.
"Now, you will fully return to Stella’s body. You will live as her."
"Wait—"
"Hey, are you awake?"
Iona was startled beyond measure. Suddenly, she was back in that intimidating room—Stella’s all-red bedroom. She was also surprised by a man, whoever he was, who had opened the door and was smiling at her.
She racked her brain, trying to think. She studied the man intently. Was he Stella’s boyfriend? A friend? A best friend? Her brother? Iona felt a sharp pain in her head from thinking too hard. Her body weakened and swayed to the side, prompting the man to rush toward her, catching her tenderly.
"You really are a troublesome little sister, aren't you?"
Iona said nothing. She simply allowed the man to carry her back to the bed. He sat her down and even lifted her legs one by one so she could lie back down on the plush mattress.
(Sumber: Gemini)
Fiki let out a long sigh, staring into his sister's eyes which now felt like those of a stranger. "The doctor said the impact on your head was severe, Stell. I know you might not remember who I am right now, but please... don't look at me like I'm a complete stranger. It hurts."
Iona blinked repeatedly. She was confused as the man smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "I'm sorry I left you alone back then... I'm just glad I didn't lose my one and only annoying little sister."
"Who are you?" Iona finally found the courage to speak.
"Do I really have to introduce myself?" The man smiled sadly. "I'm Fiki, your only sibling. Your older brother," explained the man claiming to be Fiki.
"Brother..."
"How does it feel to be in a coma for a month? Tough, right?"
Iona remained silent, scratching the back of her neck as she processed this.
"If it’s too heavy, you don't have to answer. I was just curious." Fiki grinned widely, forcing Iona to offer a small, strained smile in return.
"What... happened to me?" Iona asked, slightly lifting her hands, which were bandaged in various places. She was clarifying the cause of her injuries to Fiki. Perhaps this way, she could learn more about what had happened or who she truly was. She wanted to find out.
"You were found near the old warehouse at the edge of town. You were jumped by our family’s arch-rivals, Waterson’s goons. Probably twelve or thirteen people." Fiki laughed, startling Iona with his sudden reaction. "I thought even twenty people couldn't defeat my overpowered sister. I guess I was wrong. Especially since they were armed."
Iona nodded slightly, carefully digesting Fiki’s words. So, Stella had been swarmed by a mob until she died; that explained the numerous slashes and bruises. Fortunately, her body hadn't been defiled by any depraved acts she might have imagined. Stella was apparently a fierce fighter who knew martial arts?!
"Your silat moves weren't enough that time, huh?" Fiki joked, trying to lighten the mood. However, Iona could see that the man was genuinely overjoyed to see her. "You should rest now. You need a lot of energy to recover. Call me or 'Mas Bro' if you need anything, okay?"
Though confused by what Fiki meant by "Mas Bro"—whether it was a nickname for Fiki himself or someone else entirely—Iona simply nodded. Fiki smiled and left Stella’s room, which now belonged entirely to Iona.
Would you like me to help you brainstorm the next scene, such as Iona’s first encounter with the mysterious "Mas Bro" or her first attempt to practice Stella’s martial arts?
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