Chapter 1: The Stranger on the Hill
The sun began to dip behind the lush green hills, casting long shadows over Villa Cempaka. The air was crisp, and the scent of wildflowers mingled with the earthy aroma of pine trees. The evening sky was painted with hues of orange and purple, but for Marissa, the beauty of the sunset did little to lift the weight in her heart. She had made this walk up the hill countless times before, a silent routine she had developed over the past decade since her husband’s passing. It was a quiet escape, a way to clear her mind and find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos of running her business and caring for her children.
Today was no different. Marissa climbed the familiar path, her steps slow and deliberate, as if each carried the burden of ten years of loneliness. Her breath was shallow, her mind distant, replaying the same old memories that haunted her. She could still remember her husband’s laughter echoing through the villa, the way he would wrap his arms around her after a long day. But those memories had faded into a distant echo, and in their place was a gaping void that no amount of success or wealth could fill.
Lost in her thoughts, Marissa barely noticed the tightness in her chest or the way her vision began to blur. She stumbled, her hand reaching out to steady herself against a nearby tree, but her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground. The world around her spun, and then everything went black.
Not far from where Marissa lay, Arga was setting up his tent, trying to distract himself from the mess he had left behind in the city. The hill was quiet, the perfect place to hide from the chaos that had engulfed his life. His business had crumbled, leaving him with debt and angry creditors. It felt like the walls were closing in on him, and he had no choice but to run. This hill was his sanctuary, where he could breathe without constant reminders of his failures.
As Arga finished setting up camp, he decided to take a walk before it got too dark. He hadn’t been here long, but the tranquility of the place was already starting to calm his restless mind. He wandered down a narrow path, his eyes scanning the hillside, when he noticed something unusual—a figure lying motionless on the ground, partially hidden behind a cluster of bushes.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he was seeing. But as he moved closer, his heart skipped a beat. It was a woman, her face pale and her eyes closed as if she had drifted off to sleep on the hillside. Arga’s instincts kicked in, and he rushed to her side, kneeling to check if she was breathing.
“Hey, are you okay?” he called out, gently shaking her shoulder. There was no response. Panic surged through him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He could see the faint rise and fall of her chest, a sign that she was still breathing, but she was unresponsive. Without wasting another moment, he scooped her into his arms, surprised by how light she felt, and began to make his way back up the hill.
As he carried her, Arga’s mind raced with questions. Who was she? What was she doing out here all alone? But most of all, he wondered if she would be okay. He quickened his pace, eyes scanning the path ahead, hoping to spot someone who could help. But the hill was as deserted as it had been when he arrived.
When he finally reached the top, he saw the outline of a grand villa, its lights glowing softly against the encroaching dusk. He had noticed it earlier but hadn’t given it much thought. Now, he was grateful for its presence, hoping it belonged to the woman he was carrying. Approaching the gate, he called out, his voice strained but urgent. “Hello! Is anyone here?”
A moment later, the door opened, and a young girl stepped out, her eyes widening as she saw Arga carrying Marissa. “Mom!” she cried, rushing forward. “What happened to her?”
“I found her on the path, unconscious,” Arga explained, slightly out of breath. “She needs help.”
The girl, Sinta, immediately led Arga inside, guiding him to a cozy living room where he gently laid Marissa on a plush sofa. Sinta hurried to fetch a damp cloth, pressing it against her mother’s forehead. As she did, she looked up at Arga, her eyes filled with concern and gratitude. “Thank you for bringing her here. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t found her.”
Arga nodded, his mind still processing everything that had just happened. “Is there someone I can call? A doctor, maybe?”
Sinta shook her head. “She has a condition… Sometimes, she overexerts herself, and this happens. I’ll watch her, but she’ll be okay.” Her words were meant to be reassuring, but Arga could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
As they waited for Marissa to wake up, Sinta offered Arga a cup of tea, and they sat in silence, occasionally glancing over at Marissa. Arga’s thoughts were conflicted. He had come to this hill to escape his problems, yet he was caught in someone else’s. It felt strange, but somehow, it was also grounding. He had been running for so long, trying to avoid facing his failures, but at this moment, he felt a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt in months.
After what felt like an eternity, Marissa stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She blinked, trying to understand where she was, and her gaze eventually settled on Arga. “Who…?” she whispered, her voice weak and confused.
Sinta quickly moved to her side, taking her hand. “Mom, you’re home. This is… this is Arga. He found you on the hill and brought you back.”
Marissa’s eyes shifted to Arga, a flicker of confusion and gratitude passing through them. “Thank you,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Arga smiled, relief washing over him. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
As Marissa rested, she couldn’t help but wonder who this stranger was and why he had been on the hill at that moment. She didn’t know it yet, but this encounter would set off a series of events that would change her life and his in ways neither of them could have ever anticipated.
