Killing Memories

The rain had just stopped.

Jakarta tonight felt damp and shimmering. Streetlights reflected their glow on the still-slick asphalt, creating faint, fleeting silhouettes as vehicles passed. A cool breeze blew, carrying the scent of rain mixed with city pollution, suffocating yet soothing at the same time.

Amidst the never-truly-sleeping hustle and bustle of the airport, a man stood tall, gazing blankly at the sea of people passing by.

Click. Click. Click.

The sound of his leather shoes hitting the marble floor was clear, rhythmic, filling the space between the announcements of arriving flights and the dragging of suitcase wheels. His steps were slow but steady, like someone who knew exactly where he was going.

The man-Arkana Wirajaya-had returned to Indonesia.

Once, he left empty-handed, filled with wounds and humiliation. But now, he returned with something more valuable than mere wealth.

Power.

Arkana stepped out of the terminal, letting the Jakarta night air touch his skin. His black suit fell perfectly on his strong frame, reflecting the composure of a man who didn't need to prove anything. His firm and handsome face showed no emotion, only a pair of dark eyes that held a storm within.

A formally dressed man approached him with a slight nervousness. "Mr. Arkana, your limousine is waiting."

Arkana only glanced at him before walking towards the luxurious car parked near the exit. The flash of lights from other passing vehicles created shadows on his face-making him appear colder, more unpredictable.

As the limousine door opened, he entered without a sound.

Brakk!

The door closed, engulfing him in a different kind of silence.

Inside the limousine, the scent of genuine leather filled the air. The dim light from the interior lamps formed soft gradations on the elegant black seats that enveloped him.

Arkana didn't immediately lean back. He just sat with a straight posture, staring out the window with sharp eyes.

Jakarta was still the same.

Its roads were still congested with vehicles, towering buildings still stood proudly, and the sky was still covered with pollution that hid the stars. This city was where he fell, but also where he would rise.

Three years ago, he was driven out of here-humiliated, trampled upon, and spat on by those who should have loved him. He lost everything in an instant. His business was seized, his reputation destroyed, and most painfully...

He lost the woman he loved.

Arkana reached out, taking his phone from his suit pocket. The screen lit up, displaying a newly released news article:

"RAFAEL PRADIPTA TO HOLD THE BIGGEST BUSINESS GALA OF THE YEAR"

Below the headline, a photo was displayed.

Rafael Pradipta stood in the middle of a grand room, wearing an expensive dark blue suit. His face was beaming, full of confidence, as if the world was in his grasp. Beside him, a foreign investor seemed to be shaking his hand with a satisfied expression.

Arkana narrowed his eyes.

Rafael.

The name tasted like poison on his tongue.

His friend. His brother. The person he once trusted more than anyone.

The person who also destroyed him.

Once, they shared the same dreams. They built a business together, exchanged ideas until late into the night, talked about the future with shining eyes. Rafael was the person he considered family-but it turned out, that man was the one who most wanted him to fall.

And even more painful...

Rafael married Sienna.

Arkana tightened his grip on his phone until his knuckles turned white.

Sienna Mahendra.

The woman who once promised to stay with him, through thick and thin. The woman he once thought was his destiny.

But it turned out, she was just a name on a long list of betrayals.

Arkana took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger that was beginning to warm in his chest. He closed his phone and leaned his head against the seat back. His eyes were closed, but his mind kept racing.

I will make sure you know how it feels to lose, Rafael.

The limousine stopped in front of a towering skyscraper in the city center.

At the top of the building, the name "Wirajaya Tower" shone brightly, illuminated by golden lights that shone towards the sky.

Once, this was a symbol of his family's glory. But when Arkana fell, he was forced to sell it-one of the most painful decisions of his life.

But now, he had bought it back.

The limousine door opened. Arkana stepped out with a firm stride, his jacket slightly fluttering in the night wind. A woman in a black business suit was already waiting for him in the lobby. Her hair was neatly styled, and in her hands, she held a tablet displaying the latest business reports.

"Welcome back, Mr. Arkana," the woman said in a professional tone.

Arkana only nodded slightly.

The woman hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Tomorrow night, Rafael Pradipta will hold the biggest business gala of the year. All important figures will be present. Including... Mrs. Sienna Pradipta."

Arkana didn't react.

There was no change in his facial expression, no flicker of emotion in his eyes. But inside his chest, something trembled.

Sienna.

He hadn't seen her since the night he was destroyed. Since the night Rafael took everything from him.

But maybe this was the time.

Maybe this was the right moment to greet the ghost of the past.

Arkana took a slow breath. Then, with a voice that was calm but full of certainty, he said:

"Prepare my best suit."

The woman looked surprised. "You wish to attend the gala, Sir?"

Arkana looked at her, the corners of his lips slightly lifting in a faint smile.

"Not just attend."

He stepped into the elevator that would take him to the top of the building.

"I will make sure they know..."

"That the new game has just begun."

On the balcony of his penthouse, Arkana stood still, gazing at the glittering city below. The night wind caressed his hair, carrying the scent of rain that was beginning to evaporate from the asphalt.

Once, this city was the place of his downfall.

But this time, he would be its master.

And tomorrow night, he would meet again with the two people who had betrayed him most.

And he would make sure that they would never be able to forget him.

The Jakarta sky was still overcast, covered with remnants of rain clouds that hadn't completely cleared. The windows of Arkana's penthouse reflected the glittering city that seemed never to sleep. From this height, everything looked small-streets filled with lights, towering buildings, people rushing home.

But behind that beauty, there was something darker.

Betrayal. Greed. Dirty games that had brought him down.

Arkana sipped the whiskey he had been holding since earlier. The golden liquid burned his throat, but the sensation of heat felt soothing.

His eyes were fixed on the news that was still lit on the tablet screen on the table. Another article appeared:

"RAFAEL PRADIPTA, THE STRONGEST BUSINESSMAN IN JAKARTA?"

Arkana smiled faintly. The smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You were nothing without me, Rafael," he murmured softly, his voice laced with a cynical tone.

His fingers tapped the glass surface of the table, the rhythm slow but regular. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Once, he believed that justice would come on its own. That the truth would be revealed without him having to intervene. But the world never worked that way.

In this world, there were only two choices: be a predator or prey.

And this time, Arkana would be the predator.

He put down his glass and rose from his chair, his steps firm towards the balcony. The night air hit his face, carrying the scent of leftover rain and city dust.

Three years ago, he left this place with ruin on his shoulders.

But now?

He was back with a plan he had meticulously crafted. Every step, every move, he would execute with the precision of a maestro. There would be no mistakes.

And tomorrow night, Rafael and Sienna would see with their own eyes that Arkana Wirajaya had never truly lost.

His eyes gazed into the distance, towards the towering skyscraper standing majestically in the city center. That was where the business gala would take place.

And that was where everything would begin.

A faint smile returned to his face.

"Get ready, Rafael," he murmured softly. "This time, I'm the one who will play the game."

In the distance, lightning struck, splitting the dark Jakarta sky.

Soon, the storm would come.

And when that storm arrived... no one would be able to escape it.