The Shackles of Love

"Robby is proposing to you?" Ariana was shocked.

"Why do you have that expression, Mom?"

"You've only just met, right?"

"If it's a good fit, why wait?" Trisya asked.

"Do you think marriage is a game?"

"Who's playing games?"

"You don't even know Robby!"

"He seems nice, right?"

"Yes, but…"

"You've failed twice in marriage, don't give me advice!"

"Trisya! I did fail twice! That's why I'm reminding you not to rush into marriage! You're 25, but that doesn't mean you've lost your mind! You're not too old to get married, right?

"What's wrong with you? I've tried to be a good daughter, but you make me sick! Don't control my life! You're the woman who gave birth to me, but you have no right to my life!"

Ariana slapped Trisya hard across the face.

"Slap me again! You haven't hurt me in a long time, right?"

"What's going on here? It's 11 pm, you should be sleeping. Why are you fighting?" Richard approached.

Trisya grabbed her bag.

"You're lucky to be married to Dad Richard! No man is worthy of you, but you were still given a good husband by God! You keep him!"

"Trisya…" Richard followed Trisya who was walking out. "Where are you going?"

"Home!"

"It's midnight, Trisya!"

"God will protect me!" Trisya quickly left the place.

Richard immediately went inside to get his motorcycle keys.

"Where are you going, Honey?" Ariana asked.

"To take Trisya home. It's midnight, how can you let her go home alone?"

"Oh, come on! She'll probably call Robby to pick her up!"

"Honey! How can you act like this towards your own daughter?"

"Go ahead if you want to follow her!"

Richard immediately went out. But he soon returned.

"I don't see Trisya."

"Maybe she's already gone home by taxi!"

"Ariana! Your daughter is a woman! How can you be so calm letting her go home alone in the dead of night?" Richard reprimanded her.

Ariana was stunned. Since they got married, this was the first time she had seen Richard so angry. Richard, who always acted gently, looked so upset.

"How many years have we been married, Richard? You've never yelled at me once. But tonight you're yelling at me because you're defending Trisya?"

"You've gone too far this time, Riana. How can you be so cruel to your own daughter?"

"Even the Angel of Death is afraid to touch her, you know?"

"What? What do you mean?"

Ariana didn't answer, leaving the room and going to her bedroom.

Meanwhile, in a car…

"Why did you have to argue with your mom?" Ardi asked.

"Sorry for making you go out of your way to take me home…"

"I happened to be passing by because I was coming home from the crime scene."

"Thank you anyway…"

"Does Mr. Richard know?"

"He knows… Dad called earlier, but I left right away. I knew Dad would want to take me home… But I left in a hurry. You don't know Mom. She's a very jealous woman. She always thinks people are going to take what's hers. Maybe she's jealous seeing Dad getting close to me…"

"It's impossible for your mom to be jealous of her own daughter."

"Dad Richard isn't my biological father. Maybe Mom was shocked seeing me intending to sleep at their house tonight. I've never wanted to sleep at their house before. And last night Dad picked me up from campus. Mom just used the reason that she doesn't agree with Robby's proposal…"

Trisya's phone rang.

"Robby is calling me…"

"Answer it…"

"Hello, Robby…"

"Where are you? Dad called me, he said you were going home at midnight. He followed you home, but you haven't arrived. I'm on my way to your house now."

"I'm still on the road with Ardi."

"Ardi. You mean?"

"I'll let you know when I get home."

"Okay…"

"See you later," Trisya hung up the phone.

Ardi stopped the car in front of Trisya's house.

"We're here…"

"Thank you…"

Ardi looked at Trisya.

"Have you been drinking?"

"You know? Oh, you must have smelled the alcohol, right?"

Trisya laughed.

"Thank you for taking me home."

Ardi looked at Trisya, who was stumbling out of the car.

"I'll take you inside."

"No need. I can do it."

Ardi quickly got out of the car and approached Trisya. He put his arm around her shoulder.

"It's okay, you're the boss's daughter. It's only natural for me to take you home when you're having trouble."

"Thank you…"

"Come on…"

They walked towards the door. Trisya took her keys out of her bag. She tried to open the door several times but failed. Ardi took the keys from Trisya's hand and opened the door.

Trisya's body suddenly collapsed, Ardi quickly caught her. It seemed like she was really drunk. Ardi put Trisya's bag on the sofa. He carried Trisya to her room.

He laid her down on the bed.

"I'll call Mr. Richard first. Your mom should know too."

Suddenly, Trisya woke up and immediately reached out to hug Ardi.

"Can you not talk about that woman?"

"How can you call your own mother like that?"

"Actually, I don't even want to go home right now. But you took me home anyway."

Trisya looked at Ardi's face.

"You're so handsome. Can you stay here tonight and keep me company?"

"What?"

"I know you often look at me."

Trisya looked at Ardi's face more closely.

The door to the room was knocked. Trisya and Ardi turned around. Robby walked in.

"You're already here?" Trisya said.

"How did you meet Ardi?" Robby asked.

"I was drinking at a bar. I was drunk on my way home. When I was walking, someone followed me and tried to do something bad. Ardi happened to pass by. He said he was coming home from the crime scene."

"Oh…"

Robby hugged Trisya.

"I'm relieved you're okay," Robby stroked Trisya's hair.

"Get some rest…"

"You're not going to keep me company after my bad day tonight?" Trisya asked.

"It's late."

"Your future wife is scared and you're going to leave her alone to go through her trauma in the middle of the night…?"

"Robby is here, right? In that case, I'm going home," Ardi said goodbye.

"Thank you for taking me home… Robby will keep me company," Trisya said.

"Okay… see you tomorrow?" Ardi waved before going out.

"I'll call your Dad…" Robby grabbed his phone. "Your Dad is very worried."

"Mom is jealous…"

"What?"

"She thinks Dad might like me."

"What do you mean?"

Trisya smiled, not answering, but instead lying down, letting Robby call Richard.

"It feels like we're on our honeymoon, right?" Trisya said. "Unfortunately, marriage is just a fantasy. We'll never be able to get married."

Robby looked at Trisya.

"What do you mean?"

"Mom doesn't agree."

"I'll convince your mom."

"No need. I don't think I like you either. I think I'm in love with someone else."

"What?"

Trisya laughed.

"I'm kidding."

Robby sighed.

"Go to sleep… it's late. I'm outside. If you need anything, call, okay?"

"Why are you outside?"

"It's not good to be alone in the room. We're not halal yet."

Robby went out of the room.

Trisya pulled her blanket. Ardi's face suddenly flashed in her mind.

"Why does he seem so attractive to me?"