The Shackles of Love

"Who is that woman?" Ariana asked. "I wanted to ask since last night but I held it back, Richard!"

"Which woman?"

"The woman who was with you last night! It was clearly a woman's voice. At 11 pm you were with which woman? Until you forgot to go home?"

"I was with Trisya."

"Really?"

"Yes, she wasn't feeling well."

"If it was Trisya why didn't you say so? You don't have to cover it up!"

"Would you believe me If I said I was with Trisya?"

"No! Why would you be with my daughter at night?"

"I told you. Since the night you fought, Trisya wasn't feeling well."

Ariana laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Not feeling well? She has lived alone and been able to handle everything herself for years!"

"She cried, have you ever seen her cry?"

Ariana didn't answer.

"She doesn't even know how to express her sadness other than with anger."

"That girl is not ignorant. She is good to making people feel sorry for her and making them think I often abuse her!" Ariana muttered inaudibly.

"What did you say?"

"But you don't have to accompany her!"

"What's wrong with accompanying my own child?"

"She's a grown woman, Richard! That grown woman doesn't even have a drop of your blood flowing in her!"

"We'll talk about it later, I'm going to the office!"

"Richard!"

But the man had already gone out.

Ariana reached for her phone. Calling Trisya's number.

"Hello?"

"What do you want, Sya?"

"What again?"

"You never liked Richard, why are you getting close to him now?"

"What's this? Why are you angry so early in the morning?"

"Just answer honestly! What are you planning? Do you want to seduce Richard like you seduced Lukas?"

'I told you! I never seduced Lucas!'

"I've been quiet enough with all your crazy actions! But Richard is a good person! I won't let you ruin his career!"

"You're the one who's crazy! I'm your daughter, right? Why do you always suspect me?"

"It's because you're my child that's why I know who you are and how you make a mess without being seen! You're a terrible person, Trisya!"

Trisya didn't answer, she seemed to hang up the phone.

Ariana searched for Robby's name in her contact list.

"Hello.." Robby's voice when connected.

"Robby, can we meet? It's about Trisya."

"Okay, after my morning shift, okay.."

"I'll let you know where later."

"Okay, kak.."

***

"Mom is angry, she said I'm planning something by getting close to Dad."

Richard sighed.

"At first Mom suspected Dad had another woman, she didn't believe that Dad accompanied you last night," said Richard.

"She definitely wouldn't want Dad to be close to me, right? The reason is that I'm not Dad's biological child, she's definitely afraid I could seduce Dad."

"If a father is a degenerate, even if it's his biological child, he will be able to ruin him."

Trisya smiled.

"Thank you, Dad.. I didn't expect to have a father as good as this at an age that's no longer a child. Talking to Dad is like talking to a sibling, a friend and a parent."

"You can tell Dad anything."

Richard looked at Trisya.

"Forgive Mom.."

***

Some one knock the door.

Trisya opened the door.

"Good afternoon, future wife.."

"Robby?"

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like you're seeing a ghost?" Robby stepped in and closed the door.

"Nothing," Trisya sat on the couch while opening her laptop.

"What are you doing?" asked Robby.

"Checking student assignments.." Trisya replied.

Robby sat next to Trisya.

"What's up, Sis?"

"Are you still calling your future mother-in-law 'Sister'?"

Robby laughed.

"Should I start changing it?"

"Don't bother, just keep it like that. I'm not sure you will get married."

"Trisya said herl mom doesn't agree."

"Yes.."

"Why?"

"You're a good person. I don't want you to be a victim of my child's craziness."

"What do you mean? May I change the way I call you starting today?"

"She never loved anyone. She only loves herself. I don't want you to get hurt. There are many other better women, Renata for example."

"The one I love is Trisya."

"She's not sane. She's mentally ill. There's nothing she likes in this world except money."

This morning's conversation at a cafe with Ariana played in Robby's head.

"Hey, daydreaming!" Trisya reprimanded.

Robby smiled, looking at Trisya who was looking at him.

"What's up?" Trisya asked. "Thinking about something?"

"What happened to you in the past?" Robby asked.

"Why?"

"Isn't it okay for me to know the past of the woman I want to marry?"

"What for? I didn't ask about your past. For me, the past is a place that's always there only if we keep remembering it."

"I choose to know your past from your mouth rather than from others."

"What did my mom tell you?"

"Mom?"

"You wouldn't ask if that woman hadn't talked to you, right? That toxic woman must have called me crazy!"

"Why like that to your own mom?"

"She's toxic, what can I do?"

"Trisya.."

"Don't wait for her. Let's just get married," Trisya said.

"Can't be like that.."

"I'm tired of being alone, I have no one to talk to," Trisya rested her head on Robby's shoulder.

Robby looked at Trisya.

"No matter what, you have to get your mom's permission.."

"She doesn't even allow me to marry you. She said we just met, we don't know each other's characters. She's so good at talking. How many times has she failed with her marriage?"

"It's because she's failed a few times that she doesn't want it to happen again to you?"

"Are you going to leave me like Dad who was taken away by another woman?"

"Don't think too far ahead."

Trisya looked at Robby's face.

"I think Rena likes you, but she doesn't express it.."

"Then what if she really likes me? I love you!"

"I feel bad.. We've been friends since we were little, how can I take the guy my best friend likes?"

Robby looked into Trisya's eyes.

"Look at me, and be honest.. If you're thinking about Renata's heart, you feel bad because you're worried about being considered to have taken the guy your best friend likes.. why do you do something hurtful to Renata?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why, Trisya?"

Trisya laughed.

"What did she tell you?"

"She's sad. You seem very angry and think Rena wants to have me. Trisya, We've never been more than friends."

"That's what you said, not what Renata's heart said."

"There's no saying she's heartbroken, she's just sad."

"Do you like her?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"I'm jealous, Robby! I don't want to lose! I've been living alone since I was a kid! When I find someone who can take care of me until the end. When I become dependent on him, suddenly a good friend of mine also makes that man a comfortable place to lean on! Do you know how angry I am right now? How painful this heart is? Disappointed, everything mixed up! Even after knowing my disappointment, she still chooses to meet you and tell you how cruelly I hurt her heart?"

Robby was silent.

"Actually, the one who's hurt here is who?"

"You don't.."

"You think I don't have worries? Everyone says you're a good man. Even Mom thinks I'm not worthy of a good man like you!"

Robby looked at Trisya.

"You're just thinking about Rena's heart, Rob.. You don't see my wound."

"I'm sorry.."

Trisya wiped her tears.

"Ah, I hate having to cry again like when I was a kid!" Trisya grumbled.

"Come here.."

"I don't want to.."

"I want to be the only one who hugs you when you're sad."

"Why do I have to look for you to hug me?"

Robby pulled Trisya into his arms.

"This girlfriend of mine often makes me confused with her behavior, but I love her very much and will never let her go."

"You're so good at seducing me."

"I can do anything as long as I can make you stop crying."

"Really?"

"You ask me to marry you tonight and I'm ready.. We'll go tomorrow to take care of all the requirements for the marriage hearing."

Trisya laughed.

"I'll finish my work first.."

"I won't bother you, I want to rest for a while, I'm so tired today.." Robby lay down.

Trisya looked at Robby, it seemed like the man was really tired, in a moment he was already asleep.

Trisya closed her laptop. She lay down next to Robby while hugging his waist, looking at Robby's face.

"You're so good, I actually don't want to involve you.."

"Involve in what?"

"You're not asleep?"

"How can I sleep when I'm near you?"

The door to the house suddenly opened.

"What are you doing?" Ariana asked.

Trisya and Robby immediately got up.

"Don't you see we're chatting?" Trisya asked.

"Do I have to talk to you like that? Where's your etiquette?"

"What's it to you? You don't even knock on the door to be able to enter? Don't talk about etiquette when you yourself don't have etiquette."

"Trisya! Don't be like that to Mom!" Robby reprimanded.

"I don't want to pretend to be sweet just for an image," said Trisya flatly.

"What did you say? Look at yourself! How can you wear inappropriate clothes in front of a man? You're not even married to him yet but you're so free to show off and let your body be touched by a man? Do you think Robby isn't human? He doesn't have lust? Or are you used to seducing men?"

"What's it to you if I let my boyfriend? I'm responsible for myself! I've never asked you for anything! I've been supporting myself since I was a kid!"

"You have a lot of money, huh? Proceeds from selling yourself?"

"You taught me, didn't you?"

Ariana slapped Trisya's cheek.

Trisya looked at Ariana sharply, suddenly she grabbed the scissors on the table.

"Trisya!" Robby quickly stopped Trisya's hand that was pointing the scissors' eye at Ariana.

"Do you want to kill me?"

"HONEY.." Richard came over. "It's not like this.. "

"Let me go, Richard! You see she's crazy, right?"

"Come on.." Richard pulled Ariana. "Stay here with Trisya, Rob.."

Trisya sat on the floor crying. Robby took the scissors in Trisya's hand.

"Why does she torture me by letting me grow up? Why didn't she just kill me when I was a baby?"

"Don't talk like that," Robby reprimanded.

"I'm her child, right? Why am I treated differently from Aldo? Aldo is even protected and guarded like the most precious treasure?"m

Robby didn't answer, he just pulled Trisya into his arms.

"Why is she never good to me?"