The Shackles of Love

The morning sun shone on Ariana's face as she played on the swing with Aldo, a five-year-old boy who was deaf. Aldo, who looked exactly like Richard, Ariana's husband, laughed merrily as the swing swayed. Richard sat beside them, watching with a warm smile. The harmony was shattered by the arrival of Trisya, who had reappeared after a week of absence.

Trisya, with her characteristic stoic expression, simply observed. Richard, noticing her presence, called out softly,

"Trisya..."

Ariana turned, her eyes revealing a mixture of relief and disappointment. Trisya approached, but a cold aura still enveloped her.

"Where have you been? You only show up after a week?" Ariana asked, her voice more like a reprimand than a question.

Richard, as usual, tried to mediate,

"Ma, don't scold her."

Aldo, who was engrossed in his play, looked at Trisya and burst into laughter. His cheerful face contrasted with the tense atmosphere that was beginning to settle. Trisya, surprised by Aldo's laughter, retorted sharply,

"Why are you laughing?"

Ariana immediately chided her,

"Hey, don't yell at your little brother like that! He's just happy to see you!"

Trisya countered coldly,

"I'm not!"

Richard tried to ease the tension. He pulled Aldo's arm, inviting him to shake Trisya's hand. However, Trisya deliberately ignored Aldo's outstretched hand, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

"Where are you staying?" Richard asked, attempting to initiate a more friendly conversation.

"Not far from Renata's house," Trisya replied curtly, without showing any sign of closeness.

"If you have some free time, it wouldn't hurt to come over," Richard offered, hoping to mend the relationship between his wife and daughter.

Ariana immediately interrupted, her voice filled with disappointment,

"Don't bother! If she really wants to, she wouldn't have to wait a whole week! I don't even know where she works!"

Trisya remained silent, displaying an indifferent attitude. Richard intervened again,

"Come on, it's not good to be overheard."

Aldo, who was still watching Trisya, laughed again and walked towards her. Richard explained,

"He likes you... but he can't call you."

Trisya looked at Aldo, who continued to stare at her and laugh, his small hand as if trying to reach for her. Just then, Renata, Trisya's friend, arrived.

"You're here... Hello, Aldo," Renata greeted warmly, trying to lighten the increasingly tense atmosphere.

"Rena," Richard greeted, relieved by Renata's presence. Renata sat down next to Trisya.

Ariana asked,

"So, you two live close by?"

"Yes, Aunt. Trisya is renting a room at Mrs. Ita's house," Renata replied.

Richard, trying to mend the relationship between Trisya and her mother, said,

"Alright, you two look after each other, okay? If anything happens, call Uncle."

"Yes, Uncle," Renata replied.

Renata then turned to Trisya, "So, do you want me to give you a ride?"

Ariana asked, "Where are you two going?"

"I need to buy a few things," Trisya replied, her voice still flat.

"What are you going to use?" Richard asked.

"My motorcycle, Uncle," Renata replied with a laugh. "What else?"

"Use Uncle's car," Richard suggested.

Trisya flatly refused,

"No need."

"It's okay, Sya. Maybe you two have a lot of things to buy," Richard said, but Trisya remained adamant in her refusal.

Renata accepted the car keys from Richard, "Thanks, Uncle."

Richard gave directions,

"Park there."

"What about Uncle's ride home?" Renata asked.

"Just take your motorcycle keys," Richard replied.

"Oh, right... here you go, Uncle. I'll park there," Renata said.

"Okay," Richard replied.

Ariana reminded them,

"Be careful."

"Yes, Aunt. Let's go, Sya," Renata said.

Trisya followed Renata without saying goodbye, making Ariana angry.

"Is that how you leave? No goodbye?" Ariana yelled.

"Come on, Ma," Richard chided.

Ariana was still upset,

"You shouldn't be so nice to her. She doesn't really like you and doesn't care about you!"

Richard defended Trisya,

"She has no reason to dislike you, maybe she's just uncomfortable."

"Whatever!" Ariana replied, her voice filled with disappointment.

Inside Richard's car, Renata, impressed by the comfort of the car, exclaimed in admiration, "Wow... it's so comfortable to ride in an official's car, isn't it?"

Trisya, with a flat and slightly sarcastic tone, replied, "You're exaggerating!"

Their journey was silent for a moment, before Renata spoke again, "Oya, you shouldn't be like that to Aunt. After all, she's your mom."

Trisya exploded.

"Toxic mom! Living with a toxic mom like that is truly sickening! Not to mention having to follow her love life that's always changing!"

Renata wanted to try to calm Trisya down, who remained adamant in her opinion, but was interrupted when Renata received a phone call from a man.

Renata answered the phone, her voice sounding friendly and slightly flirtatious. After a while, she hung up with a sly smile.

"Who was that?" Trisya asked.

"A man who's desperate to marry me," Renata replied, her voice sounding smug. "He asked if I still wanted to replace my phone. I said yes, my phone is broken. He said, 'Okay, I'll buy you one.' And some other things too."

Trisya furrowed her brow.

"Are you going to marry him?"

Renata laughed, her laughter sounding a bit sarcastic.

"No. I don't like him. But, I need a new phone, and some other things. Why should I refuse?"

Trisya shook her head.

"Renata... you're taking advantage of someone's kindness. It's not good, you know?"

Renata shrugged nonchalantly. "He likes me. Let him be. I didn't ask for it."

Trisya remained silent, knowing that it would be difficult to change Renata's mind. Their conversation continued, with Renata recounting how easily she got the things she wanted from the man. Trisya just listened, feeling how different she was from Renata. She preferred to struggle on her own, rather than take advantage of someone else's kindness.

"Sya... Trisya..." Renata called softly, her voice slightly worried. Trisya, who had been staring blankly out the window, simply mumbled,

"It's okay."

Renata sighed, "My love... is gone."

"Taken by someone?" Trisya asked, expressionless.

"You know," Renata asked back.

"There are only two possibilities," Trisya replied in a flat tone, "Love that's gone, if it's not taken by someone, is taken by God."

A small smile appeared on Renata's lips.

"I should have made an invitation, but he actually made it first," Renata chuckled. "It's not with me... the invitation is in his name... with someone else."

Trisya burst into laughter. "You're right. Love that's gone is either taken by someone or by God."

Renata joined in the laughter, "I hope he's taken by God, but my bad prayers haven't been answered."

"Just move on," Trisya suggested, her voice softer.

Renata fell silent for a moment, then asked, "You, on the other hand... I've never seen anyone close to you. Or maybe I just don't know because you're so secretive about your life?"

Trisya just smiled faintly, gazing at the bustling streets. After a while, she replied softly, "There are no good men in the world." Her voice sounded bitter, revealing the pain hidden behind her cold demeanor. Renata could only sigh, understanding how complicated her friend's heart was. Silence enveloped them again, only accompanied by the steady hum of the car engine, accompanying their journey towards a future that was still full of mystery.