The Shackles of Love

They arrived at Richard's house. Earlier at the restaurant, Ariana had called Trisya to come over because she couldn't handle Aldo alone. Ariana's face flushed when she saw Trisya dismount Robby's motorcycle.

"I never asked for your help, only this once because I couldn't bring Aldo, and I told you what time the event was, but you're late!" Ariana snapped.

"Darling, come on... we don't know what difficulties Trisya faced," Richard intervened.

"She never really considered Aldo as her brother!" Ariana grumbled.

"Honey, Trisya is here. That means she still cares about Aldo," Richard defended.

"I'm hungry! If you don't like it, don't ask me to take care of your child next time! This house is huge with plenty of family members, why do you have to ask me?" Trisya glared at Ariana.

"Are you challenging me?" Ariana challenged back.

"Honey, that's enough... Don't scold Trisya in front of Robby. Get in the car," Richard pleaded.

Ariana got in the car, fuming.

"Take care of Aldo, Sya... Dad's leaving now. Don't take Mom's scolding to heart," Richard instructed before the car pulled away.

Trisya looked at Robby.

"Thank you for bringing me..."

"Can I stay here for a bit?" Robby asked.

"I think it's better if you stay here until that selfish woman leaves," Trisya replied.

"Don't talk about your mom like that," Robby gently chided.

"She has a terrible personality, it's a good thing God gave her a good husband!" Trisya muttered, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

Robby remained silent.

"I'm going inside, you stay here. I'll be back with Aldo," Trisya said and went inside.

"Kak Ariana is usually so friendly and kind. But why is she so harsh on Trisya? Is it because Trisya always contradicts her?" Robby wondered aloud.

Trisya emerged, carrying a crying Aldo.

"What's wrong? Why is he crying? What happened to his forehead?" Robby asked worriedly.

"He tripped earlier. He must have spilled water. That's how Mom is... She knows he has special needs. How could she leave him alone in the room without supervision!" Trisya grumbled angrily.

"Here..." Robby took Aldo, gently rubbing his forehead until he stopped crying.

"Ah, this is so boring..." Trisya complained again.

"We're like a young couple with a kid, huh?" Robby laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

Trisya just stared at Robby.

Robby sighed.

"This woman's mood is unpredictable..." Robby thought to himself.

"Tonight... Do you have time?" Robby asked after a long silence.

"No. Why? Are you going to ask me out?" Trisya asked back.

"Oh... I thought because you..." Robby stammered.

"I have time now. Why we should 1wait until tonight?" Trisya stared at Robby with a challenging look.

"What?" Robby asked, slightly surprised.

"Don't you want to?" Trisya asked, her voice laced with a slight challenge.

"But you're supposed to be taking care of Aldo?"

"Taking care of Aldo doesn't mean we have to spend time in this boring place," Trisya retorted.

"Let's ask Mom and Dad first," Robby suggested.

"You're not brave enough to run away with someone else's daughter. I thought you were as bold as the stories I heard," Trisya teased.

Robby laughed, a nervous laugh that held a hint of fondness.

A car pulled up in the driveway. Ardi got out, carrying a file.

"Ardi," Robby greeted him. "Looking for Mister Richard?"

"Yes. Is he here?"

"He's out with his wife. Why?"

"Oh, okay. I'll just leave the file. Is.mrs. Ratna inside?"

"Just leave it with his daughter⁹," Robby said.

Ardi looked at Trisya, then back at Robby.

"I'll come back later," Ardi said, seeming hesitant.

"What do you mean? You don't trust me? What's your name! I'll report you! You're so rude!" Trisya immediately flew into a rage.

"Rifki Ardiansyah. Excuse me," Ardi replied curtly, then got in his car and left.

"That guy is so arrogant!" Trisya fumed.

"Let it go. He's Richard's trusted man. Maybe that's just how things are," Robby tried to calm her down.

"He trusts the maid! He looks at me like I'm a traitor!" Trisya was still upset.

"It's okay. Look, Aldo is asleep," Robby pointed out.

Trisya looked at Aldo.

"You're really good at taking care of kids," Trisya admitted.

"Ready to be a father, huh?" Robby teased.

"Do you talk like that to all the women you're flirting with?" Trisya questioned, slightly suspicious.

"I never flirt with women... I just try to be friendly," Robby replied.

"I bet... If someone challenged you to propose, you'd run away," Trisya teased again.

"You want me to propose to you in front of your parents?" Robby asked back, his gaze serious.

Trisya remained silent, not answering.

Two hours later, Richard's car pulled into the driveway. Ariana got out with Richard. Richard looked tired, but his eyes immediately went to Aldo, who was being carried by Ariana. His face turned worried when he saw the slight bruise on Aldo's forehead. He looked back and forth between Ariana and Trisya, a tense atmosphere filling the air. He knew something was wrong.

"Still here?" Richard asked Robby.

"The little one is sleeping on my lap, Bang... I can't go home," Robby replied.

"You're just making excuses..." Richard didn't quite believe him, but his focus was on Aldo.

"Aldo really likes you, By..." Ariana took Aldo. "Hey, what happened to his forehead?"

"He fell! You're so careless, why did you leave him alone in the room?" Trisya immediately blamed Ariana.

"This isn't a fall! You hit him, didn't you?" Ariana glared at Trisya.

"ARIANA!" Richard chided. His voice was firm, showing his disapproval of the argument.

"I know she doesn't like Aldo! I left him safe in his room! I wouldn't have left him if I hadn't secured everything. So he couldn't have fallen! You're so outrageous, Trisya!" Ariana yelled.

"Honey, that's enough... Aldo will wake up," Richard reminded her. He was trying to calm the situation, but his worry for Aldo was evident.

Ariana grumbled and took Aldo inside.

"I'm going home..." Trisya announced.

"Thank you, Trisya... For taking care of Aldo," Richard said. He looked at Trisya with an expression that was hard to read, a mixture of gratitude and a hint of disappointment.

Trisya didn't respond.

"Goodbye, Mister... I'll take Trisya home," Robby said.

"Be careful," Richard instructed.

"Yes..."

"Trisya, if you need a ride, you can use Dad's car. You don't need to take a ride-sharing service anymore," Richard offered.

"I don't need a ride-sharing service anymore, if my boyfriend isn't busy, he'll take me," Trisya replied, a playful smile on her lips.

"Oh, right."

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Robby asked. "Earlier you..."

"You don't want to be my boyfriend?" Trisya asked directly, looking at Robby.

"What?" Robby was taken aback.

"Come on... You said you'd take me out," Trisya continued.

"Oh, okay..." Robby nodded, a blush creeping onto his cheeks.

Richard watched them until they were out of sight. He went inside, his mind still on the bruise on Aldo's forehead and the argument between his wife and Trisya. He needed to find out what really happened.

"Why do you always start arguments with Trisya?" Richard asked Ariana. "It's been a long time since you've seen her, you should be more patient. Even if Trisya is wrong..."

"She hurt Aldo. He's only five years old. It's not right to harm him. She's twenty-five. Her friends who are married already have kids Aldo's age," Ariana retorted.

"Don't accuse her without proof," Richard cautioned.

"I'm his mother. I know her better than anyone. Trisya is capable of doing crazy things!"

"Have you ever seen her hurt anyone?"

Ariana shook her head.

"Then? Why say she's capable of doing crazy things?"

Ariana fell silent for a moment, remembering an incident from years ago...

"Are you trying to get me killed with your actions?" Ariana asked, her voice rising.

Trisya sat on the couch, her face innocent.

"Are you listening to me, Trisya?"

"Don't yell at me!"

"What did you say?"

"You just nag and nag all the time! You don't know what he said to me, so I hit him on the forehead with a rock. I was protecting you! Even though I hate your behavior!"

"Protecting me?" Ariana laughed sarcastically. "Hey, missy! Don't try to make excuses. I swear! I can't handle you anymore! If I knew where your father was, I would have asked him to pick you up!"

Trisya stood up.

"Sit down! I still want to talk to you! TRISYA!" Ariana called out, following Trisya to the dining table.

"Be quiet!"

"Hey! Who do you think you're talking to?"

Unexpectedly, Trisya threw a knife at Ariana. It didn't hit her, but it got stuck in the cabinet.

"Are you crazy?"

"Riana..." Richard called out, interrupting Ariana's thoughts.

Ariana looked at Richard.

"In high school, she once threw a knife at me. I was scolding her for fighting with her friend, and her friend got a gash on her forehead," Ariana explained, revealing the source of her fear of Trisya.