The Shackles of Love

"Picking you up from campus?" Robby asked, his voice soft over the phone.

"Yes," Trisya replied briefly.

"But, Trisya… I can only pick you up in an hour."

"It's okay. I can wait," Trisya said calmly.

"Ok," Robby agreed.

"Bye…" Trisya hung up the phone. Robby put down his phone, his thoughts drifting to Trisya.

"I've been seeing you're pretty close to Trisya lately…" Richard said, his voice, the voice of her stepfather, broke his thoughts.

Robby looked up, finding Richard standing beside him. His heart pounded.

"You heard?" Robby asked nervously.

"Coincidentally… She asked you to pick her up from campus?" Richard asked sharply.

"Yes," Robby replied briefly.

Richard sat down in front of Robby, an aura of firmness radiating from him. "Can we talk?" he asked seriously.

"Yes, sir," Robby replied, preparing himself.

"What's your relationship with my daughter?" The question pierced Robby's heart.

"Sir, I don't know," Robby answered honestly. He couldn't be sure of his feelings for Trisya yet.

"Don't know? How is that possible? If you're just playing games, you'll have to deal with me!" Richard's threat was firm, but behind it was the worry of a stepfather.

"Yes, sir. I wouldn't dare play games with your daughter. It's not that I'm afraid of you, but Trisya is even scarier," Robby joked to ease the tension.

"Scary how?" Richard was curious.

"She threatens to skin me alive if I hurt her," Robby answered, chuckling softly.

Richard laughed along. "I imagine our hero would become a henpecked husband if he married Trisya."

"Brother…" Robby protested, but couldn't hide his smile.

"Hey, you'll have to start calling me Uncle or Dad when you're off duty, okay?" Richard joked, relaxing the atmosphere a little.

Robby laughed. "Rob…" Richard called, his voice serious again.

"Yes…"

"Has Trisya ever complained about her mother to you?" This question made Robby think hard.

Robby looked at Richard, pondering for a moment. "I have to tell you, Trisya doesn't get along with her mother very well."

"I know," Richard replied, surprising Robby.

"She told you?" Robby asked.

"Trisya said she's disappointed in Riana, who often scolds her and even hits her," Richard explained. "Yesterday… Riana complained to me. She feels Aldo is being hurt by Trisya."

"Trisya doesn't like Aldo being around… Maybe she feels like she has a rival," Robby analyzed.

"She doesn't like me either," Richard added, his voice a little sad.

"She's probably not comfortable yet, sir…" Robby tried to reassure him.

"Her biological father left her and her mother. Her stepfather might have disappointed her too. Maybe that's why she can't trust me. And maybe she feels her mother is unfair… To Trisya, Riana is very strict, but to Aldo she's so gentle," Richard explained at length, revealing his worries about Trisya.

Richard's words kept replaying in Robby's mind as he waited for Trisya in the campus parking lot, so much so that he didn't notice her arrival.

"Hey…!" Trisya tapped Robby's shoulder.

"Lost in thought," Trisya smiled.

"Sorry…" Robby felt a little awkward.

"Bored waiting for me? Sorry, I had a student approach me when I was about to go home," Trisya explained.

"Don't you want to take a taxi anymore?" Robby asked, teasing her a little.

"Why? Don't you want to pick me up?" Trisya asked back, her eyes sparkling.

"It's not that… Of course I'm happy to pick you up. It's just… What's our status?" Robby finally expressed his doubts.

"Just think of it as we're getting to know each other," Trisya replied, getting on Robby's motorbike. Surprise after surprise kept coming.

"Are you sure the professor won't mind being picked up on a motorbike?" Robby was still a little hesitant.

"Why?" Trisya asked back, a little confused.

"No… Where should I take you?" Robby changed the subject.

"I'm hungry. Can we find a nice place to eat? You can take me?" Trisya asked.

"Sure. I'm off duty anyway," Robby replied, a smile spreading across his face.

"Where do you think is a good place?" Trisya asked again.

"What do you want to eat first?" Robby asked back.

"Whatever. But take me home first. It's so hot. Let me take a shower," Trisya requested.

"Okay, Miss…" Robby replied, teasing her a little.

"Why were you lost in thought? Any problems? I called you four times," Trisya asked, a little jealous.

"I… Was thinking…" Robby answered, a little nervous.

"About?" Trisya was curious.

"If I proposed to you," Robby finally revealed his heart.

"What?" Trisya was shocked.

"Why are you so surprised?" Robby asked back.

"You suddenly talked about a proposal," Trisya was still a little shocked.

"You challenged me yesterday to propose to your father," Robby reminded her.

"Are you brave enough?" Trisya challenged him.

"But… To marry you, shouldn't I meet your biological father? Sorry… I just found out that your mother is separated from your biological father. I thought he had passed away," Robby explained, a little worried.

"I don't know. Whether he's still alive or dead. I don't care," Trisya replied nonchalantly.

"Don't be like that. Your biological father will be the one to marry you off," Robby reminded her.

"Just pretend he's dead. I can ask someone else to be my guardian for the wedding. No hassle. Unless you don't intend to marry me," Trisya replied, a little snappish.

"It's not like that… Our relationship is still unclear," Robby explained.

Robby stopped his motorbike in front of Trisya's house. Trisya got off.

"Thank you for taking me home," Trisya thanked him.

"I'll wait here," Robby replied.

"Why don't you come in?" Trisya asked.

"It's not appropriate," Robby replied.

"Come on. Let's go in," Trisya pulled Robby's arm.

The man sat on the sofa, while Trisya went into her room.

"Rob," Trisya called from her room.

"Yes," Robby answered.

"Help me for a second," Trisya called again.

"What's wrong?" Robby asked.

"Come here for a second," Trisya requested.

"Why?" Robby asked again, a little curious.

"The light in my bathroom is out… Please change it…" Trisya explained.

Robby opened the door to her room.

"Oh my God!" Robby turned his face away, seeing Trisya only wearing a towel wrapped around her body. "You didn't tell me."

Robby quickly went out.

"Why?" Trisya followed him out.

"I told you I was going to shower, it's normal to be like this," Trisya answered casually.

"Yeah, but you…" Robby was still a little shocked.

"Why? You're acting like you've never seen a woman before," Trisya teased him.

"Seeing a beautiful ghost. Where's the light bulb?" Robby answered, smiling.

"Here… Why are you in such a hurry?" Trisya asked.

"It's nothing," Robby replied.

"Come on, you said you were going to marry me. Why are you panicking over this?" Trisya teased him.

"We're not officially married yet," Robby replied.

"Have you never seen a woman before?" Trisya asked.

"Where's the light bulb?" Robby asked again.

"Here…" Trisya wrapped her arms around Robby's stomach, showing him the light bulb.

"Oh God, this woman is truly unpredictable…" Robby thought to himself.

Trisya touched Robby's chest. "Your heart is beating so fast… Why?"

"Don't tempt me, Trisya," Robby asked.

"Trisya…" Renata, who had just entered, stopped Trisya's words.

Robby quickly let go of Trisya. Renata stood there, looking at them.

"Actually… I was going to change the bathroom light…" Robby explained, a little nervous.

"Let me do it…" Renata pulled Trisya into the room.

"Are you crazy, Trisya?" Renata asked angrily.

"Why? We're all adults. Whatever happens, we're each responsible for ourselves," Trisya answered calmly.

"I know. Even if you two do something inappropriate in this house, it's your business. But wouldn't it be better to hold back?" Renata explained.

"What's wrong with me? I was going to shower before we went out to eat. The bathroom light was out. I asked Robby for help," Trisya defended herself.

"You have to be wearing a towel? That's deliberately tempting!" Renata was still upset.

"Why are you so angry? Are you jealous? Do you like Robby?" Trisya asked back, teasing her a little.

"It's not about jealousy, Sya! He's a man, after all," Renata explained.

"He's going to marry me, so why should I set boundaries?" Trisya answered confidently.

"What?" Renata was shocked.

Trisya smiled. "Get out… I can change it myself!"

Renata left Trisya's room and walked towards the terrace. She sat down next to Robby.

"I missed out on the story," Renata said. "I didn't know your relationship with Trisya had gotten so far…"

"Nothing happened, really," Robby denied.

Renata laughed. "No need to explain anything to me. We're all adults. If something does happen, you'll be taken out by Uncle Richard."

"What are you doing here?" Robby changed the subject.

"Can't I come to my friend's house after she has a boyfriend?" Renata asked back.

"We're not dating," Robby answered.

"Really?" Renata didn't believe him.

"I swear," Robby insisted.

"But you like her, right?" Renata asked again.

"Yes," Robby admitted.

"Oh, I'm so surprised to see you two," Renata muttered. "Can't you be a little more mature and make sure all the doors are locked if you want to get intimate?"

Robby laughed. "Sorry. Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

"I'm going home. Tell Trisya, okay?" Renata said goodbye.

"OK," Robby replied.

Renata waved goodbye before leaving. Trisya came out.

"Where's Renata?" Trisya asked.

"She went home," Robby replied.

"Oh," Trisya answered briefly.

"Let's go," Robby invited her.

Robby followed Trisya out.

"Where are we going?" Robby asked.

"There's a really cozy cafe. It's not far from here," Trisya answered.

"Ok," Robby agreed.

They didn't say anything during the whole trip.

"Let's go…" Robby stopped his motorbike in the parking lot of a cafe called Rainbow.

"That's Ardi's car…" Robby said, seeing Ardi's car.

"Ardi, one of Papa Richard's investigator? The arrogant one? The one who wouldn't leave the file with me?" Trisya said.

"Yes. But he's not arrogant," Robby defended Ardi.

"Let's go in…" Trisya took Robby's arm, who was immediately stunned.

"Hey…" Trisya greeted him.

"I'm surprised when a beautiful woman suddenly takes my arm," Robby said, a little flustered.

"Let's go…" Trisya pulled Robby.

"Wait, Miss… You could dislocate my arm," Robby followed Trisya.

Trisya's eyes immediately fell on Ardi, who was sitting waiting for his order to come with a woman wearing a hijab. They locked eyes, and Ardi also looked towards them.

"Robby…" Ardi waved.

"Hi…" Robby greeted him. He walked towards the table with Trisya.

"You're here too?" Ardi asked, a little surprised.

Trisya looked at Ardi, but the man didn't see her. She turned her gaze to the woman in the hijab sitting next to Ardi. A beautiful woman who looked elegant wearing a lavender tunic and matching hijab.

"Sit down?" Ardi offered.

Robby and Trisya sat down opposite Ardi.

"I feel like I've seen you before. Are you a lecturer at Harapan Bunda University?" The woman in the hijab looked at Trisya.

"Yes," Trisya answered.

"That's right. I've seen you. I'm Aisyah. I also teach there. In the Japanese Literature Faculty."

"Trisya. In the Japanese Literature Faculty too," Trisya introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you," Aisyah smiled warmly.

"I'll go to the toilet first…" Trisya excused herself. Without waiting for an answer, she left.

"What's wrong?" Robby asked, seeing Ardi smiling at him.

"Nothing," Ardi replied briefly.

"Your boss knows that I'm going out with his daughter. Who is this woman? Your girlfriend?" Robby asked.

"No. She's my friend," Ardi answered.

"Trisya and I are friends too," Robby added.

"You two came in holding hands, you must have some feelings for each other, right?" Ardi teased.

Trisya returned to the table, seeing the two men laughing.

"What's going on?" Trisya asked.

"Nothing," Robby answered.

Trisya sat down next to Robby. "I'm so hungry…"

"Eat then…" Robby told her.

Trisya reached for the warm orange juice in front of her but accidentally dropped it, spilling the juice onto Aisyah's clothes.

"Sorry…" Trisya apologized.

"It's okay, Trisya… You didn't mean to…" Aisyah smiled.

"That… orange juice is hot," Trisya looked at her with a regretful expression.

"I'll go to the toilet first…" Aisyah excused herself.

"Come on, eat…" Robby said.

Trisya looked at Ardi's face from the corner of her eye.

"Why am I so curious about his cold face?" Trisya muttered to herself.