The Shackles of Love

"Thank you, Dad, for accompanying me to meet my business associates. Honestly, from the moment we met, He was uncomfortable because he kept staring at me without blinking."

"It's okay, it's Dad's duty to protect you until there's a man called husband who will replace Dad in protecting you."

"Sorry for bothering you all night.. Honestly, this is the first time I've gotten attention from a father. It turns out this is what it feels like to have a father who's ready to protect his child at any time."

"Have you apologized to Mom?"

"For what?"

"For being rude to Mom that night."

"Mom started it."

"Trisya, she's your mother, you shouldn't be rude to Mom."

Trisya didn't answer.

"Trisya.."

"Does Mom know that Dad took me?"

Richard shook his head.

"Don't tell her," Trisya said.

"Why?"

"She'll get angry."

"Why?"

"She always thinks that her husband will be tempted by me. Do I like to flirt? Have I ever flirted with Dad?"

"Don't be like that, maybe Mom just wants to protect you."

"Mom never liked me. Maybe she hopes I disappear so that her wounds after being left by Dad will heal. Doesn't Mom know how hurt I am? Even at this age, I never knew who my biological father was. Mom's second husband often abused me, causing lifelong trauma! Does Mom realize? When I complained, I didn't get protection but insults. Mom accused me of flirting with Uncle Lucas. How low does Mom judge her own child?"

Richard looked into Trisya's eyes. The woman looked like she was trying to hold back her tears. Her voice trembled with anger.

"Come here.." Richard spread his arms for Trisya to come closer.

Trisya slid her seat closer to Richard who immediately embraced her.

"Cry if you want to cry. Let go of all your pent-up feelings."

Within seconds, Trisya's tears burst forth in Richard's arms.

"Life is unfair to me! What's wrong with me? If Mom doesn't want me and thinks I'm a jinx, why let me live?" Trisya's cries grew louder.

"God knows you're strong."

Richard's phone suddenly rang.

"Hello.."

"Where are you? Why haven't you come home yet?" Ariana asked.

"At.." Richard didn't continue his sentence when he saw Trisya still crying in his arms.

"Maybe soon. Still a little busy"

"What business? Where are you? Whose voice is that?"

"I'll call you later, okay?" Richard hung up his phone.

"It's getting late, you should rest," said Richard.

Trisya looked at the time on her phone.

"It's almost 11."

"Yeah.."

"Good evening, Uncle.." Renata greeted, who had just arrived.

"Rena.." Richard greeted.

Trisya released her embrace.

"Rena.."

"I'm sleeping here tonight, okay?"

"Yes, you can.."

"I'm going to my room, okay, Uncle.." Renata said goodbye.

Richard stood up.

"Dad's going home. Get some rest."

Trisya stretched out her arms, hugging Richard again.

"Thank you, Dad.."

"Sleep soundly, okay?" Richard patted Trisya's back.

"Be careful, Dad.." Trisya waved.

Richard smiled before driving away from the house.

Trisya stepped towards the house when a motorcycle stopped.

She turned.

"Robby?"

"I've been waiting in front for over an hour."

"Why didn't you come in?"

"And make the heartwarming father-daughter drama stop?"

"You're so.. What are you doing here?"

"I want to make sure when I can propose to you?"

Trisya laughed.

"I think I want to postpone our wedding plans."

"What?"

"I just want to spend more time with Dad. If I get married, I won't be able to feel my closeness to him anymore. Lately, I feel like my world is complete after spending a lot of time with Dad."

"Ah, I'm jealous. I was just about to have you, and Iß already have a serious rival."

"Go home."

"I want to see you."

"It's late.. Come tomorrow."

"Give me a kiss before I go, so I can dream about you."

"Go home," Trisya pushed Robby who immediately caught her.

"Hey.."

"Answer first, when can I meet your parents to propose to you?" Robby hugged Trisya tightly.

"I don't like it like this, Robby!" Trisya said coldly. "Don't think you can touch me whenever you want!"

"What?"

Robby released Trisya.

"Good night!"

"Ok.. I thought I was going to stay with you tonight. Talk about how our relationship will go."

"Tomorrow," Trisya opened the door.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Trisya turned back to Robby.

"See you tomorrow.." Trisya kissed Robby's cheek.

"Trisya?"

"I love you, Robby.." Trisya put her arm around Robby's neck, making them stare at each other so closely.

Robby lowered his face to kiss Trisya warmly.

"Oh my God. I thought I was really going to marry a psychopath," Robby said shortly after releasing his kiss.

"You're so brave to call me that."

Robby laughed.

"I'm going home, staying here too long will make me tempted."

"Be careful."

"Go in.." said Robby.

Trisya waved before stepping inside.

"Rena..?" Trisya was surprised.

"Sorry. I was going to invite you to eat.. I'm so hungry. But you're with Robby."

"Sorry.. " Trisya locked the door. "You just sit, I'll cook for you."

"Can you?"

"Living alone for so many years, how come I can't. Especially if it's just making noodles."

Renata smiled as she followed Trisya to the kitchen.

"How's your heart today?"

"It's better.. I'm actually worried about your heart, Sya. Sorry, I made you upset because I was looking for Robby more than you."

"It's okay."

"I didn't think about your feelings when you were crying hugging him. I forgot, we've been friends for a long time, but he chose you to be his partner."

Trisya looked at Renata.

"I'm the one who should apologize. Suddenly appearing in your friendship.." said Trisya. "Can I be honest, Re? Do you like Robby?"

"What?"

"Can you be honest?"

Renata laughed.

"Don't get me wrong.. We're just ordinary friends. We're quite close, but just friends. Nothing more."

"Oh.."

"Your ring is nice?"

"It's not an expensive ring, but Robby gave it to me, so I like it."

"He proposed to you?"

Trisya didn't answer, she started cooking for Renata.

Renata smiled. Her eyes looked at Trisya's phone on the table. For some reason, Renata reached for the phone and looked at it. Trisya had set a photo of her and Robby as her wallpaper.

Renata smiled thinly.

Renata looked at Trisya who was cooking, for some reason she felt so curious about the folder on Trisya's phone.

She smiled looking at a photo of Trisya and Richard in a cafe.

"Turns out Trisya can finally get this close to her stepfather."

Trisya placed a bowl of noodles in front of Renata.

"Hope you like it."

Renata looked at Trisya.

"Sorry for making you disappointed."

"What do you mean?"

"We've been friends since we were kids, but I've been a selfish friend."

"No, Sya."

"I know you've liked Robby from the beginning, but I stole his attention."

"We're just friends. You forgot? I once told you about my crush, but he's already owned by another woman?"

"You didn't love that man, you just admired him, so you were able to let him go to someone else."

"Sya.."

"I was angry when I saw you looking for Robby in the middle of the tragedy that befell your family. I didn't have sympathy to let you release your grief to Robby, instead I showed you my anger."

"Sya, it's not like that. I and Robby.."

"I deliberately kissed him when I heard your footsteps, to show that I am the winner who can make Robby fall into my arms, and at the same time challenge you that what I want you can't have. And I deliberately didn't lock my phone, I put it on the table with a photo of me and Robby as the wallpaper, so you could see it. Cruel, isn't it?"

"Sya, I.."

"I'm going to sleep, okay?" Trisya left Renata.

Renata lowered her face.

"Forgive me, Trisya.."