Ardi's phone rang. The man quickly moved Trisya's body and grabbed his phone.
"Hallo."
"Where are you, Di?" asked Azam.
"Outside. Why?"
"The target has been apprehended. We're on our way to the office."
"Ok, I'll head to the office."
Ardi put away his phone.
"I have to go to the office. I'll take you home."
"I don't want to go home."
Ardi sighed. He looked at Trisya.
"Come on, Sya. I can't bring you to the office. What will people say?"
"The people at the office know I'm Richard's daughter."
"No."
"I'll just wait in the car."
"Then where do you want me to take you if you're not going home?"
"Let's just go for a drive. Around every corner of this city."
"No. I need to rest!"
"Let me drive. You can sleep."
"Whatever!" Ardi drove his car towards the office.
He got out when he reached the office parking lot.
"Are you sure you want to wait here?"
"Yes."
Ardi quickly left the place. Trisya smiled. She reached for her phone. An incoming call from Richard.
"Hallo..."
"Where are you, Sya? I went back and forth to your house, but you haven't come home."
"I don't feel like going home, Dad. Maulana might come."
"He doesn't know where you live, does he?"
"I have a bad feeling."
"I am sorry for asking you to meet your biological father. But it had to be done."
"I don't blame you."
"I will pick you up, okay? Where are you?"
Trisya didn't answer. She hung up the phone from Richard. She leaned her head back on the seat.
Two hours later, Ardi returned. He saw Trisya still sitting, looking at her phone. Ardi got into the car.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I can't sleep."
"Your father just called. He asked if you had contacted me."
"What did you say?"
"I said you were with me. Your father asked me to take you home."
"Ok. But let's go for a drive first, okay?"
"Ugh, I'm tired, Sya."
"Let me drive. You can sleep."
Ardi sighed.
"Whatever," he got out of the car.
"Di," called Dika, approaching with Azam.
"Yes."
"Come on, let's eat at Amir's place."
"I'm not coming."
"Why not?" asked Azam.
"I don't feel well."
"Oh, Ok. We're going then?"
"Yes," Ardi waved.
He waited until they disappeared from sight. Afterward, he immediately got into the car.
"Are you hungry, Sir?" asked Trisya as she started the car engine.
"No," Ardi leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "Be careful, okay?"
"Yes..."
They didn't talk the whole trip. Trisya turned on the music while focusing on the road. She drove through every corner of the city she wanted to see. Time flew by, and it was already 3 am when she stopped the car in front of her house.
She turned to her left. Ardi was asleep. The man hadn't moved a bit throughout the journey. He seemed very tired. Trisya looked closely at Ardi's face. She gently stroked his hair.
"Thank you, Sir... I never thought you would be the one who would be there for me through all my anxieties," Trisya whispered.
She stroked Ardi's cheek. The man woke up.
"What's wrong?"
"I was just looking at your face up close. You're so handsome, Sir."
"Where are we?"
"In front of my house," Trisya put her arm around Ardi's neck. "Let me look at you for a moment before I go inside."
"Don't start again, Sya."
"Why?"
"Go inside... I want to go home," Ardi released Trisya's embrace, but the woman put her arm around Ardi's neck again.
"If you marry Aisyah, I won't be able to hug you like this anymore."
"What do you want? Why do you keep tempting me?"
"I've liked you since the first time I saw you. When you gave me my bracelet that fell."
"Get out."
"Why are you so afraid of being tempted by me?"
Ardi didn't answer.
A car drove into the yard. Richard's car!
Ardi released Trisya's embrace. He quickly got out, followed by Trisya.
"Sir," greeted Ardi.
"Thank you, Sir. For keeping me company," Trisya said to Ardi.
Trisya ran into the house.
"Thank you."
"I'll take my leave, Sir."
"Be careful."
Richard waited for Ardi until he disappeared from sight.
He stepped inside. He saw Trisya changing clothes in her room. Richard stepped in.
He approached Trisya, extending his hand to embrace her.
"Why did you let me go?" Trisya asked suddenly.
Her sobs were faint.
"Where were you? Everyone was looking for you and calling, but you didn't answer?"
"Why did you let me meet him???" Trisya shouted through her tears. "I shouldn't have met him and heard how happy he is living with his new family!!!"
"Trisya... I am sorry for hurting you.."
"I hate you, Richard!!! I swear! I hate you!!!" Trisya yelled. "Why did you ask me to do something I didn't want to do?? Why are you so cruel to me?? Why are you tormenting my heart?? What did I do to you??"
The body slumped, falling to the floor.
"He said so casually that he's living happily with his new family... He doesn't remember that he still has another child..." Trisya said.
"Don't think about it anymore."m
"I want to take his heart and soul, then throw them into the swamp... Useless," Trisya hissed.
"Don't think like that..."
"So it won't become a disease," Trisya said flatly.
The next day, at a cafe...
"Sorry I'm late," Richard said.
He had promised to meet Maulana that day to discuss Trisya.
"It's already 7 pm," Maulana said. "How can you be so relaxed about making someone wait? You were the one who promised to be here in the afternoon, not me?"
"There was work that suddenly had to be done," Richard said as he sat opposite Maulana.
"Work where?"
"The police station," Richard replied.
"Oh? Which department?"
"Criminal Investigation Unit..."
"Oh, Ok..."
"What's up?" Richard asked.
"How's Trisya?" asked Maulana.
"Not so good, maybe we chose the wrong time to introduce you to her."
"She must be shocked. I feel guilty too."
"Time will make her feel better."
"You seem to understand Trisya very well."
"Just trying to understand her..."
"What's the purpose of this meeting?" Richard changed the subject.
"Where does Trisya live?"
"At her own house. A rented place."
"Do you live in that house too?"
"No. But I'll definitely be there to accompany her during this situation."
"She's... what to you?" asked Maulana.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you going to marry her?" asked Maulana.
Richard looked away.
"When you're accompanying her at that house, do you sleep in separate rooms?" asked Maulana.
"I don't want to answer that."
"Why?"
"Where is this conversation actually going?"
"I just found out that you are actually Ariana's husband!"
"Yes..."
"I don't care if you cheat on Riana! But Trisya is her daughter. How could you make your stepdaughter your mistress???"
"She's not my mistress."
"Then what do you call her? The woman you sleep with? You're so cruel to destroy my daughter's future!"
"Who are you? Why are you interfering with my life?" asked Trisya, who suddenly appeared.
Maulana turned around.
"Trisya!"
"Don't pretend to care about me! For 25 years, where were you?? You let me become the target of Mom's rage! You didn't even know my struggles to survive, until I had to become someone's pet, abused, treated like an animal!"
"Papa was wrong, so Papa wants to make up for his mistake by trying to free you from the clutches of this bastard disguised as an angel! He doesn't care about your life! He just wants you for his pleasure!"
"Do you know what?" Trisya retorted. "It's actually Papa Richard who has made my life better! Come on, Pa... let's go home."
"I'm your biological father! I will never accept my daughter's life being ruined by a scumbag like him!"
"I forced him to follow what I wanted! You go and take care of your happy family!"
Trisya grabbed Richard's arm.
"Come on, Dad..." Trisya pulled Richard.
"Trisya, Im not finished!"
"Excuse me..." Richard left the place with Trisya.
"Hey..."
In Richard's car...
"Why did you suddenly show up?" asked Richard.
"I called you several times, but you didn't answer. I asked Razak, he said you were at Rainbow Cafe. I was originally going to take you to the movies. So I thought I'd just come here. Turns out he was talking to that toxic father."
"Don't say that, he's your biological father after all."
"I don't care! He and Mom are the same! Where were they all this time? Why are they suddenly making a fuss now, acting like heroes who arrived late?"
"Don't talk about your parents like that. How many times have I told you... Forgive, forgive, and forgive."
"Let them be, they don't need to be forgiven."
Richard looked at Trisya.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look especially beautiful today?" Trisya asked.
"Nothing," Richard replied.
"Da..." Trisya called.
Richard turned.
"What is it?"
"Don't leave me. I'm too scared of losing you..." Trisya lowered her head.
Richard lifted Trisya's chin so she would look at him.
"One day there will be a time of loss, even if you do everything to prevent it."
"I love you, Dad..." Trisya kissed Richard.