Trisya stopped in her tracks right in front of a table.
"What's wrong?" Ardi asked.
"I feel nauseous," she replied.
"Are you sick?"
Trisya shook her head, releasing Ardi's hand and running towards the bathroom.
"Trisya!" Ardi called out.
He intended to follow her when someone called him.
"Officer Ardi..."
Ardi turned around.
"Dela? Who are you with?"
"Mora, Riska, Indra, Dion... We just got back from covering the news. It happens to be Taufan's birthday, so we're celebrating. Want to join us, Sir?"
"You guys go ahead. I have a friend," Ardi refused. "Let's go."
Ardi followed Trisya. The woman was standing in front of the sink. Yoshi, Amir's wife, stood behind Trisya, massaging her shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Ardi asked.
Yoshi looked at Trisya's face.
"Are you pregnant?"
Ardi approached Trisya.
"Trisya?"
"I'm okay. I feel better now," Trisya said. "Thank you, Aunt."
"Yes... Be careful. Don't wear high heels anymore. You almost fell earlier."
Ardi put his arm around Trisya's waist to support her.
"Here are your shoes. Wear these flip-flopsp."
"Thank you, Mrs.Yosie," Ardi said.
"Let's go home. My feet hurt."
"Can you walk?"
"Yes."
"I'll carry you."
"No need." Trisya took Ardi's hand.
"Or should Aunt massage your feet first?" Yoshi offered.
"No need, Aunt. Thank you."
Trisya and Ardi immediately left.
Not far from there, at the table where Taufan and his colleagues were sitting.
"Is that Ardi?" Taufan asked.
Dela looked.
"Yes, I invited him to join us earlier, but he refused. He said he was with a friend. It turns out it's that girl. Mr. Richard's daughter, right?"
"Yes."
"I saw that woman when she went to the toilet. She was vomiting, almost fell because she slipped. I heard Aunt Yoshi ask, 'Are you pregnant?' But she didn't answer," Mora explained.
"Seriously?" Taufan asked.
"Seriously."
Indra laughed.
"Cool, a fast way for the commander to have a child. Fill up the savings account first."
"What's cool about it? If Mr. Richard finds out, he'll be furious."
***
"Has Mr. Richard arrived, Dik?" Taufan asked.
"He's in the room, talking to Bayu."
Taufan looked at Ardi's empty seat.
"Where's Ardi?"
"He went out earlier."
"Is Ardi going to get married?" Taufan asked.
"Huh? Who said that?"
"I heard he's dating Mr. Richard's daughter."
"Who said that?"
"Someone saw them, said they often go out at night together with Trisya."
Bayu came out of the room.
" Where is ardi?"
"He went out. Why?"
"Commandan called him."
"Oh, I'll call him first," Dika said. "Do you want to meet Mr. Richard, Taufan?"
"Just for a moment."
"Go in, he's about to come out."
"Okay..."
Taufan knocked before entering. Richard turned around.
"Taufan? Have a seat."
"Just disturbing you for a moment, sir," Taufan sat in front of Richard.
"What is it?"
"This, I brought honey from my own bee farm. Maybe you'll like it, you can order from me later."
Richard smiled.
"Have you harvested it?"
"Not much yet, sir."
"Okay, thank you... How much is this?" Richard asked.
"It's for you, Mr. Richard, first... Later, if you like it, you can WhatsApp me for orders," Taufan laughed. "Thank you, sir... You were the one who funded me for the bee farm back then."
Richard smiled.
"It happened that I had the funds."
"I know, you help many people who are in need."
"Don't mention it, or it won't be a reward in the afterlife."
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in..."
Ardi opened the door and stepped inside.
"Excuse me, sir... Ms. Lina wants to meet you. She's been coming here back and forth since yesterday wanting to talk to you."
"Tell her to come tomorrow. I have an appointment to go out today."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, you'll come with me later."
"Yes, sir."
Ardi was about to leave, but he turned back.
Ardi took a deep breath.
"Excuse me, sir... I won't be coming to work on Friday, I'm preparing for a proposal."
"A proposal? Oh... Do you have a prospective bride?" Richard asked.
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Is she working or is she still a student?"
"A lecturer at Harapan Bunda University, sir."
"Oh? Same as Trisya? Who? Maybe Trisya knows her. Oh yes, Aisyah, right?"
"Yes, sir, it's not her. The daughter you have is the one I want to marry. I ask for your permission to propose to her."
Richard was silent for a moment.
"You mean... Trisya?"
"Yes, sir, that's right."
"Okay. If there's nothing else, you can leave." Richard said.
"Yes, sir..."
Taufan looked at Richard.
"You didn't know they had a relationship?" Taufan asked.
Richard shook his head.
"Just a moment..."
Richard called Trisya's phone number.
"Hello, Dad..."
"Where are you?"
"Still on campus, why?"
"What time are you coming home?"
"I don't know yet... I'm attending a seminar at 4 pm, if the invitation says it's until 9 pm."
"Ardi said he wants to propose to you?"
"Huh? When did he say that?"
"Tonight, after the seminar, go straight home! We'll talk at home!"
"Yes, sir!"
Richard hung up, looking at Taufan who was smiling.
"I'll take my leave, sir... Don't forget, you can order more next time, sir," said Taufan.
"Okay."
"Help with the promotion too, sir. Can I ask Trisya for help too, sir? Promotion to campus?"
"I'll talk to her later."
"Excuse me, sir..." Taufan said as he quickly left.
He saw Ardi typing in front of the laptop.
"You're making your commander have a heart attack," Taufan said as he sat in front of Ardi.
"What's wrong with Ardi?" Tari asked.
"He dared to say he wants to propose to Trisya, Kak."
Dika, who was drinking, was surprised.
"Seriously, Di?" Dika asked.
Richard came out of the room.
"Ardi, let's go."
"Yes, sir," Ardi quickly followed Richard.
"How come you didn't know, Dik? You're always together, right?" Taufan asked.
"You know Ardi doesn't talk much."
"I heard Trisya wants to study in England. I once heard her talking to Mr. Richard. Maybe that's why Ardi wants to propose. To get engaged first so she won't be taken by a foreigner," Tari said.
"Not because of the baby, right?" Taufan laughed.
"Goodness, your accusations are terrifying," Dika said. "He's a good man. There's no way he would do something bad."
"Don't you remember when Trisya blurted out, 'Your t-shirt is at my house.' How did Ardi's t-shirt end up at Trisya's house?"
"Enough, let's not gossip," Tari scolded.
"The problem is, by chance last night while we were having dinner at Amir's place, one of the team members saw Trisya vomiting, Kak Yoshi helped her. She asked, 'Are you pregnant, Sya?'"
"That's enough. Anyway, let's not gossip," Tari said.
**
At a hotel...
"Ms. Trisya!" a man approached Trisya who was walking in the hotel lobby.
Trisya turned around.
"Mr. Edo..." Trisya smiled.
"May I have your phone number?" asked the man, around 55 years old, whom Trisya called Mr. Edo.
"Oh, certainly."
"What is it?" Mr. Edo asked.
"08..." Trisya gave him her phone number.
"Okay, I'll save it. This is my number, Ma'am."
"Okay..."
"When are you free?"
"For? Just a moment, sir, I'll answer this call first."
"Please..."
"Hello... I'm still in the lobby. Raining? Oh, okay. I'll wait in the lobby."
"Sorry. Earlier, you meant when are you free, for what?" Trisya asked.
"I want to invite you to join our campus," explained Mr. Edo. "I like the way Ms. Trisya explained things earlier during the seminar."
"Wow, I can't..."
"Your teaching schedule can be adjusted, Ma'am?"
"I want to study in England."
"You can teach online, Ma'am? How about we chat at a cafe?"
"Wow, I have to go home right away, sir."
"Just for a moment."
"My father is strict, sir."
"Trisya..." Ardi called.
Trisya turned around.
"Well, I've been picked up. Excuse me, Mr. Edo."
"I'll call you again so we can chat later, okay, Ma'am?"
Ardi approached.
"Still a long time?"
"Excuse me, sir..." Trisya said, taking Ardi's arm to quickly leave the place.
"He has so many tricks to be able to sit and chat together," Trisya grumbled.
"Who?" Ardi asked.
"The director of his campus is a rich person. I already said I can't join, he still insisted. Even invited me to chat at a cafe. Old pervert! It's obvious his mind is dirty."
"Hey, don't curse people," Ardi scolded.
"You didn't bring an umbrella? It's raining heavily."
Ardi opened his jacket.
"Come on..." he covered Trisya's head with his jacket.
"You'll get wet."
"Hurry up...!" Ardi pulled Trisya, running towards the car.
"You'll get wet, Sir." Trisya removed the jacket from Ardi.
"It's okay," Ardi said. "Just put the jacket in the back."
Trisya looked at Ardi.
"Why did you suddenly pick me up?"
"There's something I want to tell you."
"I already know. Dad called me earlier asking me to talk about your intention to propose to me. Dad initially asked me to go home to talk to Mom and Dad. But because I haven't gone home yet, Dad called me and said. I shouldn't accept your marriage proposal. I shouldn't make things difficult for you. He suggested I just go ahead and study in England next month, so no one will know that I'm pregnant and give birth in England."
Ardi stopped his car.
"What did Dad say to you?" Trisya asked.
"Nothing. Just earlier when we were going back to the office, he said he wanted to talk to us."
"He must be angry. Why didn't you talk to me first before meeting Dad?"
Ardi didn't answer.
"You've been following Dad for so many years. How could you not know how he is when he's angry?"
"It's okay."
"Why did you suddenly talk to Dad?"
"It just crossed my mind when I saw you last night."
"That's a lie."
"Then... Let's just say I couldn't stop thinking about you."
"Huh?"
Ardi laughed.
"Enough, you have so many questions."
"Yes, because this is strange. Why suddenly?"
"Dad already knows you're pregnant?"
"I already told him, but he seemed unconvinced. Ah, never mind. Besides, Dad has decided that I should go to England. Dad said he'll take me to Singapore next week, he said until my departure to England, I'll stay there."
"Then you'll give birth to the baby there and raise it until your studies are finished?"
"Yes."
"Come back with the baby?"
Trisya nodded.
"Then what will its status be?"
"Dad's adopted child."
Ardi laughed.
"People in power are good at finding ways without damaging their reputation."
Trisya looked at Ardi.
"Then what's your own status? Still Dad's mistress?" Ardi asked.
"How many times have I told you, I'm not Dad's mistress!"
"Then what? His daughter? You're weird! A daughter isn't slept with, Trisya!"
"But he loves me!"
"Love isn't like that, Trisya!"
Trisya was silent.
"You love him that much?" Ardi asked.
"This isn't about love or not..."
"Enough, I don't understand your way of thinking!"
"Why are you getting so angry?"
"Let's just say I love you!" Ardi said angrily. "I don't know what's on your mind!"
Trisya frowned.
"Let's go home! Tomorrow I'll come and propose to your parents."
"You'll get into trouble, Bang. Don't!"
"It's okay."
"Okay, you might be ready. But I'll definitely be the target of Dad's anger!"
"Then you'll just give in just because he's luring you with words of love? What do you want to be?"
"Why are you so angry?" Trisya stared sharply at Ardi.
"You..." Ardi returned Trisya's gaze.
Suddenly, he held the woman's neck.
"What do you want?" Trisya asked.
Ardi didn't answer, he landed a kiss on Trisya's lips, making Trisya speechless.
Trisya struggled, but Ardi wouldn't let go, continuing to devour the woman's luscious lips. The harder Trisya tried to push Ardi away, the more the man wouldn't let go, instead, he devoured Trisya's lips even more. Until finally, Trisya gave up, letting Ardi finish it all.
Ardi released the kiss.
"You're crazy!" Trisya wiped her lips angrily. "You're so rude to me!"
Ardi stroked his hair.
"I'm the one who got you pregnant," Ardi finally said.
"What?"