"Remember, two months ago? The night you came home drunk, after getting soaked in the city park? I drove you home. You seduced me, and we ended up sleeping together. I left your place at 4 AM."
Ardi looked at Trisya. Her face was flushed.
"You're so cruel!" Trisya exclaimed.
"I know I was wrong. I was tempted by your touch. Instead of resisting, I took advantage of the situation. I knew you were frustrated, under pressure. I don't know who you were thinking about, but I went along with it. I thought no one would know what we did that night, not even you. The devil whispered in my ear. 'Don't worry,' it said, 'the woman I slept with is my boss's mistress. Even if she gets pregnant, you don't have to take responsibility.'"
Trisya slapped Ardi's face.
"I'm not a good woman! But how could you just disappear without a trace after what you did to me?"
"Actually…"
"You're such a coward! You act like nothing ever happened! I'm so disappointed in you! I thought you were a good man, someone who protects and respects women!" Trisya screamed.
"Trisya," Ardi called out, quickly locking the car door as he saw Trisya about to get out.
"Open the door!" Trisya yelled.
"I'm sorry."
Trisya covered her face, and her tears broke.
"Sya…" Ardi called softly after her sobs subsided.
He reached for Trisya's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.
"I'm sorry… Let me make amends."
"I thought you were a good person! Turns out you're not only a jerk, but a coward too!!"
"Let's get married?"
"LET GO OF ME!" Trisya screamed.
"Don't shout!"
"Let me go! Let people hear you and have you arrested! Let go of my hand!"
Ardi kissed Trisya's lips to stop her anger.
"Mmm…" Trisya struggled, hitting Ardi's back, but he wouldn't let go.
"You're such a jerk!" Trisya cursed after Ardi released his grip.
"Let me take responsibility for what I've done…"
"NO! This is my father's child!"
"It's my child, Trisya! Why do you think I'd take the risk of marrying you if it wasn't? When you showed me the pregnancy test, I started to panic. I wavered between staying silent and letting it go, or taking responsibility for my actions."
"I don't want to marry you!"
"What did your father say when you told him you were pregnant?"
"He didn't believe me. But I don't care! I love him!"
"Stop being stupid! What's the point of getting a high-level education if you can still be so easily fooled?!"
Trisya fell silent for a moment.
"It's understandable he wouldn't believe it. If it were his child, my pregnancy would be in its 11th week. I'm only 8 months pregnant. And he never touched me during that time," Trisya thought.
***
That morning..
"Dika," Trisya called.
"Ms. Trisya."
"Is daddy in his room?" Trisya asked.
"Yes, but it's quite busy in there. Just talking, but…"
"Can I go in for a moment?"
"Let me tell him first…"
Trisya didn't wait for Dika to finish; she barged into the office.
"Oh, Ms.Trisya…" Dika immediately followed.
"Trisya? What is it?" Richard asked as the office door opened.
Trisya looked at Richard. Four of his colleagues were sitting with him.
"Dad…" Trisya paused. "Why did you refuse Ardi's proposal?"
Richard glanced at three of his colleagues.
"I didn't refuse, but you're going to England to study, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Let's talk about it after you finish your studies."
"That's too long! He'll get bored waiting for me and choose another woman!"
"We're not discussing this here, dear. This is the office!"
"I'm pregnant!!" Trisya shouted. "Eight weeks, the doctor said!"
The announcement shocked everyone in the room, especially Richard.
He immediately stood up.
"Why not discuss this at home?" Richard asked. "We'll talk about it with your Mom too."
"People at the university will talk about me if Ardi doesn't marry me soon, Dad. My belly will get bigger."
"We're not discussing this here, Trisya! Wait outside!" Richard snapped. "Don't get Ardi into trouble!"
"Why are you defending others more than your own daughter?"
Trisya stormed out of the office.
"Trisya!!"
"Richard, be patient…
Don't yell at her. She's obviously panicked."
"Sorry, sir. She just walked in," Dika said.
"Where's Ardi?" Richard asked.
"Downstairs, sir," Dika replied.
"Tell him to meet me."
"Yes, sir…" Dika closed the door.
Dika went downstairs; Trisya was walking with a worried expression.
They passed Ardi, who was talking to Dela at the entrance.
"Trisya?" Ardi greeted.
Trisya didn't answer.
Ardi looked at Trisya walking away without looking back.
"She… isn't angry because I was talking to you, is she? It was work-related," Dela felt uneasy.
"I don't think so."
"She just got yelled at by Dad," Dika explained.
"Oh? Why? Oh… I'm being nosy," Dela laughed.
"Mr. Richard called for you, Di!" Dika said. "Ms. Trisya just reported you to him."
"Me?"
"She said she's pre…" Dika didn't finish his sentence.
"Oh… I'll go to his office. Let's go, Dela," Ardi said.
"Why, sir?" Dela asked.
"It's nothing."
"Mr. Richard's daughter is pregnant? You were about to say that, Dik?" asked the officer sitting in the room. "Did Ardi cause trouble?"
"It's nothing," Dika immediately followed Ardi.
"How can you be so calm?" Dika asked.
Ardi didn't answer.
"I know you two have been very close lately. I can't believe you got Trisya pregnant. You're a good person."
"Lust can overcome anyone, anytime…" Ardi walked ahead of Dika.
"Ardi," Dika called.
"Is Mr. Richard still with guests?" Ardi asked Bayu.
"They just left, sir."
"I'm going in," Ardi immediately walked to Richard's office.
He knocked, entered, and closed the door.
"Trisya reported you…" Richard said.
Ardi was silent.
"Have you gone mad?"
"I'm sorry for getting Trisya pregnant," Ardi said.
"What?? So it wasn't a joke?"
"I apologize for my indecent behavior; I couldn't control myself from touching Trisya. I ran away from my responsibility because I thought it wasn't necessary. I thought Trisya was having an affair with you, sir. Even if she got pregnant, I thought you'd be the one held responsible."
"Good heavens."
"But I couldn't leave Trisya confused, thinking that the child couldn't be publicly acknowledged as your child. That made me realize how cowardly I was to leave Trisya alone to bear the consequences of my actions. And it's clear that you would deny that the child is yours."