Arlin slowly walked down the hallway of the mansion that was now her home. The classic architecture of the mansion was captivating, with sturdy walls steeped in history.
Her footsteps halted as she spotted an open room. Inside were several antique-looking items: a wooden cabinet with intricate carvings, a rocking chair, and in one corner, a shelf filled with family photo frames.
Slowly, Arlin approached the shelf and picked up one of the frames. The photo inside made her chest feel tight. In the picture, she saw a young Gilang with his younger sister, Kaira.
They stood beside their parents, Raka and Vania, who smiled with love. Young Gilang, who was about ten years old, smiled broadly with his small hands wrapped around Kaira's shoulders.
Arlin could hardly believe that the man she now knew as cold and cruel had once had such a warm smile.
"So... this is the Gilang of the past?" Arlin murmured, startled by the other side of the man who had made her feel trapped all this time.
Her hands trembled slightly as she placed the photo back in its spot. Her mind spun, recalling how one of Gilang's friends at the reunion had mentioned that Gilang's life had changed drastically after the accident that took his parents' lives.
The family that looked so happy in this photo was now gone, leaving Gilang and Kaira to endure life in a harsh way.
Arlin continued looking at the other photo frames, most of which were taken in this mansion. Some showed sweet moments of the Darka family, little Gilang playing the piano with his mother, or Kaira entertaining her father with a simple violin performance.
Each photo seemed to hint at a life that was once full of laughter and joy, togetherness, and love.
"Why did you have to go through all this, Gilang?" Arlin whispered, feeling a warmth that contrasted sharply with the Gilang she now knew.
Instantly, Arlin felt sympathy. Now she understood why Gilang had become such a hardened and controlling person. Losing his family at a young age must have left a deep wound, making Gilang unwilling to lose anything or anyone important to him, including himself.
Arlin shifted her gaze back to the family photo, especially to Gilang's wide, innocent smile. Behind his cold demeanor lay an extraordinary sense of loneliness.
No wonder Gilang always tried to hold onto what he had now, even if it meant using extreme measures.
With a heart that felt slightly warmed, Arlin whispered softly, "I never knew you had this other side to you, Gilang. Maybe if things were different, you wouldn't have to be this hard…"
Arlin bowed her head for a moment, touched by all of this. Perhaps, behind her fear and hatred, there was a hint of pity for the man, whose life was filled with loneliness.
Arlin remained silent, staring at the photos, when the sound of footsteps approached. She was startled, quickly put the photo back in its place, and turned around to find Bi Yuna, the head maid overseeing the mansion, standing at the door with a gentle smile.
"You're here, Miss Arlin. Mr. Gilang asked you to wait in the dining room for dinner," Bi Yuna said softly but firmly.
Arlin nodded slowly, trying to hide her unease after seeing the photos. "Bi Yuna... can I ask you something?"
Bi Yuna smiled faintly, "Of course, Miss. Go ahead."
Arlin pointed toward the photo shelf. "Are they… Gilang's family?"
Bi Yuna nodded, sighing slightly. "Yes, those are Mr. Gilang's parents and his younger sister, Kaira. They used to spend a lot of time together in this mansion. Mr. Gilang and Kaira were cheerful children before all… that happened."
Arlin fell silent for a moment, swallowing the emotions that were weighing on her chest. "Is it true... that the accident is what made Gilang change like this?"
Bi Yuna looked at Arlin with a gaze full of understanding.
"Losing his family at a young age wasn't easy, Miss. Since then, he's been like he's lost a big part of himself."
Arlin nodded slowly, feeling as though she had found a new piece of the puzzle surrounding Gilang's life.
"Gilang… did he ever laugh and smile, like in this photo?" Arlin asked hesitantly.
"Yes, very often. Mr. Gilang used to be a cheerful and loving child. But after the accident... he changed. As he grew older, he became colder and harder to approach."
Arlin sighed deeply. "I don't know... maybe I can understand him a little now."
Bi Yuna nodded. "That's why Mr. Gilang protects the things that are precious to him so fiercely. He doesn't want to lose anything else, even if his methods seem harsh."
Arlin looked at the family photo again. A feeling of pity and a little understanding began to grow in her heart, even though she knew how ruthlessly Gilang had treated her.
"Thank you for telling me, Aunt Yuna. I... I was just curious," Arlin finally said.
Bi Yuna smiled gently. "Perhaps some things are easier to understand once you know the background, Miss Arlin. But remember one thing: Mr. Gilang may be tough on the outside, but deep down… he has felt love and affection, even though he now refuses to show it."
Arlin fell silent, pondering Bi Yuna's words. Perhaps, she thought, Gilang was just someone who had lost his way after everything he had been through.
As Arlin walked toward the dining room, the door opened slowly, and Gilang was already sitting at the table with a cold yet sharp expression. He stared at Arlin without speaking, waiting for her to sit across from him.
"Why did you take so long, Arlin?" Gilang asked in a cold tone.
"Oh... I was just looking around the mansion," Arlin replied softly, not wanting to provoke his anger.
Gilang raised his eyebrows, his eyes narrowing. "I told you, there's no need to wander around too much. There's a reason why I keep everything under control here."
Arlin looked at him for a moment, gathering her courage. "Gilang, this mansion... it's full of memories, isn't it?"
Gilang fell silent, his expression changing briefly. However, he quickly covered it with a cynical smile.
"That's the past. There's nothing for you to worry about."
Arlin sighed. "I was just thinking... it must be hard for you, losing your family like that."
Gilang's face hardened instantly, as if Arlin's words had touched a part of him he had been trying to ignore. But he only snorted coldly.
"Don't think you can understand, Arlin," he said sharply. "You don't know anything about what I've been through."
Arlin felt the sharpness in his tone, but she didn't give up.
"I just want to try to understand. Because now I'm part of your life, I just want to know the other side of you, Gilang."
Gilang smiled cynically, staring at her with disbelief. "Do you think you can change what's already happened? What I did, I did to protect what's mine now."
Arlin nodded, staring at him with a puzzled expression. "I won't change anything, but I want to understand. Because if this keeps up… I'll find it hard to keep going, Gilang."
Gilang remained silent, and the room fell quiet. For Arlin, this might be a small step toward understanding the side of Gilang that had been hidden behind his tough exterior. Though Gilang still didn't give an answer, Arlin knew she had touched his heart, even if only a little.