Arlin sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly out the large window that framed the bright blue sky.
She had been locked in this room for two days, even though Gilang had already unlocked the door. Arlin didn't want to talk to anyone, not even touch the food brought by the maids.
"I can't keep going like this," she whispered softly. With a heavy sigh, she stood up from the bed and walked slowly toward the door.
Her trembling hands opened the door, which was still locked from the inside, but she knew Gilang wasn't in the mansion.
The door opened, and Arlin stepped out for the first time since locking herself in. The hallway outside felt so vast and quiet, giving her an unfamiliar feeling that had haunted her since she was first brought to this place.
As she walked slowly, she observed her surroundings. The house was huge, luxurious, and too quiet. It was vastly different from her small rented apartment in the city. Suddenly, Arlin sensed someone's presence.
"Ah, Miss Arlin," Bi Yuna's soft voice greeted her from the kitchen.
The middle-aged woman smiled gently, approaching Arlin with calm steps.
"Finally, you've come out of your room. Do you need anything?"
Arlin shook her head slowly, still feeling awkward.
"No... I just wanted to take a walk," she replied in a soft voice.
Bi Yuna nodded understandingly. "That's good, Miss. You've been cooped up for too long. Maybe you could watch TV in the living room or take a walk in the backyard? Fresh air will make you feel better."
Arlin hesitated for a moment. "TV?" she asked, as if it were a foreign idea to her. How could she watch TV while her mind was filled with fear about Gilang?
Bi Yuna seemed to sense her hesitation. "Or maybe a walk in the garden would be better. The flowers there are in bloom. Try it, maybe you'll feel calmer."
Arlin sighed, forcing a smile even though her heart was still restless. "I'll try going to the garden, maybe the fresh air will help," she said softly.
Arlin nodded slightly, then followed Bi Yuna toward the back door. As they passed through the large rooms of the mansion, Arlin couldn't help but look at every corner.
Everything felt so unfamiliar and frightening. Various paintings hung on the walls, the marble floors glistened under the crystal chandeliers, but there was no sense of warmth in this place. It felt like walking through a luxurious prison.
They arrived at the spacious backyard. Arlin could see a carpet of vibrant, perfectly manicured flowers, along with several large trees providing shade in the corners of the garden.
The fresh air brushed against her face, and for a moment, Arlin felt relieved.
"You can sit there, on the bench under the tree," Bi Yuna suggested, pointing to the wooden bench near the small pond.
Arlin nodded, walked toward the bench, and sat down slowly. Her eyes gazed at the flowers gently swaying in the breeze. Though she still felt out of place, the garden at least gave her a little space to breathe.
"Mr. Gilang is out of town, so you can relax," Bi Yuna spoke softly from behind her.
Arlin flinched slightly at the mention of Gilang's name. "I'm not afraid of him," Arlin replied, though her heart screamed the opposite. She just wanted to leave this place, far away from the man who had ruined her life.
Bi Yuna smiled, though her expression betrayed deep sympathy.
"I know, Miss. But sometimes… things don't always go as we wish. Mr. Gilang has his own ways, even if they're hard to understand."
Arlin remained silent. Bi Yuna's words weighed heavily on her heart, but she knew one thing: she wouldn't give up so easily.
"Why is this happening to me?" she whispered to herself, tears flowing uncontrollably once more. Her pale face grew even more listless.
Arlin sat on the wooden bench for a long time, letting her thoughts drift aimlessly. The gentle trickling of water from the pond in front of her should have been soothing, but it only intensified the restless feelings in her heart.
"I have to leave here," she murmured softly, more to herself than anyone else. However, the image of Gilang, his cold demeanor, and the obvious obsession in his eyes made the idea of escaping seem impossible.
Soft footsteps were heard from behind, causing Arlin to turn around. Bi Yuna appeared again, this time holding a cup of hot tea in her hand.
"You look tired, Miss," Bi Yuna said, handing her the tea with a small smile. "Drink it; at least you'll feel a little better."
Arlin took the cup without saying a word. Her hands trembled slightly as she brought the tea to her lips, sipping it slowly.
"Bi Yuna, can I really not leave here?" Arlin asked, breaking the silence that had returned.
Bi Yuna paused before answering. "That's not a decision I can make, Miss."
Arlin lowered her head, feeling disappointed by the answer she had expected. "I don't understand. Why won't he let me go? I'm nobody, Bi. I'm just an ordinary girl. Why is he so stubborn?"
Bi Yuna took a deep breath, looking at Arlin with compassion. "I can't say much about that. All I know is, Mr. Gilang... he's been different since that incident. He lost the people he loved most, and maybe that makes it hard for him to let go of something or someone he considers important."
"Important?" Arlin furrowed her brow, feeling confused. "How could I be important to him? We don't even know each other!"
Bi Yuna didn't answer, but her wise gaze seemed to say more than words could express. There was something much deeper behind Gilang's cold and hard demeanor, but Arlin couldn't understand it yet.
"I just want my life back, Bi Yuna," Arlin whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. The tears she had been holding back now flowed uncontrollably. "I want to go back to my simple life, before all this happened."
Bi Yuna gently patted Arlin's shoulder, trying to comfort the girl. "I understand, Miss. But for now, try to be patient. Everything will have its time."
Arlin could only nod, though her heart felt increasingly shattered. Though she wanted to believe Bi Yuna's words, she knew that as long as Gilang was in control of everything, freedom would remain a distant dream.
"Mr. Gilang, he's actually a kind and cheerful person," Bi Yuna finally said.
"Then?"
"At that time, Mr. Raka and Mrs. Vania had an accident. Mr. Gilang felt frustrated and shut himself away. Many of his friends came to talk to him, but he wouldn't come out. There was Mr. David, Mr. Shakeel, Mr. Caesar, and even Miss Kaira. But he never left his room, and as time passed, Mr. Gilang changed drastically."
"How sad?" Cicit Arlin
"Yes, seven years have passed. But they never intended to distance themselves from Mr. Gilang because of his change. They all tried to understand. At that time, Mr. Gilang lived with Mr. Raja and Mrs. Sila. Since then, Mr. Gilang began to return to his life, but it was vastly different from before."
"Seven years?" Beo Arlin felt something in her heart.
BI Yuna just smiled slightly, looking at Arlin seriously. "All this time, no woman has been able to get close to Mr. Gilang only you. Miss! I hope you can start accepting this reality."