Trisya Monica stepped through the school gate. It was deserted, no one else was in the schoolyard. She smiled at the tree where she always sat waiting for her mother, Ariana Dewi, to pick her up after school.
The school building had changed so much. Seventeen years ago, if she walked to the right, there was the teacher's room where her homeroom teacher, Tania, sat waiting for her mother every day after school. Now that room had been turned into a library. Back then, it wasn't uncommon for Tania to walk Trisya home because Ariana wouldn't pick her up until evening. Tania often spent time at home with Trisya, who was still eight years old, until she fell asleep in her arms.
"Trisya..." a voice broke through her reverie.
Trisya turned.
"Renata..."
The woman called Renata immediately hugged her.
"When did you arrive?" Renata asked. "Why didn't you say anything? I could have picked you up."
"Why are you here?"
"I've been teaching at this school for two years. Have you forgotten?"
"Oh, yes. I forgot."
"It felt strange at first, going from being a student to being a teacher."
Trisya smiled.
"Finally, you've really become a teacher, just like Ms. Tania."
"Yes, she was the best teacher. Did you come here to remember her too?"
Trisya nodded.
"I cried for days when Ms. Tania died. That's where we first talked to each other."
"Yes. Even though we were in the same class since the first day of school, we never talked."
"I often tried to talk to you, but you never answered me."
Trisya's phone rang. She looked at who was calling.
"Who is it?" Renata asked.
"Mama..."
Trisya answered the phone.
"Yes, Ma..."
"Where are you? Papa Richard picked you up, but he didn't see you. You're not answering your phone."
"Don't pick me up. I'm staying at a hotel."
"What? You've gone crazy? You have a house here!"
"That's not our house, Ma... that's Uncle Richard's house!"
"Uncle Richard bought that house for us!"
"Later, after I find an apartment, I'll call Mama."
Trisya hung up the phone.
"You're staying at a hotel?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't want to live with other people."
"Uncle Richard is nice..."
"He'll change eventually. I want to go back to the hotel. I want to rest. Tomorrow I have to find an apartment."
"I'll take you. Have you eaten?" Renata asked.
Trisya shook her head.
"Come on, let's eat at my favorite place. It's cheap and good. But we'll ride my motorcycle, okay? I can't afford a car yet."
Trisya smiled.
It only took 15 minutes to get from the school to Renata's favorite eatery. It was a simple building with a large enough parking lot to accommodate motorbikes, which were neatly arranged. In front of the entrance was a koi pond complete with a cement-made fountain, beautifully decorated with river stones. Amir's Coffee Shop, the name read on the sign. The owner was a Chinese convert to Islam named Amir.
Trisya and Renata deliberately chose to sit at a table near the window, where they could see the koi pond. They didn't have to wait long after ordering, their chosen menu was served. Trisya didn't wait any longer, she immediately started eating the food that was served.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you, Trisya. You've become even more beautiful," Renata complimented as they both enjoyed their lunch.
"You too."
"Last month, I met our high school friends, we agreed to have a reunion."
"High school?"
"Have you forgotten that we went to the same high school?"
"I'm sorry..."
"After graduating from elementary school, we went to different junior high schools. Then we met at the same high school, just different majors. You were in science, I was in social studies."
"Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, I've forgotten a lot."
Renata was silent.
"No. I'm the one who forgot. You only went to that high school until the first semester of your 12th grade. Suddenly, you just never went back. Sandi and I went to your house repeatedly. It was empty. Your neighbors said you and your mother moved after Uncle Lucas fell from the second floor. Sandi was heartbroken losing you. He said there was no one left to defend him when he was bullied."
"How is he now?"
"I don't know. He's been missing for over five years."
Trisya took a sip of her drink.
"Oh, by the way, can you help me find an apartment tomorrow?"
"There's a house for rent near my house. It's quite big and not expensive. It's just that the design is still old-fashioned."
"It's okay, as long as it's comfortable to live in."
"Okay, I'll pick you up from the hotel after school tomorrow."
"No need, I'll go around and see every corner of the city first. After that, I'll wait at the school."
"Not going to your mother's house?"
"No. I'll just ask Mama to meet outside. Even then, only if she wants to come."
"Your mother is busy taking care of your younger sibling..."
"She's the one who made the mistake. She's almost 50 and still has a toddler?"
"Don't say that, Trisya... Your sibling is a gift from God. Even though he was born imperfect. But your special needs sibling is your family's treasure."
"More accurately, Mama and Uncle Richard's treasure."
"That's Uncle Richard," Renata whispered.
A 44-year-old man wearing a white shirt walked in with a man who seemed to be about Trisya's age, entering the restaurant. He had a very handsome face, supported by an athletic physique. He was Richard Adrian, the man who married Ariana six years ago.
"Uncle Richard," Renata called out.
"Why are you calling him?"
Richard turned.
"Renata. Trisya?"
Richard walked towards them. Renata immediately kissed Richard's hand.
"Are you eating, Uncle?"
"Yes, go on... I promised to meet a friend here."
"It's been a long time since I've seen you, Uncle. The last time was when Rena brought the kids to the police station to learn traffic signs, we met at the gate."
Richard looked at Trisya.
"You've arrived? Papa picked you up at the airport."
"No need!"
"Mama can't wait to see you since you said you'd be coming home. She's missed you so much."
"She already has a new child, who is probably more obedient than me? Why wait for me?"
"Trisya!" Renata scolded.
"I'm eating! Don't ruin my mood!"
"I'm sorry, Uncle..." Renata felt uncomfortable.
"It's okay, okay, you guys continue eating. I'm with my friend," Richard said goodbye.
He stopped and turned back to Trisya.
"Oh, by the way. Stop by the house to see Mama, Trisya..."
Trisya didn't answer.
Renata looked at Trisya.
"Why are you like that to Uncle Richard? You don't like Mama remarrying?"
"Marriage should be enough once. Okay, it's twice because you made the wrong choice in the first marriage. It turns out, you still made the wrong choice in the second marriage. Why aren't you tired? Still trying to repeat it again? What do you think? And choosing someone who is 5 years younger too!"
"If she hadn't met Uncle Richard, maybe your mother wouldn't be living like this. Uncle Richard makes your mother feel like life isn't always disappointing."
"Halah! To change life, you don't have to get married again and again!"
"Hey, don't be like that to your mother!"
"I want to go home..." Trisya stood up and walked away from the table.
Renata sighed. Ever since she knew Trisya, she had never been close to her mother, Ariana. Once, when Renata was in high school, she accompanied Trisya to play at the mall, spending all of Ariana's one-month allowance.
"The mall is about to close, don't you want to go home?" Renata asked.
"Let's go, the money is gone," Trisya replied flatly.
"Mama might get mad if you ask for allowance again tomorrow."
"Let her be, I'm used to seeing her get angry for no reason."
"No reason how? You spent your allowance for a month."
"She just has to ask Uncle Lucas, her rich husband."
"But..."
"Renata? You're not going to take me?" Trisya asked, interrupting Renata's thoughts.
"Yes..." Renata quickly stood up.
She looked at Richard who was sitting with some of his friends.
"Uncle, I'm going now..." Renata said goodbye. "I'm going to take Trisya."
"Oh, okay, be careful. Trisya, don't forget to call Mama when you get to the hotel, okay?"
Trisya didn't answer, she walked out followed by Renata.
"Who was that?" Richard's friend asked.
"My wife's daughter," Richard replied.
"Your stepdaughter is beautiful. Does she have a boyfriend yet?"
"She never talks about it," Richard picked up a bracelet that had fallen to the floor.
He looked at the young man who had entered with him.
"Ardi. It looks like Trisya's bracelet fell off. Try to catch up with her and Renata to the parking lot."
"Yes, Sir."
The man quickly went out to catch up.
Renata and Trisya were already on the motorcycle when Ardi called Renata.
"Yes, Sir. What's up?" Renata asked.
"Maybe this is Trisya's."
He handed her the bracelet. Trisya looked at Ardi's face. The man named Rifki Ardiansyah was one of Richard's trusted investigators. He had a handsome face, though he looked cold, especially with his tall and athletic physique. He would definitely be the target of women who saw him.
"Thank you," Trisya took the bracelet and put it in her bag.
"Let's go, Sir..." Renata said goodbye.
"Who was that?" Trisya asked after they were on their way.
"One of Uncle Richard's team. Why?"
"Can't I ask?"
"He's handsome, right? But it's a pity he's too cool. I think except for policewomen and reporters, no one would want to be near him."