Gilang's cell phone rang loudly on his office desk. Without looking at the screen, he picked it up and answered in a flat voice.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Gilang," Bi Yuna's voice came from the other end of the line, soft but full of concern. "I just wanted to let you know that Miss Arlin hasn't eaten since yesterday. She's just locked herself in her room."
Gilang fell silent for a moment, gripping the phone tighter. "What do you mean?"
"She refuses to eat, sir. All the food we prepared hasn't been touched."
Gilang growled softly, anger beginning to burn in his chest. "Why didn't you report this sooner?"
"I'm sorry, sir, we thought she just needed time. But it's been a full day, and I'm worried."
Without another word, Gilang hung up the phone and stood up from his chair. He walked quickly out of the office, anger clearly visible on his face. Two days without returning home due to his busy schedule had made him complacent, and now Arlin was slipping further into a state he didn't understand.
---
At the mansion, Arlin sat in the corner of her room, her body trembling. Her stomach ached from hunger, but the pain she felt wasn't just from that. Guilt, anger, and fear mingled together, making her unwilling to do anything but isolate herself.
She felt trapped in an invisible prison, and each day, the pressure she felt grew more suffocating.
A knock on the door startled Arlin. Bi Yuna entered slowly, carrying a tray of food. "Miss, please eat a little. It's for your own good," she pleaded softly.
However, Arlin only shook her head weakly. "I'm not hungry..."
Bi Yuna looked at her with concern. "Miss, if you keep this up, Mr. Gilang will be angry. Please, don't make yourself sick."
Arlin didn't respond, only pulling her knees closer to her chest, as if seeking warmth from herself. Bi Yuna sighed, then left the room with a heavy heart.
---
A few hours later, the mansion's door slammed open. Gilang's footsteps echoed down the corridor.
His face looked tense, and the pent-up anger was clearly visible in his eyes. Without hesitation, he walked toward Arlin's room.
As soon as he opened the door, the sight he saw made his heart skip a beat. Arlin was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face pale and weak. Her eyes were droopy, and her lips were dry, clearly showing that she hadn't eaten at all.
"Arlin," Gilang called out in a firm tone, trying to get the girl's attention.
But Arlin only turned her face away, staring blankly out the window.
Gilang took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions.
"What are you doing? Why are you torturing yourself?"
Arlin didn't answer, but tears began to well up in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying hard not to cry, but her efforts were in vain. Tears fell slowly, and her body trembled gently.
Seeing this, Gilang's anger turned to confusion. He didn't know what to do. "Why… are you crying?" his voice softened, almost inaudible.
Without thinking, Gilang stepped forward and pulled Arlin into his embrace. Her body felt light and weak in his arms. The girl didn't resist, but her sobs grew louder, shaking her body. Gilang held her tightly, feeling how fragile she was in his arms.
"I... don't know why you're crying," Gilang murmured, more to himself than to her. "But I won't let you stay like this. I won't let you hurt yourself."
Arlin continued to cry, her tears soaking Gilang's shirt. Yet, behind the tears, she felt a little relief.
Though she didn't understand why Gilang was holding her here, the warm embrace lifted some of the weight from her heart. But she was still too tired, too confused, and too broken to speak.
Gilang held his breath, trying to calm himself. He wouldn't admit it, but deep down, he had liked her since that night.
Maybe it wasn't love, but something that made him want to keep protecting this girl. And for that, he would do anything.
After a while, Arlin stopped crying, only leaving behind soft sobs. Gilang gently rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.
"You have to eat, Arlin. Please, don't hurt yourself like this."
Arlin shook her head weakly against his chest, but Gilang didn't give up.
"If you won't eat for yourself, do it for me."
Arlin looked up slowly, her red eyes staring at Gilang in confusion. "Why do you care?" she asked in a hoarse voice.
Gilang fell silent, unsure how to respond. How could he explain something he didn't fully understand himself?
"I just… care. That's all."
Arlin didn't respond, but for the first time since she'd been in the mansion, a small sense of relief crept into her heart.
"Why aren't you eating?" Gilang asked again.
Arlin slowly lifted her face, staring at Gilang with an unreadable expression.
"I don't want anything from you. I just want to leave." Her voice was hoarse, trembling, but firm.
Gilang approached her, his face turning sharp.
"Leave? You already know my answer, Arlin. I won't let you go." His tone was low, but filled with cold determination.
"I'm not your prisoner, Gilang. You have no right to keep me here!" Arlin shouted, her voice hoarse from crying too much.
Gilang clenched his jaw, his eyes glaring at Arlin with anger that was beginning to boil over. "I don't care what you say. You're staying here. I won't let you go."
"What else do you want from me?" Arlin screamed, tears streaming down her face again. "You've taken everything from me! My life has been ruined since that night! I don't want to be near you! Let me go!"
Hearing this, Gilang approached her quickly. He grabbed Arlin's arm roughly, startling her.
"Stop talking about it!" he snapped. "I've told you, you won't leave. I'll make sure you stay here."
Arlin tried to pull her arm away, her eyes filled with tears and fear. "Let me go, Gilang! You have no right to hold me!" She began to sob loudly, struggling to break free from Gilang's grip.
"Do you think you can defy me?" Gilang's voice was low, but clearly angry. He released his grip roughly, causing Arlin to stumble backward slightly. "You're not going anywhere. Eat or starve, that's your problem. But you're staying here."
Arlin wiped her tears with trembling hands. "You're a monster, Gilang... You don't care about how I feel. You only care about yourself!"
Gilang glared at her, his breathing heavy. "I care about you, Arlin. But you don't understand, I can't... I can't let you go."
"Care?" Arlin laughed bitterly. "You call this caring? Telling me to eat and locking me in here? If you truly cared, you'd let me go free."
Gilang paused for a moment, then turned away, his face showing restrained anger. "You won't go anywhere, Arlin," he said in a cold voice before walking toward the door. "I'll lock this door, and you won't go anywhere."
Arlin stared at him with tears streaming down her face. "You... you can't do this!"
Gilang stopped at the doorframe, glancing back at Arlin. "I've already done it," he replied briefly before slamming the door shut and locking it from the outside.
Arlin hugged herself, sobbing, trapped in a room that began to feel like a prison. "I have to get out of here," she whispered to herself, over and over, even though she knew deep down that Gilang wouldn't let her go that easily.