Five o'clock, just before dawn.

"Miss Rei!"

Inah covered her mouth, half in disbelief at Reisa's condition. She looked nothing like her usual self.

"Inah... please help me," Reisa murmured.

She staggered, each step a struggle, her whole body aching beyond endurance.

"Oh my God, Miss. What happened?"

Inah hurried to support her. The young woman's clothes were partly torn, her hair a mess, faint bruises circling her wrists... and traces of blood.

"Call me a taxi. I just want to go home," Reisa whispered, her swollen eyes spilling tears.

"Tarno's here, Miss. I'll call him. He just arrived."

Inah, trembling and ran off. In her heart she wondered what could have happened, though she dared not judge. Seeing Reisa like that made suspicion hard to ignore.

The master of the house had not come out of his room. The door was half open, yet no sound emerged. Inah would not peek inside; it felt improper.

"Tarno! Tarno, come here! Quickly!" She shouted, half running toward the back of the house.

Tarno, as usual, was preparing the car for the morning—checking the engine, wiping the dust so everything would run smoothly when Andra needed a ride.

"What's wrong, Inah? You look like you're being chased by ghosts," he said, startled by her panic.

"Please help Miss Reisa," Inah stammered, fighting tears. She explained in fragments, nervously recounting what she'd seen without embellishment.

Tarno, always quick to act, rushed inside. Seeing Reisa lying weakly on the sofa, his chest tightened.

"What happened to her?" he asked, bending close.

"Oh my, God. It's like she's just been—" He stopped, glancing at Inah, but she said nothing.

Reisa herself could barely breathe, her voice gone.

Seeing Inah weeping, Tarno clenched his hair in confusion.

"Quick, Tarno. We have to get her home."

They lifted Reisa together, hearts pounding. Tarno still wanted answers but there was no time.

"Where's Master Andra?" he asked.

"Later, Nok. Help her first, please. She's suffering," Inah urged.

She opened the car door, carefully settled Reisa inside, smoothing her hair and kissing her cheek with motherly affection.

"Drive, Nok," she said, waving goodbye with silent prayers. Please let her family treat her kindly. Please let this not be what I fear.

As Tarno drove, he kept glancing at Reisa in the back. She sobbed, then drifted into an exhausted sleep.

"God, please let my fears be wrong," he whispered.

Reisa had always visited Andra's house—bringing food, sharing laughter. Orphaned young, she leaned on Inah like a mother, and Andra was like a brother. But if they were siblings at heart, how could this have happened?

Tarno tried to clear his thoughts, focusing on the road.

"Astagfirullah..."

***

Meanwhile, Andra woke late, his head heavy from the remnants of alcohol. Though never a heavy drinker, even a few sips left his body sluggish.

Sitting up, he noticed he was covered only by a sheet.

"What... what did I do?"

"Where's Reisa?"

"Oh God... Reisa!"

He stumbled to the bathroom, nausea rolling through him, then hastily dressed and searched the house.

"Rei! Rei!" he shouted. No answer. The house was silent.

"Inah! Inah!"

The shout made the maid tremble. In all her years working here, she had never faced a morning like this.

"Inah!"

"Yes, sir..." she answered, her voice shaking.

"Where's Reisa?" His tone was half a shout.

"She went home, Master," Inah said quietly. Andra froze—he had never spoken harshly to the old woman before.

"Who took her?" he asked, softer now.

"Tarno, sir," she whispered, head bowed. "Her car is still here."

Andra sank to his knees. "Rei... forgive me. I'm sorry..."

He sobbed, leaning into Inah's arms like a broken child. "Mom, Dad... forgive me."

The old woman embraced him, crying as well. She would not ask questions yet; right now he needed someone to hold him.

Tears spilled as Andra finally admitted his secret longing. For months he had struggled with jealousy as Dimas prepared to marry Reisa. Every smile, every wedding plan had twisted inside him like a blade.

Unable to stop it, Andra had devised a desperate scheme. Pretending drunkenness, he'd called Reisa to help, setting the stage for a night that shattered them both. Inah listened silently, her heart torn.

"Did you...rude her?" she finally whispered.

"Yes, Inah," Andra choked out, rubbing swollen eyes, hair disheveled.

"Why, Master Andra?"

"I love her," he said hoarsely. "I couldn't stand to see her belong to someone else."