That night, silence draped the villa like a soft shroud. Only the wind whispered through the trees.
Raphael sat alone on the terrace, lost in his thoughts. His face was pale, his eyes dim, and every breath seemed heavy. The memories of Purwakarta haunted him, the moment he stabbed Kaivan, blinded by rage. Back then, he didn't see Kaivan as a person… only as an obstacle to destroy. And now, that same man had given him another chance.
Raphael clutched his chest, feeling a pain deeper than any wound. One question lingered in his mind, echoing in the darkness: did he truly deserve forgiveness?
Night wrapped the villa in silence. A soft breeze wandered through the leaves, weaving a quiet harmony that made the world seem at peace, as if it had forgotten human restlessness. The sky stretched endlessly above, filled with calm stars that listened to the small stories beneath them. Moonlight brushed gently across the courtyard, casting the trees' shadows in slow motion, moving with the rhythm of the wind.
On the terrace, a man sat alone. His back was slightly bent, his shoulders tense, as if carrying an unseen weight. Raphael Arval stared into the dark distance, his hands clasped over his knees. His breath was long and uneven, cut by waves of memories. The sharpness once in his eyes was now dulled, haunted by the ghosts of the past.
Purwakarta. The knife. The wound on Kaivan's back.
His hands clenched. He couldn't forgive himself, even though Kaivan already had. The wound ran deeper than flesh, it lived within him. A sin that whispered endlessly, lurking in every corner of his thoughts, refusing to fade.
Footsteps approached quietly. Raphael lifted his head slightly but didn't turn. He already knew who it was. The scent of jasmine and warm tea drifted in the air before the soft figure appeared beside him.
Isabel stood there in silence. Her soft pink hair fell over her shoulders, and her dark eyes held a calm that seemed to soothe the night itself. She offered him a cup of tea, the steam rising gently, bringing warmth to the cold air.
"Drink. It might help you feel a little better," she whispered, her voice as soft as the breeze.
Raphael took the cup. The warmth of the ceramic chased away the chill from his fingers, but he didn't drink right away. His gaze returned to the night, to the place where he had buried everything he wanted to forget.
Isabel sat down beside him, letting the silence stretch between them. She knew that sometimes, silence was the truest language for those who carried regret.
After a moment, she spoke softly, trying to ease the weight. "We haven't really talked before, have we? I'm Isabela Khatimah."
Raphael turned slowly, a faint confusion in his eyes. Seeing her warm, outstretched hand, he hesitated, then took it. "Raphael Arval," he murmured.
Isabel smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Raphael."
He only nodded in reply. There was something about Isabel, an unshakable calm, that reached deep inside him, like soft light finding its way into old wounds.
Taking a sip of her tea, Isabel asked, "Why are you sitting out here alone?"
Raphael exhaled, his voice barely audible. "Because I don't deserve to be here. My past... I stabbed Kaivan. I tried to kill him. No matter how much I've changed, my sins won't disappear."
Isabel looked at him quietly, reading the pain behind his eyes. She didn't interrupt. She simply listened, allowing him to release the burden he'd carried alone.
"I'm not one of them," Raphael continued, lowering his gaze. "I... I should leave."
Isabel tilted her head toward the sky and smiled faintly. "At first, I was scared of you too. But Kaivan stood up for you. If he can trust you, maybe I can too. But... can you forgive yourself?"
Raphael froze. The words hit him like a gentle strike to the chest. He wanted to answer, to deny, but no sound came out. His eyes stared into nothing, shaken by something he couldn't put into words.
Isabel stood slowly, brushing the dust from her jeans. "Wanna take a walk? The night air's cool, it might help clear your mind," she said with quiet cheer.
Raphael nodded faintly. He stood and followed Isabel's light steps down the path. The night breeze greeted them, carrying the scent of the forest. Beneath the starlit sky, their footsteps filled the silence that now felt almost peaceful. With each steady breath, Raphael's chest loosened, a small piece of the old pain finally fading, even if not yet gone.
Meanwhile, on another moonlit path, Thivi walked alone. The wind brushed against her skin, but that wasn't what made her shiver. It was the fire in her chest, the ache pressing deep inside.
Her steps were slow, her blue eyes shimmering, not with starlight, but with sorrow. Thoughts spun through her mind: Kaivan holding Felicia close, whispering softly, comforting her with gentle warmth. That tender look in his eyes, none of it was for her.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. She kept walking, not knowing where she was going, led only by the pull of her unspoken pain.
At last, she stopped at a quiet hill. The grass swayed softly under the wind, and the vast sky stretched above. The stars shimmered faintly, yet not one could calm her heart.
She lay down, letting the cool ground embrace her. Her unfocused gaze turned toward the moonlight that poured across her skin, beautiful, yet unbearably lonely. Even nature's calm couldn't touch the ache within her.
"Kaivan... did you ever really see me?" she whispered, her voice nearly lost to the night.