Chapter 3: A Bonded Beginning
At Rizky's Residence
A Few Days Later
Inside the house, Rizky donned the traditional Ulee Balang attire—a regal outfit once worn exclusively by the noble class of Aceh. Though now anyone could wear it, the elegance and authority it carried remained undeniable.
The long Acehnese headpiece atop his head added to his refined appearance, while a rencong—a traditional Acehnese dagger, once a symbol of courage and lineage—was tucked securely at his waist.
The wedding ceremony was set to take place at the bride's residence, so Rizky was preparing to depart. His parents, Pak Ismail and Ibu Annisa, were in a separate car, leading the way like a royal escort for the groom's entourage. Meanwhile, Rizky rode in a different car with his four closest friends—Ahmad, Rayan, Zikri, and Qadir—friends from across the strait who were studying at the same university as him.
"Come on, Rizky, you're riding in the car behind with your friends. Your mother and I will be up front," Pak Ismail said as he opened the car door.
Rizky let out a deep sigh before heading toward the car.
His friends greeted him with excited cheers.
They playfully ushered him inside, teasing him as he got in.
"Finally, you're getting married, huh?" Rayan exclaimed in his signature Malaysian accent.
"Yeah! So, when's our turn, then?" Zikri added, grinning.
"Why are you rushing into marriage? We're still in college, man!" Ahmad teased from the driver's seat.
"What choice do I have? My father already made the decision," Rizky sighed, resigning himself to his fate.
"It's not good to go against your parents. You don't want to be called anak durhaka, do you?" Qadir added with a smirk, using the term for a 'disobedient child'—one of the worst things to be in their culture.
His words earned a round of laughter from the group as the car started moving.
ADelayedJourney
What started as an ordinary trip soon turned into a struggle when heavy rain poured down relentlessly. The roads became treacherously slick, and traffic slowed to a frustrating crawl. As the convoy approached an old wooden bridge, the river beneath it swelled with a powerful current, its waters rising rapidly. In mere moments, the force of the flood swept against the bridge, cutting off their path forward.
Inside the car, tension filled the air. Some were panicked, while others sat frozen in uncertainty. Then Rizky's phone rang—it was his father.
"Find another route. I'll send you the location now," Pak Ismail instructed.
"Alright, Pak," Rizky responded immediately.
They tried following the alternative route given to them, but just a few kilometers before reaching their destination, Rizky's phone suddenly died.
"Oh no, my phone's dead too," Rizky groaned in frustration.
"You knew we needed it! Why didn't you charge it earlier?" Rayan scolded, shaking his head.
"I forgot," Rizky admitted, rubbing his forehead. "Just use yours, Rayan."
"Can't, Rizky. None of us brought ours," Rayan replied with an amused chuckle.
Rizky blinked in disbelief, shaking his head. "Are you guys serious right now?"
Rayan and the others simply exchanged small, guilty smiles.
With no other choice, they continued the journey without GPS, relying purely on memory and instinct. Finally, they spotted janur kuning—the long yellow coconut leaves tied in decorative arches, a traditional sign that a wedding was taking place. Relief washed over them as they realized they had found the venue.
However, just as they were about to step out, Rizky's face suddenly lost all color. His hands turned clammy, and he swallowed hard, visibly nervous.
"What's with you, Rizky? Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" Rayan teased, nudging him.
"Are you really trembling just before your wedding? Come on, you're not facing execution!"
The car burst into laughter, though Rizky remained frozen in place. His legs suddenly felt weak, as if they refused to carry him forward.
AFatalMistakeattheWeddingStage
As Rizky arrived at the wedding venue, he walked slowly through the rows of guests standing along the pathway leading to the pelaminan—the wedding dais, where the bride and groom were to be seated. His steps felt heavy, as though something unseen was holding him back. The cheers of the guests, the joyful smiles of relatives, and the soft melodies of wedding music faded into an indistinct hum in his ears.
As he neared the pelaminan, his heartbeat pounded harder. His breath became short, his chest tightening with unease. But then—he froze.
His face drained of all color the moment his eyes landed on the bride seated gracefully on the dais.
"Why, Bapak? How could you do this to me?" Rizky lamented in his heart, disbelief clawing at his throat.
His friends, who had been trailing behind him, were just as stunned.
"Astaghfirullah," Qadir whispered, invoking God's name as if witnessing something truly alarming.
"Alamak, if this is the case, I'd rather just die," Rayan muttered, using the common Malay exclamation alamak, which expressed utter shock—like someone realizing they had walked straight into disaster.
"Let's get the hell out of here!" Zikri hissed urgently.
Without a second thought, they spun on their heels and bolted toward the car.
Ahmad, who had been waiting in the driver's seat, frowned in confusion as they practically threw themselves inside.
"What's going on? Why are you guys coming back?" he asked, alarmed.
"Just drive! Fast!" Rayan shouted, his voice edged with urgency.
Panicked, Ahmad stepped on the gas. In their desperate escape, none of them noticed that they had driven past the correct wedding venue—the one marked with the real janur kuning, the yellow palm leaves that symbolized a wedding.
Anxiety attheWeddingCanopy
Back at the venue, Pak Ismail and Ibu Annisa grew more anxious with each passing moment.
"Pak, why hasn't Rizky arrived yet? Could he have taken the wrong turn again?" Ibu Annisa asked, her voice laced with worry.
"Relax, I already sent him the location. Let me try calling him again," Pak Ismail replied, attempting to reassure her.
But his attempts to reach Rizky went unanswered.
Meanwhile, on the wedding dais, Nabila sat frozen, unsure of what to feel.
At first, she remained composed, but as the whispers around her grew louder, a deep sense of embarrassment began creeping in.
She felt like a spectacle, a mere showpiece for the crowd. Her emotions clashed within her.
Should she feel relieved? Or should she feel wounded?
The conflicting emotions churned inside her, leaving her numb.
Would this shame haunt her forever?
Or would time eventually lead her to the answers she so desperately sought
EscapetoSultanIskandarMudaAirport
Rizky and his friends arrived at the airport, still catching their breath from their hasty retreat. Their plan was simple: buy tickets and leave as soon as possible. However, amidst the rush, they unexpectedly ran into Heri and Dian, two of their university friends who had just arrived from Jakarta.
"Eh, Heri! Where are you coming from?" Rizky greeted, forcing a smile despite his nerves.
"Just got back from my hometown… with my wife," Heri replied casually, glancing at Dian, who stood beside him.
"Wife?" Rizky blinked, his mind struggling to process the information.
His friends, standing behind him, were equally stunned.
"Wait, does that mean you guys just got married?" Rizky asked, still in disbelief.
"Of course!" Heri answered with a small chuckle, exchanging a glance with Dian.
The four friends reacted instantly, their voices overlapping.
"Married??" they all practically shouted in unison, eyes wide in shock.
Heri simply shrugged, completely unfazed. "Yeah, what's the big deal? Why do you guys look so surprised? It's not like you've never seen a married couple before," he joked, laughing lightly.
Zikri tried to say something, but his words came out jumbled. "You… I mean… uh…"
"Just shut up, Zikri," Qadir cut him off, shaking his head.
However, Rayan couldn't keep his mouth shut. "Eh, Heri, you know Rizky ran away, right?" he blurted out, making the atmosphere instantly awkward.
Rizky immediately looked down, his face turning bright red with embarrassment.
"Rayan! You can't just say that! That's not nice!" Qadir scolded firmly.
"But everyone already knows," Rayan replied with a shrug.
Heri, now curious, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, ran away? From what?" he asked, chuckling.
"Of course he ran! His bride looked like Mak Lampir!" Rayan exclaimed in his thick accent.
(Mak Lampir was a well-known mythical ghost from Indonesian folklore, often depicted as a terrifying old woman with supernatural abilities.)
Everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter. Even Dian had to cover her mouth with both hands, trying to suppress her giggles.
"Oh no, don't say that! Poor Rizky!" she laughed.
Rizky, now completely defeated, let out a tired sigh and shook his head. His lips curled into a weak smile as he tried to shake off the embarrassment.
"Enough, enough! Stop bullying me!" Rizky groaned, rubbing his temples. "So, when can I book my ticket?"
"Oh? So where exactly are you planning to go?" Heri asked, glancing at him.
"I'm heading to Jakarta, to stay with my relatives," Rizky answered briefly.
"He's going alone. We're just his rescue team!" Rayan cut in with a smirk.
"I see…" Heri nodded before narrowing his eyes at Rizky. "Does your mother know you're here?"
"Of course not…" Rayan muttered, teasing.
Rizky remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, with a deep sigh, he turned to Heri.
"Oh yeah, Heri. I need a favor."
"Sure, what is it?" Heri asked, his tone friendly.
"Can you take this to my house and tell my mom that I'm going to Jakarta?" Rizky said, handing over a small bag.
"Alright. Anything else you want me to say?" Heri asked.
"That should be all for now, Her," Rizky replied with a small, weary smile.
"Alright then, I'll head off so you can get your tickets quickly. Don't let them sell out, bro," Heri said.
"Thanks, Her. Sorry for the trouble," Rizky said sincerely.
"It's nothing, bro. Take care of yourself. Bye!" Heri waved and walked away with Dian.
Rizky let out a deep sigh, gathering his courage to step into this new chapter of his life.
AChangeinPlans
Rizky hurried to book his flight, but the tickets to Jakarta were already sold out. The only available option was Kuala Lumpur.
"Alright, I'll take that one," Rizky decided.
His friends exchanged glances before shrugging.
"Yeah, we'll go with you. You can stay at our place," Rayan said with a grin.
Rizky simply nodded in resignation.
ChaosattheWeddingCanopy
Confusion spread like wildfire. Guests murmured among themselves, glancing around, questioning why the groom had yet to arrive. Pak Ismail and Ibu Annisa felt the weight of the situation pressing down on them, especially under the watchful gaze of Pak Anwar, their longtime friend.
In the end, after much discussion, both families reached a reluctant agreement: the wedding would be postponed—for now.
The bride, though somewhat relieved, couldn't ignore the sting of humiliation. A storm of emotions swirled within her—a mix of gratitude and sorrow. She lowered her head, eyes welling with unshed tears, fully aware that this incident would soon become the subject of gossip in the community.
HeriandDian
"Yang, what should we do now? Should we go to our boarding house first, take a shower, freshen up, and then head to Rizky's house? Or should we go straight there?" Heri asked, glancing at his wife. ("Yang" was a shortened form of Sayang, an affectionate term meaning "darling" or "honey.")
"No, Yang. Let's go straight to Rizky's house. His mother must be worried sick. Rizky didn't even tell her where he was going," Dian replied gently.
"Oh, you're right," Heri nodded in agreement. "Alright then, let's go straight there."
He smiled slightly, admiring his wife's kindhearted nature.
AtIbuAnnisa'sHouse
That afternoon, Ibu Annisa sat anxiously in the living room. The wrinkles on her face weren't just from age—they were deepened by the worry that weighed on her heart. Her hands gripped a small sofa cushion, pressing it repeatedly against her lap as she muttered under her breath.
"What are we going to do, Pak? Why hasn't our son sent any word? What if something happened to him?" she fretted.
"Relax, Bu. Our son is grown now. Don't let your mind run wild, or you'll end up manifesting the very things you fear," Pak Ismail said, trying to soothe her.
But his words did little to ease her distress.
Just then, a voice called from outside.
"Assalamu'alaikum."
The greeting rang out clear and polite.
Ibu Annisa immediately stood up.
"Wa'alaikumsalam," she responded, quickly making her way to the door.
When she opened it, she hesitated for a moment before recognizing the visitor.
"Nak Heri?" she asked, her expression puzzled.
"Yes, Bu. It's me, Heri," Heri answered politely.
"Come in, come in, Nak. I'm sorry for the mess," Ibu Annisa said warmly, stepping aside to let him in.
"Oh, it's no problem at all, Bu," Heri replied with a small, reassuring smile as he stepped inside.
AConversationwithPakIsmailandIbuAnnisa
In the living room, Pak Ismail started a conversation with Heri while Ibu Annisa excused herself to the kitchen to prepare some drinks.
"Where are you coming from, Nak?" Pak Ismail asked, his voice steady but tired.
"We just got back from our hometown, Pak," Heri replied.
"From Jakarta?"
"Yes, Pak, from Jakarta."
"How long were you there?"
"Almost two months, Pak."
"That's quite a long time. Did you get married?" Pak Ismail asked with a small knowing smile.
"Yes, Pak," Heri answered, glancing at Dian, who sat quietly beside him.
Not long after, Ibu Annisa returned, carefully placing a tray of drinks on the table.
"You're married already?" she asked as she handed them their glasses.
"Yes, Bu," Heri answered politely.
For a moment, Ibu Annisa's expression changed. A flicker of sadness passed through her eyes—subtle, yet unmistakable.
Heri, ever perceptive, let his gaze wander around the living room. The decorations were still intact, the space still holding the remnants of a wedding that never happened.
"Did you just have an event here, Bu?" Heri asked cautiously.
With a slow, almost reluctant tone, Ibu Annisa nodded.
"Yes, Nak… there was supposed to be a ceremony…" she trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.
She hesitated before speaking again, carefully choosing her words. Slowly, she recounted what had happened—the abrupt postponement of Rizky's wedding.
Her voice wavered. Her eyes glistened.
Heri nodded, his face full of understanding. Without another word, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small package, handing it to her.
"Oh, right, Bu. I ran into Rizky at the airport earlier. He asked me to give this to you," Heri said.
For the first time that evening, Ibu Annisa's posture straightened slightly.
"Oh… so he went to Jakarta?" she asked, her voice calmer now.
"Yes, Bu," Heri confirmed.
At that moment, Pak Ismail let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
"See? I told you, stop worrying too much," he teased.
"A mother's heart doesn't work that way, Pak. Worry always comes first," Dian chimed in, offering a soft smile.
Finally, Ibu Annisa managed a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you, Nak Heri, Dian. If it weren't for you, I would still be worrying."
EndingtheConversation
"Alright then, Bu, Pak, we'll be going now. We're exhausted—we need a shower and some rest," Heri said as he got up.
"Oh, of course, Nak. Thank you so much. I feel relieved now," Ibu Annisa said, sincerity clear in her tone.
"You're welcome, Bu," Heri replied with a warm nod. "Assalamu'alaikum."
"Wa'alaikumsalam," Pak Ismail and Ibu Annisa responded in unison.
ALingeringWound
The day had passed in a blur. Panic, despair, and confusion had come and gone, swept away by the chaotic rush of Rizky's escape.
But the wounds left behind…
Those would not heal so easily.
They remained, buried deep within the heart, waiting for time to force them into realization.
Elsewhere, Nabila sat alone in her room.
Her gaze was empty, fixed on nothing in particular, yet her mind wandered far.
How would she face the days ahead?
Would this pain leave a permanent scar?
Or would time eventually lead her to the answers she had long been searching for?
No one knew.
Only time would tell.