LIEGE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Ardian stared doubtfully at the door that stood tall before him. Today she decided to go home after a few days of staying in her apartment. His face looks wrinkled. After taking a deep breath, Ardian opened the door of the house and stepped towards the dining room. He knew at these hours his parents were enjoying dinner. Usually on a weekend night like this their family will gather. Arga, Amel, himself, Gustav and Starla. Even sometimes Erina also filled a spot on the dining table when both parents were going to Texas.

"Asshalaamu'alaykum. Night well, night ma," said Ardian when he saw Arga and Amel was sitting enjoying a meal.

"Wa'alaykumussalaam's chat. Well, finally home also your son, ma." replied Arga. "Where have you been for a few days not coming home?"

"Mas, Barin Ardian sit down first. He just arrived. You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Here sit next to your father. Mama's gonna have mebok Iyem get you a plate. Do you want tea or coffee?"

"Ardi has eaten ma," Ardi refused.

"Mama sure you haven't eaten. Even mama can know that for a few days you eat it irregularly. Look, your face looks thin." Amel did not want to hear the rejection from Ardian. He told their housekeeper to prepare the dishes for Ardian.

"Not to be spoiled. He's grown up."

"Not spoiled. Can't you see that your child is thinner than usual?" amel asked Arga. Yes, even though Ardian is only his stepson, Amel loves him like a child. He never distinguished between Ardian and Gustav.

"Thanks, ma."

"Now you eat first, then take a shower. After that we just talked. We haven't talked in a long time, have we?"

They continued the dinner which had stopped. No one speaks at dinner. The atmosphere is not as usual. Ardian could feel that. Had Gustav told them of my mistake, Ardian asked in his heart.

"Di, I want to talk to you" Arga said after they finished dinner.

"Mas, let Ardian take a shower first. Let it be fresh. Look, our son's appearance is so disheveled. You must be sleep deprived, Di?" ask Amel. "If you need to talk, it's postponed tomorrow. Let Ardi rest first. Tomorrow if it's fresher, it'll be better to talk."

"Mel, you spoil the children too often" said Arga.

"Not pampering, mas. But I think Ardian needs a break. Look, his eyes are like panda eyes" said Amel.

"It's okay, Ma. We'll have a chat tonight. There's something Ardian has to tell you."

Arga and Amel looked at each other. There was a look of concern in Amel's eyes. Different from Arga's eyes.

"Dad wait for you in the study. Don't take the bath for long. Don't forget to pray first."

Half an hour later the three had gathered in Arga's study. When Ardian came in, it turned out that Gustav was already there. Arga sat on the long sofa, while Amel sat beside her. Gustav sat on one of the single sofas that were there.

"When's coming bro?" ask Ardian to Gustav.

"Not long. I went to your room, but I think you're in the bathroom again. How are you?" ask Gustav.

"Yes that's how."

"Sit, On." Arga ordered. His face looks hard. Meanwhile, Amel, who was sitting next to her, patted her husband's arm.

"What do you want to drink? Mama want to make you some hot chocolate?"

"No need, ma," Ardian refused. "There's something important that Ardi wants to talk to you about."

Everyone look at each other. The look on Arga's face and Amel's face showed they already knew what Ardian was going to talk about. A look of disappointment emanated from Arga's eyes.

"Ardi apologizes for disappointing you. Ardi has made a very fatal mistake. Ardi has .... taken away Erin's chastity." said Ardian without a stale ado. He believes both his parents knew the true events through Gustav.

Arga who had been holding back his emotions, this time completely lost his patience. The anger he had been holding back since then was now bubbling. He stood up and approached Ardian and slapped him hard. Because of the harshness of Arga's slap, even Ardian's body fell. Arga who was still emotionally pulled the collar of his son's shirt and slapped him again. Ardian didn't fight.

"Mas, it's already mas. Patience, control yourself. Ardi is your son" persuaded Amel, hugging her husband from behind.

"Why would you do that? He's your own best friend!" arga Hardik.

"Ardi knows it, yeah. But Ardi really is a khilaf."

Ardian sat down in front of Arga. He hugged his father's leg. His shoulders were shaken violently. Yeah, he's crying. Ardian cried not because of the harshness of the slap he had just received from his father, but he cried because he realized the mistake he had made had disappointed both his parents and moreover had ruined Erina's life.

"Why did you embarrass us? Want to put where we face when we meet with mister Andrew. You've been so disappointing and ruined our big family name."

"I'm sorry Ardi, yeah." That's all Ardi can say with a whim. The hearts of Amel and Gustav also felt the sadness of Arga and Ardian. Gustav, although only a half-brother, has a strong bond with Ardian. They spent their teenage years together. He knew how sad and broken Ardian felt by his own actions.

"Then what are you going to do now, Di?" ask Amel gently. He still continued to hug Arga's arm and his hand rubbed the husband's arm, as one way to calm Arga.

"Ardi will take responsibility and marry Erin."

"Where could you marry him. You yourself know that Erin already has a fiancee."

"It looks like Erin has broken off her engagement to Daffa" Gustav said. He helped Ardian stand up and sit on one of the sofas in the room.

"You broke their engagement!" tuding Arga was upset.

"Erin and Daffa's betrothal broke up not because of Ardian, yeah." Gustav defending Ardian. Ardian had already told about the problem that occurred between Erina and Daffa.

"Whatever the problems between them, you do not have the right to attack people's fiancees or muddy their relationships. As best friends you should help Erin and Daffa improve their relationship. Not even to break their engagement."

Ardian did not dispute Arga's words because what Arga said was true. He should have helped Erina and Daffa, not taken away Erina's sanctity. What he had done to Erina further strained his friend's relationship.

"Father has reminded you never to corner someone else's fiancee. I never taught you anything like that." Arga leaning on the sofa. He really did not expect Ardian to do such a deed.

"Your father has reminded you many times to stop drinking and get married. All that so that nothing like this happens" said Amel. "But mama think now is not the time we discuss the past or why this is why it is so. The most important thing right now is that you take responsibility for what you've done."

"Ma, what if it turns out that Erin and her family reported Ardi to the police and he was in jail?" ask Gustav worried.

"If that's the case, Ardi will have to confess and go to jail."

"You have the heart to see Ardi go to jail?" ask Gustav again.

"Why not? Ardian is an adult. He had already dared to act that far then he was also the one who had to take full responsibility. Including if he must go to prison," replied Arga straightforwardly. "We're disappointed, but we're more disappointed that Ardian isn't responsible. Going to jail is one form of accountability that he must do if Erin's side demands it."

No one spoke after hearing Arga's words. Ardian was only able to bow down full of regret.

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