Episode 3

As dawn's light filtered into the room and graced her beautiful face, Bulan blinked her eyes open.

Gradually, she allowed her gaze to drift across the expanse of her bedroom, taking in the familiar surroundings.

Bulan's eyes widened in shock upon catching sight of a muscular figure sleeping next to her, his back turned towards her.

Instantaneously, it was like watching a movie, as fragmented snapshots of last night's events flashed through Bulan's mind.

The moments replayed vividly: the intrusion into her room and the assault by the man she had come to regard as a brother.

Tears once again stained Bulan's fair cheeks as she clung tighter to the edge of the blanket, which lay across her exposed body, trembling as she felt the bed shake – a sign that the person beside her might be stirring awake.

Overwhelmed by fear of the previous night's ordeal, Bulan dreaded to turn around and see the man's expression upon realizing their current state.

"Ouch, my head," murmured Radit, cradling his head as he awoke.

"Where am I?" he mumbled, looking around and only then registering that he was in a stranger's bedroom.

Radit sat up, scanning the room once more.

"Why am I here? Isn't this her—oh no, what has happened?" Radit mused aloud, regaining consciousness amidst the remnants of sleep and the throbbing hangover, which only got worse upon taking in the disordered room and his own state of undress.

Meanwhile, Bulan covered her mouth, attempting to silence her sobs so as not to be heard by Radit, who was now awake.

Her body shook violently at the sound of the man who had shattered her life.

Swearing on everything she held dear, this was the first time Bulan felt such intense fear as Radit lightly touched her bare shoulder.

"Bu—Bulan," Radit confirmed, convinced that the woman lying with her back to him was Rembulan, his sister-in-law.

He was certain it couldn't be Mentari, his wife, since he had personally escorted her to the airport the day before for a trip abroad with her friends.

Radit had chosen not to accompany her, still upset over Mentari's unilateral decision to use contraception without his consent as her husband.

Nonetheless, Mentari's determination to vacation with her friends was unswayed by Radit's reluctance, and she had dismissed his request to postpone the trip.

His disappointment and anger towards his wife had driven Radit to a nightclub, where several bottles of alcohol left him heavily intoxicated, leading to the forgetfulness of his actions toward the innocent girl whose life he had now ruined.

"Bu—Bulan," Radit repeated when Bulan failed to respond.

"Bulan, I—"

"You're awful, brother, why did you do this to Bulan? What did Bulan ever do to you?" Bulan finally mustered the courage to confront her fear and replied with a faint voice.

"Bulan, I—"

"Please go, brother; I beg of you, leave me be," Bulan interrupted before Radit could finish.

Reluctant to complicate matters further, Radit acquiesced, giving Bulan the space she needed to settle herself.

Perhaps, Radit considered, they could discuss the situation once Bulan had calmed down, although he doubted whether Bulan would ever want to speak with him again after what he had done.

Swiftly gathering scattered clothes from the floor, Radit retreated to Bulan's bathroom to clean himself.

It didn't take long for Radit to emerge, now fully dressed, and although he noted Bulan still immobile from shock, he exited the room, leaving behind the distraught young woman on the bed.

"I'm sorry, little sister. I'll leave now, but let's talk once you're calm. Forgive me, Bulan," Radit whispered his apology before departing from Bulan, who continued to weep on her bed.

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