Bisma refused, and Rica had no right to insist even though she wanted to help. She called for a nurse who happened to be passing by to take Bisma's food away. After that, Rica bid him farewell and went to join Priska and Indra.
On the way home, Rica was unusually quiet, choosing to sleep as traffic worsened. Over the next few days, her classes would resume, yet she felt utterly unmotivated. Two plans, however, kept running through her mind. First, she could pursue Bisma relentlessly until the iceberg in his heart melted under her warmth and cheerfulness. Second, she could give up and accept that Bisma was someone beyond her reach.
The blaring sound of a car horn and the sudden screeching of brakes jolted Rica awake. Her heart raced as she overheard Indra cursing under his breath at the chaotic situation. It wasn’t anything new—drivers getting caught in a domino effect of sudden braking.
“What’s going on?” Rica asked groggily.
She was sitting in the passenger seat while Priska and Indra occupied the front. Priska glanced back at Rica with a grimace.
“It looks like there’s been an accident,” Priska replied.
Rica rubbed her eyes and scanned the surroundings. All the cars had come to a halt, neatly lined up in a queue. Great, this meant they would be getting home late. Rica was already longing for her room, which had been empty for days while she stayed at the hospital.
It took quite a while for an ambulance to arrive and tend to the victims of the accident. When they finally got home, Rica went straight to bed, skipping dinner. Her stomach wasn’t the problem—it was her heart, hollow and aching from Bisma’s rejection.
The next morning, during breakfast in the living room, Indra announced a new arrangement. He had hired a personal driver for Rica. Priska and their mom had already agreed, having discussed it days earlier. Rica, however, hadn’t been consulted and was far from thrilled. This sparked a small argument as Rica protested the idea, feeling it would rob her of freedom. She didn’t like the thought of having to stick to a strict schedule for pick-ups and drop-offs.
“Rica, we don’t want to take any risks. Besides, Indra hired someone experienced and trained in self-defense,” her mom explained.
“Mom, I’m not a child,” Rica argued, clutching her toast smeared with pineapple jam.
“Yes, but you’ve got Princess Syndrome. Spoiled, dramatic, and stubborn,” Indra said casually, taking a bite of his fruit salad.
Fuming, Rica hurled her toast at her brother-in-law’s face, but he merely laughed and glanced at their mother. Amused, their mom grinned, while Priska pinched Indra’s arm as a warning not to provoke her sister.
“We just want to make sure you’re safe, Ca,” Priska said gently.
“Sis, this isn’t fair. It makes me feel so trapped!” Rica whined, turning to Priska for support.
She hoped her sister might persuade Indra to ease up on the restrictions, but Priska only shook her head. Resigned, Rica lowered her gaze, thinking it over before reluctantly agreeing to the arrangement. After all, she only had two classes that day.
“Seriously... stop worrying about me so much. You’re My Sis’s husband, so focus on her. I’m fine,” Rica said sharply, glaring at Indra.
“Exactly. If something happens to you, Priska and your mom will be devastated. You’re the only sibling my wife has, and you’re the youngest daughter of my mother-in-law. I also feel responsible for their happiness. And as the man of this house, I automatically take on the role of head of the household. Right, Mom?” Indra said, turning to their mother.
Rica rolled her eyes as her mother smiled proudly and nodded in agreement with Indra’s self-proclaimed title. Three against one—Rica was thoroughly outnumbered and had no choice but to relent.
Indra’s own mother had passed away long ago, and Priska had only recently experienced maternal love after being separated from their mother for decades. No wonder Indra felt at ease living under the same roof as their mom, while Priska was happy to finally reunite with her biological mother. There were no evil mother in law stories here; their mom was a calm and laid-back person who prioritized peace of mind and well-being. In many ways, Indra and their mom were a perfect match—both driven and business-minded.
“Fine, fine,” Rica muttered, admitting defeat.
“By the way, your driver is young, so don’t annoy him,” Indra teased.
Rica’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What? Do you think I’m that shallow? As if I’d fall for my driver!” she retorted angrily.
“He’s just graduated from college. He used to work at a bar and has been doing part-time driving gigs for me. He’s a good guy, very polite, and reliable. That’s why I trust him,” Priska clarified.
“Oh, okay,” Rica replied, feeling a bit relieved.
The conversation shifted to business updates and Priska’s pregnancy, the gender of the baby still a secret known only to Priska and Indra.
After breakfast, Rica and Indra left the house, while their mom and Priska saw them off from the porch. Lately, their mom had been staying home more often since Priska had quit her job to focus on her pregnancy. They had been attending maternity classes and similar activities together. Their mom only left the house for major issues that required her attention, usually accompanied by Priska.