Echoes of Love Lost [COMPLETED]

Chapter 7: "I promise you, Ditya"

It had been almost a year since Ditya had started her relationship with Aldi. At first, things seemed great - he was kind, attentive, and always made her feel special. But as time went on, Aldi became more possessive and controlling. He would get angry if she spent too much time with her friends or if she didn't answer his calls right away.

One day, things took a turn for the worse. Ditya had gone out with some friends and lost track of time. When she got home, Aldi was waiting for her at the doorstep. 

Ditya open ed the door and let him in as he was fuming with anger. "Where have you been?" he demanded, grabbing her by the arm.

"I was just out with some friends," Ditya replied, trying to pull away from him.

"You're lying to me!" Aldi shouted, tightening his grip. "I know you're seeing someone else."

Ditya was shocked and scared. She had never seen this side of Aldi before. "No, I'm not seeing anyone else," she insisted, tears streaming down her face.

Aldi didn't believe her. He pushed her to the ground and started hitting her. Ditya tried to fight back, but he was too strong. When he was finally done, he stormed out of Ditya's house, leaving Ditya bruised and battered.

Ditya knew she couldn't stay with Aldi any longer. It was a difficult decision, but she knew it was the right one.

A few weeks later, Rifan called her out of the blue. They hadn't spoken in months, but he had heard through the grapevine that she had broken up with Aldi. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Ditya hesitated before answering. "I'm...getting there," she said, her voice shaky.

"I'm so sorry," Rifan said. "I had no idea he was capable of something like that."

Ditya appreciated his concern, but she couldn't help feeling conflicted. Part of her was glad to hear from Rifan, but another part of her was still angry at him for how things had ended between them. "Why are you calling me, Rifan?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I just wanted to check on you," he replied. "I know we haven't spoken in a long time, but I still care about you."

After not coming home for so long, Rifan decided to visit Bandung. As he walked around the city, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic about the memories he shared with Ditya. He knew that he had hurt her deeply and regretted his actions. He was also aware of what happened to Tiara and Aldi.

He reached out to her and they decided to meet up. As they sat across from each other, there was a palpable tension in the air. Rifan poured his heart out to her. He told her how much he loved her and how much he regretted letting her go.

"I'm sorry, Ditya. I know, you've been through a hard time. But, I never meant to hurt you from the very first place," Rifan finally broke the silence.

"I know," Ditya replied softly.

Rifan looked down, feeling ashamed of his past actions. "I understand. I just wanted to apologize and make things right."

Ditya nodded, appreciating his sincerity. "Thank you for apologizing, Rifan. It means a lot to me."

They talked for a while longer, catching up on each other's lives. Rifan also shared about his struggles with Tiara's mental illness and how it had taken a toll on their relationship.

"I hope things get better for you, Rifan. Mental illness is a tough battle, but with the right support and treatment, it's possible to overcome it," Ditya offered her support.

Rifan nodded, grateful for her kind words. "Thank you, Ditya. You're a good person."

Ditya was taken aback by Rifan's apology. As a woman, she didn't want to hurt Tiara. But Rifan was persistent, and he begged her to give him another chance, to wait for him. Ditya was torn between her sorry for Tiara and her unresolved feelings for Rifan.

Rifan promised that he would leave Tiara and be with Ditya, but Ditya was hesitant. She didn't want to be the reason for Tiara's mental health issues.

Ditya: "Rifan, Tiara is a great person. You don't want to hurt her, do you?"

Rifan: "I know, and I feel terrible for talking to you behind her back. But I just can't help it. You were my first love, and you'll always hold a special place in my heart."

Ditya: "I know, Rifan. But you need to figure out what you want. Are you willing to risk your relationship with Tiara for a chance at something that may not work out? I am totally broken right now"

Rifan: "I don't know, Ditya. I'm so confused. I care about Tiara so much, but being with you feels so natural. What should I do?"

In the end, Ditya and Rifan decided to take things slow. They agreed to stay in touch and see where their feelings would take them. Ditya knew that she still had feelings for Rifan, but she didn't want to rush into anything.

As Rifan needed to go back to Jakarta, Ditya walked with him towards the platform. She could see the sadness in his eyes as they walked, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She knew that she still had feelings for him, but she didn't want to hurt Tiara, and she didn't want to rush into anything with Rifan either given the broken heart he gave her.

As they approached the train, Rifan turned to her and said, "Thank you for coming with me, Ditya. I really appreciate it." Ditya smiled weakly and nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Suddenly, Rifan wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. Ditya was surprised at first, but then she felt the warmth of his embrace and found herself melting into it. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling safe and protected.

"I'm sorry things didn't work out with Aldi," Rifan whispered softly in her ear. "But I'm here for you, Ditya. Always."

Ditya pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. She could see the sincerity in his gaze, and it made her heart skip a beat. "Thank you, Rifan," she said, feeling her cheeks flush. "I really appreciate your support."

They stood there for a few more moments, gazing into each other's eyes. Finally, Rifan pulled away and stepped onto the train. He looked back at her one last time and gave her a small smile before disappearing from view.

Ditya stood there on the platform, feeling a mix of emotions. She was heartbroken over Aldi, but she was also confused about her feelings for Rifan. She knew that she needed time to sort things out, but she couldn't deny the spark that had been reignited between her and Rifan.