Chapter 4 However

Inevitable Crisis

That evening, Aulia and Pak Bima sat at the dining table as usual, but the atmosphere felt tense. Aulia knew that they couldn't continue like this. Finally, after a long silence, Aulia decided to speak.

"Sir, we can't continue like this. People on campus started to take notice. "I'm afraid that if we keep hiding this, everything will fall apart," he said in a low but stressed voice.

Mr. Bima put down his spoon and looked at Aulia with a deep gaze. "I know, darling. I also feel the same way. But I also haven't found a safe way to express this. If we rush, it could destroy everything."

Aulia felt tears starting to well up in her eyes. "But I don't know how much longer I can hold it in. I don't want us to lose everything, but I also don't want to live in constant fear."

Mr. Bima grabbed Aulia's hand, trying to calm her down. "We'll find a way out, darling. Maybe we need to start thinking about ways to reduce our involvement on campus. I can apply for a leave of absence, or we can move somewhere else after you graduate. But we cannot make this decision in a hurry."

Aulia nodded, although her heart was still filled with worry. That night, they slept in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Unexpected Plan

A few days later, an idea crossed Mr. Bima's mind. He realized that they needed help from someone they could really trust, someone who could help them without arousing suspicion.

After a long discussion with Aulia, they finally decided to tell Dita about their situation. Dita is Aulia's closest friend, and Pak Bima believes that by giving her trust, Dita can help them hide this secret until the time is right to reveal everything.

One night, Aulia invited Dita to come to her apartment. Dita came without suspicion, thinking they would just spend time together as usual. However, when Dita arrived, the atmosphere in the apartment felt different. There was tension in the air, and Dita immediately realized something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Lia? "You look tense," asked Dita when they sat together in the living room.

Aulia looked at Dita with eyes full of emotion, then took a deep breath before speaking. "I have to tell you something, Dita. This is very important, and I hope you can keep it a secret."

Dita looked confused, but she nodded, showing her readiness to hear. "Sure, Lia. You can trust me. What happened?"

Aulia then told everything-her marriage to Pak Bima, her pregnancy, and all the fears she had felt all this time. Dita listened carefully, without interrupting, even though it was clear that she was very surprised.

After Aulia finished, Dita was silent for a moment, trying to digest what she had just heard. "Lia... I didn't expect it. But I promise, I will keep this a secret. You and Mr. Bima don't need to worry. I will help you as much as I can."

Aulia felt a little relieved hearing Dita's promise. Even though he knew their challenges were not over, at least now they had someone they could trust and help them through these difficult times.

Preparation for the Future

With Dita's support, Aulia and Pak Bima began to make new plans for their future. They decided to be more careful on campus and keep their distance from anyone who might suspect something. Pak Bima is also starting to consider applying for a sabbatical after Aulia graduates, to avoid further attention.

However, even though they had planned everything carefully, Aulia and Pak Bima knew that they still had a long way to go. There were a lot of things that could happen, and they had to be ready for whatever came.

As her pregnancy progressed, Aulia realized that their time was running out. Soon, they must make a decision that will determine their future as a family-a decision that could change their lives forever.