Rewinds the Darkness

Could I ask for our story to last forever? Never crossed my mind, a day without you. I've tried every way to defend our love, always entrusting it in my prayers, but I couldn't fight against the blessing ...."

Clara kept repeating the same lyrics from the song "Melawan Restu" by Mahalini. It resonated deeply with her current feelings. She wasn't approved to marry her boyfriend of a different faith named Algo.

Yes ... they had been dating for two years. They met during the university orientation program. Algo was Clara's senior, known for his handsomeness and kindness as the head of the Student Executive Board (BEM).

Back then, Clara accidentally spilled a cold drink on Algo's alma mater. As a result, he got angry and asked her to clean it up. She complied, knowing she was at fault.

Eventually, they started meeting more often and grew closer. They decided to enter into a relationship. However, their relationship was fraught with challenges due to the lack of parental approval. Their different faiths stood in the way, yet they remained steadfast in their beliefs.

"If only Mom and Dad would give their blessing to Clara's relationship, maybe Clara wouldn't have run away from home," she muttered to herself.

She sighed deeply and began to close her eyes. Tonight, she was staying at her friend Caca's apartment.

"Ra, are you asleep?" Caca asked, fetching a blanket for her friend.

"Not yet," she replied, closing her eyes to calm herself. Her mind was exhausted and stressed.

"Hurry up and sleep, we have morning classes tomorrow. Pak Arya is teaching. Oh, I can't wait to go to class," said Caca. Her eyes sparkled like the moon at night, a perfect smile on her lips. She was one of the devoted fans of the handsome lecturer.

"Ra, why are you so quiet? I'm talking to you," Caca said, looking at Clara with a puzzled expression. She seemed completely unenthusiastic today, especially since she came to Caca's apartment so suddenly.

"I hear you, I'm just not in the mood to respond," she retorted.

"Are you having problems with your mom again?" Caca asked, curious. She knew Clara and Algo's relationship was opposed by their respective parents, yet they persisted.

"You probably know the answer yourself, don't you?" she scoffed. The words from her mother that morning had cut deep. She was called an ungrateful child. But she couldn't deny her feelings; she had fallen in love with Algo.

"That's why you should just end it with Algo. Besides, you two will never be together, Ra. Remember, you have different beliefs. Close, but not religious," warned Caca.

"No way, I can't do that. Algo and I have been dating for two years already. I'm willing to convert to his religion," Rara replied.

Caca looked at her friend with meaning. On one hand, she was touched by their enduring love story. On the other hand, she didn't want her friend to apostatize (leave Islam).

"Don't say that, Ra. You mustn't become an apostate. Aren't you afraid of the punishment of hellfire?" She shook her head at her friend's relaxed and confident statements.

"I don't know, better to sleep now. Tomorrow we have to go to university. Because tomorrow, Pak Arya will definitely ask me to come forward. Annoying indeed that lecturer," complained Clara.

"You should be happy though, it means Pak Arya cares about you. Or maybe ...,"

Before continuing her sentence, Clara's phone suddenly vibrated.

Drt ... drt ... drt ...

"Ra, your phone is vibrating there. There might be an important notification," Caca pointed to the pink object on the study table.

"Who is disturbing this early in the morning? I don't know what else to be sad about," she grunted.

She scowled because she was sure it was just a message from an unknown number offering a loan. Lately, she had been receiving such messages regularly. Despite not having any intention of becoming an entrepreneur, these notifications kept appearing on her phone screen.

"Just open it, Ra! What if it's from your devoted boyfriend? He'll be upset if you ignore him. What if someone else takes him away?" Caca teased.

"Yeah, if it's about Algo, I'll beat a leopard in speed," Caca joked, shaking her head at her friend's unchanged behavior.

When she unlocked her phone, she was stunned. She furrowed her brow in confusion. This was unusual for her. Very unfamiliar.

"Who is it, Ra?" Caca asked curiously.

Pak Arya

"PLEASE MEET ME IN THE CAMPUS WAREHOUSE TOMORROW. DON'T BE LATE. THIS CONCERNS YOUR GPA."

She kept reading the short message repeatedly to make sense of it.

"Clara! Who sent the message? Don't keep me in suspense, why?" Caca complained, getting up to see for herself.

"Oh my goodness, Clara. Why on earth would Pak Arya send a message this late at night? He's asking us to meet in the warehouse again. Probably to clean up, since you were absent yesterday," Caca guessed.

She laughed at her friend, who was still standing motionless. She was still digesting the meaning of her lecturer's message. It was the first time he had sent her a message.

"Clara, why are you just standing there?" Caca snapped irritably. She wasn't reacting at all. If it were anyone else, she'd be jumping for joy.

"I find this strange, Caca. He doesn't usually send messages like this. Especially using bold letters," Clara said suspiciously.

"Oh my, Ra. Think positive, why? Maybe you're going to be proposed to in the warehouse, maybe," Caca joked.

She couldn't help but laugh. Clara's expression showed that she was uncomfortable with the message from the handsome lecturer.

"Look on the bright side, Ra. You might get to meet the handsome lecturer privately. Even if it's just in the warehouse," she teased, grinning innocently. She wanted to punch her face, but she knew that Caca was the best friend.

"It seems like Mr. Arya has hidden intentions. Is there really a lecturer who asks their student to meet in a warehouse? Why not in the lecturer's office? Isn't that strange?"

The question kept swirling in her mind. She wasn't a naive girl who would consider it normal. Because only that lecturer behaved strangely towards her. It made her uncomfortable on campus.

"You're right, Ra. Usually, if a lecturer wants to call a student, it would be in the lecturer's office. But this is different. Or maybe Mr. Arya wants to be different from the others? He is the most handsome among all the lecturers. Maybe his policies are also different," thought Caca.

Not knowing whether she was right or wrong, she commented anyway. Because medical students are full of ambition and solidarity.

"Whatever. We'll see tomorrow. Now let's sleep, my eyes can't hold back the longing anymore," she said.

"Weird girl, no one feels longing with their eyes. Eyes are for seeing, Clara. I'm starting to wonder how you got into the medical faculty. You don't even know the function of eyes," Caca retorted.

However, Clara had already drifted off into her dream world. She fell asleep so quickly. They had only been chatting for five minutes.

She took a deep breath and then exhaled. Honestly, she was a bit hesitant to meet her professor. But she was afraid it might really be about her GPA.

"Come on, Clara, don't be afraid. Mr. Arya is just a human like you. There's nothing to be scared of," she whispered to herself.

She tried to remain calm. Because she was a brave girl, she didn't need to be afraid of a young professor like Mr. Arya.

...

"Finally, you showed up, Clara Marshita Anjelika!" Mr. Arya exclaimed.

He sneered at her. It made her shudder in fear. This was the first time she had seen this side of the most famous professor on campus. Apparently... he wasn't as nice as she thought.

It was evident in the way he looked at Clara. It was like a psychopath eyeing his prey. She kept praying in her heart that nothing would happen after she left this dark place.

She felt cursed to have a professor like Mr. Arya. And the man walked towards her with a stride that made her skin crawl.

She closed her eyes and... it turned out Mr. Arya just glanced at her, then walked past her. She tried to peek and saw her professor standing at the warehouse door.

Creeeak!

The door closed perfectly. The man didn't forget to lock them inside.

"Oh God... why is the door locked? Is Mr. Arya going to commit a crime against me? Stay calm, Clara, stay calm. Don't think weird thoughts," she murmured to herself.

She wanted to speak up. But she was still arranging the right words to say to this suspicious professor. Because if she said just one wrong word, she might end up in deep trouble.

Mr. Arya was a killer professor, even though his face was calm and handsome. But at this moment, what Clara saw were the sharp eyes of her professor that looked like a psychopath's.

"What's wrong, Clara? Are you confused?"

Suddenly, he started the conversation that had been very silent. He looked strange today. Neat clothes, fragrant body, and... looking like a groom.

"W-what's the matter, sir? Why was I called?" she asked stammeringly.

Whether she was scared or confused, her speech became stuttered like a person with a speech impediment. This wasn't like her. She was the type of girl who was firm and talkative.

"How about we make a deal?" Mr. Arya offered.

He smiled at the trembling girl. He scrutinized Clara's appearance from head to toe. Her knee-length dress caught the professor's attention.

Feeling observed, she covered her long legs with the shawl she wore. She felt strange being intensely observed like this.

"So, this girl is shy," Arya muttered with a sneer.

"What kind of deal, sir?" Clara asked, curious. She hoped this wasn't a curse for yelling at her mother yesterday.

"I can give you the best grades on campus. That means... you won't need to take exams and tests here and there. You just need to meet my condition," he said.

Clara frowned. She didn't understand what the professor meant. But ... she was interested to know the condition he proposed.

"Condition? What is the condition, sir?" she asked.

Arya looked at her intensely. As if he wanted to burn her alive. Especially since, from earlier, her long legs had caught his attention.

"The condition is very easy, and you'll definitely want this too. Because... no one dares to reject the condition I propose," he said proudly.

'This professor is too confident. Handsome face, but his behavior is no better than a devil,' Clara muttered.

She wanted to spit out curses and insults at her professor. But she held back, because if that happened ... her problem would get worse. She could be expelled from campus for ridiculous reasons.

"Why are you silent? Don't you want to hear the condition? I'm sure your life will change one hundred eighty degrees," Arya said. It made Clara even more curious.

"Don't beat around the bush, get straight to the point, sir! I don't like wordy sentences. It's just a waste of time," she snapped.

Whatever dream she had last night, suddenly she became a brave girl in front of her killer professor. Usually, she would lower her gaze when Mr. Arya was teaching.

The aura of bravery in her seemed to emerge from her soul. It made her even bolder, when this rude professor dared to look at her.

"Marry me!" Mr. Arya exclaimed.

Thud!

What kind of condition was this? She never expected that her professor was targeting her. No wonder every time he taught, he always called her name and made her do this and that. Apparently, there was an ulterior motive behind all of this.

"What? Marry you?"

She slapped her cheeks. Hoping this was just a nightmare, a dream. She didn't want to marry anyone except her boyfriend ... Algo.

She never imagined that her professor was so rude. How could he ask her to the dark warehouse just to express his desire? Could he be considered an exemplary professor? He was no better than a cheap scoundrel.

"Yes, marry me! I will give you unparalleled happiness just for you, Adinda."

He knelt before Clara. Then he took out a very sparkling diamond ring. It felt like seeing stars at night. Especially in the middle of this darkness.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in your offer. Because I already have a boyfriend and am about to get married," she responded spontaneously.

She herself didn't know why she couldn't stop her mouth from talking. Even though she wasn't going to get married, as her relationship didn't have her parents' blessing.

"You can leave your ugly boyfriend. You are the luckiest girl because you can touch my heart. I love you very much, Clara Marshita Anjelika! Will you marry me?"

He was still kneeling with the ring he offered to the girl. He looked very confident. Because he was sure Clara wouldn't reject the handsome professor who had many fans.

But, that hope was wrong. Clara firmly rejected the proposal ring. Because she felt disgusted with her professor. The way he did it seemed cheap to her. Because it was like he was a loser. Not daring to go to her parents like her boyfriend did.

"Sorry, you are dreaming! Please wake up from your dream! Because I am not a girl like your fanatical fans out there. I feel disgusted with your behavior like this. It seems tacky. And one more thing ... I don't want to marry a man I don't love. You're not my type!" Clara firmly emphasized.

Without any hesitation or wavering, she firmly rejected her professor's proposal to marry. Because this was very strange. They were just a student and a professor, nothing more.

"Don't talk nonsense! Who do you think you are to reject me like that? Do you think you are already beautiful by rejecting me? If a gentle approach doesn't work, I will use a harsh way to get you!"

Crash! Crash! Crash!

She banged on the iron door of the warehouse, hoping someone would open it for her. She was terrified of Mr. Arya's wrath, which seemed ready to devour her alive.

"Help! Help! Help!"

Clara's screams echoed inside the warehouse, but it was useless to scream as loudly as she could. Voices from inside couldn't be heard outside, but voices from outside could be heard inside.

"Scream as loud as you want, Darling! No one will hear your voice because this room is soundproof. Sounds can only be heard from inside," Arya sneered.

He walked towards the girl with deadly steps. Each step made Clara more terrified. Her eyes were already brimming with tears, ready to fall.

"Go away! Stay away from me!" Clara shouted.

She ran away from the psycho man. She wanted to ask her friend, Caca, for help, but she had refused to be accompanied by her earlier. As a result, she didn't know what to do now.

"Run as fast as you can, Darling. In the end, you'll fall into my arms," he said.

"Hahaha!"

Arya laughed evilly, just like a demon. He was indeed a demon in human form, always wanting his ambitions fulfilled. Moreover, the devil had possessed his body, filling his mind with vile thoughts.

Now, Arya was getting closer. The girl stepped back, back, and back again. Occasionally, she glanced behind her, almost at the wall.

"Let's have some fun, Darling."

Arya caught her body. He held Clara's hand tightly, making it impossible for her to break free.

"Let go! Let go, or I'll scream!" Clara threatened, seriously. She tried not to be afraid because the situation she faced was very difficult. She wanted to call someone, but her phone was in the classroom. She wanted to scream for help, but it was pointless.

Now, what should she do?

"Argghh."

Clara bit Arya's hand hard, like a vampire thirsty for blood. Then she stomped on his foot with a strong thud.

"Awww!" the vile man screamed.

Finally, she broke free from her professor's grasp. But this was not good news either, as she was still locked in the room she considered hell.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Even though her method was foolish, she kept doing it. At least she tried to get out of there.

"Someone please get me out of here! Hey ... help!"

"Damn, girl. How dare she," Arya cursed. He got up and walked towards her.

You could imagine his expression now. He was furious because Clara was becoming more defiant. Fortunately, he had locked the door from the inside, so no one could thwart his wicked plan.

...

"Don't do this, Sir," Clara pleaded, tearfully. She tried to hold his muscular hands from touching her valuable parts.

"Why not? You'll enjoy it, darling."

He continued his vile act, forcing his will upon the innocent girl. He was like a starving crocodile, shamelessly touching Clara's body.

"Don't, Sir. Don't do that, I don't want to. Hiks ... hiks ... hiks ...."

As Arya tried to unbutton her shirt one by one, she cried hysterically. She struggled hard to protect her purity, but the man before her wanted to take it away just like that.

How would she explain this to her parents later? What would her future husband say if his wife was no longer a virgin? What would society say if a girl's purity was taken?

These thoughts kept swirling in her mind. She couldn't move now because Arya locked her body. Even breathing seemed to need his permission.

Her life felt like the apocalypse, and the man before her was like the Angel of Death ready to take her life. That's how it felt to be in her position.

"Don't act so high and mighty, in the end, you wanted to do this with me," he said.

After doing the disgraceful act, Arya smiled contentedly. Finally, his long-repressed desires were fulfilled. His male instinct wanted to do it again, but he had to teach soon, so he stopped his actions.

"Bye, pretty girl! Thanks for your service today. You should become a call girl, you'd be popular. Hahaha."

He left Clara alone, without any concern. He was indeed an immoral man. Despite his status as a professor, his behavior was like a demon.

"Hiks ... hiks ... hiks ...."

Clara could only cry, her purity taken by her professor. She never imagined her life would end up like this.

This felt like a nightmare destroying her life, her future, and ... what about her relationship with Algo? What would she say later?

Suddenly, a light shone into the dark room. The door opened completely, revealing a man whose face she couldn't clearly see.

"Hiks ... hiks ... hiks ...."

She cried while clutching her hands. There was nothing left for her to be proud of. Everything was gone, her dream of becoming a doctor, her dream of marrying Algo, all vanished. Only regret and shame remained.

"Who's in here? Who's crying?" asked the man who opened the warehouse door.

There was only a girl crying while clutching her hands. Arya was no longer there because he had left earlier without caring about the girl he had violated. He was indeed a heartless man.

"Go away! Don't do that, hiks ... hiks ... hiks ...."

"Do what? What happened to this girl? Why is she crying in the warehouse? Moreover, her clothes look disheveled," he murmured to himself.

He decided to approach the girl whose identity he did not yet know because Dev couldn't bear to see a woman crying. He felt sympathy and pity.

Yes ... the man was Devaro Mahardika Sanjaya, a law student and Clara's senior. He was also a friend of Algo, Clara's boyfriend.

"Hey, why are you crying here? If you want to cry, go to the bathroom!"

But the girl cried even louder. She felt utterly horrible, even worse than a homewrecker. She had failed to protect her valuable possession that only her husband had the right to touch.

"Why is she crying even louder?"

Suddenly, a group of students and professors came towards the warehouse. Dev furrowed his brow, confused by their gazes.

"Devaro!!!" shouted Mr. Tirta, a professor from the medical faculty at Manura University.

Dev looked dumbfounded because he wasn't a student who liked to cause trouble.

"You are very outrageous, Dev. Where is your ethics? Is this what you learned while studying here? Your actions could ruin the campus's reputation, do you understand?!"

"What do you mean, sir? I don't understand," he asked.

He scratched his nape, puzzled by what he had just heard.

"You've practiced one of the biology subjects. Still want to deny it?!"

Mr. Tirta was furious, ready to eat Dev alive. His behavior was very embarrassing, disgusting, as the Javanese would say, nggilani.

"Today I do have a practice of dissecting frogs, sir. Is that what you mean?" he asked, dumbfounded. He felt like a fool with no brain.

Meanwhile, Clara remained in the same position, crying.

"Look at that girl, you have tainted her purity! Why are you now acting like a disgusting man?!"

"I didn't do anything, Sir. I just ...."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Tirta interrupted him.

"I received a report from Mr. Arya that you two did something inappropriate in the campus warehouse. You are accomplished students, yet you could do such a disgraceful act!"

"If you still have any responsibility, then marry Clara. Take responsibility for your actions!"

What? Marry? A strange girl? Dev didn't even know who she really was. How could he be accused of such a crime? He was from a respectable family, never taught to do shameful acts like this.

"Damn, that smug professor has trapped me. Bastard," he cursed inwardly.

He wanted to strangle his neck until it broke. How dare he twist the facts? He was the perpetrator, but Dev was the one who had to marry the girl. This was a trap.

The girl was still in the same position, lamenting her bad luck. She hoped all this was just a dream. But ... this was the bitter reality she had to face. Fate was not on her side.