Chapter 2

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Even the sound of the waves felt muted, leaving only the painful thudding of Daniel's heartbeat in his chest. That answer froze the warmth of the night. Daniel didn't reply—he simply stood there, letting Ayu's words drown him deeper than the ocean before them. He wanted to speak, to fight back, but Ayu's words echoed louder than his own heart. 

The night breeze carried the silence between them. In the distance, the fishing boats' lights flickered, like stars falling into the sea. No matter how beautiful this night was, to Daniel, Sanur's beauty had suddenly lost all meaning. Ayu took a step back. Then, she turned away. Her footprints left faint traces in the sand, only to be washed away by the waves. That night, she left, carrying the weight of unfinished feelings between them. 

But now, standing before her family, the elders, and the fate she longed to defy, Daniel had come to free her from this arranged marriage. He was willing to sacrifice himself to protect the woman he loved. And Ayu knew—he hadn't come just to watch. He had come to fight. 

The twilight sky stretched in hues of golden orange over Bali, where Ayu's ancestors rested within the black stone statues. The wind carried the scent of incense and frangipani flowers, blending with the thick tension in the air. 

Ayu stood in silence, her body light, yet her heart as heavy as a stone. Her eyes locked onto Uncle Made, the man who had long guarded their traditions and honor. His gaze was sharp, carrying unspoken commands. And before her stood Daniel—a man from a different world. A man who had given her freedom, yet also became the source of this turmoil. Ayu's hands trembled beneath the golden-red songket wrapped around her body. This wasn't supposed to happen… but it had. 

Uncle Made's stare bore into her. "Ayu." His voice was low, yet its depth struck like waves crashing against the cliffs. "What are you doing?" 

Ayu bit her lip slowly, feeling the weight of every gaze upon her. The elders, her family, even the children who had been playing in the temple courtyard were now standing still, waiting to see what would happen next. Behind her, her father remained standing, his face flushed with anger, while her mother sat beside the banten—an offering arranged beautifully—but her eyes were filled with unshed tears. Ayu wanted to speak, but no words came out. 

Daniel took a step forward, just one. "I mean no disrespect to your traditions," he said in slightly hesitant Indonesian. "I just want to speak to Ayu. I…" He took a deep breath, then looked at Ayu with hope. "I love her." 

The words struck like lightning, making some people hold their breath. An elderly woman hissed in disapproval, believing that what Ayu and Daniel had done was a violation of tradition. Ayu felt her legs weaken. His words sounded beautiful—and yet, they pained her. 

Her father stepped forward, his cloth sandals scraping against the temple's stone floor. "Leave," he said, his deep voice trembling with restrained fury. 

Daniel didn't move. "I just want to talk—" 

Ayu's father raised his hand, and in an instant, two young men from her family stepped forward, ready to drag Daniel out. 

Panic surged in Ayu. "No!" Her voice cracked through the air, freezing everyone in place. 

She turned to her father, to Uncle Made, then to Daniel. Her chest rose and fell with her quickening breaths. "I…" Her voice was hoarse, barely audible. "I asked him to come." 

Like a great wave crashing onto the shore, Ayu's words left everyone stunned. 

Her father looked at her, his eyes filled with hurt. "Do you realize what you're saying, Ayu?" His voice was now softer, but sharper than before. 

Ayu bit her lip. "I do, Father." 

Uncle Made stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "You know the consequences?" 

Ayu felt the coldness of the temple's stone floor seep through her thin sandals. Yes. She knew. If she chose Daniel, she would be going against her family's will. She would be betraying a sacred promise, an agreement upheld for generations. And worse, she would be breaking the oath sworn to their ancestors. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she thought of everything she would lose if she chose love. 

She turned to Daniel. He was looking at her, silently pleading for an answer. But that answer… was not easy for Ayu to give. 

She lowered her gaze, her fists clenching at her sides. "I…" Her voice got caught in her throat. 

Before she could continue, Uncle Made's voice thundered through the air. "Take him away." 

The two young men from her family moved instantly, grabbing Daniel's arms tightly. 

"Hey, let me go!" Daniel struggled with all his might, but they were stronger. "Ayu!" he called, his voice filled with desperation. 

Ayu couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She could only watch as he was dragged away, out of the temple, until his cries faded into the night. 

All she felt was the biting cold of the evening air against her skin, replacing the warmth of the sunset that had now disappeared beyond the horizon. Around her, hushed whispers filled the silence. And Ayu knew—the decision had been made for her. 

Tonight, she was no longer a girl who could choose. 

Tonight, she had become part of her family's history, bound by an oath that could not be broken. 

But deep in her heart, Ayu knew… 

This story was far from over. 

That night, Ayu sat on the bale dangin of her home, gazing at the darkening sky, now adorned with shimmering stars. A soft breeze from the rice fields carried the unspoken longing in the air. 

Across from her, her elder sister, Luh Sri, sat cross-legged, sipping a warm cup of tea. 

"So, what do you want to tell me, little sister?" Luh Sri asked gently, her eyes filled with understanding. 

Ayu bit her lower lip for a moment, doubt still haunting her heart. However, her heart was too full to keep it all to herself. Finally, in a soft voice, she said, "I ... I love Daniel."

Luh Sri slowly put down her cup, as if giving Ayu's words space to settle into the air. 

"But you already know, right? What the family expects from you?" 

Ayu nodded slowly. "I know, Sister. This arranged marriage has been decided for a long time, and I have my duties and responsibilities as a Balinese woman." 

Luh Sri exhaled deeply, then gently held Ayu's hand and stroked it. "But your heart has chosen a different path," she said, as if she understood Ayu's feelings. 

Ayu looked at her sister with eyes that were beginning to well up with tears. "I can't fight it, Sister. Every time I try to deny my feelings, it just hurts even more. I know Daniel isn't from here, that he doesn't understand our traditions the way we do. But he ... he seems sincere. He's trying to understand, trying to respect all of this, even though he knows that in the end, we may not be able to be together." 

Luh Sri was silent for a moment before asking, "Does Daniel know that you love him?" 

Ayu lowered her head. "I've never said it clearly. I'm afraid that if I do, it will only make it harder to let go." 

Luh Sri shifted her sitting position and pulled her younger sister into a hug, gently stroking her head. "Ayu, love is not a sin. But sometimes, love comes at the wrong time or in difficult circumstances." 

Ayu took a deep breath. "I just want to know, Sister... is it wrong for me to hope there's another way? Is it wrong to want to choose my own path?" 

Luh Sri gazed at the night sky, which was now filled with stars. "It's not wrong, Ayu ... there's nothing wrong with your choices. But in Bali, we live in balance. Not everything we want can be easily obtained. Sometimes, we have to fight. Sometimes, we have to sacrifice. The question now is ... how much are you willing to fight for your choice?" 

Ayu remained silent for a long time, letting the sound of gamelan music seep into her heart. Each note echoed like a reflection of her own doubts—between choosing love or following the path that had been set for her since birth. 

Luh Sri did not pressure her to speak. She simply sat beside her, letting time flow. After a while, Ayu finally spoke, her voice soft but heavy with burden. 

"If I choose Daniel, I'm afraid I'll disappoint Mother, Father, the whole family, and even our ancestors." 

Luh Sri gave a small smile and gently patted her sister's shoulder. "And if you choose to go through with this arranged marriage, are you sure you won't disappoint yourself?" 

Ayu lowered her head, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She wanted to answer, to say that she could learn to love the man chosen for her—like other Balinese women who accepted arranged marriages as part of life. But deep in her heart, she knew it wouldn't be easy. 

"I don't know, Sister... I just wish this didn't feel so heavy," she murmured, shaking her head slightly. 

Luh Sri took a deep breath, then looked at Ayu with warmth. "Ayu, there's no truly easy path for you right now. If you go through with this arranged marriage, it may take time for you to accept and make peace with it. But if you choose Daniel, you must be prepared for the consequences." 

Ayu looked at her sister with tearful eyes. "And you, Sister? Have you ever felt trapped in a choice you didn't want?" 

Luh Sri gave a small smile, but there was sadness in her eyes. "I have, Ayu. Once, I also had someone I loved. But circumstances didn't allow us to be together." 

Ayu was surprised by her sister's confession. She had never known about Luh Sri's past. "What happened?" 

Luh Sri stared into the distance as if recalling something from long ago. "I chose my family. I chose not to go against them or our ancestors. And now... I'm fine, as you see me today. I am happy with my life now. But if time could be turned back, maybe I would have given myself a little more time to fight." 

Ayu felt a lump in her throat, her sister's words echoing in her mind. Would she become like Luh Sri in the future? Sacrificing her love for her family, only to wonder years later—what if she had chosen to fight? She didn't know yet which path she would take, but one thing was certain—she couldn't keep hiding from her feelings. Sooner or later, she had to decide. 

Ayu clenched the fabric of her sarong tightly, her heart still wavering. She didn't know if she had the strength to fight for her choice or if she would simply give up. 

In the distance, the sound of gamelan music still played, accompanied by the sacred chants from the village temple. The night sky grew darker, but Ayu felt as if a small light was beginning to emerge within her heart. The gamelan music signaled that the night ceremony would soon begin. The sound felt like a call—reminding her that the path she had to choose was not just about love, but also about the roots that had shaped her since birth.