The days that followed grew harder. Andi continued talking to Indri. He still replied to her messages. He still smiled whenever Indri told him about Rudi. But every time Indri mentioned that man's name, something inside him slowly broke.
One afternoon, Indri said, "Ndi, do you think Rudi and I are a good match?"
Andi fell silent. He wanted to say: "No. Because I should be the one standing there."
But all that came out was: "You two are a good match."
Indri smiled. "I'm happy to hear that."
Andi nodded.
That night, he sat alone in his room. For the first time, he cried. Not because Indri had chosen someone else. But because he realized... he had never truly given Indri the chance to choose him.
He had been too afraid to be honest. Too afraid of losing her. Until, in the end, he truly lost her.