Whisper of the Silencee

4

Smokes from his vape diffusing around, rays from the half-moon passed through the blinds, glittering his unlighted room. His black coat was hung at the coat holder. Stacks of papers, files were lied on his desk, waiting for him to settle. Coaches, tables, lamps were arranged in an orderly manner, giving off the aura that a real professional owned the place. In fact, he was really a professional. But this dark side of him,

not everyone knew.

Most importantly,

the public didn't know.

His room could have passed as a decent one like how it was in the morning, if and only if the alive bodies weren't struggling to get up from the floor.

Four down, two more to go.

He was standing by the large glass window, with his back facing the front. " Six men not enough to catch a girl?" His voice was calm. But it wasn't really that calm for the remaining two standing still on their shivering feet.

".. We..we were almost there..."

"Yes...! Yes..Sir. We almost.. almost!! ...had her in our hands!" The other continued, his lips were numbing, spitting out saliva as he confessed nervously.

"Almost?" He turned and flashed,"What if I tell you that right now..." Stopping an inch before them, he straightened out his hand onto the plump man's neck in a split second, "... I almost want to kill you?"

"W-we....*coughs* ..b-beg...beg.. *coughs* for your forgiveness, Sir!" He stuck his fingers forcefully in between, fighting for a thin gap to breathe.

"You don't deserve my forgiveness! NONE OF YOU DO! " He exclaimed, pressing deeper into his neck. "I paid for her to be here with me. I BOUGHT HER!" Gaping longingly at her photos hung on his wall, "You have no idea how much I yearn for this day to come. Her lips, the shapes of her breasts, her slender legs. I lust for them all." He mumbled pervertedly.

"We would have succeeded if he didn't appear!!"

"He?" He moved his starving eyes to the speaking, standing man, "Who's he?"

"Kyle Lee."

That hit him. The strangled man was dropped instantly at the mention of his name. "Ahhh..." He mouthed.

"The rising star."

***

Distant soundwaves of people talking rang in Clover's ears, making her rummaged under the huge fluffy blanket. Not bothered by the bits, she kicked out her leg, rolling left and right on the bed to find another comfortable spot to continue her pleasant sleep. She was reaching the entrance of her dreamland, one more step.. little bit more...

"WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOUR BRAIN?!!"

Clover's entire body tensed as she jerked awake.That scream successfully pierced through her mind, pushing away the entry. Pushing herself up the bed, she rotated her eyeballs 360 degrees. The sight in front of her was way too not familiar. Nothing in this room was related to her. No way that this could be her own room. On the left, it was the entertainment section where there were so many musical instruments. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, drum set. While on the right, it was the accessories section. All those caps of various designs, hand-made lovey-dovey cards, artistic paintings that she had no idea from where they appeared, how could they be hers?

She flinched when burning sensation struck her eye as sweats barged in accidentally "...How.. how did I end up here?" She asked, shaking away the blurriness.

Anxiety kicked in. Something was not right somewhere. Clover jumped off the bed, walking to and fro, biting her already-short fingernails, forcing her sudden amnesia to disappear.

Okay, so before appearing here, there were the bad men, who captured me. Then I met the idol star- Kyle after sneaking in his car. He helped me because he believed me. And....I succeeded in escaping.. After that... What's the last scene before I passed out?... Hmm.. the last scene.. the last scene.. The last scene before everything turned black...

Clover snapped her two fingers. Oh God.

"ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS??!" He screamed again, tearing her apart from her thoughts.

A commotion was going on outside. Too loud for her to ignore. Tipping her toes carefully, she went over to the door, flatting her hand on it and placed her ear, capturing the messages.

"She can just disguise as one of my make-up artists! What's the big deal?!" It was Kyle's voice.

"KYLE! Do you really think that your fans wouldn't know that you're keeping a girl in your house?!"

Brandon.

"Why are you saying it as though she's my scandal? She's just a mere girl that was facing troubles a couple of hours ago. And all I did is helped her. Brandon, you helped her too!"

"Yes! I helped her so that she could get on living her own life without disturbing yours!"

"She isn't disturbing my life in any way! Look, I'm still standing perfectly fine in front of you!"

"W..What's wrong with you, Kyle? Why are you taking her side when you know nothing about her? Think yourself! How many events have you skipped because of her?!! "

She heard him sigh. And no more replies after that. The noise from the conversation was soon replaced with approaching footsteps to the door she was hiding behind. Getting closer.. and... closer... and... fast enough, the doorknob of hers was being turned.

Crap! What to do? - Hide? Stay? Or sleep? But it was already too late to hide, too nerve-wracking to stay. Third choice- sleep! Dashing back on the bed, she buried her face underneath the blanket and wrapped it tightly around her just in time before the figure appeared fully in shape.

He walked in without making much of a noise. Her back was facing him. She didn't know where has he reached, nor how far was he from the bed. One thing for sure, his slow paces sounded heavy. The jinglings of his rock and roll bracelets confirmed that he was no one else but... Kyle. The mint smell that entered along with him double confirmed that he was no one else, but the superstar. Clover assumed he was already within her reach the moment awkwardness grew deeper in the atmosphere, And that assumption turned on the butterflies in her stomach. Her breaths were getting stuffy with the heat rising inside her body. She could feel him staring at her back, which only made her vibrations clearer to be seen through the blanket.

"What's your name?" He asked, dragging a stool at the corner to lay down his butt.

He knew I was awake?! Clover freaked inside her mind.

"I wonder what's your name..." He repeated. But this time it sounded more like mumbles instead of a question. Phewww.

"Should have asked you before this," Chuckling shyly on his own.

Kyle got off the stool and walked towards the heartwarming corner. He handpicked a few of the fan letters and leaned himself against the shelf, reading them patiently one by one.

"Kyle, thank you so much for being a star. Thank you so much for letting the world to know you. No matter how hard things have been going on in your life, always remember that we are here for you.. And we will always love you now and forever. Xoxo. Love, Gabrielle."

He tittered lightly, "Love you too, Gabrielle."

"My one and only Kyle, you're just like a miracle to me. I never thought that I would fall in love with the songs composed and sung by Asians. But you made me to. Thank you so much, Kyle. Your songs are the reason that I'm not giving up, the reason that made me believe in myself when others don't. I really love you a lot, Kyle Lee. Sincerely, Lily."

"I'm glad I did, Lily. Wish that you would be able to live your dream to the fullest." He said, sniffing away with his runny nose.

Then and now, every time he reads the words of encouragements from his fans, tears would be swimming in his eyes. Indeed, there were many. He might take a very long time to finish reading all of them but he never ignored. The fan cards his fans made delicately for him, the gifts that his fans bought for him for his birthdays, or any of his special days, he treasured each and every one of them. Since young, he was determined to live a life like this. Receiving lots of love from the people around. Composing songs for everyone to listen. Inspiring them with the lyrics of his songs. Now that he finally materialize this dream of his, was he happy? He definitely wouldn't say he regretted for chasing after this dream. But to say that he was happy, most probably he couldn't say it as well.

His legs stopped in front of a mosaic photo of him. One of the ones he loved very much. Taking it from the floor, he held them securely, with his fingers running compassionately over it. Those tiny pieces of the puzzles that made up the entire photo were all pictures of him. Fixed according to the tones of colours and the features of his face. There were him receiving several awards, him being on variety shows, coming in and out of airports, fan services, live concerts and so much more.

"Thank you, so..so much for everything that you've done for me, lovely ones." He hugged it tenderly to his chest, cherishing it before putting it down on the floor.

Turning back to Clover, he walked over again with the same hesitant footsteps that he first entered the room. The blanket that was covering her face, he slid it down professionally without waking her up (though she was already awake), revealing her sleeping face.

"My parents gonna be so proud of me if I were to tell them that I saved a girl from becoming a s*x slave, don't you think so?" He laid down sideways beside her, increasing the pressure on the bed and stuck his palm under his chin, keeping it in place. "But...how.. and why did you end up like this? What happened to your family?... Where is your family?"

Extending his arm to touch her pinky cheeks, " What am I going to do about you, little one? Can I just shove you away? Or send you back to the airport for you to return to where you were? Will you be alright if I do so? Are the men going to go after you again once I leave you?"

Hundreds questions, zero answers.

Kyle sat up straight instantly when he thought he heard someone pushing the door. He would be so dead if Brandon caught him lying on the same bed together with a strange girl. Thankfully, it was just his illusion. Glancing down at the seductive floor, he wished that he knew what to do with her. But rather than finding any answers, the reflection of him was all it had. The air in his room that was usually alive, seemed to be so down. By right at this time, he should be at the Apple's TV station, taking in interviews and doing multiple commercial photoshoots. But here he was, alone with a girl. Too weary to think any further, he gave in to the floor at last.

Instead of lying side by side, he sat down cross-legged, folding his arms on the bed, "Whatever it is, I just hope that everything turns out right." He whispered tiredly as he buries his head in them.

Clover sneaked a peep at him through her slightly-opened eyes. He didn't notice her change in motion (Partly because she was too scared to even breath normally). She slid her tongue sideways, feeling the inner part of her cheek. The weird sensation of his touch still lingering on her, refusing to evaporate. For the first few minutes since Kyle shut his eyes, she remained stationary, not knowing what to do with him napping next to her. Only her well-hidden pinkies were moving daringly under the cover, removing the numbness generating throughout her body.

But it was only until he drew out his first soft snore.

"Ah...-..O-ouch..." Clover wept voicelessly, rising her 'solidified' body up the pillow that she was lying. Numerous cracking sounds produced as she stretched each and every part of her body. The jumbled blanket on the bed came tumbling down out of a sudden, giving her a gasp. She froze instantly, waiting for any extra noises to come upon.

Luckily, there were none. Kyle was still in the same position, engaged in his snooze. She carried the cloth messily in her hands while stepping closer to him. She didn't want to disturb him in anyway since he was sleeping so peacefully. Idols normally don't get enough rest because there aren't sufficient hours to do so. However, she thought of moving him - to a better place or a better pose because sleeping in such position was just... too... pitiful? But on a second thought, she probably wouldn't be able to do it the way she hoped she could do. Worse come to worst, she might just crush onto him and he will wake up thinking that he just committed a sin by saving her life. Ambivalent to do any other gestures, Clover dropped the blanket blandly over him and reached for the door.

"So you're up." Brandon said the moment she stepped out, as though he knew she would be up anytime from now. He was sitting on the couch in his casual wear, munching the potato chips in his hands. "After a day and a half."

"A day and...a half?"

"Yeah... Wait," He paused, glimpsing at his G-shock,"To be more exact, It has been 38 hours, 45 minutes and 55 seconds since you were brought here."

He continued, "By the way, please don't get any misunderstandings. Kyle is the kind of guy that can't just shake his ass and walk away when the matters are related to weakling girls. Like you."

Clover opened her mouth to speak, "Wait, let me clarify one more thing," Brandon held up his hand to pause her, "he is like that to all the girls. So.. please don't think that he treats you differently."

She parted her lips once again. But instead of saying anything that she desired, she ended up taking his side and, "Of course," was what she said.

"Good that you know," his tensed-up shoulders slanted down a little. "Anyhow, when are you leaving?"

"Leaving?"

"Well... You gotta know that we aren't some kind of charity organization," he shrugged. " Helping people in need, just isn't our responsibility."

Exactly. Brandon was right. So right. What was she expecting? A Cinderella story would happen on her? She didn't even belong here in the very first place. ".. I'll--"

"Who said she's leaving?" A voice interrupted.

Kyle.

"I thought I said that she's going to work in my studio?" His voice was stern.

Brandon took a step forward and wanted to argue. But the look on Kyle's face shut him up completely.

Gentleness took over him as he turned to look at her. Resting his arm on her shoulder like a friend, " Don't worry about him, little girl. What's your name?" he asked.

Clover was shocked- like literally shocked. The efforts that he had put in to help her despite his status as an idol, despite the fact that they have only just met, left her momentarily speechless. To be treated with such kindness in such a limited period of time, perhaps apart from her parents, he was the one and only. From the edge of her eyes, she could see and hear Brandon stomping his foot. Indeed, she needed to leave. But, maybe lil' bit later wouldn't do much of a harm.

After all, right now, she had nowhere to go..but here.

"Clover Hon," she smiled. "My name."

"Very well. Listen here Clover Hon, right now, right at this moment," he grinned widely, displaying his lines of white teeth, "I hire you as my personal assistant."