Whisper of the Silencee

3

Fright took over the colour of her face. The muscles of her cheekbones were wobbling, her stream was leaking, unable to absorb whatever going on right at this very moment. She thought she has escaped. She thought she was saved. But they were all nothing except...

False hopes.

"Damn!" Brandon cursed, banging the wheel for the tenth time.

The upbeat song that was playing on the radio, he shut it off aggressively, with his mouth mumbling about how annoying it was for the song to be played at times like this. Veins could be seen bulging from his arms as he steered. And sweats were running down his jawlines so much that if a bowl was placed underneath, they could have filled up half of it. Those cars keep reemerging without fail after each sharp turns, leaving him no choice but to keep speeding. As though the unrelated cars around sensed that something was not right, they drove away into different directions, disappearing from the 'dangerous' road one after another.

"How did they know you're in here?" Kyle questioned, arching his eyebrow.

She parted her lips to claim her innocence. She wasn't the culprit. However, none of her words seemed to be finding their ways out. Her voicebox was jammed totally, blocked by her unstoppable hiccups. The messages that were supposed to be delivered orally, ended up delivered emotionally. She submerged her face into the coat, covering the noise of her cries even though it was filled with the metallic smell of her blood.

Kyle moved over to sit closer and lifted his hand to pat on her head. But he stopped at the last step, flapping his gesture in the air, hesitating if he should do it. "H-hey..Don't.. Don't worry... You're pretty safe in here."

She didn't inch. Seeing that just by 'saying' didn't help out much, Kyle finally rested his 'floating' hand on her long silky hair. "Right, Brandon?" He continued light-heartedly, trying to ease the uncomfortable breaths around.

"Shut up, Kyle." He grumbled, still focusing to get rid of the trackers. "I don't even know why am I doing this."

"I don't even know why am I doing this~" He mimicked him silently, but loud enough for him to know.

"Instead of acting like a child, you better come up with a good excuse for not turning up for the show later," Brandon rolled his eyes. "Useless brat."

"Shaddup," he tsked. "You just need to worry about how to get them offfff." Kyle narrowed his eyes.

Sliding his palm into the back of his pocket, he took out his phone and began dialing. A zoomed-in image of a youthful man where his face was totally messed up with tons of make-up appeared on the screen as he pressed the green button. 'Little D' displayed at the top of the image. He let the dialing sounds on loudspeaker for a few moments until the other line picked up his call.

"What's up, bro?"

"Danise, do me a favor," Kyle said, putting his phone by his ear.

"Yeah?"

"Replace me for the 'You're My Perfect Star' TV show today."

"W-what?! W-Why?"

"Why not?"

"Your fans are going to be mad at me for stealing your spotlight."

"You aren't stealing it. Just replacing."

"But why?!"

"Just do it, dude. Bye."

"H-he--"

Tut. 30 seconds. Short and nice.

Kyle rubbed his phone onto his jeans to clear his stains, "See? This is what you call a friend in need is a friend indeed."

"Yeah yeah. Whatever." The driver pulled a face.

Glimpsing through the tinted windows, he took a moment off the situation(though the timing was really bad) and let his mind flew with the speed. His lips curved up a little as they passed by several posters of him in the middle of the roads even though the pace of the car was way too fast to see them clearly. But it was a fact that it was him. Ambassador of the China's Global Tourism Organization, ambassador of the China's International WildLife Organization, ambassador for multiples fashion brands. They always flicker the joy in him. The amount of tears and sweats he shed to materialize his dream, finally paid off. But those sacrifices weren't enough for him to be who he is today. Fate demanded more from him. And he gave without realizing.

The familiar sights of the sceneries, buildings, and even the signboards unexpectedly relived the longing that he buried deep inside his heart.

Everything is the same, he thought, except ..us.

Suddenly, a blinking light flashed from the corner of his eyes, grabbing his focus. He turned right in time to catch the light blinking for the second time.

He definitely saw it.

It's from the furry coat.

Kyle snatched it away immediately without saying anything beforehand, jerking Clover. "W..w--wh-" She staggered, dropping her hand on the mat to centralize herself.

"I think I know why they know you're here," He said, pointing to a flashing tiny red spot planted deep inside the material of the coat.

Brandon's hazel brown eyes widened at the sight of it. "A tr--tracking device?!" He freaked. "Quick, Kyle! Get it out of the window now!"

Kyle rolled down the glass and slid out the coat, freeing it along with the wind. That was too abrupt. The right-behind car had to brake suddenly. Well, that's basically the first reaction anyone would give if an unknown object suddenly flew in front of the car that he or she was in. Hence, thanks to the first reaction, the remaining cars kissed one another without any pauses, giving the chance for Kyle and the gang to get away smoothly.

Bump! Bump! Bump!

'" Useless!!!" The 'leader' screamed as soon as he got off the car, shoving his men away from his sight mercilessly. "It's just a damn coat!!!!!"

'Now what are we going to do?!!'

'Who are we going to give??????!!'

'UGGHH!!!' He kicked the tires.

They had lost the track.

A smirk curled up on Brandon's face as he observed the entire act through his rear mirror. "Aha! Serve you right!" Brandon said, driving away at full speed until their shadows were out of his sight.

"Finally..." Clover breathed," They are... really gone.."

"I told you," Kyle flashed his gentleman smile - the one that his fans would be dying hard to get. " They won't catch you this time."

"Thank you so much, Kyle." Clover smiled back at him.

So this must be why your fans love you so much, she spoke in her mind.

Up till now, she never really get a proper look of him, thanks to the men in black. The photos of him on the banners weren't enough for her to picture his face clearly. Nor in the airport. He walked out with his face fully covered, not hinting any structures of it. And throughout the journey of getting rid of the trackers, though he took off his sunglasses and all, she was just too worried about her safety, to be having any time admiring his features. Now that everything is settled, Kyle's perfectly-defined features were slowing making their ways into her view.

Big, round dark brown eyes. Obvious jawlines. Thin, pinkish lips. High cheekbones. Sharp, pointed nose. What else?

One word-Modellic.

Clover was stunned by his captivating features. That face of his really fitted to be in the entertainment world. It would have been such a waste if he became something else, other than an idol.

"So..." Brandon's voice slapped hard on her face, pushing away all her fan-like thoughts. "Where are we going?" He pulled his car over to the side road, lifting up the handbrake.

She knew his question is referring to her. Well, who else if it's not her? "Ermm.... Just.. drop me off anywhere..."

"Anywhere?" Kyle rose his eyebrows.

"Yes. Anywhere." She tried to sound confident. "And I shall look for a way out by myself."

"What do you mean by that?" His voice filled with care and concern.

No, Clover. Don't waver. He has helped you out too much. Now it's time to be on your own. Glancing the surroundings, she stretched out her fingers to push open the door hurriedly before she lost the strength to do so. "I think I will just get down here."

"Hey! Wait!" Kyle grabbed her arm. "Where are you going from here?"

"I'm sure it will lead me somewhere." She said.

"B-..but..."

Wrapping his hand in hers, she mumbled. "Thanks Kyle. For helping me. For saving me... "

"You'll probably do the same if you're in my shoes."

"Maybe?" She chuckled, pulling her arm away from his grip softly. "Okay. You better get going before anyone sees both of us 'tangled' up together."

"Good one, girl. You're incredibly right," Brandon said. "Come on, Kyle."

The sun was high up in the sky, radiating its heat everywhere and there they were, in the middle of a deserted road. Kyle was still reluctant to release her. He wanted to listen to his manager and let her go to wherever she wished to. But he couldn't go against his principles. Being brought up in a middle-ranged family, he was told that girls were meant to be protected despite their looks, ages or colours. That was why he stopped questioning her in the car the moment he saw her cuffed up hands.

No words spoken and they remained stagnant with their eyes staring into one another. Only the wind was doing its job perfectly well, blowing their hairs, filling up the awkward atmosphere. Things were starting to look weird. The harder she tried to break away from his grip, the more he tightened it. She felt his muscles tensing, not knowing what to do.

Clover could have continued with her act but she was losing it. Her vision was blurring. Her energy to stay awake was draining.

"Kyle.. Go." She said falteringly, praying hard that he would not realize her current state. "Don't worry about me..."

It was Kyle of all people. Judging based on his background, how could he not know?

".. Your face doesn't seem so right.." He said, stepping out of his car rushingly to hold her more securely.

"No.. Kyle." She used her remaining energy to push him away. " Don't.."

"KYLE LEE! GET BACK IN THE CAR! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!" His manager stomped his foot angrily, vibrating the car.

"Kyle.. Don't.. Do--" And there she dropped, straight into his embrace. Safe and sound.

"I knew it." Clutching her by her waist, he brought her back up into the car with all his might.

"Kyle Lee, " Brandon gritted his teeth. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Saving a life."

"And damaging yours?" he shot back at him, giving him a sidelong face.

No response. Staring at the unconscious girl in his hands, he stroked her long fringe and tugged them behind her ears. He didn't know if it was right or wrong. All he knew was that he couldn't just leave her alone.