Whisper of the Silencee

15

Table was set. Meals were served. Champagnes were popped.

The 'birthday party' was about to start.

"Clover!" Kyle shouted. "It's all doneee!"

Snapping awake, she shook her head, blinking to chase away the stains of tears. Brandon was walking towards the door. He stopped at his last step and glanced back at her, waiting for her to join him.

"Put on a good act, Clover Hon," she commanded, patted both sides of her face and got on her feet.

Kyle was hustling over the sauces on the table. Honey garlic sauce, salad dressings, bbq sauce. He first flicked the cap of the salad dressings, with the intention of pouring it onto the fresh vegetables placed next to the steak on Clover's plate. However, his gesture hesitated. He closed it and took the honey garlic sauce. But he wavered once again. The momentum of the sauce was too fast that he freaked out when it began dripping onto her plate without his consent. Putting down the bottle hurriedly, he dashed into the kitchen for tissues. Clover was peaking at the whole situation. She puffed, looking at his innocence, his silliness. Maybe because of his overwhelming excitement and nervousness, he tripped and his pinky hit the leg of the table, turning him pale in pain instantly.

"Danise!Danise!" he urged. "Help me!" Shoving the tissues to him in the kitchen while pointing to the mess on Clover's plate.

Danise rolled his eyes.

"Hey!! Quick!" he repeated, blowing the sting on his unfortunate toe. "She's coming already!"

"I'm busy," he said solidly.

"What the heck are you busying....--" he trailed off and hopped to him. Holding the pieces of folded papers in his hands, "What's this?" he asked. "Why are you doing this in the kitchen of all places? I'm pretty sure you're aware that I have a living room though."

"You gotta thank me, dude," he mumbled softly.

"Huh?" he leaned in closer to Danise but he said no further.

After hiding in the dark for a few minutes, Clover finally braved up and chose to step into their sights. Each step felt like lifting a heavy stone. She stared up at the clock and the sounds of the minute hand ticking were fearing her. It was taking away her happiness, her bonds.

"Cloverrr!!" Kyle got up immediately and welcomed her to the dining table. The pain on his toe faded like it never existed.

"Here---" His eyes almost dropped out when he realized that the mess was still there. "I'm.. sorry.. Clover.. I didn't know what sauce you like.. I. I.. I..." he panicked.

She laughed. "It's okay, Kyle." Pulling over her plate from Kyle's hand, "I love all the sauces here." she said.

His shoulders relaxed at her words. "I'm glad."

And the feast began.

"Let's play a game," Danise spoke, after finishing the last bite of his Tiramisu cake.

"What game?" Brandon asked, pulling out the stalk of the cherry in his mouth.

"Bond game," he said, while flashing a look to Clover's direction.

"I'm going to give out these papers randomly," he continued, taking out the pieces that he prepared just now. "Each of us would have to take a piece. The one with the same number would be a pair and would have to get their hands tied together with a very thin piece of tearable paper."

"Tearable paper?" Kyle rose his eyebrow.

He nodded. "That's the fun part of this game. In order to win, that paper shall not be torn. The pair with the paper in perfect shape would be the winner of this game."

"I seee...So it's a 'bond' game." Brandon muttered as he flipped to see his number. "2! Who's with me?"

"I'm 1," Clover responded.

"Me too!!" Kyle high-fived.

"Damnnnnnn.. It's me and..." Danise pulled a face. "..you.."

Brandon shrugged playfully. "Excuse me, I'm a king when it comes to games like this."

"Quick! Where's the paper that will be joining us?"

"Here!" Danise handed him a moderate length of colourful paper that was made from many papers folded into circular shapes, stapled onto one another to give it the length that he desired. "This is all that I can do for you, Kyle. Whatever that happens tomorrow lies in your hands," he mumbled by his ears.

"What's wrong with you today, Danise?" Kyle was confused.

But he ignored him. Slating this scene with his hand, he officiated the beginning of this game. "So the game starts now! Come on Brandon!" he screamed, "Run!!"

"Hey! Wait!" Kyle said, still trying to figure out where was the mouth of the paper for them to insert their hands. "WAIITTT!!" he echoed. But Danise and Brandon were far too in front, way too far away from the house.

He chuckled. "Oh mann.. Sorry Clover. I'm not as good as Danise," he said.

Heat was rising. The mint smell of him was making her crazy. Their hands weren't in contact but Clover could feel the warmth of his body radiating onto her hand. The paper was very fragile. They had to move in sync completely. But without holding hands together, it was hard to be in sync.

"May I?" Kyle asked politely, bent down like a gentleman, requesting for her hand to be in his. "So that this paper doesn't break too fast."

"Sure," Clover smiled, and let her hand to be wrapped.

"It's better this way," Kyle said, interlocking their fingers. "More secure," he winked.

And at that instance, her heart was no longer under her control. It thumped against her chest so fast, making her wonder if the beats could be heard from the outside. Her cheeks were blushing. Her rational thoughts were slipping away. She peaked at Kyle but his face was calm. Too calm. Suppressing those one-sided feelings, she sucked in a deep breath and focused fully (hopefully) on this game that would be the final contact between both of them.

The Sun was down, glooming the surroundings. Scents of the flowers along the roadsides were getting obvious to the nose she didn't know why. Maybe because all this while she was too busy to stop and admire the beauty of the world. Now that she gotta leave this place, everything suddenly became so precious to Clover, including the roads that she passed by every single day.

Kyle led her outside. Hands shielded tightly together. Just now Brandon and Danise were still within their views. However, right now they were totally missing.

"They're fast," he said impressively. "It was barely a minute I thought?"

She laughed. "It was actually more than a minute. We messed with this.." she lifted up their hands, "too long."

"Reallyyyy? Oh mannn..Now what do we do? Wait till they show up?"

"I guess so?"

Sighing, "Let's just enjoy this walk. And the game starts back when they are back," he said.

"Sure."

Strolling in the late evening was a way to remember how to breathe. The sight of the orange-blue sky was so spectacular. Layers of linty clouds moving along with the breeze, birds flying gracefully across them, enough to calm down the uneasiness of the souls. If and only if, things would be as simple as the sky changes colour from day to night, as simple as how the Sun rises each day, life would be so much better, isn't it. No killings, no hurting, only to love and to care.

It would definitely be so much better.

Tomorrow at this time, where would I be? she thought hopelessly, kicking the lonely stones blocking her path.

Fiction was making her palm soggy. She could feel it. Sweats staining the surface of her palm in contact with Kyle's. It was dirty, and disgusting.

"... Hey..Kyle.. Erm.. " she stammered. "Since they are MIA..why not.." Her eyes dragged Kyle's to their palms, signaling Kyle her message.

"What's wrong?" He asked, failed to capture her body language.

Clover smiled and shook it off. Today was the last day. What was there to rush? Everything would end in less than 12 hours time anyway. "Let's wait for them in the house."

Brandon and Danise were already back at home by the time they returned. Danise tucked his hand in his pocket, leaning against the couch. Another hand was still stuck with Brandon. Annoyance was printed on his face. Well, he should be since the game failed to be played practically. Kyle replied him with -you-know-I-am-noob-in-games- expression. Though the game barely started, he was drenched in sweats. Funny enough, it was only him in sweats and not Brandon who was with him all the while before appearing back in the house. Brandon was by the door coolly with his hair still combed neatly, shirt free of any stains. He was holding a big box of postage with pictures of Kyle pasted everywhere.

No doubt- it was his fan gifts.

"Open it, Brandon," he said happily. "Clover. Have a look at what you like. I can give it to you."

"Can we take this off already?" Kyle asked, referring to the tearable paper.

"No." Danise snapped.

Kyle jerked by the seriousness in his tone, as if the one in front of him was no longer the Little D that he knew. "..W.Why not? Are we still playing?"

"It's a bond game, Kyle. Those who stayed till the end will win. So if you want to win, you gotta do everything with Clover."

"Omg, what a silly game you thought offff!" he teased.

Tshirts. Bears. Shoes. Powerbanks. Bookmarks. And of course, fan letters. There were so many. Despite the rumours of him having a personal assistant, their love for him was still strong. This must be what you called as true fans. All those fan letters Brandon stacked them piles by piles onto the floor. Some were handmade cards, while some were bought ones. It was the words in them that mattered.

"Clover," he flapped the bear' ears. "How about this one?"

She hopped a little bit closer to him and relaxed her fingers from the interlock. Single hand was very hard to do anything. With all those sticky sweats and heat, she wanted to release her hand in his grab. But he clasped it before she slipped away. "No! What are you doing?" Kyle asked, taken aback by her sudden action.

"It's okay," she said, still trying to free her hand. "Danise wouldn't notice it."

"Nah," he strengthened the lock. "Just stay like this. Something's off with Danise today. I don't want to annoy him."

It might seem still early but the night was calling. Half moon was up, surrounded by the galaxy of stars. Street lights fixed on the roads were ignited, lighting up the dimmed streets. It was quiet. The only noise would be the crows from the black crows around. At this hour probably everyone would be back in their homes or out for bondings. And there they were, still toying with the gifts, reading the fan cards. Time passed so fast without them knowing. And the time for Clover to leave was nearing.

Her eyelids were draggy, going against her will to stay awake. The long skinship with Kyle made her felt uncomfortable. He was sitting on the ground near to the couch with her on it. Engrossing in the fan letters, smiles were all that he had on his face. Brandon released a sigh of relieve but immediately exchanged with a sympathetic look in his eyes when he caught Clover staring at him. Her sorrowful eyes hid a million words, that were desperate to be said. Biting her lips, the lump in her throat was moving. She couldn't say it. She couldn't say that she had to leave. She couldn't say that she almost lost her life. She couldn't say that.. she already fallen for him...

She couldn't..say them at all.

Their hands showed no signs of separating and she turned to look at Brandon's. They were the same. None of them wanted to admit to losing. Soon after, darkness hit her sight.

Hours passed by and next day arrived.The buzz of insects rang in her ears, pulling her consciousness to take over. Clover jerked her fingers. They cramped. The numbness in her fingers was forcing her back into the current situation. She lifted her eyes slightly, and through the tiny gap, she saw the three figures. Brandon and Danise were lying on the coach with their legs on one another. The fan cards were scattered on the floor, and one in Kyle's hand. 6.30a.m. The clock displayed. Now. Quickly, not wanting to attract any of their attention, she got to her feet to get ready to leave.

But something pulled her back.

Her hand. His hand. She gasped. The paper was still tying them together. She turned to look at the other two. Their paper was torn and perfectly squashed underneath Brandon's leg. Turning back to theirs, she didn't hesitate to clip the paper. Carefully with her two fingers, she quietly broke them apart. We've won, Kyle, she meant.

And she tore.

The paper no longer joined them together.

She stood up. But her steps faltered. She tilted her head and stared at his face. The face of a rising hot celebrity. Who was she trying to be to him?

"You're a star, Kyle " she stroked his hair, murmuring. "And I am just a wild grass."

"Maybe I should have listened to Brandon. I shouldn't have stayed here. I should have left when my heart was still under my command..--" Her voice was getting thick.

"... Sorry.." she cupped his hand, whispering through her pouring tears, "..that I had to leave.."

Looking tenderly at him, "I like you.. Kyle.." she planted a kiss on his forehead, dripping her pearl-like liquids on him. "..Goodbye, my life savior."

Clover released him from her touch and rushed into her room. She hated this feeling so much. So much that she hated herself for keep feeling attached. She grabbed her luggage in a move and sped towards the door. No more time to linger around.

"Danise was right," A shadow then came right into her view, blocking her way. "You are really leaving."

"Yesterday wasn't your birthday." he stepped in closer, stumbling her steps to the back. "You lied to me."

"..Why.. " Tears swimming in his dark brown eyes. "What did I do so wrong that you gotta leave?"

"The fault lies with me. I shouldn't have stayed. I shouldn't have sneaked into your car. I shouldn't have let myself to barge into your life when your life is full of glamour and fame. Everything is my fault, Kyle."

"Why did you enter if you planned to leave?" he sobbed.

"I..I need to leave, Kyle." she gritted her teeth, backing up her wall from cracking. "I must leave," she repeated, brushing past him, into the exit.

Holding onto her hand, he held his gaze, "... Can you don't?" he pleaded. "Please?"

"It's for you, Kyle. I don't want you to lose your fame because of me. I don't want you to be harmed because of me. I don't want you to give up on your dream because of me. I.. " she paused, drawing in her eyebrows. "I just want you to be happy."

"Then stay," he hissed, pulling her into his longing embrace. "My heart no longer beats for me."

The honking from the newspaper vendor snapped Brandon awake from his sleep. Lazily, he slid into the slippers that got in his way and stepped into the porch to get their portion of newspapers. And as he saw the headline, he froze. Right on the spot.

"F***!!" Brandon cursed, scanning them. They were crumbling under his shivering grasp. The pen drive wasn't the only copy they had.

KYLE LEE CAUGHT IN A SCANDAL!!THE "PERSONAL ASSISTANT" REVEALED!!!, reflected in his just-woken up eyes.

"What's wrong?" Danise muttered sleepily, pushing his feet into the gaps between the seats of the couch to decrease the early morning chill on him.

"OH F****!!!!!" he slammed the stack angrily onto the ground and dashed to look for the main character.

His toes danced in place, trying to avoid touching the icy ground for too long. Kyle wasn't in his room. The door of the toilet was wide open: he wasn't there either. No shadows of him wandering outside. Where did he go?

Sh*t! Something struck his mind.

Clover!

Immediately, he ran to her room. He could almost hear the sounds of the pieces of his heart falling the moment he saw what that wasn't meant to be seen.

Kyle hanging on to her.

Clover failed to leave.

Sucking in a deep breath, he forced himself to come into their view and separated the embrace. A dreadful glance was then shot to Kyle who was still leaking his stream. Guiltiness all over his stained face. He knew more than Brandon that things like this shouldn't have happened. But. It. Happened.

He pushed out a sigh. "You're dead," he spat the words, "Kyle. So dead."

Crushing down to his feet, he stared into the blank space. Drops of tears showed no signs of stopping. Clover retreated slowly away from his sight and stepped quietly towards the door, hoping that she could still leave.

"Don't... Clover." he cleared his throat, still stopping her from leaving his side. "Don't go.."

"KYLE!" Brandon shouted furiously, sending vibrations across the rooms. "There's no time for you to love! No time for you to stop Clover! No time for you to waste! They are all over the media!!!!"

Kyle gave him a blur look. And so did Clover.

"...W-..what?"

"Check it yourself," Brandon said hopelessly, tapped something on his phone and tossed it to him with a loud thud.

Rubbing the ache on his chest, he grabbed the phone and tension accumulated on his face as he scrolled. Those pictures basically showed everything. It was so clear to the point that the number of hidden pimples, blackheads Kyle had under the layers of makeup could be seen. As clear as the magazine covers of him. And most importantly, Clover wasn't even blurred! So many information was being written about her. True nor lies, nobody knows other than the victim. She tipped a little over to look at the phone. Close enough. Kyle quickly locked the screen before she had the chance to know what it was all about.

But it was too obvious for her to act not to know.

"I did it again.." she bit her lips, forcing her tears to be gulped, "didn't.. I?"

Moving his fearful gaze to Brandon, "she can't leave now, Brandon..." he said tremblingly. "You don't want her to die.."

Suddenly, a loud ringing noise pierced through their conversations.

"Hello?" Brandon answered.

Fierce, thunder-like voice could be heard over his phone. The expression on Brandon's face changed instantly, taking in all the scoldings, the blames. Sorry, was what he said the most number of times the moment he picked up the call. He bowed his body along, as if the one speaking on the other line was right in front of him.

"Kyle..." he sighed, staring at his line being cut." Your CEO said to have a press conference."

"What about her?" he asked, fixing his glance on Clover.

"You aren't in any position to speak about her," Brandon snapped. "Quick. Get ready. We are gonna have a press conference in another two hours time."