The silence she left behind

Chapter 7

I would often call him with his family name or his distinction. His name on my lips creates a sudden voltage that travels within my body. What? That's hella corny, Amari! Wake up! This person in front of you might poison you!

"Why did I even gave that expensive s**t to you? If you don't like it, just throw it out. If you're thinking that I'll poison you, I would rather choose to strangle your neck, Camero. " Umupo ulit ako ng marinig ang masungit niyang banta. And no! My dad won't even buy me a piece of ribeye steak! I won't waste this opportunity!

Hindi na ako nagreklamo at linantakan na ang binigay niyang Steak. God! The taste is heavenly! It's been a long time since I had a bite of it! Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa and I suddenly enjoy the silence between us.

The only sound that were lingering were the sound of the rustling leaves, the chirps of the bird and the smooth howling of the wind... and the song that he played when he finished eating my buffalo wings.

It's so sweet, knowing that you love me

Though we don't need to say it to each other, sweet

Knowing that I love you, and running my fingers through your hair

It's so sweet...

It's CAS! Hell! He listens to them! I mentally noted that he likes Cigarettes After s*x, too. Greg's voice is heavenly! I wondered if Israel can sing.

Pareho lang kami na nakaupo, nasa likuran ko siya at hindi ko alam kung ano na ang pinagkakaabalahan niya. Kinuha ko ang maliit na notebook ko at binuksan iyon. Tumambad ang maraming prosa at tula na aking isinulat. Some were just random poems that I wrote out of boredom, but mostly, it was my thoughts. Ate Maya never came back in our house, kaya wala akong makausap, that's why i just did this, writing my thoughts as if someone will read them.

Out of nowhere, my hands started playing with my inked ballpoint pen...

The place was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy but not uncomfortable. We weren’t arguing like we usually did—no sharp words, no sarcastic jabs. Just... stillness.

I noticed right away how strange the place felt. Usually, we couldn’t sit in the same space without trading insults or picking a fight. But now? It was just quiet. Not awkward, not peaceful, but something in between.

For a moment, I wondered if we were actually enjoying the quiet. No laughter, no smiles, but something about it felt... different. Almost like a truce neither of us wanted to admit.

Or maybe, I was just the one who's thinking that the silence were something... different? We never had a proper conversation over the past years. Baka kamo ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin ay wala lang para sa kanya. After all, he was a quiet yet sharp kind of a person.

Tch. I closed my mini notebook, hindi ko na tinapos ang isinusalat ko kanina. I suddenly realized that the silence I was talking about were really true, it was suddenly peaceful, because when I look at the person, who I thought na nakaupo lang sa likuran ko ay wala na! Israel is gone! God! He is really unbelievable!

I was busy on my closet. I'm neatly separating my old clothes and the newer ones. I'm planning to donate my clothes and some other things. It's Saturday at wala akong ibang magawa dahil nag day off si Nana Juanita at ang dalawa pang kasama namin sa bahay. My dad is probably in his study room.

Even if I wanted to call my mom, there would be no use at all. She suddenly change her phone number at hindi ko na alam kung nasaan siya. I think I'm immune with the pain that my parents did. They never think about me. They only think about what's good with themselves.

What's the purpose of having all these luxuries when my family is incomplete? Argh. I really hate it when I'm alone! There's a wave of unforgotten memories that keeps washing on my head and I really hate it!

Instead of staying in my room at mag pity party. I dialed Kento's number on my phone. A few rings and he answered.

"Yow, Amari Ganda! Anong atin?" I heard noises from the background. I even heard Ox voice and some unfamiliar voices, too.

"Where are you? I'm bored. " I bluntly stated. I heard him chuckled a bit. The other line suddenly gets choppy, and I'm sure someone's trying to get the phone.

" Teka nga lang! Kausap ko si Amari! Aray, Ox! Tangina masakit 'yon ha!" Tila may umagaw nga ng phone ni Kento dahil napalayo na ang boses niya mula sa kabilang linya.

"Amari, bebe! Magbihis kana! Susunduin ka ni Kento diyan!" It was Ox who suddenly butted in our conversation. Hindi ko na hinintay ang iba pa nilang sasabihin at ibinaba ko na ang tawag. Nagbihis kaagad ako ng isang puting summer dress at isang pares ng flipflops. I didn't put any make up on dahil mainit sa labas and I don't think I need it. I'm already gorjas!

Alam kong busy si Dad kaya I just sent him a text message.

To: Dad

I'm sure you're busy. I'll hang out with Kento and the others.

From: Dad

K.

Napakamot naman ako ng noo dahil sa reply niya. God! I think even if I'll contact him with a matter of life and death situation baka K lang din ang isasagot niya! He knows the Rivera -Lim Clan that's why when he asked if I'm hanging out with them, and I said yes. Nakita kasi niya kami one time malapit sa office niya at kumakain kami noon nila Hetti kasama ang mag pinsan na Lim at si Champagne.

Hindi naman masyadong naghihigpit si Daddy. Maybe he knows that I'm bored in our big house. Sino naman kasi ang kakausapin ko sa bahay namin e ni butiki sa kisame ay wala. When I heard a car revving in our pave way, I nearly run out of our house.

"Hop in. " My lips parted when I saw the sight of the person who's leaning at the motorcycle. What the hell?

"Where's Kento? Why are you here?!" I was shocked! Ano ang ginagawa ni Israel Arden dito sa amin? Sa bahay ko?! Napalingon ako kaagad sa gate namin ng muli itong bumukas. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita si Dad!

Kumunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa lalaking prenteng nakatayo sa harapan ng motor niya.

"Ano ang ginagawa ng isang anak ng governor dito sa bahay ko?" Taas kilay na tanong ng dad ko. I was nervously holding my bag, baka kasi magalit na naman siya. Magkapareho pa naman ng ugali ang dalawang 'to!

" Goodmorning, Sir. I'm Israel. Kento asked me to pick up Amari here. " He politely stated. Tila nanantya pang tinitigan ni Dad si Israel before he nodded his head.

"At saan naman kayo pupunta? Hindi ba magagalit si Gov at pagala gala ka 'rito, iho?" My dad can be sometimes a malisyoso. He eyed Israel with his intriguing stare. Imbes na matakot ang isa, he was just proudly standing beside his motorcycle at nakapamulsa pa. Ako nga 'din curious kung bakit siya ang nandito.

He is actually friends with Ox and Kento, but he rarely hang out with them. He would rather read his books and prioritize that everything in his eyes were perfect.

"Kento and the others are currently at my house, Sir. They asked a favor if I could pickup Amari since I was just nearby earlier." He answered with politeness. Kitams? Kung sa iba para siyang anghel, tapos sa akin para siyang kampon ni satanas! Two faced ka talaga kahit kailan Arden!

"Okay. Be sure na ihatid si Amari before 7, iho. " Tumalikod na si dad at pumasok na ulit sa loob. Ako naman ay nakatayo parin habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin kay Israel. And worse, pinayagan ako ng tatay ko! We don't know if he lied! Baka mamaya may balak na siyang itapon ang katawan ko sa dagat!

" What are you waiting for? Stop wasting my time and hop in. " My god! Bakit ba ang sungit niya? Lumapit ako sa kanya, not knowing what to do. Okay. It is my first time to ride a motorcycle and I seriously don't know how should I sit on it!

"Duh. I didn't asked you to be here. So yeah, I'm not wasting your time." Umikot ang mata ako at humalukipkip. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin habang ako naman ay tumayo lang sa harapan niya.

"Ano na, Camero? Hinihintay mo bang pumuti ang uwak bago sumakay?" Matalas na naman siyang nakatingin sa akin. I sighed. Since I was wearing a dress I think I shouldn't sit ng nakaharap sa kanya, pinatong ko ang kaliwang kaway sa balikat niya para kumuha ng suporta. I felt how his body suddenly tense the moment my palm touch his skin. He was wearing a taslan short and a white tee. He gave me the helmet at agad kong isinuot 'yon.

I settled myself at his back. Nakaside akong umupo at nakahawak naman ang isang kamay ko sa balikat niya, habang ang isa naman ay nakawak sa motor. The ride was smooth. I noticed that we were driving towards the sea, I heard that their mansion were situated nearby the sea. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa. No one dared to speak. I was enjoying the view, especially the pristine water of the sea.

The town's people called the place Villa Gloria, pagmamay-ari ng isang mayaman na pamilya. Ang mansion nila ay nasa dulong bahagi pa, malapit sa dating pantalan at sa camp ng mga army.

It was already 4 in the afternoon kaya naman ay madaming kabataan ang nakatambay sa tabing dagat. Hanggang sa harapan ng mansion nila ay marami parin ang nakatambay, but they are not directly invading the Arden's land. Katabi din nila ang kampo ng mga army. I think it is also for their safety since his father is currently the governor.