Love buried in silence

Chapter 2

A LOVE SHE NEVER EXPECTED

Amanda did not sleep much that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered Collins's voice. “I think I'm falling in love with you”

The words were simple.

But to Amanda, they meant everything.

She had never been in a serious relationship before.

She had never imagined herself falling deeply in love.

Yet Collins had somehow slipped into her life so naturally that she couldn't remember what her days had felt like before him.

The next morning, she woke up with a smile.

"You look happy." Her grandmother noticed immediately

"I'm always happy." Amanda tried to hide her smile.

"No, you're not."

Amanda laughed.

Her grandmother shook her head.

"It is that boy."

"His name is Collins." Amanda looked down.

"I know." Grandma said

Amanda looked up.

"You know?"

"I know enough." Her grandmother returned to preparing breakfast.

Amanda wanted to ask what she meant, but decided against it.

Instead, she sat down.

"He's taking me out today." She told her grandma while helping her with preparing breakfast

"Where?" Grandma asked

"I don't know."

"Do you trust him?"

"Yes." Amanda nodded.

Her grandmother looked at her carefully.

"Then be careful."

Amanda smiled.

"I will."

---

Collins arrived that afternoon in a dark car.

Amanda stepped outside wearing a simple dress.

When he saw her, his smile appeared immediately.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you." Amanda lowered her eyes.

"Where are we going?" Amanda asked

"It's a surprise." He replied as he opened the car door for her.

She smiled.

"Can I trust you?" She asked remembering what her grandma told her to be careful about Collins but did not know what she meant

"I'll never give you a reason not to." His expression softened.

They drove to a quiet restaurant overlooking the river.

Amanda looked around nervously.

"This place is expensive."

"So?"

"I don't want you spending too much money on me."

Collins smiled.

"You aren't an expense."

She looked at him.

"Then what am I?"

He leaned closer.

"Someone important."

Her heart fluttered.

Dinner was simple but beautiful.

They talked about everything.

Amanda told him about her childhood.

Collins told her about his family.

"My parents expect a lot from me."

"What kind of things?"

"Everything."

She smiled.

"You'll make them proud."

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"Because sometimes I don't want the life they've planned for me."

Amanda studied him.

"What do you want?"

He looked at her.

"I want to choose my own life." She smiled

"And what does that life look like?"

He took her hand.

"Maybe you'll be in it."

Amanda's heart raced.

---

Their relationship deepened over the following months.

Collins became protective of Amanda.

Whenever she walked home late, he insisted on taking her.

When she became sick, he brought medicine.

When she was worried about university applications, he helped her prepare.

He never laughed at her dreams.

Instead, he encouraged them.

"You'll get there."

"What if I don't?"

"Then we'll try again."

"We?"

"Yes. We."

Amanda loved that word.

We.

It made the future seem less frightening.

---

But Collins's family was becoming increasingly concerned.

One evening, his father called him into the study.

"Sit." His father said angrily

"What happened?" Collins frowned.

His father placed a file on the desk.

"Your university applications."

Collins nodded.

"I'm handling them."

"You need to start thinking seriously about your future."

"I am."

"Then stop wasting time."

Collins looked at him.

"My relationship isn't wasting time."

"That girl?" His father stared at him.

"She has a name and her name is Amanda."

"I don't care what her name is."

"You should." Collins's expression hardened

His father stood.

"You don't understand what you're doing."

"I understand perfectly."

"She's not from our world."

"What world is that?" Collins laughed.

His father didn't answer.

"My world is wherever I choose to be."

"You're young and you can't understand" His father looked at him.

"And you're trying to control me."

"We are trying to protect you." His father sighed.

"I don't need protection from Amanda."

His father walked toward the window.

"You will eventually understand."

Collins shook his head.

"No. You will eventually understand that I'm not going to leave her." He walked out.

His father remained by the window.

He knew his son.

When Collins loved someone, he loved deeply.

That made the situation more dangerous.

---

Amanda's grandmother also began noticing changes in Amanda.

Amanda smiled more.

She talked more.

She started dressing differently.

She had begun making plans.

One evening, Amanda sat beside her grandmother.

"Grandma?"

"Hmm?" Her grandma looked at her

"I think I'm in love."

"With Collins?" Her grandmother said smiling

"Yes." Amanda smiled.

"Does he love you?" Her grandmother looked at her.

“I think so." She replied

"Thinking isn't knowing."

"He told me." Amanda lowered her head.

Her grandmother sighed.

"Love is beautiful."

Amanda smiled.

"It is."

"But love can also hurt."

Amanda looked at her.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Because I have lived long enough to know."

"Nothing is going to happen." Amanda reached for her grandmother's hand.a

Her grandmother forced a smile.

"I hope you're right."

---

A few weeks later, Collins took Amanda to the beach.

They sat together watching the sunset.

"I wish moments could stay like this forever." Amanda rested her head on his shoulder.

"They can." Collins replied moving closer to her by putting his on around her waist

"How?" She smiled.

"By remembering them." He took her hand.

"One day, we'll look back at this." He said

"And?"

"And I'll remind you that I told you I loved you here."

"You say that like we're going to be together forever." Amanda laughed.

"Yes, we are” He said moving to face her

"Forever?" She looked at him.

"Yes forever." He kissed her forehead.

Amanda closed her eyes.

For the first time, she allowed herself to believe him.

But while Amanda was dreaming about forever, Collins's mother was making a phone call.

"I want everything you can find on Amanda and her family."

A voice answered.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

She paused.

"Education. Family. Financial situation. Friends."

Then she added:

"And find out how serious my son is about her."

The call ended.

She looked at a photograph of Collins.

"Before you ruin your future for love..."

Her expression hardened.

"...I'll make sure love leaves you first."

---

That night, Collins drove Amanda home.

Before she got out, he stopped her.

"Amanda."

"Yes" she turned to look at him

"I want to ask you something."

"What?" She smiled.

"Do you see me in your future?"

She knew the question mattered.

"Yes." Amanda's smile.

"Even when things get difficult?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

Collins held her hand.

"Then promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't let anyone convince you that what we have isn't real."

Amanda squeezed his hand.

"I promise."

He smiled.

"Good."

She stepped out of the car.

Neither of them noticed the black vehicle parked farther down the street watching them

And the person behind the wheel was holding a folder with Amanda's name on it.