UNSEEN : Loving You In Silence

Home. The word meant different things to different people. For Lya Adelia, home wasn't merely a place. It was familiarity. It was the scent of fresh flowers decorating the entrance hall. It was the sound of water flowing from the fountain in the garden. It was the laughter echoing through corridors she had known her entire life. After months away at university, nothing seemed to have changed. And somehow, that brought her comfort. Home. A cheerful laughter echoed through the upper hall of the double-storey mansion. The spacious hall connected the siblings' bedrooms to several guest rooms. At its centre sat a set of antique wooden chairs, intricately carved from solid oak and polished to perfection. The furniture looked timeless, as though it had witnessed generations of family stories long before they were born. "How long is your semester break this time, Lya?" The question came from a handsome young man seated comfortably across from her. Lya Adelia. The family's darling. At twenty-two, she was only months away from completing her degree in Applied Sciences. Blessed with natural beauty, she possessed the kind of charm that effortlessly captured attention. Her long honey-brown hair framed her delicate features perfectly, while her warm hazel eyes carried a sparkle that could brighten even the dullest day. "As usual, Is. Around a month." Lya dropped her head against the back of the chair dramatically. A month. Thirty-one days. Seven hundred and forty-four hours. Not that she was counting. "And I'll probably die of boredom." "Dramatic." "I'm serious." "No, you're dramatic." A soft chuckle escaped Iskandar. Most people knew him as Iskandar Aarys. Director. CEO. A man whose presence alone could silence an entire boardroom. But none of those titles existed in this house. Here, he was simply Is. Aidan's best friend. Lya's childhood protector. And perhaps, if fate had been kinder... Something more. He had known Lya for as long as he could remember. Their families were more than relatives. They were practically one family. During their childhood years, while both sets of parents were consumed by business meetings, expansions, and endless travelling, the children had grown up together. The household staff moved freely between both mansions, taking turns caring for them whenever necessary. There had always been one strict rule. No matter how busy life became, at least one parent from each family had to be present. A small smile appeared on Iskandar's face. Time really did move too quickly. It felt like only yesterday when Lya was a little girl running around the garden with a teddy bear tucked under her arm. She would spend hours chasing butterflies, giggling beside the fountain, or watching the colourful koi fish swimming lazily beneath the water. And now... She was no longer that little girl. Beautiful. No. Beautiful was an understatement. She was stunning. Every smile, every expression, every little pout seemed capable of pulling attention towards her without effort. Even now. Especially now. A strange warmth settled inside his chest as he watched her complain about being bored. Adorable. The thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it. "s**t!" Aidan's sudden curse shattered the moment. Both Lya and Iskandar turned towards him. The young man was staring at his phone with widened eyes. "What happened?" Lya asked. Aidan slapped a hand against his forehead. "I forgot I have a lunch date with Hanna." He immediately stood up. "Damn it. I'm late." "Wait." Lya frowned. "What about us?" "What about you?" "What do you mean, what about us?" Aidan was already halfway towards the staircase. "Gotta go!" "Aidan!" But her brother had already disappeared downstairs. Moments later, the sound of a car engine echoed from the driveway. Silence. Lya stared towards the staircase in disbelief. Then slowly turned towards Iskandar. The hall suddenly felt much quieter. And somehow... Much smaller. "He's impossible," Lya muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "You love him regardless of how foolish he is," Iskandar replied without looking at her. Lya stood with both hands resting on her hips. It was already past two in the afternoon, and hunger was beginning to make itself known. "I'm hungry." She pouted dramatically. "Want me to cook?" A smile tugged at the corner of Iskandar's lips. "No need, honey. Let's go to our usual café. I miss their iced latte." He paused, his gaze lingering on her a little longer than it should. "And you." A faint warmth crept up Lya's cheeks. "Don't tease me, Iskandar." "I'm not." His wink only made her blush harder. As if on cue, her stomach let out a loud grumble. For a second, silence filled the hall. Then both of them burst into laughter. Hard. "Let's go before I start eating the furniture," Lya groaned, trying to contain her laughter. The keys jingled in Iskandar's hand. Before he could react, Lya snatched them away. "I drive." Her grin flashed triumphantly. Iskandar simply shook his head. Some things never changed. A few minutes later, the Type R roared to life. The clutch caught smoothly beneath her feet as she guided the car out of the driveway. Iskandar leaned back in his seat. Watching. The way her fingers moved confidently across the gear shifter. The way strands of honey-brown hair danced in the wind coming through the slightly opened window. The way she smiled whenever she successfully shifted gears. A girl like her handling a manual transmission that effortlessly? Dangerously attractive. Five minutes later, his opinion changed. The tachometer climbed. The engine growled. The car accelerated far faster than he was comfortable with. "Lya." "Relax, Is. I've got this." "Pull over." "Come on—" "Let. Me. Drive." Lya pouted dramatically. He wasn't impressed. A minute later, they had switched seats. "Don't pout, Lya. It doesn't work anymore." His voice was low, teasing. She giggled and leaned back against the seat. Then Iskandar's eyes landed on her wrist. The familiar bracelet. Rose quartz and moonstone. The one he had given her years ago. "You still wear that?" Lya instinctively touched the bracelet. A small smile appeared on her lips. "I never remove it. Since day one." For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The silence inside the car seemed louder than the engine itself. Then Lya cleared her throat. "I... actually have a boyfriend now." Iskandar's grip tightened around the steering wheel. Only slightly. "Really?" She nodded. A smile immediately appeared on her face. The kind of smile people wore when talking about someone special. "Long-distance," she explained. "We're meeting soon." The warmth inside Iskandar's chest faded. Slowly. Painfully. Years of board meetings had taught him how to hide his emotions. Years of loving Lya had taught him how to bury them. "His name is Irfan." Lya's smile widened. "I can't wait for you to meet him." The muscles in Iskandar's jaw tightened. Just for a second. Then he smiled. The same calm smile everyone knew. "That's great, Lya." The words came out effortlessly. Too effortlessly. Because after all these years, pretending had become second nature. Outside, the familiar signboard of their favourite café appeared in the distance. Home. A place filled with countless memories. Yet for the first time in years, Iskandar wasn't looking forward to arriving. Because Lya had finally come home. But her heart belonged somewhere else.