บท 52: Why?
Whifler paused as he saw Tristan coming in. He glanced at his watch and then stared at Tristan with knitted brows.
"Thought you'll be home at 10? You're an hour early." Whifler told while he continued fixing his things.
Tristan flopped to the couch, beside Whifler. "Yeah. But, Amber called Summer."
"Ah... Now I understand why you were so excited to leave earlier. Summer is the reason." Whifler deadpanned which made Tristan glare at him.
"Anyway. Speaking of Amber." Whifler picked up the nicely red glittery paper bag at the corner of the couch's arm and handed it to Tristan.
"That's from Amber. Tanya said she went to the company to give it to you but she didn't see you there, so she gave it to Tanya instead... Tanya brought that here."
Tristan's forehead wrinkled. "It's not my birthday. What's with the present?"
"I don't know. Ask her." Whifler responded then he slung his bag over his shoulder. "I'm going home. Take a rest and make sure to wake up at 5 am tomorrow. You have a meeting. Don't be late."
Tristan just nodded. Whifler was about to leave but he halted when Tristan called him again. He glanced at Tristan.
"What?"
"Is Trish home?"
"No. Your mother arrived this noon. She picked her up for a check-up. She won't be home for 2 days." Whifler informed. Tristan gazed down in worry.
Will she be okay? Will their mom listen to her if she finds out the truth? Will she understand?
Tristan's head was now filled with questions. But... Their mother favors her so much. So, she will listen, right?
"Tristan." Whifler called which pulled him out of his thoughts. He lifted his eyes and looked at Whifler. "Don't worry. She'll be fine."
Whifler smiled. Tristan averted his gaze and sighed. "Yeah. I know she's strong enough."
.
.
.
"Ey. Summer... I have something to tell." Amber said, smiling in excitement.
She had just finished washing the dishes. She was now wiping her wet hands with a towel while staring confusedly at Summer, cutting something. "Oi. Summer."
Amber walked towards Summer and sat beside her. She curiously looked at the small piece that Summer was cutting then her eyes rounded in surprise. "Why are you cutting Trish's picture?"
"I'm trimming it to fit here" Summer raised the locket necklace they bought at the souvenir shop, while grinning.
Amber's brows knitted. "And why would you put her picture there?"
"Uhm. I just... Want to." Summer teehee, then excitedly continued cutting the picture.
Amber was still confused. But a moment after, she realized...
The way Summer is smiling. The way she cut it with enthusiasm. And the fact that she was putting Trish's face instead of her loved ones, like her late father or mother... Amber couldn't think of any other reasons but...
"Do you romantically like her?"
Summer jolted her head and looked at her directly in her eyes. She was too stunned to speak. Amber's question was so sudden.
"N-No..."
"Really? Then why are your actions saying the opposite?"
"That's... Because...." Summer's thoughts were now jumbled. She couldn't find the right words to say. "A-Uhm... I mean."
Amber sat properly and stared at Summer intensely. "Hey. Summer. Is there something I don't know?"
Summer fell silent. She averted her eyes and took several sighs before she turned her gaze back to Amber. "Y-Yes... I do."
Amber suddenly deafened. She couldn't understand why but after hearing her answer, everything went blank and heavy. She could feel her chest tighten. She unexpectedly became weak and indisposed.
Amber turned her gaze away from Summer. "Oh. That's unexpected... I never thought you would swing that way."
"Y-Yeah. I didn't anticipate it, too." Summer faked a smile. Amber just nodded and smiled back weakly.
"Anyway. What are you going to tell me again?" Summer asked.
"It's nothing." Amber stood up which startled Summer. "Uh. I'll go take a poop"
Amber posthaste to the bathroom and roughly locked the door. She was breathing heavily while staring at her reflection in front of a triangle mirror.
She didn't know why was she so hurt but, damn. She was completely broken.
Amber gripped the sides of the bathroom sink. "What the hell... What the fvckin' hell."
Amber glared at herself. 'Why?'
She twisted the faucet then she splashed her face three times. She once again looked at her reflection... Now, that soft gaze of hers was more visible and her under eyelids were now reddish.
'Am I about to cry?' she thought, washing her face one last time then wiping it dry with the tissue.
She immediately went out of the bathroom and directly walked toward her things. She slung her bag over her shoulder after she wore her jacket, and hung on the couch's arm.
Summer glanced at her confusedly. "Where are you going? I thought you're staying overnight?"
"I-Uh... I forgot to buy something. I'll be right back." Amber replied then went out.
Honestly, she didn't forget anything... She just wanted to unwind her mind. She was suffocated all of a sudden, so she needed to freshen up.
Amber couldn't put her feelings in words. She didn't know which and what was the emotion overflowing within her right now. It's awfully bothersome.
.
.
She wasn't feeling good to drive herself so she took a taxicab. Amber was just blankly staring outside through the window of the cab.
How long has she been in the taxi? Maybe 20? 30 minutes?
The driver was also wondering while glancing at his fare meter. It's over a thousand now. Although it's an advantage for him, but he couldn't help but worry... There seems something wrong.
"M-Ma'am?" the taxi driver called, which got Amber's attention.
"Yes?"
"Pardon me if I'll ask this but, where should I drop you off?"
Amber faintly sighed. She understood the situation. It was all written on the driver's face. She glanced back outside and her gaze landed on a ramen shop.
"You can drop me here" Amber told which the driver immediately followed.
The driver slowly pulled over his cab and waited for Amber to get off.
"Thank you." Amber said after paying her fare. The taxi driver just nodded and smiled at her, then drove away.
She once again sighed then turned around and walked towards the ramen shop. As she entered, she stared blankly at the menu board.
If you are looking at her, you would think she was just confused about what to order, but in reality, she was absent-mindedly reading the menu. None of them sank in her mind.
"Amber?" A voice called which snatched her attention. Amber's eyes widened as she saw who it was, standing beside her.
Though he was wearing a mask, she recognized him right away. "T-Trish."
.
.
'What kind of unlucky fate is this?' Amber thought, staring at the ramen in front of her.
She was now sitting across from Tristan. Of all people, Tristan—or Trish as she presume—was the person she didn't want to bump into at the moment. But unfortunately, here they are... Eating together.
"Is the food not tasty?" Amber lifted her gaze to Tristan as he asked. She just shook her head.
"No. I was just thinking."
"Mhm. Anyway. Thanks for the gift. But I'm wondering why you gave me a present. What's the occasion?"
"Oh." Amber lowered her gaze. "Uhm. Just a 'thank you' gift... Uh. By the way... It's past midnight. Why are you still outside?"
Tristan nodded. "I craved for ramen and I'm also a bit hungry."
"Ah... I see." Amber responded, then they both fell silent.
Amber peeked at Tristan while quietly eating. She gripped her spoon and bit her lower lip.
Her racing heart since earlier hasn't pacified yet. Her fingers were trembling in nervousness. Her tummy was weirdly feeling butterflies whenever she saw Tristan's face or even when she heard his voice.
She is straight. She definitely is. But what she was feeling right now was beyond her control. She was also uncertain how or when did she feel it. Everything just happened in a snap.
Maybe that night at the beach? Or that time she mistook her when she was drunk? Or just because of her wonderful and gentle character? She didn't know. She honestly didn't know.
The whole ball of box poked her glitched common sense. Now that she thinks about it... It's so obvious why she felt terrible when Summer admitted her feelings.
She wasn't angry nor developing resentments towards Summer... She was just disappointed at the situation they were in.
Amber tends to strive hard just to own something or someone she wanted. And Tristan became one of her wants. She... Deeply like him...
Amber gritted her teeth in great dismay and swore under her breath which Tristan indistinctly heard.
His forehead wrinkled while staring at her. "Amber? Is something wrong?"
Amber slowly lifted her head and softly looked at Tristan.
'Why... Why did we end up liking the same person?', she thought, cursing again for the nth time.
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