Proven Guilty
When She Was A Girl"What took you two so long?" Minjun half-shouted from afar as Amber and Taec finally showed up to join their friends. Chance looked furtively at them. They were all waiting for Amber to come back.
Taec's neck was a bright shade of magenta while Amber's ears were pink. They were walking at a safe distance from each other, trudging across the white sand beach with an awkward atmosphere between them. Involuntarily, Chance frowned suspiciously as he looked at his friend and his girlfriend blush.
Finally, the two of them reached Amber's hut. Torrey's first action was to hug Amber so tightly that made her friend snapped out of her thoughts and looked questioningly at her.
"Oh Ambie... you know we're always here for you right? You always have a family." Torrey whispered so that only Amber can hear.
Amber patted Torrey's hair and smiled. "I know Torrey, thank you." she answered earnestly.
They removed their hugs and beamed at each other. Amber caught Taec's eye and they immediately looked away. She felt her cheeks burned again.
Chance did not miss that action.
"What's wrong?" Torrey asked concernedly.
"Oh, er... nothing. I'm just, um.... tired?" Amber stuttered, thankful that she was able to think of a nice excuse.
"How long have you been up there? You shouldn't stay outside for too long..." Torrey said, but Amber was barely listening. The sounds around her were muffled as she stared at Taec's back. The only thing she can hear was her screaming conscience and guilty heart.
How stupid can she be?
*You have a boyfriend Amber, for God's sake!*
Amber bit her lip guiltily. Everything was very confusing.
Luckily, her mother appeared outside the door to distract her swimming thoughts.
"Why are you all here? Dinner's almost ready." Mrs. Mallari said.
One by one, the friends entered the small house.
"Ambie, coming?" Torrey asked.
"Uhmm....." Amber shot another furtive glance at Taec then to Chance and smiled. "You go ahead."
"Uhmm....." Amber shot another furtive glance at Taec then to Chance and smiled. "You go ahead."
Torrey nodded and followed Nichkhun inside. Now only Amber was left with Chance who was still sitting on the bench, and Taec, who was leaning on the wall. Amber wished she had just followed Torrey inside, for the awkward atmosphere was almost unbearable - for the three of them.
Finally, Chance stood up. Amber tensed immediately and avoided his gaze. She can feel his piercing stare on her, like an X-ray machine that tried to make things transparent and clear.
The three of them stood in silence, then Taec spoke.
"Let's eat. I'm hungry." he said in his usual snappy and impatient tone, pulling Amber's hand in the process.
Amber's face burned fiercely while she stared at their entwined hands. What the heck is going on her??
***
"So, here's the plan... after we pay respects to Luhan, we'll start our new mission: to make Amber happy again." Wooyoung said in a surprisingly serious tone. Everyone looked increduously at him, because "serious" was rarely seen in Wooyoung's vocabulary.
"And how are we going to do that?" Junho asked.
"Well, let's just think back on how we enjoyed our semester break two years ago. Just have fun!" he replied.
"And how are we going to do that?" Junho asked.
"Well, let's just think back on how we enjoyed our semester break two years ago. Just have fun!" he replied.
Everyone (except Amber) were huddled on the small dining table at Amber's kitchen. Speaking of Amber, she was still asleep in her room (shared with Torrey and Taeyeon) and everyone took that opportunity to discuss their plans for their stay here.
"It's a good idea. Let's keep Amy distracted from her brother's death. It's not healthy for her." Chance agreed.
"Yeah, and AJ still needs to remember her past life too. Maybe this is our chance." Minjun said.
"Well, all I want is to just have fun with Ambie." Torrey said.
"Can't we just call her Amber????" Taec demanded.
"Yeah, and AJ still needs to remember her past life too. Maybe this is our chance." Minjun said.
"Well, all I want is to just have fun with Ambie." Torrey said.
"Can't we just call her Amber????" Taec demanded.
***
"GOOD MORNING SLEEPY HEAD!!" a sweet voice rang inside Amber's bedroom, followed by a soft kiss on her cheeks. When she woke up, she saw a beaming Torrey above her with a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Wake up, wake up!" she tugged Amber's arm but she won't budge.
"Torrey it's too early." she groaned.
"No it's not. It's 9:00 a.m already. Stand up, we'll do something fun!"
"What?"
"Just go."
"Torrey it's too early." she groaned.
"No it's not. It's 9:00 a.m already. Stand up, we'll do something fun!"
"What?"
"Just go."
She finally managed to pull Amber up and she shove her outside the room towards their tiny bathroom. Amber eyed her friends suspiciously because everyone was smiling at her.
"What's going on?"
"You'll see!"
"You'll see!"
After 20 minutes, Amber was finally dressed. She was wearing a light pink summer dress that reached above her knees, and her slightly damp hair fell behind her shoulders. She saw that her living room was empty now besides Torrey, who was obviously waiting for her.
"We visited Luhan earlier without you. Sorry about that." Torrey said.
"It's okay." Amber smiled. "Where's everyone?"
"Out there. Let's go?" Torrey wrapped her arms around Amber's arms and pulled her outside their house.
"It's okay." Amber smiled. "Where's everyone?"
"Out there. Let's go?" Torrey wrapped her arms around Amber's arms and pulled her outside their house.
Everyone - her family included - was on the seaside with party tables laid beside them, picninc baskets, grillls, and blankets.
"What's going on?"
"It's a welcome home party Ambie!"
"It's a welcome home party Ambie!"
Amber's heart softened at their efforts and her eyes brimmed in happiness.
"That's so sweet." she mumbled.
"Come on!!! Chance is grilling isaw!"
At the sound of Chance's name Amber's smile faded. She remembered what happened to her and Taec and her guiltyheart throbbed again. She glanced guiltily at Chance, which surprised her because he was staring back. Chance smiled feebly at her, something that made her think that he knew something she didn't.
"Come here my daughter." Mrs. Mallari kissed the top of Amber's head and pinched her cheeks. "Do you like our surprise? I cooked the food." she said proudly.
"Great timing Mom. I'm starving." she laughed.
"Great timing Mom. I'm starving." she laughed.
They all ate their breakfast together and chatted. Amber sat beside Chance but they weren't talking... something that Taeyeon noticed easily.
Taeyeon glanced at Taec who was sitting beside her. As usual, he was staring at Chance and Amber, but he was looking more longingly at Amber than ever.
"Taec." she said.
"Huh?" he turned to face Taeyeon.
"Huh?" he turned to face Taeyeon.
She studied his face closely and never broke eye contact.
"What happened last night?" she asked.
Taec's neck turned red and he decided on playing dumb.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't get smart at me Taec, I know you." Taeyeon whispered lowly. "Did something happen?"
"Don't get smart at me Taec, I know you." Taeyeon whispered lowly. "Did something happen?"
Taec looked hesitantly at Taeyeon. He was torn between lying and telling the truth, but thinking that Taeyeon was his friend, he decided the latter.
"Let's talk there." he pointed at somewhere far from their friends. They both stood up and walked away, feeling the stares of everyone behind their backs.
When they were sure that no one can overhear them, Taec spoke.
"Taeyeon...." he started. "Taeyeon, I.... I kissed Amber last night." he confessed.
Taeyeon bit her lower lip and curled her fist. However, she remained looking calm, like she was not feeling torn from the inside.
"And?"
"And she kissed me back."
"And she kissed me back."
She couldn't take it anymore. Taeyeon turned around and closed her eyes, taking deep calming breaths. Her eyes swam with angry and jealous tears but she wiped them immediately.
"Are you okay?" Taec asked.
"......."
"Taeyeon?"
"I'm fine." she turned around and smiled at him, masking her bitterness. "It's just that... aren't you being too straight forward?"
"I know. But I can't help it... I really can't."
"......."
"Taeyeon?"
"I'm fine." she turned around and smiled at him, masking her bitterness. "It's just that... aren't you being too straight forward?"
"I know. But I can't help it... I really can't."
"So what's going to happen now?"
"I don't know." Taec looked confused and crest-fallen. She hated seeing him in that way.
"I don't know." Taec looked confused and crest-fallen. She hated seeing him in that way.
"Let's just eat first okay? You'll soon find a way with that." she linked her arm with Taec's like she was used to. They sat together on the table again and Taeyeon couldn't help but glare at Amber.
"Hey Taeyeon! That's a nice necklace." Wooyoung said.
"Oh." Taeyeon held her necklace which Taec gave to her and smiled. "Thank you. Taec gave this to me."
The boys wolf-whistled and jeered, thumping Taec at the back at the same time.
"So you two are going out now?" Minjun asked.
"No, we're friends." Taec replied. Taeyeon grind her teeth but nodded.
"No, we're friends." Taec replied. Taeyeon grind her teeth but nodded.
"That's true." she said.
"No friends buy expensive necklace." Minjun smirked
"Well I have money." Taec said boastfully.
"Or stayed glued with each other all the time." Wooyoung said.
"Because we're friends." Taec defended.
"Or say so many excuses." Junho joined.
"Well I have money." Taec said boastfully.
"Or stayed glued with each other all the time." Wooyoung said.
"Because we're friends." Taec defended.
"Or say so many excuses." Junho joined.
"Shut your mouths." he growled.
"Do we have a new couple here?" Mrs. Mallari asked everyone on the table.
"Yes! Taec and Taeyeon auntie!" Wooyoung chirped.
"No." Taec said. "We're just friends. I love someone else." Taec cast a furtive glance at Amber who stiffened and burned immediately.
"Yes! Taec and Taeyeon auntie!" Wooyoung chirped.
"No." Taec said. "We're just friends. I love someone else." Taec cast a furtive glance at Amber who stiffened and burned immediately.
There was a heavy atmosphere after that as everyone looked from Taec to Amber. Chance, however, stayed looking at his girlfriend.
"SWIMMING!" Nichkhun shouted, breaking the heavy silence amongst his friends. "Ahh the sea looks inviting don't you think? How about we change our clothes, eh?"
Everyone was more than willing to do so. They all stood up so they can escape the awkwardness earlier, leaving Taec, Taeyeon, Chance and Amber alone.
"I'll clean the table." Amber and Taeyeon said at the same time. They looked at each other and Amber felt another glare from Taeyeon. She looked away.
"Then we'll change clothes too." Chance said. He reached over Amber and kissed her forehead, which made Amber's heart sank more guiltily.
When the boys were gone, Taeyeon raised an eyebrow at Amber.
"Guilty?" she said.
Amber snapped her head towards Taeyeon. "W-what?"
But Taeyeon did not reply. She proceeded on cleaning the table and turned her back from Amber.
"Hurry up, they say they want to swim."
Still confused from what Taeyeon said, Amber remained standing for a few minutes before starting to wipe the table while listening to the song "Rum Pum Pum Pum".
***
Taeyeon dumped the dishes on the sink and started washing it hurriedly. She heard her friends being done with their change of clothes and washed faster, not wanting to be left behind.
"Come on Ambie, get dressed!" she heard Torrey said.
"Okay, I'll be there on five."
"Do you want me to help you?" Mrs. Mallari approached her and offered her hands.
"Er, no ma'am. I'm fine here." she replied.
Mrs. Mallari chuckled amusedly.
"Just go and change dear." and with that she lightly pulled the plate and sponge from Taeyeon's hands and did the dishes instead.
"Thank you ma'am." Taeyeon said.
"Just call me auntie."
Taeyeon bowed and turned away, smiling at Mrs. Mallari's kindness.
"Hey, wait for me!" she called Torrey and everyone. She touched the doorknob just in time when Amber walked out of her room. Taeyeon couldn't help but stare at Amber's figure, for her red swimsuit did wonderful things on her body.
"Oooooohhhhh" the boys chorused. Amber looked away embarrassedly and walked towards them, feeling awkward at her swimsuit.
"That's the first time I saw you on bikini Amber." Torrey breathed, her eyes bulging widely.
Taec smirked and eyed Amber, which made the girl blush more furiously.
Of course, Taeyeon did not miss that action. She bitterly entered Amber's room (whom she shared bed with) and desperately searched for her iest swimsuit, hoping that she did bring one.
Luckily, she managed to bring a black strapless swimsuit, although it was not the iest one she had in possession. She hurriedly changed her outfit and checked herself on the mirror, making sure that she'll stand out more than Amber.
When at last she's finally ready, Taeyeon walked outside the room - only to find that her friends were already gone.
She went outside the small hut and searched for Taec and everyone. Not far from her she saw their silhouettes, playing and joking with Amber's outfit.
She bit her lip, feeling unwanted. Everyone left without her, and no one even cared if she'll join them or not.
Not even Taec.
"Aren't you going to join your friends dear?" Mrs. Mallari asked behind her.
Taeyeon turned around and attempted to smile.
"No auntie. I.... um, not in the mood for swimming." she lied.
Mrs. Mallari studied Taeyeon carefully, from her face to her black swimsuit. Then she smiled understandingly.
"I'm sure they're waiting for you there Taeyeon." she said kindly.
Taeyeon looked back at the seaside. She can see Wooyoung dancing stupidly for their entertainment, while the rest guffawed in response. No, Mrs. Mallari was wrong. They're not waiting for her.
"I think I need to rest." she replied to Amber's mom and walked away, locking herself on the room for the rest of the afternoon.
***
It was almost dusk, but Wooyoung was still refusing to get out of the water. And so with that the friends decided to extend their swim time, just to compensate with Wooyoung's pleas.
Amber sat on the beach's white sand and amusingly watched Wooyoung play with water. He looked so carefree and happy, like he has no problems to face. She felt relaxed for the first time since the kiss incident, and she thanked the calming environment for that.
Someone sat beside her and saw Chance staring at Wooyoung too, although his eyes were blank and unreadable.
No one said a word. The two of them just sat side-by-side, until the sun finally set and it was already dark. They both watched Junho dragged Wooyoung forcefully out of the water, and Minjun laughing at them.
"Sometimes I think that they're still teenagers when they're acting like that." Chance said suddenly.
Not knowing what to say, Amber just nodded.
There was another dead air between them. It was the most awkward time Amber had when she was with Chance, and it felt like anytime now, she's going to burst with guilt.
"Hey! Aren't you going in too?" Nichkhun asked them from afar.
"You go ahead." Chance waved dismissively at them and they understood the signal.
When they were finally left alone, Chance stood up. He walked towards the tree branch and picked his jacket, then he wrapped it around Amber's bare shoulders.
"It's getting colder here. You need that." he said.
Again, Amber nodded. "T-thank you."
Silence.
"Are you mad at me?" Chance said. He met eyes with Amber and locked gazes with her.
"No. I'm not Chance... although I thought I was because of blaming you for being late on visiting my parents. But I was wrong. I blamed myself."
"Why?"
"Because I was weak? Because I was scared? Because I agreed with your decisions because there's a part of me which was not yet ready to see them? There's a lot of reasons Chance, that's why I blame myself more than I blame you."
"Why?"
"Because I was weak? Because I was scared? Because I agreed with your decisions because there's a part of me which was not yet ready to see them? There's a lot of reasons Chance, that's why I blame myself more than I blame you."
Another silence fell. Chance looked away from Amber and rested his chin on his knees.
"I'm wondering - and you're free not to answer - what.... what happened to you and Taec last night?" he cast a furtive glance at Amber and saw her surprised reaction. He saw her blushed and blinked so many times, like she was thinking of an excuse.
He bit his lip. Maybe his guess was right...
Amber looked at Chance with pleading eyes.
"Chance... please don't be mad at me."
His heart thumped faster. They're almost on the moment of truth now...
"Okay." he replied.
Amber wept her sweaty brows and opened . Then she closed it and opened again.
"I... Taec..."
"Taec...?"
"Chance... I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry." Amber said, her head bowed in humiliation. She reached for his hands and gripped them tightly. "Taec kissed me." she whispered so lightly that Chance almost did not catch her words.
Unfortunately he did, and his first reaction was to curl his fists. Amber tightened her grip and looked straight to Chance's eyes.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say besides being sorry." she whispered.
Chance stared back at her. He hated how much he loved this girl in front of her, because no matter how painful Amber's words to him, he still found herself forgiving her. Much more, he knew he had no reason to do so, for her heart doesn't really belong to him.
Amber released her grip slowly, realizing that Chance might be angry at her. But then it surprised her when Chance gripped her hands instead and pulled her towards him, enveloping her in a warm embrace. He kissed her forehead softly and laid his cheek on the top her head.
"Ch-chance... you're not mad at me?" Amber said weakly.
"No."
"No."
"Why?" She can't believe it. She made a wrong action but Chance still forgave her. How much more can he be this kind>?
"I'm just not." he replied.
She knew she must feel happier for his forgiveness, but why her heart dropped heavier, she doesn't know.
That was a really long wait, wasn't it? I'm sorry, I don't mean to.
After our midterms I promised you all faster updates. But for now please bear with my slow posts. Hehe.
Comments