Chapter 21
(Maggy)
“IS IT… normal to want to hear your friend’s voice over and over again? To want to see him always?” I asked Clarice while we were in the balcony of the room I was using.
She never fails to visit me every day. Every Saturday, Clarice would spend the entire day with me in the McClennan residence along with her husband. She’d always tell me stories about myself, my parents, my twin sister, Uncle Harry, and about the business that I used to manage before I had an accident.
The moment Clarice told me about the heavy responsibility I had as the CEO of YCM and about the number of employees depending on me, I immediately wanted to go back to Nevada. But I would just be making a fool out of myself there. I still don’t know what to do. Not to mention that Clarice and Austin’s conflicting versions of me in their stories were not helping.
Austin told me that the “me” before the amnesia was an upbeat and cheery woman although I could not picture myself that way. Clarice, on the other hand, described me as someone who had worked diligently without a care in her surroundings. It was as if my life revolved around work which was in contrast to Austin’s stories since he said I was an outgoing person.
But Clarice’s story seemed genuine. And so was Austin’s.
I couldn’t tell which of them was telling the truth. Every time he would tell me stories, Clarice would just nod and keep quiet. So maybe it was Austin who was telling the truth?
“Your mind may have forgotten, but I guess your heart still remembered things so well,” Clarice said in a low voice.
My forehead creased. “What do you mean?”
“Do you always find yourself thinking about Austin?” She asked instead.
I didn’t answer and just watched Austin downstairs. He was in the pool area. My eyes went round when he removed his robe. He was only wearing black trunks. And I couldn’t stop my naughty eyes from staring. It was my first time to see him wearing that thing. I’ve always known he had a muscular chest. I’ve felt it many times whenever he’d embrace me. But to actually see it gave me a different feeling. He looked… so sexy. His body was like an incredible work of art.
I wonder how it would feel if I’d run my fingers over his chest… I shook my head. Was it normal to have thoughts like this? My heart raced when Austin looked up and caught me staring at him again.
“Do you want to join me here?” He asked.
“No, but thanks for the offer,” I replied, suddenly feeling tensed.
Austin just nodded before he dived in the pool. He swam gracefully. Too bad, I couldn’t have a view of his entire body anymore since he was in the water now. I tapped my cheeks. “What in the world am I thinking?”
“You can tell me about it, Maggy,” Clarice commented. “If you have questions, you can tell me so I can help you.”
I bit my lower lip while contemplating whether to confess or not. But in the end, my curiosity got the better of me.
“I…I feel stranger than even the night Austin k-kissed me. I couldn’t sleep before because I kept worrying about my future. And now, I can’t sleep because I'm thinking about the kiss we shared. Come to think of it. I don’t even know if he already has a girlfriend. Austin didn’t say a word after kissing me at the movie theater, so I don’t know what to call our relationship. I also don’t know how to control these weird feelings. And now, I’m silently wishing to always see him with just his trunks.” I gigged. “Geez, it was such an appetizing sight. His abs suddenly made me crave rice.”
I was flustered when Clarice laughed as if she found me very amusing. I couldn’t tell whether it was a good thing or not, though.
“For the past years, I haven’t seen you laughed as you did a while ago,” Clarice said and stared at me. For some reason, she seemed amazed. “Suddenly, I feel like I’m seeing the thirteen-year-old you. You used to be so alive and sassy just like today.” To my surprise, she embraced me so tightly I could hardly breathe. “I’m beginning to understand what Austin wanted to happen. The side of you that you have kept hidden for years is slowly coming back. I remember that you acted like that when you had your first crush. You were this shy, this jumpy, and this cheery. I’ve missed this side of you, best friend!”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And don’t worry, Austin isn’t dating anyone. He wouldn’t hurry home just to have dinner with you if he already has someone. Alano said that his brother used to be workaholic. But now he leaves right on the dot. Sometimes, he even leaves before his employees do.” Clarice giggled. “What you feel about him is just normal, believe me.”
(Austin)
“Last night, Clarice told me that Maggy was a bubbly, naughty girl before our father meddled with the Alveros' and De Laras' lives. And this afternoon, I think I just saw a glimpse of that bubbly girl. I’m sure Clarice also saw that. And now, they’re in their own little world,” Alano said while watching Maggy and his wife giggling like teenagers.
Even I was surprised. I haven’t seen Maggy this carefree before. I felt something warm touched my chest. Maggy was supposed to live her life this happily if not for Dad who took away the sparkle in her eyes. My shoulders drooped at the thought of it.
“I’m seeing changes now, bro,” Alano went on and turned to me. “Clarice would be against this if she hears me but I’m urging you to continue what you think is the best for Maggy. Who knows? Maybe she’d come to like the new ‘her’ and she wouldn’t think of returning back to her previous self anymore even if she recovers her memories. Make her realize the things she would miss if she were to leave your side. Create a world that she wouldn’t want to get out of.”
“Was that what you did with Clarice?”
Alano nodded. “I still do it until now. And I encourage you to do the same. Our enemy is a tough one, Austin. It was their parents’ death; it was the hatred that had been buried inside their hearts for several years. And that hatred could get triggered anytime. This is a battle that we could lose any time as well.”
I sighed. “I know.”