I Hear Your Voice

Flora Amor’s smile stretched from ear to ear as she walked through the lobby of their department. From afar, she spotted Anton looking straight at her. Not far from him were Phoebe and her friends, snickering as they watched the ongoing construction beside their department.

“Good morning, Flor,” Anton greeted, raising his arm to guide her.

“Beshie, why does your face look all scrunched up so early in the morning?” she immediately noticed, seeing the way his brows furrowed as he stared at her.

He studied her closely before forcing a smile.

“I missed you, Beshie. You didn’t let me come with you yesterday,” he said teasingly, yet his words carried weight.

Flora Amor blushed, recalling what had happened the day before in the stranger’s car.

He guided her with a gentle arm. “Who was that guy?”

She was about to step inside when he caught her attention.

“Huh?” she asked blankly, trying to grasp what he meant.

“Who?” she questioned again, furrowing her brows in confusion.

“Ah—nothing. It’s just that I thought I saw you with someone else yesterday,” he teased.

Her brow furrowed deeper. She had seen him ride off on his motorcycle before going home. How did he know she was with someone else?

“Amor, didn’t I tell you that no one else is allowed to touch you but me?”

She froze. He’s here?

“Don’t touch me, Beshie,” she said, tapping his arm on her shoulder.

His brows knitted together. She pushed her head forward and entered the classroom first. She didn’t want to believe it, yet she thought she heard that man speak.

She was already seated when she heard his voice again.

“Amor, my sweetie…”

Her lips parted in shock. She wasn’t dreaming—he was really here!

Heart racing, she hurried back outside, searching for the owner of that voice.

“Amor…”

Her gaze landed on the same spot Phoebe and her friends had been laughing at earlier. She approached them and couldn’t help but gape at the young man in a polo shirt and jeans. She had seen plenty of guys in similar outfits, but none looked as handsome as him.

He glanced in their direction, hands tucked casually in his pockets. What was he doing at their school?

“Amor, I miss you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The sound of his voice carried on the wind straight to her ears. By her estimation, they were thirty meters apart—but it sounded as if he were right beside her, whispering clearly.

Was this guy possessed?

Her classmates gasped and giggled as he smiled at them.

“Phoebe, he’s looking at you! Smiling at you!” Jessica whispered with a snicker.

Her heart pounded wildly. She quickly returned to the classroom, sitting stiffly while Anton’s eyebrows remained raised, watching her.

How could she hear him so clearly, even though he was only whispering from so far away?

“Hi, Beshie!”

She jumped when Mariel tapped her arm.

“Why do you look like you saw a ghost?” Mariel asked curiously.

Snapping out of it, Flora moved to the empty seat beside Mariel.

“Beshie, if you can hear someone whispering from far away, what does that mean?” she asked softly, curious.

“That’s some serious hearing power you’ve got!” her friend exclaimed.

“What if you only experience it with one person though?” Flora Amor pressed.

Mariel fell silent, staring straight at the chalkboard, thinking as if the answer was written there.

“Aha! I know!” she finally said.

Flora Amor stared at her, waiting.

“I read about it in a novel. Some people have strong telepathy—they can communicate using just their minds,” Mariel explained.

Flora Amor tilted her head. Strong telepathy? But why was it only her who could hear him?

“Did you read that in a novel too?” she asked.

“Y-Yeah,” she stammered.

She wondered—did he know that she could hear him? Was telepathy real? But why did it feel like she was hearing his whispers, not his thoughts? Confusion and wonder filled her mind.

....................

By seven o’clock, Flora Amor exited the computer lab, finishing projects that were due the next day. Maintaining her grades was no easy feat—she couldn’t afford to slip up, not with her parents struggling to support seven children.

She managed to balance her time, but she couldn’t focus on one thing and neglect the others, especially her studies.

Many students were still in the school at that hour. She walked alone toward the gate, but when she reached their department, she spotted Phoebe and her friends bullying someone on the covered walkway.

“Poor girl,” she murmured. Bullying had always existed, but some people thrived on hurting others.

She tried to take the longer, quieter route to avoid the bullies, not wanting to intervene. Anton had warned her not to get involved with people like Phoebe, who enjoyed tormenting classmates.

Yet the group called out to her, forcing her to turn.

Two of Phoebe’s friends ran up, grabbing her arms and dragged her to Phoebe. Fear welled up inside her, but she didn’t resist. In nearly two years at this school, she had never been bullied like this before.

Despite her fear, she wondered why Phoebe seemed so angry at her. She hadn’t done anything wrong.

Thanks to the nearby light, she recognized the girl being bullied.

“Megan?!” she exclaimed in shock.

She wrenched herself free from the two girls and rushed to Megan’s side. Her heart ached seeing Megan’s bruised face and tangled hair, her uniform button torn.

Phoebe stood in front of them, fuming.

“Do you think I’ll let you get away with what you did to Ellise, idiot?” she snapped.

Flora Amor barely glanced at her. That explained why they beat Megan—they were retaliating for what happened to Ellise. But why was Phoebe angry at her?

“Megan, are you okay?” she asked, helping her up. But Megan suddenly resisted.

“You! Because of you, I lost my best friend here, you beast!” Phoebe pointed at her with furious eyes.

“Huh?” Flora Amor frowned. What did she have to do with Ellise transferring?

Phoebe moved to grab her, but two students appeared out of nowhere—one slapped Phoebe, the other punched the two classmates holding Flora Amor earlier.

“No!” she shouted, but it was too late.

“You’re bold because someone’s watching over you!” Phoebe yelled before storming off, her friends following despite their injuries.

Flora Amor stared, stunned. Who were these two, appearing out of nowhere to save her?

“Are you okay, miss?” one of the boys asked.

She simply nodded. One of them helped Megan walk.

“Good thing we passed by, otherwise who knows what those girls would’ve done to you,” he said.

She didn’t respond, just stared back. Did they really just pass by? But why did Phoebe say someone was watching over her? Who?

The boys smiled, then left, guiding Megan toward the school clinic.

She was left standing, mind racing with Phoebe’s words. Why blame her for what happened to Ellise?

“Amor!”

The voice snapped her attention. She turned to see the young man running toward her.

“What happened?” he asked, noticing her stunned expression as she watched the other two leave.

She didn’t answer, still reeling from the sudden events.

He guided her to his car, and a long silence fell inside.

“Are you alright now?” he finally broke the silence.

She nodded.

“Do you know those two boys?” he asked.

She shook her head. From their attire, she guessed they were students too.

“Then—” He studied her face carefully, and seeing her still shocked expression, he stopped speaking.

He held her hand, gently squeezing it.

She exhaled in relief, a sudden lightness washing over her. She looked at his face. Why did she feel so calm around him?

He smiled.

“Do you study here too?” he asked casually.

She smiled back.

“No, I work here,” he said, pointing to the building under construction.

“You’re the engineer?!” she blurted.

He chuckled softly.

“Yes. I am the engineer,” he said, nodding.

He sat back, gazing out the window, lightly squeezing her hand.

“So… my boyfriend is an engineer?” she teased, still staring at him.

In the brief time they had spent together, only with him—apart from Anton—did she feel this at ease, as if they had known each other for so long.

He turned to her, smiling.

“Are you proud your boyfriend is an engineer?”

She nodded quickly.

“But we’re poor. We don’t even own a house. We have seven siblings, and my parents just sell fish at the market. Doesn’t that bother you?”

He gently pinched her nose and kissed the back of her hand.

“It doesn’t matter to me, Amor,” he said seriously, locking eyes with her.

Her heart fluttered, instantly forgetting the chaos earlier.

“I don’t have any gadgets, so you won’t be able to contact me whenever you want,” he said, gauging her reaction.

“It’s alright. I can give you anything you want. All I need is your loyalty,” he assured her.

She giggled.

“We just met yesterday, and you already want me?” she asked, puzzled.

“Hey, do I need to know you for a year to like you?” he replied jokingly.

She laughed again, then grew serious.

“By the way… what’s your name? I don’t think I caught it when you introduced yourself,” she asked.

His brow furrowed, staring at her intently. Suddenly, he leaned closer and fastened her seatbelt.

Whispering near her ear, he said,

“I’m Dixal Amorillo, your future husband,” and kissed her neck.

She froze, blushing furiously, trying to adjust her seat as he pulled away.

“I’ll take you home now. Your family’s probably looking for you,” he said, starting the car.

Just like yesterday, he dropped her off beside the church. She got out quickly, wary of another kiss.

Crossing the street, she glanced back. How did he know where she got off? Did he know where she lived?

..................

“Ma!” she called the moment she entered her house.

She found her mother in the living room, nursing her youngest sibling, while her three other siblings studied at the dining table.

“Why are you late, bruhilda?” her mother snapped.

“Mom, you really have a way with names,” she replied with a pout.

“What do you want, for me to curse you?”

She groaned.

“Go eat. No eggplant tonight, and your siblings are already being purged,” her mother said, standing with the baby in her arms.

After placing her bag on the long sofa, Flora Amor approached her mother and tickled the sleeping sibling.

“Hey! It took me hours to lull her, you troublemaker!” her mother scolded.

She giggled.

She sat beside her mother.

“Ma, I missed you,” she said softly.

“Oh, don’t flatter me. What’s your little gossip now?”

She laughed.

Her mother pinched her side when she noticed the baby had woken up.

“Ouch!” she murmured, giggling softly.

“Ma, have you ever seen someone hear whispers from far away?” she asked seriously.

Her mother stared at her.

“You experience that too?” she asked curiously.

Flora Amor gaped.

“You’ve experienced it, Ma?” she blurted in disbelief.

“Shhh! Your voice!” her mother exclaimed, while patting the baby's butt and lulled her again to sleep.

“Ma, who did you experience it with? Papa?” she asked, unable to hide her excitement.

“Yes, but it went away,” her mother said casually.

“How did it go away, Ma? When?” she asked, regretfully.

Aling Nancy stood up, seemingly irritated.

“Eat already. I’m sleepy,” she snapped, going to her room with her youngest child.

“Ma, what about Papa?”

“Gone!” she yelled sharply.

Flora Amor was stunned. Why did her mother react like that?

She ignored it, humming while checking what was for dinner. Adobo chicken!

Her mother’s words lingered as she lay down. She had experienced what Flora Amor was experiencing now. So it was inherited? She felt giddy every time Dixal said her name.

“Dixal!” she whispered, remembering. This was Dixal Amorillo, an engineer, and her future husband!

She giggled.

Her brother Harold nudged her.

“Move out of the way, ate. I can’t sleep with you here. You’ll be in trouble if I can’t go to the market tomorrow!” he said angrily.

“Why are you going to the market? Isn’t school in the morning?” she asked, bewildered.

He didn’t answer.

Annoyed, she got up with her blanket and pillow, pestering her mother to sleep beside her.

“You little beast!” her mother scolded, giving her space.

She hugged her mother immediately.

“Ma, love you,” she said teasingly.

“Hush!” her mother replied.

She giggled and closed her eyes.

“Ma, I should have my own room since I’m a young lady now,” she said, eyes shut.

Before falling asleep, she felt her mother’s shoulder gently rocking her. Probably her youngest sibling had woken up, so her mother was patting the baby back to sleep.