CHAPTER 2 - THE AMUSEMENT PARK

There are no classes and work on Saturday’s and Sunday’s so the Alfarez family either stays at home or goes outside to have fun and relax. 

Cally is playing with her dolls on their front porch. 

“Do you wanna play with me?” She said while holding a female doll in her right hand.

“Nah! I don’t want to.” She answered her own question while holding the male doll in her left little hand.

“But... But why?” She moved the female doll and acted as if she was crying.

“Because you ale... hmm... you’le ugly! Yes! Ugly! Bleh!” 

“Wahh! Bad! Bad! I’m not ugly! I’m not ugly! I’m pletty!” She struck the female doll to the male doll and acted as if they were fighting.

On the other hand, Trestan is watering their plants in front of their ‘Single-family Detached Home’ made of concrete materials with black and white paint. 

It faces the calm sea and the place is peaceful and quiet not until a boyish teenage girl, named Blair Gabrielle Ferran, stops riding her bike in front of Alfarez residence. 

“What’s up, mute guy?”

Her house was five blocks away from Alfarez residence but always gave time to pester the serenity of Trestan’s life. She never heard just a single word from him and she was very curious if he could talk or not.

Trestan just looked at her with a blank expression but Blair laughed at him and proceeded on passing by.  But to annoy Trestan, she returned to tease him again. 

“Mute! Mute! Talk to me. You’ll talk or I will sing... ~who is the mute? I know a mute in the neighborhood. Who is the mute? I know a mute in the neighborhood. Who is the mute? I know a mute in the neighborhood. His name is Trestan Joern Alfarez!~”

‘What the...!? How did she know my... My whole name? What a stalker? Tss.’  

“Who is the mute? I know a mute in---” She didn’t finish her teasing because this time, Trestan put the hose in Blair’s direction and the cold water made her half wet. 

“Ahh! What the heck!?”

Trestan wants to laugh but stops himself from doing it because he doesn’t want to show himself to other people. 

“Serves you right, creepy stalker. Tss. Annoying.” 

Blair was about to leave but a single sentence made her stop even though her hair, oversized shirt, and above the knee shorts will probably be soaked. 

She jumps off her bike and comes near the white-painted one-meter tall fence. Trestan was stunned because of her sudden action. He thought she’ll be mad at him ‘coz he called her ‘creepy stalker’ but man he’s wrong.

“You’re not mute! You’re not mute! I heard you!” Blair exclaimed. “Say it again. Say it!” But Trestan ignored her and went to the backyard. 

Blair didn’t stop until Cally spoke up because she was annoyed by Blair’s loud voice.

“Hey! Stop shouting, you might wake up my dad.” Cally said while her little hands were on her waist.

“Is your brother---” She was interrupted by Cally’s shout.

“Mrs. Santos!” Cally ran toward the old lady who’s holding a small container in front of their gate. Blair looked at Mrs. Santos who sweetly smiled at her.

“He’s still not talking to you, dear?” 

“Yeah. He’s probably shy. Haha.” Blair said while blushing because she is embarrassed of Mrs. Santos that she is always seen whenever she goes to the Alfarez.

“Kuya! Mrs. Santos is hele! She blought us some vegetable salad!” Cally was shouting while calling his older brother. 

When Trestan went to them, Blair just watched his every move. He leaned and whispered to Cally’s little ears.

“Say ‘thank you’ to Mrs. Santos.” He whispered.

“Why don’t you---?”

“Cally...”

“Thank you, Mrs. Santos!” Cally just followed her older brother instead of arguing with him..

“Seriously!? Mute? Why don’t you just talk? Why do you need a spokesperson if you can speak? Unbelievable!” She acted like a frustrated girlfriend. 

Mrs. Santos laughed at her and tapped her shoulder before she left. Trestan and Cally started walking to their house, leaving Blair in front of their gate. 

“Hey! Mute! Mute!”

“She’s too loud, Kuya. Did she swallow a megaphone?” Cally asked irritatedly. Trestan just smirked before opening their front door.

***

Hiding. Peeking. Holding a gun. Recording.

Two voices that are talking but those words are unclear. Everything was a blur until a hard thing struck behind him and everything went black.

Hearing a heartbeat monitor.

‘Where am I?’

Footsteps. Someone is whispering. ‘I can’t understand him. F*ck! I can’t open my eyes! What’s going---‘

“…forget and you’ll live, remember and you’ll die.”

Opening his eyes and a mirror is in front of him. “F-Ferran! What? Why? No!”

“Dad… Dad…”

***

“Dad.”

Trestan shook his father’s shoulder and worry was written on his face. Timotheus opens his eyes and quickly faces the full body mirror. He checked himself and sighed in relief when he saw his face.

He dreamed about an unexplainable and unacceptable dream. 

‘Of all people, why that f*cking b*stard Ferran!? Me? Inside his body?’

“That’s crazy.” He mumbled.

“What happened, dad? Having a bad dream?”

“It’s…” He looked at his son who’s just waiting for his answer. “It’s nothing.” Trestan just nodded.

“It’s almost ten, dad.”

“Yeah… just wait for me downstairs. I’ll just change.”

Trestan was about to say something, stared at his father for a moment, but chose to just nod and leave.

Timotheus looked at the mirror for the last time and checked himself. 

‘It’s still me. Thank goodness.’

A few moments later...

“Everyone’s ready?” Timotheus asked his children after he got inside the car. “Did you lock the doors, son?” He asked while looking at the rear view mirror to see Trestan sitting at the backseat while Cally was in front beside him.

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Let’s go!”

“Amusement palk! Amusement palk!” Cally is very excited about going to her favorite place in their town.

When they arrived, Cally was about to run when Timotheus held her little hand to stop her. There were too many people outside the gate of the amusement park so he was worried about the safety of his daughter.

“Don’t be too excited, sweetie. You might get lost.”

Trestan just walked behind them while wearing his earpods. After his mother passed away, he lost his interest in this kind of stuff. He would rather stay in a peaceful and quiet place than in this crowded, noisy surrounding.

“Wanna ride with us?” Timotheus asked his son. 

Trestan looked at the carousel. Memories came back to life. The little Trestan happily rides a horse in that carousel with his mom and dad.

“Nope.” He looked at his father. “I’ll just sit there.” He pointed to the wooden bench near the carousel.

“Oh…” Timotheus realized that his son was not the same as before. He sometimes forgets that Trestan is not a little child anymore. “Alright.”

Trestan just stood there until Timotheus and Cally found their spot in the carousel.

He was about to go to the empty bench when something rolled into his direction. 

A yellow soft ball with a smiley face printed on it. He was about to get it when someone’s head bumped into him.  

“Sh---” Trestan stopped himself from cursing when he recognized the person in front of him. 

He held the top of his head while his other hand was holding the ball. He immediately changed his expression from irritated to blank face when he recognized the person in front of him.

“Ouch! Sor---Mute?” Blair was surprised to see Trestan in the amusement park. “Uhm… That’s mine.” She pointed at the ball. 

Trestan looked at it before throwing the ball to Blair’s direction without saying anything. Good thing, Blair caught it. 

Trestan didn’t say anything, just passed by her side and left. Blair looked at the ball and a small smile plastered on her face.

“Hey. You’re smiling. What happened?” Alexa appeared on her side and asked her best friend. She gave Blair one of the milk teas she bought.

“Me? Smiling? I’m not.” Blair looked away.

“And who’s that tall and lean guy? I saw him earlier with you.” She seems to tease Blair.

“It’s…Mute.”

“What? Trestan is here? In an amusement park? Whoa, you’re kidding, right?”

“No. He’s really here. And that’s the guy you saw.”

“That’s unbelievable. I thought he’s not the type who’ll go to an amusement park.”

“I don’t think so.” 

“Did… Did he talk to you?” Alexa excitedly asked.

“Uh… No.” 

“Hm… You sound disappointed.” She sipped on her milk tea while enjoying teasing Blair. “That’s okay. Even though you always bully him. Your crush will talk to you---“

“He’s not my crush! Stop talking nonsense, Alexa.” She seems annoyed.

“Yeah. Yeah. Continue denying it. Your expression says otherwise. Haha.”

“I’m just bullying him ‘coz I find it cute every time he gets annoyed.”

“And now for you, he’s cute.” Alexa grinned at her.

“Ugh! Why does everything I say have a different meaning to you? You’re such an issue.” Blair rolled her eyes.