A deafening silence echoed in the sorrounding. It made Sydnee's breath hitched. She swallowed hard and waited for Anthony to speak but the latter did not show any emotion. He just stood there, silently watching her.
"Umm..." She looked away and tried to ease the uncomfortable feeling in her chest. "I-I like you. Don't misunderstand that. I just want to say ---"
"Sydnee," Anthony stopped her then he looked away, just like she did. "It's cold. Let's get inside."
She spent a few seconds before she look at Anthony. The latter was looking at the black horizon in the distance. Sydnee lowered her head. "I want to go home."
Sighing, she turned and took a step towards the parking lot. She knew it. Anthony was not into her. And why should he be?
Sydnee swallowed hard, blinking away the tears brimming in her eyes. There was a pang in her chest but she ignored it. She knew that she and Anthony would not...
Footsteps were heard in the cold night and leaves were rustling around her. She knew that Anthony was following her behind and there was a distance between them. She did not mind though. After her confession and apart from the pang in her chest, she felt embarrass. At least, she did not want to face Anthony soon.
She stopped in her tracks and then breathed deeply. She looked around but only darkness greeted her. The constant footsteps behind her also stopped. Silence enveloped them again but it was broken by the sudden gush of the wind. The cool breeze played her hair and even swayed it in the night.
Sydnee closed her eyes.
It wouldn't do. She should stop seeing Anthony if she wanted to move on, and staying in his house was not a good idea. Her brows knitted while she was thinking, and she did not notice that Anthony walked pass her and stood in front of her.
She just came back to her senses when Anthony called her name. She looked up and the faint light from the streelight ahead covered his face. Only the silhoutted of his face could be seen.
"W-What?" she asked under her breath.
Anthony looked at her deeply before he looked sideways. Sydnee also look to where he was looking and she saw a familiar car. It was Anthony's car. A faint blush made its way to her cheeks but the darkness of the night hid it away from the sight.
"I'll drive you home," Anthony offered.
She wanted to refuse but thinking about it, she did not have money to pay fare. Also, it would be safer if Anthony would drive her home.
So she agreed. And while sitting in the passenger door, she counted the possibilities where she no longer have to see Anthony everyday. What if she'll come back home?
Maybe it's really time to go home. Her parents might be sad to see her again, but she was still their child. Her mother's anger would have faded already. She sighed.
Back at Anthony's home, Sydnee excused herself and walked straight to her room. She looked around and noticed that for the couple of months staying in that house, Sydnee accumulated some things that she never dreamed to have previously. Anthony liked to give her a present and those gifts was lying in the closet and the drawers.
She wondered if she could leave those things. At least, she did not want anything to do with Anthony.
Sydnee packed her things away and put them aside. She planned to go home tomorrow. There would be no class for it's weekend. But after changing clothes and lying on the bed, her mind was still awake. She could not sleep.
Her heart pounded hard when she heard footsteps outside the bedroom's door. She was sure that it was Anthony. He might be walking towards his room which was just beside hers.
She took a peek on the closed door. The faint light coming froom the lampshade standing on the bedside table illuminated her dark room.
The footsteps stopped right at her door. Her heart skipped a beat. What? Was he trying to open her door?
But minutes after, the footsteps continued until she heard the door beside hers opened. She breathed deeply. She did not notice the thin layer of sweat in her forehead.
Sydnee closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep. It was only dawn when she finally calm down and lulled to sleep. When she opened her eyes again, the sun was hanging high in the sky. It was almost noon.
She jumped from her bed and ran towards the bathroom. While taking a bath, she repeated her plan in her head and then nodded, as if confirming her thoughts. She should leave as soon as possible. It would be better if she would not talk to Anthony about her plan, in case something happens.
A faint scent of lavender hovered in the air while Sydnee was busy wearing her dress. Then, she walked out of the room.
It was silent. She stood at the top of the staircase and listened to the sorrounding. Her forehead creased when she heard nothing. Was Anthony not in the house?
She looked on the garage and found that Anthony's car was still there. It was only mean one thing. Anthony was still in his room, sleeping. Her lips curved into a smile then she walked towards the kitchen.
Since the man was still in his room, she decided to make breakfast for him. It was the last act for her to show her gratitude to him.
It took her almost an hour to prepare everything in the kitchen. Then, she wrote a note and put it on the table. Sydnee walked back to her room to get her things.
She stood in the entrance and looked back. The house was silent, as if reluctant to part with her.