Speechless

The sun had drawn its last golden radiance in the sky. The bright light was replaced by the dim light of the moon, which slowly rose towards its throne in the sky, exposing its existence without the slightest barrier.

The smell of burning meat on the barbecue grill enveloped the air around the pool behind Edwin's villa.

Shania and Maureen are busy with the groceries they are going to prepare. Aldy and Edwin took care of the meat while Zico was playing in the pool alone. Maybe he really likes swimming.

And Elanie just sat with her legs stretched out on one of the long benches by the pool.

"Tell me," asked Edwin, turning the meat over on the grill.

"What?"

"What happened between you and Maureen? You weren't acting like you used to."

Aldy didn't answer. Seeing Aldy without a reaction made Edwin give in to his curiosity.

"How's the meat?" asked Shania.

Edwin turned. "A little more!"

Edwin's gaze stopped on Maureen. In a loose t-shirt that exposed the shoulders, showing off one of the bra straps, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The rest of her hair he tucked behind her ear.

The bottom of the shirt that Maureen was wearing looked too big. It covered her shorts, making it look like she wasn't wearing pants, showing off her beautiful legs. Maureen's beauty is undeniable.

Edwin was still fascinated by the package of beauty he saw, but he did not realize that Aldy also saw Edwin's gaze.

He understood the meaning of Edwin's gaze on Maureen. Of course, no one wouldn't be attracted to Maureen. Aldy did not comment on anything. He could trust Edwin because Edwin was his comrade in arms all along in every fight he did.

He also knew that Edwin was aware that Aldy was not someone who could be easily provoked.

In fact, Aldy is a person who can be provoked at all unless you no longer love your own life.

Shania and Maureen put the food on the table. Shania turned around, "Food is ready!"

"Finally!" shouted Zico enthusiastically, who rushed out of the pool. Edwin and Aldy brought the meat they had grilled on the barbeque burner and put it on the table.

Maureen sat next to Aldy. When their eyes met, it was Maureen who first looked away.

The image of what happened earlier still haunts Maureen and Aldy's minds.

Aldy took the meat and cut it into small pieces, then gave it to Maureen. Maureen ate it without thanking Aldy. Edwin turned to Aldy. "Didn't we forget one important thing?"

Aldy nodded and stood up, then walked out of the backyard to the villa, so did Edwin. The people who were still sitting at the dining table looked at each other in an unknowing look.

Edwin opened the trunk of the car, and there were three boxes of Guinness, each containing six bottles of beer. Aldy brought two boxes while Edwin carried one, with one hand holding another box containing four bottles of imported drinks that Edwin stole from his father's warehouse for expensive drinks.

Edwin left the expensive drink and the bottle of beer he had brought on the table in the living room of the villa, right in front of the sofa. Meanwhile, the two boxes that Aldy brought were taken to the backyard, where they gathered.

The expensive beer and drinks that Edwin put in the living room were for the second round of events, which was karaoke. While the beer that Aldy brought to accompany their dinner.

Aldy put the two bottles of beer on the bench where Elanie had been sitting and took out four bottles from the first one. With four bottles reduced, two bottles remained in the box, while the other was still untouched.

Aldy put one in front of Edwin, Aldy, and Elanie. Maureen and Shania don't seem to be drinking alcoholic beverages.

Seeing Aldy gulping down the beer directly from the mouth of the bottle made Maureen look at him. Aldy looked up and raised his eyebrows.

"I want to try it," Maureen asked, which made Aldy almost choke.

"No, you shouldn't," Aldy answered briefly and returned to eating grilled meat in front of him.

"Why?"

"Just no."

Maureen pursed her lips and continued to stare at Aldy. "You can't stop me while you're drinking it yourself."

"Hey, let her be." grabbed Zico from the other side, which earned him a glare from Aldy.

"Besides, we're not going to be drinking like this every day, are we? It's okay to have it once in a while," said Edwin as if helping Zico.

Aldy now turned to Edwin, which made the situation worse. Aldy looked back at Maureen and was surprised that Maureen had shown off her puppy-eyes, something that was very difficult for Aldy to refuse when Maureen had done that.

Ally took a deep breath. He took a small glass from inside the villa and poured a little liquid beer into the glass. Even too little.

Maureen brought the small glass to her lips, gulping it down hesitantly.

"Cough ... Cough ... Wleeeeckk~ it's so bitter!"

They all laughed at Maureen's behavior. But what surprised Aldy was Maureen, who handed the small glass back to Aldy.

Ally turned. "Enough."

"No, I want to drink a little more."

"Enough is enough," Aldy replied, then he put the bottle far away from Maureen couldn't reach it.

Maureen looked at Aldy while pursing her lips until finally giving up and continuing to eat.

***

Edwin and Zico sing Buttons from Pussycat Doll featuring Snoop Dogg while flirting with each other. Even Shania, who always behaved like a princess from a noble family, couldn't help but laugh.

Edwin handed Aldy the microphone as the song finished. Aldy made a gesture as if he didn't want to accept the microphone, but Maureen brought her face to Aldy's ear and whispered. "Sing me a song, then I'll think about whether I'll forgive you or not."

Hearing this, Aldy had no other choice.

Just as Aldy received the microphone from Edwin and stood up, everyone clapped.

What Edwin and Zico know is that Aldy is only good at fighting physical agility. Even though they didn't know that Aldy has a very good voice and is good at playing the guitar, even though it's been a long time since Aldy sang karaoke like this.

Maybe since before he went to prison first.

Aldy looked at the TV screen, and the soundtrack from the movie Aladdin, Speechless, appeared there.

Everyone was wide-eyed when they saw the song that appeared. Even for girls, it's hard to hit the high notes on the song. And what's even more surprising is that the song doesn't use the lower-key that men are used to.

Aldy took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

In fact, he had doubts. With his smoking habit, his voice may crack when he tries to hit the high notes later.

But he sings it well.

No.

Maybe even perfect.

"I won't be silenced, you can't keep me quiet, won't tremble when you try it. 'Cause I know, that I won't go speechless …"

Maureen, Elanie, and Shania couldn't take their eyes off Aldy. With Aldy's condition, who only wore black shorts and showed off his proportional upper body, he stood and sang with a very beautiful voice.

They couldn't say anything.

Edwin realized that soon Aldy would be singing the most difficult verse of the song. At first, Edwin thought that Aldy would sing it in a falsetto voice. But what happened next was completely unexpected.

Aldy took a deep breath from his diaphragm. His mouth opened widely, and several veins started sticking out of his throat.

"Try to lock me in this cage, I won't just let me down and die. I will take these broken wings and watch me burn across the sky."

Ally took another deep breath. He closed his eyes and gripped the microphone tightly with both hands. "Hear the echo saying I won't be silence~ ..."

Yep.

Aldy managed to reach that high note with full belting. Elanie and Shania couldn't even breathe when they heard Aldy sing those high notes. Zico's body shook with goosebumps, so did Edwin.

And Maureen, she unconsciously shed tears.

The girl's heart was beating very fast.

"All I know is I won't go speechless … Speechless~ ..."

The song ended, and Aldy caught his roaring breath. Then Aldy realized something strange. He turned around and got a look he couldn't understand from everyone.

Aldy frowned. "What's with your ugly-ass faces? Seen a ghost or what?"

Everyone was still silent about what Aldy had done. But the silence ended with Zico's applause.

"Hey, you never said you could sing! The world is so unfair!"

Everyone clapped. Only Maureen was still covering her mouth with her hands, and her tears were still flowing.

Maureen stood up and immediately ran to Aldy, lunged at him, and immediately hugged Aldy's body, burying her face, which was still decorated with tears in Aldy's chest.

Ally smiled sweetly. "Are you forgiving me now?"

Maureen nodded speechlessly.

Ally smiled contentedly. Finally, Maureen was willing to forgive him.