The Sound That Vanished

A video call came through shortly after.

It was Jack.

"They're out of your usual brand. Do you see anything else you like?" he asked.

I was about to pick something when a voice I knew all too well, laced with surprise, came from the video.

Lawrence, arm in arm with a young lady, strolled into the store and gave Jack the once-over.

"I invited you out for drinks tonight, and you bail to shop for a woman?" he exclaimed.

"You're on video with her? Show me who this miracle worker is that's got through to Mr. Harris!" Lawrence demanded, reaching for Jack's phone.

Instinctively, I dodged out of camera view.

However, Lawrence's hand never made it to Jack's phone.

With just a cool look from Jack, Lawrence backed off. "Fine, fine, you're so protective. Just make sure you introduce her to us next time!

"By the way, Jack, I bumped into Yoana. She walked into the wrong room and caught me with another woman. She nearly gave me a heart attack, but my buddies saved the day, claiming I had amnesia. I'll keep up the act a bit longer before I 'regain my memory.'

"Jack, you've been a real lifesaver. I wasn't ready to quit playing, and your idea to fake my death was pure genius!"

The phone screen jittered, and then the call was abruptly cut off.

Jack returned ten minutes later.

He could not bring himself to meet my eyes as he handed over his purchases and hopped into the driver's seat, locking the doors.

"I had wheatgrass juice delivered to your place... Are you going back to try it?" he ventured cautiously.

I could not help but chuckle at his careful tone.

Jack was the talk of the town, a silver-spoon kid with a bank account as high as the capital's skyscrapers.

He was Lawrence's ride-or-die friend.

Back in the day, whenever Lawrence and I hit the town for a bite, Jack was our shadow.

He played it cool around me, icy even, especially when the crowd nudged Lawrence and I to get all lovey-dovey. Jack would not even toss a glance my way.

He would scoff, dripping with disdain.

Everyone figured Jack could not stand the sight of me.

That is until the day Lawrence's life got cut short in a crash, and I got a video from Jack.

Lawrence was in it, chuckling as he said, "The thought of being tied down to Yoana after we're hitched... I just can't stomach it.

"I'll play dead and have a little fun. Keep her company, will you? Don't let her do something foolish."

It turned out that the whole death hoax was cooked up by Jack.

The guy had moves.

When I got to Jack's swanky pad, he swept me off my feet, literally, before I could even blink.

Post-bathroom break, he tucked me into bed and tossed me his phone for some gaming.

Only after I sipped down a warm drink did he strip down and slide in next to me, his hands working magic on my belly.

The light above cast a soft glow on his chiseled abs, each curve whispering secrets begging to be uncovered.

Uncover I did.

Jack's gaze went dark, his hand clamping down on mine.

"Stay still," he warned.

However, I was all about breaking rules.

He seized my head, pulling me close.

Two years was plenty for him to map out every inch of me.

In the heat of the moment, he gripped my hand.

His voice was rough as he said, "Help me…"

I knew all about Jack's endurance, after all, I had tested it myself one drunken night.

My wrist ached so badly I could hardly think straight when he finally stopped.

He was about to scoop me up and head for the bathroom when the cellphone on the nightstand buzzed to life.

It was Jack's phone.

I accidentally hit it, pressing the answer button.

"Jack, I'm thinking of throwing an engagement bash with Jane to get under Yoana's skin. How's that for a plan?

"Can you believe Yoana? Seeing me up and about and she doesn't even check in on me. Just stews in her jealousy and hasn't reached out at all.

"After two years, it looks like she's learned to stand on her own two feet. I've got to shake her up a bit, let her feel the sting of almost losing me again. I'll work out the details, and you'll..."

Lawrence's voice streamed out of the phone.

However, he stopped short.

I let out an involuntary gasp.

Not at Lawrence's words, but because something had stirred back to life.

It twitched a few times right in my hand.