Guarding Her Silence

Chapter 11 - Vergara's Verdict

Colet sat quietly on the large sofa in Jhoanna's bedroom, her sharp eyes watching Jhoanna move about the room. It wasn't the first time she'd been in Jhoanna's private space, but tonight felt different—charged in some subtle way she couldn't quite place. Jhoanna opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of alcohol, glancing over her shoulder at Colet.

"You want some?" Jhoanna asked, already uncorking the bottle.

Colet shook her head and signed, "No need."

Jhoanna shrugged and poured herself a glass, making her way over to the other side of the sofa. She sank down into the cushions, taking a long sip. The silence between them was comfortable, yet somehow loaded with unspoken tension. Colet leaned back, still watching Jhoanna's movements closely.

"Why are you drinking now?" Colet signed after a moment, her brow furrowing slightly.

"I didn't have time to drink at the party," Jhoanna replied, her tone a bit more defensive than Colet expected. She took another sip, her eyes narrowing as if the thought annoyed her.

"It's your fault for going home early," she signed with a bit of teasing in her expression.

Jhoanna shot her a pointed look over the rim of her glass, the playful jab clearly landing in a sensitive spot. Her gaze didn't leave Colet, lingering longer than usual, a spark of something unfamiliar in her eyes.

"What's your relationship with Stacey?" Jhoanna suddenly asked, her words clipped and direct.

Colet blinked, momentarily confused. "You already know her, right?" she signed, tilting her head as if to remind Jhoanna. "She's one of my colleagues. Yves, too."

Jhoanna muttered something incoherent and took another swig of her drink, her expression unreadable. She didn't seem satisfied with Colet's explanation, but she stayed quiet, staring off at nothing. The air between them grew heavier, and the room filled with the soft sounds of Jhoanna's glass clinking against the table.

Minutes passed, stretching into a half-hour. Colet remained on her side of the sofa, scrolling absently through her phone, while Jhoanna continued drinking, her mood growing more unpredictable by the second. Colet glanced over occasionally, keeping an eye on her, but didn't intervene.

Suddenly, Jhoanna stood up, her movements less controlled now. She swayed slightly but caught herself, making her way toward Colet with a determined look on her face. Colet tensed, watching her approach, her sharp instincts already registering that Jhoanna was tipsy from the alcohol.

Jhoanna plopped down beside Colet, a little closer than usual, her face flushed and her eyes gleaming. She leaned in, staring directly into Colet's eyes, her breath warm and tinged with the sweet scent of her drink.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Colet signed, trying to keep her voice—or rather, her hands—steady.

Jhoanna tilted her head, eyes narrowing mischievously. "Why are you so pretty and gorgeous?" she slurred, the words tumbling out of her mouth without a filter. Colet blinked in surprise, turning her attention back to her phone, unwilling to engage with this side of a drunken Jhoanna.

'This girl is drunk,' Colet thought, letting out a quiet sigh. She focused back on her screen, ignoring the antics as best as she could.

But Jhoanna wasn't having it. With a swift motion, she snatched Colet's phone right out of her hands. "Hey!" Colet's eyes widened, caught off guard.

"Look at me," Jhoanna insisted, her voice soft but firm, her cheeks flushed.

Colet turned toward her reluctantly, her expression carefully composed. Jhoanna leaned closer, her gaze intense and focused, something flickering behind her usually guarded demeanor.