Realization

Aubrianne Ivanov

Daniela turns, smiles, and winks at me, and I smile back. She is beautiful, with blond hair just like her brother, but she has grey eyes and not blue like his.

We sat in one of the kitchen 'areas' or should I say settings?

All three of us immediately hit it off. From that moment onwards, we chatted, laughing loudly and joking around.

More so, Daniela and her brother, with the joking around, but it was sweet to watch.

Soon our waiter came, and we all collectively paused and glanced up at the waiter.

It was Miguel, a familiar face—he greeted us, handing us our menus. We quickly browsed and placed our orders. Daniela and Daniel already knew the breakfast menu by heart, making it easy for them to choose, and I already knew what I felt for.

I decided to have an omelet, toast with bacon, and sausages. While Daniela had pancakes, and Daniel had baked and shark.

Soon we were back at it picking up where we had left off. Daniela started giving me her take on the hot spots to chill, clubs to hit up, restaurants to dine in, etc.

She also told me about herself. She is single, twenty years of age, and she is into both males and females, with no preference. She loves to work out and is studying to become a Doctor. Impressive, I thought.

"I fall for the person. It's more personality for me," she explains.

Daniel picked up the conversation when Daniela had finished giving me the tea on this city and telling me about herself. Plus, I had my own input also.

We went for the entirety of lunch.

We had already gotten our meals and actually finished our meals. I thoroughly enjoyed brunch, and now I am feeling for something sweet.

Daniela says, "Let's skip dessert here. There is this bakery that bakes pastries and treats to die for."

And my interest instantly peeks, and we quickly wrap up things here. Daniela and I excused ourselves to go to the lady's room.

Then we left.

Pulling up at this pretty pink bakery, I took in my surroundings and quickly realized we were opposite the museum. Craning my neck, looking around, and in the distance, I saw the library we passed yesterday a few blocks down.

This was perfect, I thought. Dessert, museum, and then we will hit the library and move on from there.

We all got out and headed in. Boy, was the aromas mouth-watering. "Oh my," I gasped, and my palms lay flat slightly above my bosom.

It slaps us as we enter, bombarding my nostrils, taking over my senses, and making me giddy off of all the sweetness.

Strolling in, I took in the ambiance, beautiful and girly, pink overload, that's for sure. I look at all my options in front of me in this giant glass, shelved counter with a large casing to the side.

Wow, I breathe out. Too many choices, and my mouth is actually salivating. I stepped back, ensuring I was not keeping everyone from getting to the cashier as I took a while to decide.

They both looked at my reactions curiously and then placed their orders. At this point, I felt like I was shaking and needed my fix, so licking my lips, I quickly ordered two donuts, white icing and colorful sprinkles, and two custard scone pastries with an orange and grapefruit juice mixed.

A sweet-sweet and a sweet. Excellent. I can do one sweet-sweet and a sweet now and later on have me another sweet-sweet and a sweet.

Daniela got a slice of triple-layer chocolate cake with a caramel smoothie, and Daniel just got a muffin with a coffee.

We made our way to a table by the window, sat down, and dug in, discussing where to go next.

Daniela told us she would be leaving us after this. She is heading to meet with Jenna, her best friend, as our plans are simply too dull for her.

She promises she is in when I am ready to go shopping and hit the clubs, though.

I understood, so I was not mad or anything. I gave Daniela a warm smile and told her I would happily go shopping and hit the clubs with her, "how about this Friday?" I asked.

"I can do you one better. How about Thursday?" She responds.

"I am in," I said excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.

"Done," she replied, finishing the last piece of her chocolate cake, and we chuckled.

We laughed some more as she tried covering her mouth. Her mouth was the color of chocolate.

"Abyss is always pumping on a Thursday night. You would enjoy yourself." Daniela declares.

"OK, sweet!" I replied.

Finishing up our dessert, we freshened up and said our goodbyes as Daniela left us to meet Jenna, while Daniel and I made our way across the street to the museum.

Two and a half hours later, we were out of the museum, making our way to the library. It was within walking distance.

I loved the futuristic sculptures on display, some really dark and otherworldly art, and a lot of art with wolves, also. There were quiet halls full of relics from the past, and there was a section with airplanes suspended from the ceiling. I enjoyed it.

"Mind if I ask you a personal question?" Daniel quietly asks, walking side by side with me.

I tense a bit and look ahead of me. Sneaking a glance at Daniel, I brace myself, "yea, sure, what's up?" Oh boy, I thought, personal? What does he want to know?

Daniel looked down at me with a sad and earnest hint in his eyes when he asked, "do you know anything at all about your father? Did your mom ever tell you anything?"

Was I ready to open up to Daniel about this?

I stopped, then sighed heavily, looking down at my feet, shifting on them. Then I relaxed my tense shoulders, steadied my breathing, adjusting my handbag on my shoulder, taking a moment before responding as I attempted to decide whether I should elaborate and, if so, just how much I should divulge. I choose to go with my gut.

Daniel and his sister have opened up to me, so why not share a little with him?

He had even told me about his mom at the museum. She was an art collector, and she died a few years ago. Leaving behind their dad, him, and his sister. It was just the three of them now.

Daniela lives with their dad, and Daniel lives alone in a two-story home.

"You don't have to talk about it if you are not ready," Daniel informs as he picks up on my hesitation.

"No, it's OK," I confirm.

We casually walked to the library, and I started.

"Truth be told, my mom never liked talking about my father, and when she did, it was only because of my continuous probing. However, she would be very vague."

I fell quiet for a moment as I thought about how to continue…. "I mean, she would say things like it's dangerous, you don't want that life, you don't know what you're asking for."

"You know, like, what was she talking about?" I ask, looking up at him like he could give me some type of answer, but I know he can't.

He shrugs.

Nevertheless, I continue while he listens, "anyways, she just left me with more questions, like why was it dangerous? Or why wouldn't I want that life? What could be so bad about that life?" I ask, almost to myself, but he hears me because he stiffens.

I felt it.

He had an intense look, hands at his side close and opened, then with those same hands, he reached and rubbed the back of his neck, and I could see the wheels turning like he was putting together some type of puzzle.

Who knows, I tried to read the different emotions I see flash through him, but I am no expert.

I could pick up on a few of them, realization, wonder, uncertainty, and determination, but it ended with a questioning look like he was questioning something.

What was Daniel questioning? Where did that mind of his go?

More importantly and more pressing, what could he have realized?