CHAPTER 13 “KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR”
THE thrill and pleasure that Ara felt in those moments as she walked alone on the way home to their house were undeniable. It was not far from Daniel's house when she passed a group of men drinking in front of a store.
"Wow, when you're lucky enough," Ara heard a man say in a tone of voice that was obviously drunk.
"Shut up! You do not live here so do not do nasty things," replied another man.
When Ara glanced at him, she noticed that he is obese, and like his companion, he also has a twisted tongue because of drunkenness.
"Look who's talking," the man who had previously spoken stood up. "Come on, let's meet her," he said walking towards her.
Ara's chest quickly swelled with fear at what had happened. But instead of being obvious, the young lady tried to act naturally and continued walking.
*****
A beautiful smile remained on Daniel as he gazes at Ara until she completely disappeared from his sight.
He was very happy at that time and he still seemed to have the desire to spend more time with Ara so he did not hesitate to once again drive his car to follow the young lady.
Daniel immediately caught sight of Ara. He smiled with the thought that he is sure to recognize even the tip of her hair. It will not be hard for him to do that because of what he truly feels about the young lady.
He did not take his sight off from her so he was unable to stop the sudden throbbing of a mixture of nervousness and anger in his chest when he saw Ara approached by a fat man who pulled her arm afterward.
*****
"LET go of me! Let go!” Ara said angrily and then tried to withdraw her own arm from the fat man who was already drunk.
“Oh, come on Miss Beautiful, join us, let's drink," he told her then handed her his glass with brandy.
The fear that Ara is feeling intensified even more which is why she tried to get away from him but his grip on her arm tightened. Because of that, the young lady was unable to control herself from screaming as she started hitting the man with her shoulder bag.
"Help! Help me!" she cries as she continues hitting the man.
Because of the fear and panic that Ara felt she did not immediately notice a familiar car. At the same time, an elderly woman and shopkeeper came out of the store that she had never seen before. She was probably inside her house.
"Hey, you! Let her go! Mrs. Daria, please call the village police!"
That was when Ara turned to the man's familiar voice. When she looked around, she saw Daniel walking toward her. In his hand was something that if she was not mistaken was a claw bar. Then she also saw the woman inside the store dialing on the phone.
In a flash, the Daniel that Ara hates quickly disappeared from her mind. And that is because of the intense anger that she sees not only in his very handsome face but especially in his beautiful eyes.
"Let go of her!" Daniel's furious cry brings back Ara to her sanity.
That was when the man released her arm.
"Ah, sorry boss," said the fat man who was holding her earlier.
"You are not from here and yet you have the courage to do something foolish!" Ara's furious rebuke.
It was then that the village mobile arrived on board the four village police officers. They immediately went down and then approached the man who had been harassing her.
Ara let out a loud gasp when she felt Daniel suddenly pull her hand. It was not because of the shock but because of the intense flow of electricity that she felt.
“D-Daniel!” Ara almost whispered and then trembling with fear she immediately hugged the young man. "Thank you, you came," she whispered again then squeezed herself even more with Daniel who then also hugged her tightly.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked her as she slipped out of his embrace. "Didn't he hurt you?" in addition to his question.
Ara shook her head consecutively.
That was when Ara heard Daniel let out a sigh before he opened his mouth to speak. "Thank God," he said. "Let's go, I'll give you a ride home," he continues.
At that moment Ara couldn't help but smile along with a simple nod. "Okay," she said, following the young man in his car.
"Oh, why do you seem to be laughing?" amuse, Daniel asked her so she turned to the man.
“Ah? Oh, nothing,” she lied even though her smile now widened and she could not control it.
"Ara?"
Daniel was still in the tone of amusement and that was the feeling she saw in his eyes and even in the aura of his face when she looked back at the young man. And that is what she sees so she is not able to deny what the young man wants.
So in the end she just found herself speaking and explaining to Daniel.
"I just thought, didn't you insist on taking me home?" she began while staring into the young man's eyes.
Daniel nodded then finally turned on the car engine. "Please show me the way, okay?" he said, and then Ara continued.
"Thank you really, if you did not come that man could have done something bad to me," that was true inside her as she felt the fear swallowing her chest again and she thought that Daniel felt that.
"So next time when I say I'll take you home, just listen to me," the young man said while driving slowly. "And one more thing, of course, I will not allow anyone else to kiss you except me," Daniel added to her surprise.
"What?" Ara asked in shock.
The young man laughed out loud. "I'm only joking, but you can also take it seriously if you want," he said when he looked back and Ara immediately saw the strange message attached to his smile that touched her heart deeply.
"You're really crazy," she said, unable to stop herself from laughing because of that.
Daniel did not speak and instead turned around for a moment to give her that attractive wink. And as usual, Ara immediately felt the intense warmth on her face because of what the young man did. But the annoyance was gone and instead, Ara just felt the pure romantic excitement at what Daniel did. Her knight in shining armor.
