CHAPTER 15 “DEAR DIARY”

ARA woke up early the next day to go to school.

That's exactly what she does every day because before their first subject, as S.A they have to report to the library to time in.

But she had to admit that there was something strange about how she felt that morning and she knew what it was. Because she was excited to see and be with Daniel who just like her will also be the first to go to the library to time in.

A sweet and thrilling smile flashed on the young lady's lips as she was busy fixing herself in front of the mirror in her room.

This is not the first time she has had a crush, but this is the first time she felt a thrill as romantic as this. Or rather to say that she feels more like what she feels for Daniel.

"Mama I'm leaving," she went out of her room and found her mother in the living room busy wiping their furniture. She approached her then kissed her on the cheek.

"Okay, take care. Just ride a tricycle and when you go home so you can avoid the drunks like what happened to you last night," said Susan who she saw grabbing inside the pocket of her dress.

Then Ara shook her head one after another. "Keep it, Mama, I still have money," she said when she guessed what her mother is about to do.

Her mother nodded then smiled. “All right, be careful. If there is a problem, just call or text,” Susan instructed her before she finally left the house.

There is no build-up of traffic so earlier than she expected Ara arrived at the university. And because it was still early, Ara first thought of going through the university bookstore right inside their campus.

She really planned on buying a ballpen. But when she got to the shelf of notebooks, a green notebook quickly grabbed the young lady's attention.

It was a thick and hardcover, a planner type. When she opened it she saw how beautiful its paper. Ara suddenly thought of Daniel then she smiled meaningfully. That was all and she did not hesitate to buy it.

*****

"GOOD morning!" Jason greeted her warmly when she met her friend who was on duty at the library's baggage counter.

"What are you in there?" Ara asked in surprise.

“Daniel traded with me. He said he will be the only one who to do the floor mopping,” said Jason who laughed softly.

Ara secretly felt the thrill and gratitude for what she heard. If so, Daniel will be with her again inside.

“Is that so? ” she asked trying to hide the thrill in her tone and Ara succeeded there.

Jason answered her with a shrug, so Ara just entered the library. Inside she was disappointed not to see Daniel there so she thought he might be inside the office and she was not mistaken.

"Hello," their almost simultaneous utterance, which eventually made them both laugh.

"How are you?" the young man who stopped mopping the floor then stared at her.

“Okay, you? Shouldn't you be at the baggage counter now? ” she asked then lowered her things to the empty chair in front of an empty working table where she always does the encoding of books.

"Let's just say, I prefer it here," Daniel replied while smiling meaningfully.

Ara's face quickly blushed at what Daniel had done, as well as what he said so she decided to just look away from the young man.

This is not the first time that their eyes met or it is more accurate to say that Daniel stared at her like that. Because after all, he had already kissed her. But after what happened last night, something seemed to change. And that's what Ara can't explain right now.

"I-I'll just get something," she said, wanting to avoid the strange kind of tension between her and Daniel at that time.

"Okay," was the young man's short answer then he continued what he was doing.

An hour later, Ara also said goodbye to their librarian Shiela when she was about to attend her first subject. There she caught up with Daniel and Jason as they came out of the library building who at that moment was also heading to their first subject.

"Will you come with us this lunch?" that was Jason.

Ara knew that in those moments Daniel's eyes were focused on her. She didn't have to look at him anymore because she could feel the young man staring at her and she couldn't understand, but she really couldn't get enough courage or even glance at him for a moment.

“It's okay but I'm not sure yet. I'll just text you,” she said to Jason.

"By the way, Ara, I don't have your cell phone number yet," said Daniel.

"H-Huh?" she said stammering.

Ara heard the faint laugh that Daniel released. "Alright, I'll just ask Jason about it?" the amusement in Daniel's tone caused the discomfort she felt intensified.

“Ah, there's no need for that, give me your phone,” Ara replied which seemed to return to her sanity, and then handed the cellphone from Daniel.

"I'll go ahead, I'll just tell you if I can keep up because I also have someone with me, my friend," she was referring to Jenny.

"Is that so, maybe it would be better if you will invite her to join us as well?" it was Daniel who caused her to turn to the young man.

That was when their eyes met again, Ara suddenly felt as if she had lost herself again, which is why she just nodded and agreed with what Daniel wanted to happen.

"Okay, see you later," Ara said then smiled sweetly at the young man. "Bye," she added.

*****

JUST like what Daniel wanted to happen, she brought Jenny with her to have lunch with them. And the young man was actually right, they enjoyed lunch even more.

"What do you think, let's go home together tonight? I'll give you a ride," Daniel when they walk back to school together while Jason and Jenny are together and behind them.

“Is that okay? Will you not be disturbed?” she asked Daniel.

The young man laughed softly before speaking. "I'm the one who offered you, right? What do you think?"

Ara nodded consecutively then smiled sweetly along with a simple shrug. "Okay, if that's what you want," she replied then tried not to mix the thrill she felt with the tone of her voice.

*****

WITH a beautiful smile, Ara caresses the first page of the notebook with her gaze. She opened it and left the first-page blank. On the second page, she wrote the words...

PERSONAL PROPERTY BY ARABELLA MADRIGAL

On the next page is the date that day she wrote on the upper right part. She then began the story by writing two words. The Dear Diary ...

Still, with a beautiful smile, Ara started to write down all the happy things that happened to her that day. Because if then she tried to deny her feelings for Daniel, now she does not. She has accepted everything and she is willing to embrace the whole truth that Daniel is special in her heart and this is the reason and will be the hero of her diary.