CHAPTER 16 “LOVE LETTER”

DANIEL was on the veranda at that time and was busy playing the guitar when he felt the presence of someone standing behind him.

"Do you need anything?" he asked Danica who sat on the vacant chair opposite to the one he occupied.

His sister just shrugged before she opened her mouth to speak. "Looks like you are the one who needs it, what did I hear from Salyn that you have a woman in your car when you go home?" he heard in Danica's tone was a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

"What?"

He heard Danica clicks her tongue. "Come on Daniel, you have to admit, who is that and it looks like you have a love life already even though the semester has just started?" his sister continued asking him.

That was when Daniel laughed and laid his guitar on the center table and then spoke. "That was Ara, she is also from here in our village," he replied.

He knew Danica so well, he knew she would not stop until he confessed to her so he decided to just tell his sister the truth.

"Yeah?" Danica said meaningfully.

Daniel shook his head consecutively then took his guitar and stood up. "Right, I'm going to sleep now. I need to wake up early tomorrow. And by the way, I haven't told you already that I will be a student assistant in the library for the whole school year," he said before leaving his sister.

He knew that by doing that he had aroused Danica's curiosity even more. So he was not surprised when his sister followed him until he could enter his room.

“What? And how did that happen?” asked Danica wondering.

"I'm going to sleep sis, let's just talk tomorrow," he said laughing then grabbed Danica by the arm and pulled her out of his room.

"B-But---,"

“Please? Tomorrow, I promise I will tell you the whole story, ” he assured her then closed the door of his room.

Alone, Daniel sat quietly on the edge of his large bed. He then dropped himself there and for a moment stared at the white ceiling.

He wants to tell Ara about the secret feelings that he feels for her. But he did not know if it was right for him to admit everything to the young lady even though it was too early?

With a sigh, Daniel answered his own question, then got up and took a pad of stationery paper from his side table drawer that he remembers he bought along with the things he needed for the opening of the first semester at a well-known bookstore.

It has a beautiful design, guitar and red rose.

He did not think that he could use it in this situation. After typing the date, Daniel started making a simple letter for the young lady. But because he was worried that Ara might recognize his handwriting, the young man decided to do it using his laptop and then he printed it out on a piece of paper with a mysterious design.

Dear Ara,

It doesn't matter who I am. What is important is my feelings for you. I do not know where it came from and where it is going? You are so beautiful. And for me, you are the most beautiful woman in my world.

Take care of yourself. You're important to me.

Always,

......

*****

"YOU'RE torpe," Danica said the next day as they ate breakfast. "But what if she is numb and is someone like me who does not assume anything? What will happen to your love story?

Daniel's eyebrows quickly met what he heard. "Excuse me?" he asked in a protesting voice.

In the Philippines, the word torpe is used when a man is afraid or does not have the courage to admit how special he feels to a woman.

Then his sister took her cup of coffee and drank. “Why, isn't it true that you are torpe? Why do you have to go through an anonymous letter? Why don't you just admit to her that you like her? ” she said to him.

"It's complicated, I feel like Jason likes her too," he said following what he said with a deep sigh.

"Jason, your friend?" Danica clarified.

Daniel nodded then continued eating.

That is true.

Yes, and in the beginning, he did not want to admit to himself the concerns that Jason has about Ara.

But yesterday when they ate lunch together, Daniel noticed in Jason's stealthy glances at the young lady that Ara is not just a friend for him.

"It simply came to our notice then. But it is also difficult to jump to a conclusion. You may not know, what if Jason is really like that, caring for his friends most especially girls?” his sister explained.

Danica had a point in what she said. "I hope so, because just in case, of course, I also do not want to ruin my friendship with Jason," he said truthfully.

“Maybe it would be better for you to introduce me to Ara. I am curious about her, ” Danica was in the tone of what she said so Daniel couldn't help but smile.

Daniel just laughed then nodded and stood up. "I'm leaving," he said to her sister and then he even kissed her on the head before leaving.

The young man was already in his car when he remembered something. After that, he smiled and started dialing on his phone.

*****

ARA'S chest throbbed immediately after reading the number registered on her phone screen. But of course, she did not have to show that she was nervous and she was affected by the simple call from Daniel so she tried to normalize the tone of her voice when she accepted it and the young lady succeeded there.

"Daniel, how are you?" her happy introduction to the young man.

"I would like to ask you if you want to join me in going to school so you don't have to commute?" the man on the other line asked her.

Ara's smile quickly widened because of what she heard. "Is that so, I think," she said stunned for a moment because she really did not know if she would accept Daniel's offer or reject it.

“Just say yes, I'm going there okay? I am on my way,” he said then cut the line.

Because of that, Ara's nervousness immediately intensified. Fortunately, she was finished fixing herself because she had just left the room when she heard a car stop in front of their house.

"Mom, I'm leaving," she called to her mother who was in the kitchen.

"All right, be careful," her mother replied then before Ara finally left the house.

"Hey, good morning!" Daniel greeted her warmly when she opened the passenger side door.

"Good morning," Ara replied shyly then boarded. "Thank you for the free ride again," she added then shyly smiled.

The young man just nodded. "Let's go?" he asked her.

"Okay," was Ara's simple and short answer.

How happy she was in those moments, she could not explain. All she knew was that she was happy, not only because Daniel was with her when she went to school but also because he himself offered her a ride. And for someone like her who secretly admires the young man, that is a big thing, so she can say that her whole day is really complete again because of Daniel.

*****

IT is a big challenge for Daniel on how he could send or give Ara the letter he made last night. He did not get perfect timing so it was not easy for him to do that thing. That's why he chose to just put it in the pocket of his pants. Jason did not have lunch with them. His lunch schedule was earlier that is he and Ara went together.

"Let's just eat in the canteen?"Daniel asked Ara as they left the library building.

Ara nodded. "Wait a minute, I need to go to the comfort room, if you want you can go first. I'll just follow," she said as she was about to turn her back but Daniel quickly grabbed the young lady's arm to stop her.

“It's okay, I’ll wait for you here. Just hand me your books so that you will not have a hard time,” he said.

Ara just nodded then handed him what he was asking for. When he was left behind, he hurriedly took the letter out of his pocket and then simply tucked it in the green notebook that was on top of the books Ara has given to him. With the intensity of the nervousness he was feeling at those times, it was as if he really wanted to agree with what Danica had told him earlier, that he is torpe. In there the young man secretly laughed.