CHAPTER 20 “MATCHMAKER”

"HOW are you?" Daniel one day while she was busy encoding newly arrived books in the computer.

"The way you talk it's like we haven't seen each other for a long time," she said chuckling softly then glanced at Daniel who was sitting in the chair in front of the working table. And as usual, he is still staring at her.

Daniel laughed softly as he remained to stare at her face. She could not just say it but every time Daniel did that she seemed so anxious that she could not explain.

"Have you eaten your lunch already?" Daniel asked her a moment later.

Ara shook her head. "How about you?" she asked the young man.

"No, I'm waiting for you," he replied bluntly.

"W-What?" nervousness immediately enveloped Ara's chest because of what Daniel said.

Daniel laughed softly. "Let's eat lunch together? Jason is still on duty," he told her.

Ara nodded then turned her attention back to what she was doing. She may not have the courage to admit to Daniel but the truth is she also liked the idea of having lunch with him. Honestly not just at every meal but at all times.

Just the other day a very unforgettable and romantic event happened in her life because of Daniel and she has not been able to fully move on about that. Now, he is here again and continues to give her a reason to be inspired and desire to be with him every day.

"Are you sure? Can you still wait for thirty minutes?” said Ara who could not stop laughing softly because of the romantic excitement that she feels at that very moment.

That was when Daniel stood up as the corner of his lips rose with amusement. Not long until his hand moved then crossed the small distance between the two of them.

Ara felt as if her world had stopped spinning when she felt Daniel's gentle pinch on her right cheek.

After all, what is that compared to the kiss he gave her before?

But she felt differently and seemed to have that strange kind of electricity attached to her that quickly penetrated every fiber of her body. Daniel kept staring at her so she knew he was free to see how her face turned red again.

"Y-Your time of duty is over?"

Wanting to part with the strange kind of atmosphere between the two of them, that's what Ara thought of asking. But she still could not hide that she was affected by what Daniel did because of the trembling of her voice.

Another thing, she memorized Daniel's schedule for the whole week. In fact, she writes it in her diary.

"The way you ask me it seems that you really don't know my schedule," Daniel said with a meaningful smile afterward.

Ara was surprised by what the young man said. Is she really so transparent that even what's on her mind can be guessed or defined by the young man?

She opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by what she wanted to say because Daniel spoke again.

"I'll just wait for you at the baggage counter," he said winking before he finally leaves the room.

Stunned at what happened, Ara was left there.

What is happening to me? Looks like Daniel has an idea of how I feel for him?

It was then that Ara gradually began to feel anxious.

If Daniel is a different man, it might not be a big deal for her if he knows that she has a crush on the young man. Because in fact, that word is not something serious for her. But because he kissed her, it seems like she can't bear to talk about her true feelings for the man.

That was when Ara thought deeply.

What if she is like this because she no longer feels just a simple crush for Daniel?

What if she has fallen for him? In other words, is she in love with the young man?

Ara did nothing else to that question but answer it with a heavy sigh. She should have been aware that everything would reach this point. She just didn't want to admit it but even before, she really didn't feel a simple crush, she just tried to cover up the truth with all the annoyance that she felt for Daniel.

But now, she is scared. She's afraid that she might fall in love with him and to know that Daniel only sees her as a friend.

How to control feelings? Is it possible to avoid it?

At the last thought, Ara did not want to agree.

She knew she could not avoid Daniel. She will be sad when she does that.

Ara sighed again and then glanced at the clock on the wall.

Leave it to fate if she is really destined to fall in love with Daniel. All she knew is that she could not avoid him. She knew that if she did that she would only torment herself severely.

She is happy when she is with the young man. They do not run out of things to talk about. But there are also times when they are both able to enjoy the silence of the surroundings when they are together.

*****

"LET'S go?" Ara when she got out of the library and found Daniel talking to Jason.

"I'm starting to get jealous. You guys are the ones who always eat together," said Jason who was then on duty at the baggage counter.

Ara laughed softly. "Blame the one who made our schedule," she said.

Jason just nodded then let out a weak laugh. "All right, I'll just text Jenny. I'll ask her if she can have lunch with me," he said.

It was then that Ara and Daniel exchanged meaningful looks. And when she couldn't stand it, Ara spoke again.

"Are you guys dating?" she asked with a mixture of teasing in her voice.

“No! And where did that idea of yours come from? ” Jason's quick answer.

Ara's beautiful eyebrows rose as her best friend answered her.

"You're both my best friends so don't play with her feelings because I will definitely be mad at you. See this?" she said then showed Jason her fist.

Jason just laughed at what she did. "Jenny is my friend too, so I can't definitely do to her as you say," he assured her.

"It simply came to our notice then. But in case you want to date her you need to know that she is the type who needs to take seriously. Beautiful, kind, and very intelligent, what more could you ask for?”

That's true and she doesn't say all that just to build up Jenny with Jason because she found out Jenny's feelings for him. But because that is the truth.

“Stop it, Jenny is still young. If I have any feelings for her, it's like how an older brother feels about his youngest sister. I am an only child remember?” Jason explained.

"Oh really?"

"Dude, please get that woman out of here, she really has the power to tease," Jason finally told Daniel.

Daniel just laughed at what Jason said. "Let's go," he told her.

"All right," Ara replied. "Bye!" her meaningful farewell to Jason.

"See you later, my goodness you're such a bully!" Jason said while laughing.

"Tsk, just like what I told you, she's my best friend!" she teases for the last time before turning her back on Jason.

*****

"WHAT are you doing?" Daniel asked her with amusement as they walked towards the university canteen.

Ara giggled and then looked up at Daniel. "Aren't they something?"

“Jason to Jenny? Is that what you mean? ” he asked her while frowning.

“Who else? You know I want them to stay together?” that is true within her. And she is happy that there is a Daniel she could tell things about these.

"So you are a matchmaker now?" he asked chuckling.

Ara's eyes rolled. "I can't tell you what I know," she said.

"Why not? I'm not talkative,” Daniel told her.

Ara thought deeply. “Promise? You will not tell anyone about it if I tell you?”

Daniel nodded. "Of course, your trust is the most important thing to me, if you know what I mean?" the young man added.

Ara seems to want to give a different meaning to what Daniel said. But because she did not want to see any reason to finally hope that they have the same feelings, she quickly let it out of her mind.

"What?" Daniel asked her as she remained silent.

"What if I ask you to help me?" suddenly an idea formed in her mind.

"How can I help you if I don't know what you are talking about?"

Ara bit her lower lip because of Daniel's response to her question. She seems to have no choice. Anyway, she trusts the young man so she thinks she will not speak to anyone about it.

"I can trust you, right?" she asked after a while.

"You can trust me with your life," Daniel assured.

Then Ara stopped walking so the young man did the same. "Come I'll whisper it to you," she said, signaling Daniel.

Because of that, Daniel bowed to her and then brought his ear closer to her.

"What do you think?" she asked with a smile.

Daniel shrugged. "I will try."

"Do you know something much better?"

As he remained to gaze at her, that was when the corner of Daniel's lips rose. There was a strange gleam in his eyes that caused her heart to beat faster.

"I'll tell you later," he said laughing and then pinched her chin slightly. "But for now, let's eat first," he said as he put his arm around her shoulder and then guided her towards the canteen.

That simple gesture had a quick effect on Ara. She could not understand but she always felt this way every time they touch. Or maybe she knows why but because she does not want to hope she is trying to ignore it.