CHAPTER 22 “DANICA”

"ARE you okay?" Daniel in the evening when his car entered the gate.

Her chest throbbed as she faced the young man and then she seemed to have no sense of self that pulled out and let out a sigh.

"I told you before, let's just walk," She moaned and then sighed again.

Ara heard a faint laugh that ran down Daniel's throat. "I don't get you, why do you want to walk when I'm willing to pick you up?"

"Because when we walk I can better prepare myself for meeting your sister," she said truthfully.

Daniel's smile widened as she said that. "What else do you need to be ready for yourself?" his amused question.

"Because I'm nervous! Will you please stop laughing at me!" she complained.

Despite what she said, the amused smile that seemed to be plastered on Daniel's lips is still there. That is why she felt even more annoyed with him. But on the other hand, even though she is annoyed, she still did not lose the thrill. She is still really impressed with Daniel's handsome face and everything.

"Come here," he said, then hugged her tightly. "Just to get rid of your nervousness," he said holding her hand afterward.

Ara turned speechless to what the young man did. And the truth is that she is now even more nervous. It was as if her whole body was paralyzed because she had lost the ability to refuse or even spontaneously slipped from his tight embrace with her.

“It's just my sister, what more if it's my mother that you are going to meet already? What? Are you going to pass out?” Daniel joked that he gently squeezed her hand afterward.

It was then that Ara realized Daniel's natural tenderness. Far from the annoying Daniel she first met and the one who kissed her for the first time.

And speaking of kissing, she let out a loud sigh when she felt the touch of the young man's warm lips on the back of her hand that he was holding.

The nervousness she felt intensified. At the same time, she looked up to Daniel voluntarily.

As soon as their eyes met, there was a clarification to Ara on what she really feels for the young man.

She's in love with him.

She had to admit that even to herself because she knew that if she continued to lie she would be the only one to suffer.

“Isn't everything clear to you? Or do you still want me to tell you to believe?” with their faces so close to each other, Ara freely smelled the fragrant breath of the young man who crossed her face.

"W-What?" Ara in a confused and trembling voice.

That was when Daniel clicks his tongue and then opened his mouth and spoke again. "I feel like I want to believe that a torpe and a numb is not a good combination," he said.

"I do not understand you," she said trying to escape from the young man's embrace but she did not let her. Instead, he tightened his grip on her even more and even in his hand that remained holding hers.

“As long as I live, I am willing to be with you especially in times of weakness and fear, always remember that,” he said then planted a simple kiss on her forehead.

It was as if Ara was floating on the cloud because of what Daniel did.

Yes, she is nervous and it seems that the electricity caused by everything he does to her is permanent. But she could not deny that she is also very happy. And she wanted that, she also wanted to be in Daniel's arms, always. She loves his tight hug because she feels safe. That no one or anything in the world can hurt her.

*****

“FINALLY, in the flesh. Ara,” it was Daniel's warm greeting on her as soon as they entered the house.

"Nice to meet you, Danica," her shy but happy response then accepted the handshake of Daniel's older and only sister's offering to her.

"I've heard so much about you, and don't worry they are all good stories," she even added.

"Hey Dan, please don't talk too much, okay?" Daniel took her to the living room then made her sat on the beautiful and Mediterranean style sofa. "Stay here first, I'll see if dinner is okay," the young man told her.

Ara nodded. When Daniel left that was when Danica started talking again.

"I am happy that you became my brother's friend, he is always happy because of you," Danica stated in her grateful tone.

Ara felt as if her ears started clapping because of that. Because for her and also based on her own experience you are special for a person if you can and can make him or her happy. And it seems that the reason for her to feel that way has been tripled because they are talking about Daniel.

"I am also happy that he became my friend, even though the two of us did not start well," in the last words Ara could not stop from grimacing. It was too late for him to take it back because she had already said so.

Danica laughed because of what she said. "He told me about that and the truth is that by imagining everything he said I'm starting to get thrilled. And I'm also glad when he said that he decided to make up with you on what he did."

Ara's face turned red at what she heard. This means that Danica also knows that Daniel kissed her. Because of that, it was as if she lost her sense of self that she even closed her eyes because of the intense shame she suddenly felt.

"From what I can see, my brother seems very protective of you. you know I never saw him like that in any woman who was his girlfriend before? You may not be asking but when Daniel was in high school he used to be a playboy. He often changes his girlfriends. Only Lilet lasted a little longer,” Danica said.

When she heard that name, Ara suddenly felt a fit of inexplicable jealousy in her chest.

"Lilet?" she asked.

“She was Daniel's last girlfriend in Cebu. She broke up with my brother because she said she did not want a long-distance relationship,” Danica informed her.

Ara couldn't understand but something heavy seemed to suddenly hit her chest because of all those revelations. She's a friend, nothing more, nothing less so she has no right to be jealous. But because she loved the young man, she could not help but feel that way.

“Is that so? And yes he once told me that he had girlfriends before,” she tried not to express the jealousy she felt in the tone of her voice and she succeeded there.

“By the way, next week I will leave for New York. Maybe Daniel already told you about that? ”

She nodded in response to what Danica had said.

"Is it okay if I ask you again to have dinner here that day? You know he may not saying anything but I know he is sad about me leaving. This will be the first time that we'll be separated from each other,” this time Ara sees the sadness in Danica's beautiful eyes.

Ara could see the overwhelming resemblance between the two. That is why she suddenly has in her thought that in case Daniel becomes his husband and they have a daughter and if their future baby girl will look just like him she will definitely be beautiful. Because Danica is a very beautiful woman who is the female version of Daniel.

"Sure, I just have to tell my parents about it," she replied.

Danica smiled. “Do not leave Daniel. I hope you can always accompany him. I really love my brother, and that is probably the reason why I never had a hard time liking the people he likes.”

"Does that mean you like me too?" Ara asked cheerfully.

Danica nodded consecutively. "Why not? Did you know that the first time he told me about you I already got curious? I even want to meet you? And now that it happened already, I understand everything I that have seen and heard,” Danica said meaningfully as she gazes all over her face with so much admiration in her eyes.

Wondering, Ara stared into Danica's impressive eyes. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged before she opened her mouth to speak.

"It would be better if Daniel would be the one to tell you about everything. Anyway, let's go to the dining room already, dinner might be ready. I'm starving," Danica said then stood up and made her way out of the living room and so she followed.

With Daniel's presence so for Ara that dinner became extra special.

After dinner, Danica talked to her for a while then she said goodbye to rest. And that again allowed her to have some alone time with the young man.

"Your sister told me earlier to watch and take care of you when she leaves, she even asked me not to leave you," they were in the veranda catching some fresh air.

They were sitting side by side in an outdoor loveseat made of steel. That's why she heard Daniel when he let out a soft and amused laugh.

"Well, that's my sister, what else can I do?" he said with a smile then.

Ara's eyebrows rose at what she heard. "Are you complaining?"

"Of course not!" the young man's prompt refusal. "I was lucky that she became my sister. Since childhood, she has been always with me. Sometimes I wonder how I can be when she has to leave my side already?” then sadness laced in Daniel's voice.

Ara has a feeling that in those moments Daniel needs someone to listen to him. So she did not comment, she just waited for him to speak again and the young man di not made her wait long.

“I'm used to Mama not by my side, but not my sister. At all times she has always been by my side. I can tell her all my problems. That is why I really love her and maybe it will be a long time before I get used to it without her here. It may take a while before I get used to being alone,” Daniel said, turning to look at her before turning his gaze back to the dark sky.

"Danica mentioned something to me earlier, about Lilet?" this time is thought of asking him if she wanted to clear up the earlier jealousy playing in her chest.

As soon as she said that, Daniel turned to her quickly. Moments later he put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. He seems not yet satisfied there. He grabbed her head and made her leaned on his shoulder.

As usual, Ara was electrocuted and deliciously terrified because of what the young man did. They stayed that way for a while. In silence and as if their hearts were talking.

She was very happy during those hours. She could feel that Daniel loves her too. That is why when the young man held one of her hands and then touched it with a simple kiss, she did not protest. She did not have the courage to look at him and meet his eyes which she knew were staring at her face. So instead, she just squeezed herself on the young man's side and then closed her eyes tightly.

I wish this won’t end. I hope we can be like this, forever.

Ara wanted to tell Daniel but she decided not to.