CHAPTER 24 "FIRST REAL KISS"

WHERE Ara had taken the courage to say those words, she did not know. And if she had something specific in those moments it was the truth of what she said to the young man.

She wanted a long and more passionate kiss. And she wanted that to come from Daniel. So she was happy that the young man asked her for it. Because somehow, maybe he also felt that that was what she was looking for since the first time he kissed her.

Daniel smiled as his eyes gleam with obvious happiness.

Ara knew that like her the young man is also very happy.

"Are you sure? You won't be angry? You won't slap me just like what you did before?" Daniel asked in a tone that seemed to be asking for reassurance from her.

She shook her head consecutively.

If only she has the courage, she wants to admit to Daniel that she is deeply in love with him.

This is the reason for all her smiles. Even her sorrows and doubts. But she could not, she is shamed and still did not seem to have enough courage to do such a thing.

"Don't you want to ask me why I want to kiss you?" that question from Daniel cut through her deep thought.

Ara stared at the young man's very handsome face.

Now, she seemed to want to believe that Daniel could read her mind.

"W-What?" the only thing Ara said.

That was when the young man smiled kindly at her again. He took and lowered the bowl she was holding to the center table and then reached out her two hands.

As before, Ara felt the familiar flow of electricity that again penetrated every fiber of her body because of Daniel's simple grip on her hands.

Ara felt a strange and more intense tension that quickly enveloped the whole room.

She even felt that the room suddenly shrank even though they were the only two there.

Her chest throbbed so fast that she could not deny the intense warmth of her whole face that she could feel at that moment.

"Ara?" when she remained silent and just stared at Daniel that was what Ara again heard from the young man.

"I-I'm sorry," it was as if she had just regained her sanity.

The young lady bowed her head to avoid Daniel's gazes at her. But it was only a moment when she noticed that the young man had taken something from the pocket of his shorts.

"What is this?" she asked wondering then shifted her gaze to Daniel and the paper Jason handed to her.

"Open it," Daniel replied smiling.

Even if she did not speak or even if she did not admit she knew she was familiar with the texture of that paper. Gradually her chest tightened.

After opening the paper, Ara finally proved that her suspicion was correct. It was also accompanied by confirmation and mixed emotions that eventually brought tears to her eyes.

"I-It's you?" she said crying.

Daniel nodded. "I'm sorry, that's the only way I know and have thought so that I can somehow convey to you what I really feel," he admitted.

And tears completely blurred the young lady's eyes.

She had a preconceived notion when she first saw a letter stuck in her diary, that Daniel is the one who wrote and put it in there.

Even though it was computerized, her hunch still says something different. And the six dots beneath the final greeting represent each letter of the young man's name.

Ara takes a look at Daniel's face before she cried as she returned her attention to the letter to read.

This time the message written in there is no longer computerized.

Instead, it is the familiar and very beautiful handwriting that she knew very well. None other than Daniel's.

*****

My Dearest Ara,

For how long I always wanted to tell you the truth.

Forgive me if I choose to hide behind the anonymous love letters that I still struggle with how to put in your bag or stick to your books. Because just like my sister once told me, I am torpe.

Maybe this is how it really is when a man is in love with the woman he likes. Feeling scared and hesitant, like me, I was skeptical and afraid that we might not feel the same way. I am afraid that all my qualities, all that I have, and all that I can give may not be enough for you to pass your standard.

I love you so much, Ara.

I just can’t tell you how much my love is. But I'm sure, it is big enough to make me feel and see myself growing old with you.

I love you so much, Ara. And I promise I will continue to love you, as long as I live. And just in case the time comes and we need to be apart, in the next life you can expect that my heart will still be looking for you, and that will serve as a guide for us to meet again.

Always and Forever,

Daniel

******

"HUSH, don't cry anymore," it was Daniel to her after she read the letter.

It was when she looked up at the young, and when she could not stand it she voluntarily hugged him tightly.

"I love you so much, Daniel," she whispered as she continued to weep silently.

Because of what she said it was then that Daniel quickly pulled her away and stare straight into her eyes.

"A-Ara," he whispered then cupped her face with his both hands.

"I love you so much, Daniel. Ever since I first received this letter with the same paper I thought and I feel that it came from you. And also the ones that followed. Even though I did not want to hope and assume, my heart seemed to want to do that, that's what it wants to believe so I didn't do anything but follow what it wanted," in the end, Ara decided to admit everything to Daniel.

"Oh sweetheart, you don't know how much you made me happy," Daniel said as he pulled her closer and hugged her tightly.

"Daniel," she said still crying because of the great happiness she feels.

"Do you know for the first time in my whole life I have experienced how to feel insecurity in my own qualities? And I only felt that for you, because that is how deep the love that I feel for you. The first time I just saw you walking in front of our house, even though I only saw your back you already caught my attention. And it didn't end there. Also on the roof deck and in the quadrangle. That is why I was very happy when I had the chance to see you up close, in the lobby of our building," Daniel's long statement as he began to dry her wet face.

"We are made for each other, and I am sure about that," the young man continued while she kept on crying silently, unable to control her tears from flowing down freely.

Ara nodded then smiled sweetly at the young man. "Yes, we are made for each other," she replied meaningfully that she thinks Daniel got the meaning since she witnesses his handsome face lit up.

"So that means?" Daniel further clarified.

Ara nodded consecutively then raised both hands and like the young man she also closed his face with her hands. "Yes," she said.

As soon as she said that, Daniel's smile widened. It did not take long and he completely crossed the small space between them when he finally took her lips and gave her her first real kiss.