CHAPTER 26 "REALIZATION"

"REALLY? Wow, I'm happy for you!" Jenny even hugged her cheerfully the next day when she informed her about the real status between her and Daniel.

Ara smiled beautifully. "Thank you, you know how happy I am. This is how it feels when the person you secretly love feels the same way for you," she said as she places a hand under her chin and sighed because of the overflowing happiness that filled her heart.

"Really? Oh how I wish I also have this chance with Jason, what do you think?" the way Jenny spoke Ara felt the longing that what her best friend said can somehow happen.

"Of course, you are very beautiful and smart, every quality of a woman a man is looking for is already in you. And another thing, Jason is very kind and caring to you, so it is not impossible that what happened to me can also happen to you," Ara said as she gave Jenny's hand a nice tap.

Everything she said was true. Jason is caring and very protective of Jenny. So she did not believe what Jason had told them before that he looked at Jenny as a younger sister.

"I hope so. But hey, does your parent knows?" after a while, Jenny asked her again.

Ara shook her head. "I haven't told them about it yet. I actually talked to Daniel about it, to keep our relationship in secret from my parents in the meantime. You know I actually feel shy since Daniel did not court me," she admitted.

That was when Jenny's beautiful eyebrows rose. "Is that really how it has to be? Isn't it more important that you guys are very much in love with each other? You know I should tell you, I know some who had a long courtship but they split up eventually. And most of the reason why they decide to end their relationship is a third party."

"Oh, why is that you seem so knowledgeable about love? Aren't we the same, no experience about dating since we are both NBSB or no boyfriend since birth?" she teases Jenny.

"Have you forgotten already? We own a small bakery and I can hear our bakers talking about those things. And sometimes from our regular customers, their mothers actually are the ones sharing those stories to my mother," Jenny explained to her.

Ara nodded. "So you think I should tell my parents the truth?"

"Of course! And why is it that you still have to hide or keep it from your parents when you are not hurting anyone? You are both single and your parents are not against your relationship."

With everything that she has heard it is only then that Ara completely understands everything. It is only then that she completely realized what exactly is the right thing to do for her and Daniel.

Jenny was actually right.

They do not have anything to hide since her parents are not against her boyfriend. And it is also true that courtship is not enough to prove one's relationship.

"What do you think?" when she remained silent that was what Jenny asked her.

Ara nodded. "Tonight I will tell my parents about me and Daniel," she said.

She saw Jenny open her mouth to speak a reply to what she said but that was stopped when they both saw Jason standing by the door of their classroom who even waved at her.

"Go, he might tell you something," she told Jenny then gave her a meaningful smile.

"Oh stop," Jenny told her blushing.

"What did he say?" she asked when Jenny came back to her seat.

"He asked me what time is my lunch break, he said we'll have lunch together," Jenny response to her.

"Is that so? Oh, why is it that we never had the chance to have a lunch break together? It's been a while since the four of us hang out," she said.

Jenny just nodded. "I agree with you, but anyway no matter how long it may take I know for a fact that the four of us would soon cross paths."

*****

JASON watches Jenny as she sweetly smiles while approaching the concrete bench he is now sitting on.

It has been months since the very first day he met Ara and from then she has always been the constant thought in her mind. It is because Ara is not difficult to like. After all, apart from being very beautiful, she has always been very kind.

But because of what Daniel confesses to him earlier it is now that he finally realizes how and what he truly feels for Ara.

He loves her. But he is not in the right place to fight for what he feels for her because it is not in his nature to destroy someone's relationship.

Yes, he can actually tell and it is very on how much Daniel loves the young lady and the other way around. And if he interrupts, he knows the woman he loves will be the first to be hurt.

He will try to turn his feelings to others. He will try to date, just in case, he does that he will forget Ara and he will be able to be really happy about her.

But Jenny, the young lady is not among those women.

Jenny is kind, beautiful, and smart. And he knew she needed him, he needed to protect her and that is the role that he saw he had to play in Jenny's life. Because just like he said before to Ara and Daniel, he wanted to take care of her as a younger sister, and that is the only reason why she always wanted to see her and be with her.

"I'm sorry if I made you wait," Jenny said as soon as she approached him.

He stared at the face of the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He is always like that even though that isn't the first time he stared at Jenny.

"It's okay, as long as it's you there will be no problem," he replied taking the paper bag she was holding which he knew contained her books.

Jenny laughed softly. "Do you already know about Daniel and Ara?" she asked him.

He then turned to the girl who at that moment was with him walking out of the university. Surprisingly he didn't feel any pain drawing in his chest at what Jenny had said.

Is it because of the beautiful sparkles in the girl's eyes that he sees now? Maybe it also includes her sweet smile. He did not even admit it but he knew that they brought him comfort.

"Yes, Daniel told me earlier," he said secretly congratulating himself because he managed not to mix bitterness with what he said.

"I'm happy for them. You know because I've known for a long time that Ara has feelings for Daniel. How about you? Is Daniel telling you anything about Ara?" Jenny asked him again.

"No, Daniel is a private person so I won't be surprised there," he replied.

"But I think you're more private," because of what Jenny said, he was stunned.

"What?" the only thing he asked later.

"You're more private because I'm the one you often get along with. I'm still confused with you and sometimes I even have a hard time reading you," Jenny admitted to him.

Jason did not know how he would feel about what Jenny said. If what she said was true, maybe it was not obvious to others how he really felt for Ara.

"You know I did not expect that you can be talkative sometimes," he joked then pinched the young lady's beautiful nose.

Jenny just laughed again at what he said. "I'm sorry, I'm just too happy for my best friend. You know, I'm just like you, an only child," she explained, which he immediately understood.

At that point, Jason could not deny the light feeling he had. And that's because of Jenny. That's why he could not stop himself when he places his arm on her shoulder and then dragged her closer to him.

He knew she was surprised at what he did because he saw it register on Jenny's face. But that was only for a moment and she immediately recovered.

"Am I not your older brother?" he said asking.

"Will you allow me to call you a big brother?" Jenny teases him.

"Of course not. But for your information, if just in case you have suitors already you have to introduce them to me first. I need to know them personally and they need to pass my standard. I don't want my little sister to get fooled and ended up crying," he told her grinning from ear to ear.

"Don't worry dating is not included in my plans yet," Jenny chuckles softly. "and please remove that arm of yours, it's heavy. Other's may even think that you are my boyfriend," she complained while frowning slightly.

Jason just laughed at what his best friend said. Then, as Jenny said, he removed his arm from her shoulder and instead held her hand tightly.

"Don't complain anymore, let them think that I am your boyfriend, after all, I am handsome and you are beautiful, we are definitely a perfect match," he said promptly when he saw Jenny's eyebrows meet as she shifted her gaze to their hands and in his face.

He is still confused now, but if anything is clear to him, it is the fact that he wants to protect this girl and he is willing to let go of how he feels for Ara. And he can only do that if he puts space between him and Daniel.

It is difficult but necessary.