Chapter 61

2022.09.16

I met Daniel at the mall. I had been talking to him a lot lately. I have met with him alone around five times now. I only knew after I arrived to the mall that it was someone's birthday so he invited me and some of his friends. "Who is it Dany. You should have told me earlier I did not bring anything on me." "Relax it is okay. It is someone I want you to meet." We waited patiently. I watched Daniel in silence. He smelled today really good. I was taking heavy breaths. "Are you okay? Do you have asthma?" I held my breath and looked at him. He was concerned. "No, just. I am bored waiting. Come on, why the suspense? Tell me who is it."

After around fifteen minutes Daniel's best friend came. "Hey Anns. You are present too." "Is it your birthday?" He looked at Daniel and asked, "You did not still tell her." He smiled. "Now I am getting really curious." "Wait. I want to see her reaction when she sees her." Daniel spoke. "Her?! How many girlfriends do you have?" "No, I am serious this time. And I did not have girlfriends. Just only two." I rolled my eyes. I wanted to kill time. His best friend spoke, "Anna say a lame joke." "Okay. When you go to a house visit. They keep sweets at first why?" "Why?" "To eat." Daniel slammed his hand on his head and his best friend laughed. "That is a good one." The rest of his friends came. I spoke to Daniel in whisper, "Why am I only the girl?" "So that she would not feel uncomfortable." "Huh, third wheel." He smiled dearly.

Within five minutes, she arrived. I learnt her name is Marilyn. I gazed for a while. I felt insecure. She was tall. She went well with Daniel's height. I saw their clasping hands when they met. My heart skipped a beat. It ached. I looked at the veins popping from Daniel hands that clasped tightly with her smooth hand. 'Stop it Anna. You look like a pervert.' We had meal at a fast food stall. I sat next to her. I felt a bit uncomfortable. She was feeling comfortable. The table turned unexpectedly. Daniel's best friend sat in front of me. He noticed. He smiled. I smiled back. We both talked as we both felt uncomfortable. "So, this is how it feels to be like a third wheel." I laughed and nodded. He went past me to talk with Daniel and his new girlfriend. I was feeling a bit uneasy.

"Hey, how are you?" It was Tim. The guy who proposed me after the Advanced Levels. I was shocked that he came today. Daniel and he do not get along as I heard from Daniel. "Doing fine. You?" He walked along with me. "Pretty well. I am going to start a business." "That is nice. Good Luck with it." "You have lost wait and gone prettier. The dress looks good on you." I was having a relapse. I remembered the way he proposed. 'I like you a lot. Whenever I see you I want to hug and kiss you.' I took a step to the left away from him. I started to sweat a bit. I was watching Daniel and his BFF. I wanted to run away from this awkward situation. "I though you will get together with Daniel. He liked you a lot. I know that I am not as handsome as Daniel. My parents are forcing me to get a girlfriend you know." I was desperate. Finally Daniel looked back. I looked at him in the eyes. He got the signal. He knew that he proposed to me in past year. "Hey, Tim. Come over here for a minute." He nudged his BFF. He slowed down and caught up with me. He did not say anything he just walked with me. We were going to watch a movie. "Um. I think I do not feel well. Can you give this to Marilyn? I am leaving." He nodded. I left without saying Daniel goodbye.

I did not leave because of Tim. I was late again. I did not know if to propose. He gave me clear signs that he liked me. Even Tim mentioned it several times although he crushed on me. I panted. I ran from the mall. I sat down on the bench watching the lake in front of me. My phone buzzed. It was Daniel. 'You left? By the way, Marilyn loved the bracelet.' I did not reply. My mother called me. "I am on my way mom. My shoe broke." I ended the call. I took my shoe and tore the sole. I walked the next few miles with no bottom in the shoe. On the turn to my house there is a man who fixes shoes. I visited him and got it fixed and paid him. I did not want to take a cab. I walked and finally I came home.

"Sorry mom. I got late." "You fixed the shoe?" "Yeah, it was on the way right. I did not want to go to town again so I waited for more fifteen minutes to get it fixed." She nodded and went to make dinner. I washed up and went to help my mother with the dinner.

2022.09.22

"How about this one?" I was getting tired with Steven. It was almost two hours now. He was thinking so much on a mere necklace. I thought it was so romantic but it was now really annoying. I did not know why I agreed to come. "Are we done yet?" "Are you sure that she will like it?" "Yes. And if she does not I will wear it. Come on! We have to hurry and get other things." He was hesitating. "Steven, the real thing matters is that how you present it. Do you like it?" He nodded. "Then take it." We went to a couple of shops to get another gift. We sat down exhausted. "What shall we take? We have only one hour left. I will get the materials for the project." He sat down and was window shopping.

I went to the stationary store to get some stuff that were not available in father's shop. There was so much stuff that was distracting me. I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and saw someone that was quite familiar but I do not know where I had seen her. Then next to her was Lily's mother. Wait that is Lily. My heavens she looks like thirty five year old aunty. I automatically sat down. The lady next to me looked in a weird way. I smiled at her. I started to talk to myself. "Why am I hiding? I did not do anything right? These are enough. Let us go." I slowly stood to see where they were. They were facing the wall. I quickly checked to the counter and asked him to hurry up. I dashed out of the shop to get Steven.

"You are done?" I asked Steven watching my back. "What flowers shall we pick?" We have only forty minutes left. "This one." "Why?" "Can you please get it?" "Are you okay? Did any of your relatives came?" "No! Worse. I will tell you on the way. Hurry up." he hurried and picked the bouquet that had Daisies and Roses.