Phew!

We arrived home safely, and I tried to keep my thoughts to myself because I didn’t want him to see me as pushy and needy. Yes, I wanted him to ask me out or something, but I drifted by his waves. Now that I heard him mentioning Luna to his siblings, which must have something to do with me, I had assurance.

They spent the entire afternoon with me, especially Daisy and Dylan. We had a great time together, although we just met that day. Daniel was with mom. She was showing him our cornfield and all sorts of things you can't find in the packhouse.

Daisy told me they should go back to the packhouse because it was getting late, even though they have called their parents. My mother, after thanking them, told them they’re always welcome home.

Daniel and Dylan came into my room to tell me they were going. Seeing Daniel in my room reminded me of how garbled my room was always. My room was everything but organized. He did me a favor and about it, because I would have died of embarrassment! Instead, they told me to get well soon. I saw Daisy winking at Dylan and they walked out of the room simultaneously, leaving Daniel with me alone in my room.

Daniel pulled a chair, taking my hoodie that was on it to the hanger. He sat down and stared at me, looking like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. His eyes were fixed on my face, which made me feel shy. After a silence of at least ten seconds, he asked me, “How are you feeling?”

“I- uh, the pain is wearing off, thanks to you guys. Thank you for driving me here. I guess the train would have made it worse.” I replied shyly.

“Oh, it's nothing. Plus, we got to meet your mother! By the way, your mother is very kind,” he said.

His phone chimed; after glimpsing at it, he stood up, wiped her pants, and said, “I'm glad you’re feeling great. Speedy recovery.” I could see that he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. I smiled at him, saying, “Bye! See you at school”

The whole time, my fingers were crossed, I hoped that he would ask me out, but he didn't, although his attraction to me and mine to him seemed a little elevated and kept escalating as days went on since I saw him.

He turned back, heading sluggishly to the door. He waved at me and then closed it behind me.

My mother accompanied them to their car and came back. She came into my room to ask me how I was feeling, and I told her ‌I was feeling better than before.

Three days later, I fully recovered and went back to school. In class, everything seemed normal. Our lecturer was still as mean as always and the gossipmongers were still gossiping.

Daisy and Dylan were excited to see me. They told me how they missed me; how they almost came to see me home, and then they got into an urgent matter in the packhouse and they canceled.

As for Daniel, apart from hiding his emotions as in men's nature to hide their feelings, he acted like it was normal; though I could see that he missed me, too. I approached him to greet him with a handshake, but instead, he hugged me. At first, I was ‌surprised, because I only hugged Daisy but handshakes Dylan.

His arms wrapped around my waist, I felt him squeezing me gently. His smell was something I never smelled before but synthetic; I'm well aware of his scent. That smell must have been some fancy cologne.

"I missed you so much," He whispered into my ear, and then slowly loosened his grip, letting go of me.

I looked over his shoulder and noticed Linda and her friends standing before their department, staring at us as we hugged. She seemed vexed and pissed off that she grabbed those girls and sprinted to their class quickly.

After class, I knew very well that it was time to switch to my ashtray role for ARNICO. When I was putting my books in the bag, Daniel asked me if they could drop me home and I agreed.

"Good, I'm going to the principal's office. Wait for me in the locker room. I won't take a minute," he said, swirling his backpack on his back and leaving the class.

Daisy and Dylan were in the car waiting for him.

I walked out of the class and went to the locker room to take some books and leave others.

After closing my locker, I heard familiar footsteps behind my back and I turned around, only to find out it was that arrogant moron Linda.

She halted a foot away from my face and crossed her arms in front of her. The other girls stayed behind her, but they were all angry as hell.

She looked at me indignantly and rolled her eyes before swinging her hair, barking, "Listen to me, bitch. If you like your own life, stay away from Daniel, you slut. Daniel has no business with ugly shitheads like you. Understood?"

"Wha-What are you talking about-" I stammered, but was disrupted by the voice of a girl calling my name.

"HeiHei! You forgot something?"

Holy crap, ARNICO. Just how the hell did they know where I was? How am I supposed to get out of here?

Before I could answer to either Nico or a Freaking MeTuber, Linda, behind the backs of Arnold and Nico, loomed a tall guy, whom I couldn't get a clear view of because he was still a bit far. That was Daniel! He greeted them in a friendly manner and passed by them toward where I was standing with Linda; we were both quiet.

"Hey Lin," he waved at them, but Linda grabbed him and hugged him forcefully.

"Hey, you! Hope you’re having a good day!. Oh uh- I was just looking through your Stangram and not gonna lie, you’re looking fine.” She snapped while still holding him.

“What are you talking about?” Asked Daniel, perplexed.

“I can open one for you and get you a lot of followers in no time! Hey, Any lunch plans tomorrow? Thought I could swing by and we could eat together!”

“Linda, I'm not interested in social media and tomorrow is class”

“Hey! Can I take a selfie with you? I need a photo for my Stangram"

"Goddess, okay, Uh, sure! Why not?" He was getting pissed.

She snatched the selfie stick from the hands of her sidekicks and attached her phone to it. She placed her head on his chest and wrapped her left arm around his back as she took a picture. She then changed position, and she put her chest on his, kissing him on his cheek as she snapped another photo.

“Are you friends with this fucking whore” she asked

“Language, please!” he growled

Daniel jerked away as she handed the phone back to the girls, saying a seductive thank you and flipping her hair with a look that almost made me gag. That arsehole flirting with Daniel!

By the looks of it, Daniel didn't give a damn about her. He instead excused himself for being late and told me to follow him.

He picked up my bag and waited for me to finish locking, then we walked toward the exit. We passed Arnold and Nico, and they faked a smile, which was totally weird. Usually, when I pass by them, my eyes would be fixed on the ground, but now, not only can I look them in the eyes, but I can no longer be their ashtray! No more bullies.

I turned my back and saw Linda and her friends standing frozen as they watched us fade away. They looked furious.

'Wow! Look at me! I found myself a savior. No more bullying.' Those were the thoughts I had on my mind.

"So, what's with Linda?" I asked him, referring to how she and her friends acted around him, and all the obvious flirts.

"Oh! Linda is an assistant to the commander and a trainer of the Zeta warriors. That’s how I know her. Being a beta’s daughter, my father put her in charge of being assistant to the commander.”

After that day, everything changed for me for the rest of my academic years. It was the end of my life as a bully. I was no longer taking the metro because they drove me home. We got to hang out at the packhouse more often and I became best friends with Trainors and most of the teens at the packhouse.

︎︎°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°︎

It's been two months since we graduated from college. I now work as the Human Resource Manager at Selena Textiles– a factory founded by Alpha Lex, where Daniel is the CEO. Both Daisy, Dylan, and Arnold work there too.

Prove out Arnold was not as bad as I thought! The thing that made him miserable was drugs and his high school in Jamaica. But since he broke up with Nico, and his father Rebuked him for using too much ebonics, excessive slang, and a weird way of speaking by omitting words, he has become normal. It was all because of Drugs.

My friendship with the Triplets has advanced. They came to all of my birthday parties and I attended theirs. Daniel’s mother loved me so much, she even asked me to move to The Packhouse, but I refused. I only wanted to make enough money to buy my mother a house in town so that she can live with me. I wanted to make sure that nobody would ever want to look down on her or filter her out by hierarchical status. My goal is close to being achieved. It's only a matter of months to finally get what it takes to own a house in town.

I'm living in the Factory's Apartments because Selena Textiles is ‌far away from home.

About Me and Daniel, well, he never asked me out, even though He did everything to show me he loved me but never literally. I know that deep down he loves me and I love him too, but I can't take the first step. I'm patiently waiting for him.

"Hey, Abby. Have you seen Daniel?" asked Daisy when she saw me closing my office.

"Nope! Have you?" I replied.

"No, I tried to call him, but he can't answer my phone."

"Yeah, since he became the CEO, he seems drowned in paperwork and administrative issues. Maybe he has a meeting or something. You should look into his office"

"It's okay. I'll wait for him in the car."

"Was it something urgent or Triplet-Thingy? I can use the company's line. I'm sure he can answer it even in the meeting"

"No! It's no biggie"

"Oh, there he is"

When we saw him coming out of the meeting room with other people I didn't recognize, Daisy Rushed back to their car, leaving me alone waiting for him.

"Hi Abby?" he said, approaching me. ︎︎He looked me straight in the eyes. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't help but gaze back. His height made me tilt my head back a little, to get a clear view of his elegant face because he was standing too close. ︎

︎︎His heavenly scent diffused everywhere, filling my nostrils, and for some reasons, I felt exulted by his proximity. He held my hands and said, "I think it's time for us to be heading to our homes". I looked sideways and noticed that there was no sign of anyone outside except us and the Guards. ︎Darn, the time must behave weird whenever I'm with Daniel. Because a minute lasts a second.

︎︎"Okay," I muttered in a barely audible voice. A few seconds elapsed, with none saying anything. Apparently, we didn't want to go separate ways. ︎

︎︎Finally, he broke the silence and asked “Hey Would you like to grab a drink with me at the packhouse this Sunday? There is a party at Home”. Bashfully I smiled and replied, "With pleasure!" ︎

¬Whew! At long last a date!¬ Amber chimed to me, Teasing.