Ch4: You are sweet, Dan

Was that man in my room? Wait! What if he had done something to me? I tried listening to myself. I only relaxed when I felt that I was good.

I sighed again and looked at the drawers. That did not seem like a dream. What did he want? How did he get in?

I threw away the covers and jumped in the bathroom. I wanted to catch up with my sleep later on.

I hurriedly cleaned up and dressed. I took my bag and rushed downstairs. Aah! Relief! Mom and Denny were nowhere to be seen.

I quickly had some breakfast in the kitchen, took my water bottle and rushed out of the house. I did not have a chauffer of my own like Denny. Mom had never organized one for me. And she never wanted this conversation.

Anyway, I did not care. I walked out of the house. It was still early. I did not need to call for a curb. I could walk slowly.

For the first time, I was among the first people to get to class that day. Still, Dan and Emah were already seated, leaving a seat between them for me.

“You tried today,” Emah said teasingly. I never arrived on time for classes. Dan, on the other hand, smiled at me.

I rolled my eyes at them as I took a seat. “I did not sleep well. Wake me up when the lecturer comes in…” I said.

“Mia… you…” Emah said. I knew she was ready to begin lecturing me.

But the sweet Dan nodded. “Okay,” he said. I didn't know why he usually gave in to all my requests. But I found him cute and sweet.

I winked at him and put my head on the desk, the events of last evening appearing in my head again. I wanted to cry, but shook it off. Sleep was better than crying.

I don't know how long I slept, but Emah tapped me when the lecturer came to class. I sat up with a start and wiped my face.

“Are you okay?“ Dan leaned closer to me and asked. I smiled at him. But I knew very well that I was not in good shape.

The lecturer wrote something on the board. “I remember that I gave you an assignment. Mia, let me see what you did…” This particular lecturer liked picking up on me so many times. I had never known what his intentions were.

“Assignment?“ I asked in shock. Sh*t! I had forgotten all about it. But this lecturer, why was my name always in his mouth?

“I knew it! Mia and Alex! That will make a wonderful couple…” Emah teased in a whisper.

I was too tense to mind her. In short, I did not have the work. I turned to look at Dan, and he smiled, motioning at my desk.

I followed his gaze and saw a book. It was not mine, of course. But the assignment was there, fully done. “You are sweet, Dan,” I whispered with a smile.

I looked up at Alex, who had just stopped before my desk. “Sir, my work is here,” I said with a mild smile.

The lecturer took the book and looked at it. He turned to look at me, his gaze quite questioning. I trembled. Could he have seen through me?

The next second, he smiled. “Nicely done!“ He said and handed the book back at me. I felt like he had seen through me but decided to let me go. Still, I sighed in relief.

After class, Dan, Emah and I walked together. I was still feeling sad over everything I overheard the other day.

“What happened yesterday?“ Dan asked. He always knew everything about me. I sighed, but decided not to tell them about Carlos and mom.

But, what about that man in my room? “Guys! Someone snuck into my room yesterday. I swear I have never felt that scared…” I said.

“A man?“ Emah hurriedly asked, stopping to look at me. I could see Dan crease his brows at Emah's words.

I did not hide anything. I told them the truth. At least, I would have someone to testify for me if anything that happened to me in the end.

Emah burst out laughing even before I was done. “Mia, I think that it was just some dream. Wait, haven't you always hoped to have some big caring brother? That was it, a dream!“

I sighed. “I am not joking,” I said to them. “He looked a bit mysterious. I don't know what he was up to. I am just scared to death…”

Dan seemed deep in thought. “It must just be a dream, Mia. The security at your place… No one with a sound mind would think of sneaking in…”

I shrugged. “Okay, maybe it was just a dream,” I said. I knew that the two could not be convinced. I would also not believe it if someone else said that kind of a story.

Emah creased her brows. “Unless your mom let him in,” she said. I felt my body tense. Yeap! Mom was capable of doing that.

“I hope not,” I hurriedly said. “I just hope that it was a dream!“ If mom let a man into my room, it would never be anything good.

“Just be careful though,” Dan said seriously. “At least, he did nothing to you yesterday.“ I knew he meant his words. I nodded in understanding.

“Nope! Just find someone to act like your brother. The dream will be gone. Mia, all you need is a caring big brother…” she said.

I thought her words made sense. Since my elder sister never cared about me, I had always hoped to find a big brother who cared about me. One that would spoil me and protect me from mom and Denny.

But I would never say this out loud. I rolled my eyes at Emah. “Just joke about it. Don't cry if I die soon.“

“I mean it, Mia! See, Dan is here. You could talk to him about it,” Emah said. “Dan could be a nice big brother to you, you know.“

I chuckled. “Who said he was not? Dan is my sweet big brother,” I said. Anyway, that was how I treated him. He was really nice.