Upon arriving in her boarding house, she went directlyto her room and changed clothes.
“ How was your day, my friend? Did you find a new job?“Stella was staring at her.
“ Luckily, I got hired today and started now too.That's why I came home late. Have you all eaten? “
“ We had dinner already. We left some food for you.It's great that you have found a job so fast. Congratulations!” Stella wentcloser to her with a smile on her face and patted Danielle's shoulder.
“ Thanks!” Danielle smiled back.
“ By the way, your cousin Jenny called just now. Ithink it's an emergency. “ Ivy turnedher body aside in her bed to look at Danielle.
“ I see. She called me a while ago too but I was withmy boss. I'll call her now.” Danielle took out her phone from her bag and dialledJenny's number.
While the line was ringing, she felt a cold windmaking her body shiver. Strange wind blow was felt by her board mates too. Theysmelled a burned candle all of a shiver. Her call to Jenny was not answered.
Then, they presumed that there's something odd goingon.
“ Hey guys do you feel cold all of a sudden and do yousmell what I smelled? “ Ivy sat up straight at the side of her bed.
“ It smells like a candle being burn. “ The hairs ontheir skin began to raise upward. Stella who was standing close to Danielle got scared. She grabbed Danielle'sshoulder and hid herself at Danielle's back.
“ Come on, guys! Stop it! It’s just the wind comingfrom our window. “ Danielle tried to convince her friends. She looked at thewindow near her bed and saw that it was open.” See?” She pointed at her side wherethe window can be seen.
Everyone looked at the window and was convinced.Danielle went to close the window afterwards.
“ But what about the burned candle smell? How can youexplain that? “
“ You're all being paranoid. Who knows? Maybe some couples are havingcandle light dinner.” Danielle tried to persuade the others.
Although, she's feeling some goose bumps too. She still tried to be brave in front ofher friends. The others were still frightened.
“Stop this conversation already!” Danielle shouted.The three girls got afraid to the sudden change of mood of Danielle. They sticktogether, avoiding the fierce look of Danielle.
Taking a deep sigh, Danielle saw how they reacted. Sheshook her head when she had realized what made the others go away from her. “I'm sorry, guys! I should’ve not shouted at you. I think I'm just tired.”
“ It's okay. We're sorry too. Maybe we did overreactso much that you got annoyed.”
Stella and the others admitted their fault. ButDanielle still felt guilty. She went closer to the other girls and hugged themtightly.
After comforting each other, Danielle remembered thatshe had to call back Jenny. She picked up her phone and dialled again.
This time she made it through. Jenny answered hercall.
“ Jenny, sorry about a while ago. So, what's up?”
“ Danielle, Nanang's gone. “
Shocked by the sudden news, Danielle felt her kneestrembling and felt weak to stand. Her face turned pale and she grabbed the postnear her as she began to lose her strength. She slowly sat down at the sidebed.
“ That's impossible. The last time I came to visither, she was so energetic and lively like her usual self. How can that be?”
“ I'm sorry, Danielle. Nanang died when she vomited alot of blood and her nose bleeding never stopped. We tried to save her and rushedher to the hospital but the doctor wasn't able to revive her. Nanang's dead.”
Tears started to fall down from her eyes. The pain inher heart can never be concealed. She cried out loud and sobbed. The phone onher hand fell to the floor as it slipped from her grasp.
“No!!!!!” Danielle shouted out loud.
Startled by her reaction, the three girls approachedher to comforted her. They looked at each other with a puzzled look in theireyes and concern for her. They embraced her tightly.
“ What's wrong, Danielle? “
Ivy looked at Danielle's eyes while constantlycaressing her back.
“ My grandmother is dead. She's the only person I hadbut now, she's gone.”
“Danielle, I know how you feel right now but you stillhave us. We are like family. Aren't we?”
Stella brushed Danielle's hair with her hands. Shefelt sad for Danielle's lost.
“ Yeah! You have us! Through thick and thin, we'll be likea family. “
Annalise cheered up her voice although it was a bitawkward. It's the least she could think of.
Danielle continued sobbing and crying. Even if she wasbeing comforted by them, she still felt the sorrow of losing the only personshe had.
An hour later, Danielle laid her body on her bed. Shestopped crying but she had to appetite to take dinner too. Her world crumbledby the bad news she received.
The three girls felt helpless as they see her mournfor her grandmother's death. They gave her space so that she could have hertime for herself.
The night was silent. Everyone was sleeping soundlybut not for Danielle. Her eyes wouldn't let her go to sleep even though herbody wanted to have a rest. She remained awake till morning came.
“ Danielle, I think you should rest for a while.”Stella approached her. Carrying a plate that contains pansit canton and boiledegg. “ Here! Take your breakfast.”
Staring at her friend, Danielle gave a blunt smile. Alifeless smile. A sad look on the eyes while grabbing the plate Stella wasoffering her.
“ Thank you for the food. I can't take a rest or takea leave because I just got hired yesterday. An taking a leave is not a goodoption for me right now.”
Upon hearing her words, Stella understood and gave upon talking to her.
Silently, Danielle ate her breakfast. Then, she wentto take a bath and change her clothes. It was her second day at work.Therefore, she must show a good performance and good appearance too. She mustnot be late nor be criticised in any means.
To hide the dark circles around her eyes, she droppedby in a convenient store to buy a facial mask before going to work. She grabbeda tricycle to send her to the company.
“ Where to, Miss?” The tricycle driver looked at herwith a pleasing smile.
“ To NERO Company. Do you know the place?” Danielleglanced at the tricycle driver.
“ Yes, Ma'am!”
In less than a few minute, they have already reachedthe company building. Danielle paid the tricycle driver's service as she getoff the tricycle. Then, she entered the company wearing her working ID. Therewere staff who were walking along with her. They rode on the elevator since itwas the most convenient and fastest way to get to the CEO's office.
She smiled at every person she bumped in. She showedher modesty and simplicity but her eyes reflected her sorrow that she wasfeeling. Her smile can't cover what the eyes are saying. A saying goes: “theeyes are the windows of a soul.”
Even if she pretended to be okay, her eyes were talking.
“ Good morning, Danielle! Is there something wrong?”
Hannah caught her eyes. She noticed the sadness in it.
“ Good morning, Hannah! I'm perfectly fine.” Danielleforced a smile on her face.
But Hannah wasn't convinced. She can tell thatsomething's wrong with her today.
“ Hey! If you have something in mind that's making youuncomfortable, just let me know, okay?”
“ Okay!”
After their simple conversation, they went to theirown desk and began to work. Danielle's focus was into her work. She set aside herpersonal matters first. She should not slack at her work. She can't afford tolose a job now than ever.
While she was focus typing on her computer, an emailwas sent to her by the publication where she posted her books. She opened theemail and read it. She felt surprised at the same time amazed that a youngdirector wants to adapt her book and turned it to a movie.
“ This is awesome!” She thought. She sent a reply tothe publication and agreed into it.
Suddenly, another email was sent to her. The publicationsaid the profit that she will receive from producing the movie. So, its50/30/20. It means 50 percent of the profit will be given to the maker of themovie, 30 percent goes to the publication and 20 percent goes to her. Then theyattached the contract as well.
Definitely, Danielle didn't have any questionregarding about the profit. As long as she was benefited from her hard work, she would never reclaim.
An unexpected blessing came so suddenly at a time when Danielle was feeling so down because of grandmother's death. Her heart leaped with happiness about her new success but that feeling didn't last long. Her success was all for her grandmother to repay her good deeds but she's gone and will never come back. Her feeling of happiness began to fade in a few moment.Nanang, if only you’re still alive, I'm sure you'll be proud of me again. You use to say that I should trust my abilities. Now, I am reaching my goals little by little. But you're gone.
Before lunch time, Danielle was about to go ask Hannahto go out. Unexpectedly, someone blocked her way. It was a beautiful girl dressedin a summer girly outfit. Daniellewas stunned by her.“ Excuse me, is your boss inside? “Her voice was quite arrogant. Hannah came closer to the lady.“ Miss Celine, how n
While everyone was busy doing their own job, Danielle got an intercom call from the CEO.“ Get inside quickly, Danielle!”
When Anthony sawthe blood flowing down from Danielle's arms, he was shock. He calmed himself andthe expression on his face changed.“ Why are you so stupid? Come here! Let me see your arms.”Danielle looked at her wounded arm but she didn't moveeither. Rushing towards her, Anthony's facial expression softened.
Feeling dizzy, Danielle stopped drinking and stood up.“ Hey, why is it that everything turning around and around. “Seeing her almost can't stand straight on her feet, Anthony went closer to her.“ Danielle, come on! I'll send you home.” Anthony carried her in his arms in a bridal style.
After filling up her empty stomach, Danielle felt satisfied. She took also her medicine for her headache and dizziness and drank it.“ Thank you for the food.”“ Your welcome, ma'am. I'll go now.”
As soon as Danielle has delivered Jenny to her grandmother in her mother side, Danielle felt lonely inside. She was sad but also felt relieved to see Jenny staying somewhere safe. She smiled with a hint of pain on her lips. Is she destined to live alone forever?Was she cursed when she was born into this world? A bitterness swept on her heart. Now, she must continue living with no one by her side. She travelled back to the city alone again.
Feeling exhausted, Danielle sat down on a bench. She went searching for job for almost two weeks but there was no luck at all. She was becoming impatient and irritated. While she was resting, her phone rang.“ Hello?” Danielle answered the phone call. “ Danielle, it's me. Hannah.”“ Oh, Hannah! How are you? What’s up?”