CHAPTER 6 "TO SEE HER AGAIN"

THE next day Daniel went to school enthusiastically. He knew why, he was excited to see Ara. But because he was too early, he thought of staying at the library first to read.

And that was the only happiness that he abruptly in his heart. It was because as soon as he saw the baggage counter of the library, the familiar and extremely beautiful face which have been inside his head the whole night is what he can see right now.

He automatically smiled broadly and with large steps, he approached the counter where the woman is on duty. It's just now that he finds out that Ara is a student assistant. And that explains to him about her closeness to Jason. And that only intensifies his belief that she is not his classmates' girlfriend. Just in case he is free to court Ara which is actually his plan from the very first that he saw her. 

Daniel saw Ara busy fixing things on the bag shelves in that baggage counter. That maybe is the reason why she was unable to notice him so the young man decided to clear his throat to get her attention.

"Good mor---," Daniel saw Ara was stunned that he even saw her eyes widen. She was obviously surprised to see him.

"The way you react, it's like you have seen a ghost?" Daniel laughed at the woman who remained to stare at him.

"S-Sorry," was all she gets to say as the beautiful smile on her lips fades and replace by a facial reaction that seems to be telling him that she is not really happy to see him.

Daniel felt even more amusement when he saw the young lady's reaction. He opened his mouth to speak but that was stopped when the glass door of the library suddenly opened and Jason came out from there.

Jason immediately nodded at him which Daniel responded in the same manner. But he couldn't help but feel a slight pinch in his chest when he saw how hard Ara frowned at him as opposed to the sweet smile she made when Jason approached her.

When Jason left, that was when Ara turned to face him to hand over the number tag that was a duplicate of what she had put in his bag.

"By the way, I'm Daniel, Daniel Trinidad," he introduced himself with a smile then stared at the young lady's beautiful face as he reached out his hand.

But that was the embarrassment he felt when instead of accepting his handshake, the woman just looked at him and then formally spoke. "We are not allowed to talk to students during duty hours," she said then gave him a sharp look afterward.

Daniel can't help but chuckle weakly because of the young lady's openly showing dislike for him. "I should say, you are not so friendly, but anyway, it doesn't matter since I know your name already. I just thought of introducing myself to you, formally," he replied confidently.

He saw Ara's chest went up and down because of the young lady's obvious irritation for him. "Really?" she asked sarcastically.

Ara obviously showed annoyance to him and he wondered why he felt nothing but those moments except the intense amusement.

"Yeah, actually. Now that we've formally met don't forget my name. Just remember, Daniel is the name! Okay?" he told her winking mischievously again to the young lady afterward.

*****

ARA'S annoyance intensified even more when for the second time she was a victim of another seemingly poisonous wink of this man whose name was Daniel.

You should be thankful that I'm on duty, otherwise, I might have slapped your face already!

Ara whispered to herself annoyingly as she struggled with the fact that she was really thrilled at those moments. Daniel was very handsome, and she felt like she was even more magnetized when he looked at her closely. She could not understand, it's like she just wanted to stare at him for a long period of time because of the excessive charisma he has. But because the man has this slightly proud attitude, Ara did not want to take care of what she was feeling about him from the beginning.

Those like him are the kind who count girlfriends by using their fingers. She knows that even if she could see the profound admiration that the young man has had for her since the first time they met, Ara doesn't have the assurance that he will take her seriously just in case.

With what she has last thought, Ara was stunned.

Why is that her mind was able to jump to that kind of conclusion? Daniel has just introduced himself to her which in fact is their formal meeting?

"I'm going inside, I'll just see you around," he told her placing his elbow by the counter and smiled at her seductively.

That was when her thoughts seem to get back into reality. 

Daniel did not wait for her response anymore, and instead left her and entered the library.

Ara shook her head as she followed the young man with her gaze. After that, she took her things as soon as she saw the next student assistant who will be taking her place. Her first subject will start in fifteen minutes so she needs to move if she doesn't want to be late.

"I'll go ahead," she was about to leave the library premises when Jason came out from the glass door. Just like her, she knew Jason will be leaving to attend his first subject as well.

"I'll take you to your classroom?" Jason asked her.

Ara chuckles. "You don't have to, I will be okay," she said giving her friend a slight tap on his arm then leave.

*****

FROM the glass door of the library Daniel could see Jason and Ara exchanging sweet smiles.

He could not deny that Ara was really beautiful. Maybe she was just like that in the beginning because if he will base it on the way she talked to Jason, the young lady looks so tender and kind.

A few moments passed when he took a glance at the watch he is wearing.

In a few minutes, their first subject will start which is why he decided to get on his feet. At the baggage counter, he caught up with Jason. He also got his things with him and obviously is about to leave.

"Let's go?" Jason asked him.

Daniel nodded and smiled. "Sure," he agreed.

As they walked back to their college department, Daniel had a chance to talk with Jason.

Jason was easy to talk to and they got along easily, so Daniel was not surprised when even in the classroom the first even took the seat right next to him.

Lunch break when Jason asked him to joined him for lunch, but Daniel thought he might be with Ara.

 That was when the young man thought that this might be the chance for him to have a better conversation with Ara. But eventually, he was more concerned that the young lady might not like it so he decided to just reject his classmate's offer. There are still many more opportunities, and he doesn't want to look like he's just using Jason to get closer to Ara.

Because even if he doesn't admit it, he knows that in the short time he and his classmate are together, it seems like they will have only one end, and that is the beginning of a friendship between the two of them.