"He you rugged girl, what are you here for? Do you like Daerin?" Graciella asked with her gritted teeth. She couldn't believe that she could feel insecure with this girl. It sure was too far for the possibility for Darien to choose this girl over her. That was what she thought or rather she wanted to think.
Rexana slightly opened her mouth, she didn't know what to say. However, she was never thought to lie by her parents. However, some part of her was hesitant to answer that question. She wasn't comfortable for Daerin to hear how she felt about him.
She glanced over at Darien and noticed him smiled a bit. 'He wasn't taking Graciella's question seriously,' Rexana thought.
Maybe even if she would answer the truth Daerin would still not take it seriously.
Even though it wasn't the reason for her being there, it wasn't also true that she was there because she liked Daerin. She does like Daerin a lot, but she was there to feel safe and protected from Bruno. She didn't know who to ask for help or share her fears with but Daerin.
Yet, she still knew that she must answer the lady's question. She didn't look happy seeing her there, maybe the lady was disgusted with her, Rexana thought. Because of that she never wanted to make it worst by ignoring her question.
Rexana was staring at Daerin when she finally opened her mouth and answered.
"Yes, I do like him. I like him a lot." She finally said it and couldn't wait to see Daerin's reaction.
Daerin wasn't looking at him but he was smiling with his eyes on his toe. Rexana coudn't read what he was thinking. Was he happy, disgusted or mad at her? A tinge of worries crawled over Rexana's body and she suddenly felt conscious. Her lips slightly shivered with her turning crimson cheeks.
She looked away, scared of looking back at Daerin again. All she heard next were little chuckles from Daerin and Daerin's parents. Especially when Graciella said something again.
"Eww, what an ambitious little rug. Haven't you seen yourself dreaming of someone like Daerin? You don't fit for someone like him." Graciella's voice sounded intensified and she could even feel a bit of anger in it.
She wondered who was Graciella in Daerin's life. Was she his girlfriend? Nevertheless, whoever she was, she was still right. Just like what her parents said, she couldn't fit herself into Daerin;s life. Even Bruno was right.
Nonetheless, Daerin was so good to her and he was so caring to her that sometimes she wanted to believe that Daerin liked her too. And, she wanted to believe it more when Daerin answered Rexana.
"Stop it Graceilla, she's a person that is capable to feel what she wanted to feel. You can't blame her if she wanted to feel that way. And will stop taking it maliciously? Of course, she liked me because I treated her not the way you and other people her treating her. Anyway, I have to go now and send Rexana home it's getting late and dark, she might not be safe walking alone."
"Really? That caring? Maybe you like her too Darien, do you?" Graciella raised one of her eyebrows at Daerin, she didn't look happy at that moment. Even Daerin's mom could feel it and patted Graciella on her shoulder.
"She knew how to come here Daerin, she would probably know how to go back." Daerin's mom said in consolation with Graciella's feelings.
"Yeah, Sir Daerin, you don't need to send me home. I can handle myself but…" Rexana glanced over Daerin's parents before she proceed to say. "Can I just talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure Ana, let's go to the bench."
Rexana slightly shivered when she felt Daerin's finger's on her elbow. He was holding her to guide her to the sit. They walked away from them hearing slight mumbles they couldn't make out anymore. Most of it was Graciella's voice.
"I'm sorry, did I cause trouble for coming here?" Rexana asked Daerin worriedly.
"Don't mind them and don't take it seriously. Set down and I wanna ask something." Daerin guide Rexana to the bench and they sat together side by side. However, Daerin moved a bit to face Rexana.
"Rexana can you say it again?" He asked.
"Says what?" she asked back a bit confused.
"Did you mean it when you said, you like me?"
Rexana's face turned crimson again. She felt like melting more this time. She thought Daerin would just simply forget it and wouldn't be asking her again. However, there was just one more answer she could say, and she should not lie.
"Yes, it's true. I really do like you. And… who else will not like someone like you? Right? I bet almost every girl you probably met and I don't know how you related with that lady who asked me that but if she, not any related to you. I think even she liked you too."
"You are right, I could see that she liked me too and she wasn't denying it as you do too. Anyway, I am flattered you telling me that Rexana. I am flattered that you like me. But, I hope you just like me like a friend. Also, next time you come here to ask for food or anything just look for Ms Chile directly okay?"
"Why Daerin, don't you want to see me anymore? Are you uncomfortable or scared just because I told you that I like you?" Rexana felt that slight pang on her chest again.
"No, it's just that I won't always be here. I might have to go back to the city."
"So, Bruno is right. You will be living and I would never be safe again. Bruno isn't scared of anyone except you and he threatened to pursue and get me. How much more if you're not here anymore. I won't have my hero again." Tears dropped on Rexana's face, she couldn't help but she knew it wasn't just because she was scared but also because felt broken knowing that one of these days she couldn't see Daerin again.
"Did you say that Bruno is bothering you again?" The anger in Daerin's face was getting apparent. That news triggered him not only because he want Rexana to be safe. Whatever, Bruno's intention for Rexana, Daerin still didn't want him to get closer to her it wrenched his gut.