As Tara made her way home, her mind was filled with thoughts of the day. She couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction for standing up to Daniel and saving Jezzel from his derision, despite their turbulent relationship. Today hadn't been too bad, and Tara was glad for that.
Lost in her thoughts, Tara suddenly heard Jezzel's voice calling out a greeting from across the road. She looked up and saw Jezzel waving at her. A sense of gratitude washed over Tara as she realized that Jezzel wanted to join her on the walk home.
"Hey, Tara! Mind if I join you? My house is in the same direction," Jezzel said, catching up to Tara's side.
Tara smiled, happy for the company. "Of course, Jezzel! I'd love for you to walk with me. How was your day?"
As they continued walking, Jezzel began sharing stories of her daily routine. She talked about her classes, the struggles she faced, and even her own encounters with Daniel. Tara listened attentively, glad to have someone to share these experiences with.
Suddenly, a curious look crossed Jezzel's face. "Hey, Tara, can I ask you something? It's been on my mind since this morning."
Tara nodded, encouraging Jezzel to continue. "Of course, go ahead. Ask me anything."
Jezzel hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "How long have you known Daniel? I mean, you seemed to have some kind of connection with him judging by how he let me go when you asked him to."
Tara furrowed her brows, perplexed by the question. "I only saw him for the first time yesterday, and it was far from a pleasant encounter. I just moved to the city, so I have no idea who he is."
Jezzel looked genuinely surprised by Tara's response. "That's strange. Why would he listen to you if you've never known each other? He's like the most mysterious guy in our college, and he never listens to anyone. Girls are practically falling over themselves for him."
Tara chuckled, finding it hard to believe that Jezzel had once fallen for Daniel's charm. "So, you were one of those girls, huh?"
Jezzel blushed slightly, her tone slightly embarrassed. "Well, hahaha , he's too handsome, isn't he?
They both burst into laughter, the tension from the earlier conversation dissipating. Tara couldn't help but tease Jezzel a little. "You were shivering in front of him, and now you're acting all cool."
Jezzel laughed, playfully nudging Tara. "Okay, fine. I guess I was intimidated.
Tara finally reached her uncle's house and knocked on the door. She had been knocking for about 15 minutes when her aunt finally opened the door. Santhra's face wore a frown as she spoke.
"Can't you wait for a little longer? A person can be busy," Santhra scolded Tara, her voice laced with annoyance.
Tara felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, Aunt Santhra. I was just really tired."
Her aunt huffed and muttered something under her breath before walking away. Tara entered her room with a smile, reflecting on how mischievous Jezzel was. She was grateful for the moments of laughter in an otherwise eventful day.
As she sat on her bed, Tara's thoughts once again drifted to Daniel. Despite the pain he had caused her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about him. Her thoughts consumed her as she decided to search for him on social media.
Tara opened her laptop and started searching for Daniel on Instagram. To her surprise, she found his account. However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when she discovered that he has zero following, 600 followers, and no posts. It seemed like finding him on Instagram was of no use.
Undeterred, Tara switched to Facebook, hoping for better luck. She tried various combinations of his name but found no active account. Daniel seemed to be absent from the world of Facebook as well.
Closing her laptop, Tara couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and frustration. The desire to decode the enigma that was Daniel lingered in her mind. Little did she know that her search for answers was only beginning, and the unraveling of Daniel's mysteries would take her down a path she never could have anticipated.
As Tara and Jezzel walked towards college the next morning, they couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment in each other's company. It was as if they had known each other for years, rather than just meeting recently. The bond between them grew stronger with every passing day.
When they arrived at the college, their conversation was interrupted by the sight of Daniel stepping out of his luxurious car. There was an air of indifference about him, his expression void of emotion as he took a drag of his cigarette. Tara leaned in towards Jezzel, whispering, "Is he always like this?"
Jezzel shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never seen him smile. There's a scar on his eyebrow, which suggests he's been in fights and has a bit of a reputation as a gangster."
Daniel walked past them, his eyes focused straight ahead, ignoring everyone around him. Tara couldn't help but be intrigued, despite everything he had put her through. She admired the fact that he seemed to pay no attention to the girls who were infatuated with him.
A sudden desire overwhelmed Tara. She wanted to talk to Daniel, even if it meant he would ignore her or respond with his usual coldness. She turned to Jezzel, sharing her strange longing. "Jezzel, I want to talk to him."
Jezzel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what? Are you serious? Are you out of your mind? After everything he's done to you?"
Tara shrugged, her determination unwavering. "I don't know, Jezzel, but my heart craves to hear his voice, even if it's just once."
Jezzel hesitated for a moment, weighing the consequences. Finally, she nodded, showing her support. "Okay, I'm with you. Go ahead. I'll be right here."
With newfound courage, Tara slowly approached Daniel as he made his way to his classroom. "Hey, Daniel," she called out, her voice surprisingly steady.
Daniel turned around, his expression showing no surprise at her presence. "Yes?"
Tara's mind went blank for a moment, unsure of what to say next. She stammered, "Actually… umm... I..."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
Tara felt a surge of panic. Jezzel, who had been watching the interaction from a distance, couldn't resist adding her own mischievous touch. She walked up beside Tara and said with a sly grin, "Actually, Tara likes you."
Tara's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately protested, "No, no, please! She's just lying. I promise, I was not about to say that..."
Daniel observed the playful banter between Tara and Jezzel, a small smirk appearing on his face. He found amusement in their antics and the way they seemed to run after each other. It was clear to him that their friendship had a mischievous dynamic.
"Okay, I get it," Daniel replied, playing along with their game. And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Tara fuming with Jezzel chasing after her in a fit of laughter.
Daniel couldn't help but be intrigued by Tara's persistent efforts to make him understand her lack of interest. He found it refreshing to encounter someone who didn't sway under his charm like the other girls. Maybe there was more to Tara than meets the eye.
As Tara and Jezzel continued their playful chase, Daniel watched them from a distance, a small genuine smile forming on his lips.
Tara: I will kill you Jezzel.
Jezzel: please kill me Tara .
As time went on, Tara and Jezzel found themselves enjoying each other's company more and more. They laughed and had fun together, relishing in the moments of pure joy that had been absent from their lives for years. Their escapades often revolved around the hope of catching a glimpse of Daniel, the enigmatic figure who had unknowingly captured their attention.
After their classes ended for the day, Tara and Jezzel eagerly made their way towards the canteen, hoping to find Daniel. As they approached, they saw him engrossed in a phone call, his face displaying a seriousness that was rare for him. Tara whispered to Jezzel, curiosity lacing her voice, "Who is he talking to?"
Jezzel jokingly responded, "Maybe it's his girlfriend."
Tara shook her head, her intuition telling her otherwise. "No, I don't think so."
Curiosity got the better of them, and they found themselves unintentionally eavesdropping on Daniel's conversation. Before they could realize what they were doing, Daniel ended the call and caught sight of the two of them whispering and staring in his direction. Embarrassed, Tara and Jezzel quickly turned away, their faces burning with a mix of shame and amusement.
Tara muttered under her breath, "Oh, shit! How embarrassing."
Jezzel agreed, feeling their humiliation. "Now he probably thinks we're following him and gossiping about him."
Knowing they had made a peculiar first impression, Tara suggested they find somewhere else to eat. Just as they were about to leave, Daniel approached them with a teasing smile on his face. "Hey! Maybe you should focus on your studies instead of whatever it is you two are up to."
His words insinuated that he had noticed them snooping around, and Tara couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. She quickly tried to come up with an excuse. "Oh, no, we were just feeling hungry."
Jezzel chimed in, playing along. "Yeah, we really just wanted to grab some pizza."
Tara shot Jezzel a look, silently asking her to stop making things up. "No, stop it. We hadn't even decided what we wanted to eat yet."
Daniel seemed somewhat amused by their awkward encounter, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, whatever you say. Why don't you both sit here? I'll pay for your meal."
Tara, not wanting to impose, politely declined his offer. "No, thanks. We can pay for ourselves, right Jezzel?"
Jezzel hesitated before responding, "Well, the thing is, Tara, we both don't have any money."
As Tara's embarrassment grew, a small smile appeared on Daniel's face. Perhaps there was more to him than met the eye.