The First Curse of Love
26. Riled

August, 2018...

Upon arriving at the apartment after barely coming home for days due to being preoccupied by his work, Danny immediately chooses to clean himself up first. His whole body and hair felt sticky because he barely took a shower as long as he struggled with his work.

Over the past eight months, Danny has worked as a junior producer on the variety show ANHTV. And because Danny has been handling the most in-demand television shows of the past few months, he's gotten busier and barely ever made time for himself. As a result, he rarely gathers with Qiara, Arga, and Celine, who are not as busy as he is now.

After finishing the bath, Danny felt his freshness back. Danny dried his hair with a small towel while walking towards his room. As soon as he entered his room, Danny immediately smiled. The tiredness that continued to whack his body for days magically faded away as he looked towards his bed.

Danny then threw the little towel in any place. With a calm movement, but an impatient feeling, Danny immediately threw his body on the mattress and hugged a figure who was sleeping comfortably there with his back.

Qiara's.

Seeing this girl, and being able to hug her again after not doing it for long enough, made Danny find his strength and spirit back.

"Dann, are you home?" Qiara asked with a hoarse voice.

He then turned his body position to face Danny. Danny swiftly wrapped his free arm around Qiara's neck and pulled him closer to her.

Danny really misses this girl now. Good thing he's here, waiting for Danny's return.

Qiara let out a deep smell of Danny's body while tightly hugging his waist. His face he drowned in the young man's embrace, hearing the sound of his heartbeat thumping in a pleasant rhythm.

"I cooked tom yum for you. Want to eat now? Let me hangetin." Qiara's voice was still hoarse. It was clear that he had been asleep long enough in Danny's room.

Danny shook his head slowly with his chin slanted at the top of Qiara's head. "Eat it later. Now, you let me rest for a while, huh? I'm so tired, Qi..."

Qiara tightened her arms around Danny's waist, then gently rubbed his back so that Danny could feel more comfortable again. As with Qiara, Danny also got closer and closer to Qiara's entire body, as if he didn't want to let go.

"You wear my shirt?" Danny is back.

Ever since he first saw Qiara, he had been aware that she was wearing oversized clothes on her tiny body. For a moment Danny chuckled, Qiara really looked adorable with her oversized clothes.

"When I was washing the dishes, my clothes splashed with water until they got wet. So, I had to pinch your t-shirt."

"Pretty." Praise Danny with sincerity. The smile on his tired face grew.

...****...

After finishing her gym activities, Qiara and Celine went straight to the dressing room to get ready. Tonight, the four of them had already made plans to gather. Celine had even reserved a place at a grill restaurant for their meeting. Busy or not, they all have to come regardless of the conditions.

"Cell!" Call Qiara suddenly after he checks his phone.

"Why?"

"Tell Danny and Arga that I'm a little late, okay?" Said Qiara while looking focused on typing a reply message.

"Lo have a job?"

"No. I want to meet someone."

"Who?"

...****...

At an elite cemetery, a man dressed in all black was sitting on one side of the tomb. Just a moment ago, he placed a bouquet of baby breath flowers on top of the tomb. Not a word was said, he just stared at the tomb in front of him with a sad feeling.

Today is the anniversary of his mother's death. Exactly six years ago, his mother left him for good.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Shinta. Qia dateng."

A voice that came right from beside him, just blew away Dean's sad daydream. He turned his head, from behind the sunglasses that framed his face, he could see the figure of Qiara clearly who was putting a tie of camellia flowers on top of the tomb.

"Because Brother Dean has brought Aunt's favorite flower, so this time, Qia brought her favorite flower for Aunt. Hope Auntie likes it, huh?" Qiara said full of sincerity while touching the tombstone inscribed with the name 'Yashinta Arinda' with her right hand.

Dean smiles. Since six years ago, this girl who has never been absent accompanied him to visit the tomb of his mother every day the anniversary arrived. That is one of the millions of reasons why Qiara is the woman she loves the most after her late mother.

Even after the years had passed, even after this girl firmly refused to accept her heart, Qiara was still the only one for Dean. Up to now will always be the only one.

Qiara then turned her head towards Dean who was still at home looking at her profile from the side. Qiara then smiled, one of her hands raised and landed on Dean's head, "Sister Dean... I miss you..."

...****...

Riled.

That's one word that describes Danny's feelings now. Ever since Celine said that Qiara would be late for having to see Dean first, not a second did Danny feel calm afterwards. The fact that Qiara accompanies Dean every year to go to his mother's grave does not necessarily make Danny feel better. There was always a feeling of fear surrounding her despite knowing that Qiara would always return home to her.

I don't know, if it's about Dean and Qiara, Danny will be transformed into the most dilemma person in the universe.

Danny then raised his face. Just then, he saw Qiara and Dean walking hand in hand towards them. Although contrary to his heart, but again Danny must admit that the two men look very harmonious with each other.

Especially now. Qiara looked graceful in her all-black formal suit. The beauty in her mature version of herself makes her look even more charming. Likewise with Dean who looks manly with his shirt and black pants. For a moment Danny smiled.

"Every night. Sorry late..." Qiara hurriedly approached the others until he subconsciously preceded Dean.

Qiara then immediately took a sitting position next to Danny. While Dean, he sat right opposite Danny.

"Hey..." Sapa Qiara in a soft whisper right behind Danny's ear.

Danny turned his head and only showed a faint smile for the girl. He's sulking now.

"Eh, you know what? Three years ago, I never imagined that today, our cool Brother Dean would join us. Haha..." Arga said to the others.

Yep. What Arga said is true. Dean was very difficult to approach. Never mind to be approached, Dean even just showed his flat face to his sister's friends. She never smiled, except for Qiara.

"Hahaha yes, his face is always like this..." Timpal Celine while following Dean's facial features in the past.

Dean who had now completely changed was getting late in the joke. While Danny was the one who just showed his spirit was not excited.

As the others melted into laughter, Danny suddenly shuffled from his seat and immediately went outside. "Gue wants to call for a minute." His alibi.

Qiara who starts to feel that there is something strange with Danny just follows every movement of Danny with his eyes. And without saying anything to the others, Qiara immediately followed Danny outside the room.

Looking at the two people, Arga and Celine immediately glanced at each other with both eyebrows raised. It was as if they understood what was happening.

"Ray where? Not coming?" Dean deliberately throws the question so that Arga and Celine's attention no longer leads to Danny and Qiara.

"Oh? Brother Ray's overtime tonight." Answer Celine as she is.

Since graduating S2, Ray worked as an editor at a well-known magazine. While Celine is still struggling with her S2 studies. Arga works as a programmer at an online gaming company. And Qiara, who used to be a radio announcer, is now turning to producer. Qiara occasionally appears on television as a morning news presenter who specializes in entertainment segments. Meanwhile Dean, he served as general manager at one of the branches of his Papa's hotel that had just officially opened on the island of Banu.

Dean only occasionally came home. The rest, he spent almost all his time on Banu Island to be able to carry out his duties properly.

Upon seeing Danny light his cigarette, Qiara stepped even faster. Then in one quick motion, he snatched the lighter out of Danny's hand, pulled the cigarette and threw it in a nearby trash can. "Why the hell, Dann? Any issues?"

Danny took a breath. He doesn't know how to describe what he's feeling right now. He did not even have the right to convey his discomfort at seeing the closeness between Qiara and his sister. Because for these three years, Danny still has not given any clarity or affirmation to the relationship they are now living. But even so, Qiara stayed by his side, Qiara did not go anywhere and still accompanied Danny every step faithfully.

"You seem to fit in with Brother Dean. Don't you want to be the same Dean? He's still waiting for you."

Inwardly, Danny immediately cursed at what had just come out of his mouth. He did not think long and out of control. That remark shouldn't be thrown by a 24-year-old man, right? He looks more like a teenager who is jealous to see his street with others.

"And I'm still waiting for you!" Qiara answered briefly, yet precisely pierced in Danny's heart.

Danny froze.

"Why do you always ask me to do it with Brother Dean? Since three years ago, Brother Dean's business is the same I've been done. But you keep bringing up the same thing over and over again. You told me to listen to Brother Dean, just like you told me to go out with Bang Ray. My own brother. Until whenever Brother Dean is just that in my eyes."

"Qi, I'm sorry, I–"

"If you can't give me your whole heart, I'm okay. You inget? I used to say that I would enjoy this love clapping one hand without complaint. What you should know now, I meant what I said then. It doesn't matter if you can't love me anymore, you don't have to take responsibility for it, but please don't ever ask me to give my heart to Brother Dean."

"Keep, if you still love me to this day, do I have to be responsible for that?"

One hurtful remark that Danny once told Qiara suddenly hit Danny's memory and re-awakened his guilty feelings. Until this moment, it was the most painful word ever thrown from him. Seeing from how Qiara turned the sentence on her, it was clear that Qiara was still injured by it.

Qiara finally chose to pass, before his emotions intensified and triggered their quarrel.

^^^To be Continued...^^^