The First Curse of Love
30. Dean and Ray

The meeting of the two families comes a day after Danny proposed to Qiara in person. Dean and Ray were even willing to leave their jobs for the day. And they all agreed that the wedding ceremony would be held at the end of next month.

Of course, Danny and Qiara's wedding seemed rushed to both sides of the family. However, upon seeing Danny and Qiara who were so confident and persistent with their decision, the two families were finally only able to support and try to do their best for their children.

The wedding ceremony will be simple. The marriage will only involve their closest friends and family. So, they do not need to bother thinking about their time which is arguably quite perfect for a wedding planning.

As soon as they get approval from their families, Danny and Qiara reflexively shout in excitement and then raise five. Their childish behavior did not escape the attention of their parents and their brothers.

For a few seconds they were glued to see Danny and Qiara, but afterwards they laughed.

They still have a hard time imagining that the two more quarrelsome 'boys' will soon get married and step into a new life as a couple.

When everything melted into laughter, Ray's attention suddenly turned to Dean who only showed a faint smile. Ray is blind. All this time he knew, that the man beside him was also harboring feelings for his little sister. But what do you want to say? The heart is not something that can be forced.

Ray then patted Dean on the shoulder, hoping that Dean could just be heartened. And even though Ray didn't say a word, Dean could feel that Ray was trying to stretch out his chest.

Ray then passed away from Dean's side. But suddenly he stopped his footsteps and went back to see Dean. "Yes, Yan?"

"Yes?"

"Get out, yuk! I need a drink."

...****...

"Qi. thanks for accepting Danny, even though he knew his mother had a bad past." Faradina said to Qiara. At that time, Faradina asked Qiara to talk alone with her in Danny's room.

Qiara then clasped Faradina's hand and looked at her future mother-in-law with such a gentle look, "Tante Fara, maybe from Kak Dean's side, Qia would seem evil if she said this, but... thank you for bringing Danny into this world. Without Danny, Qia can't imagine how miserable Qia's life would be if Danny wasn't around."

"You love Danny, don't you?"

Qiara nodded. He began to feel his eyes heating up and slightly blurring as his tears held in his eyes. "Yes. Qia loves Danny so much that Qia can't live without Danny."

"You want to hug Auntie?" Faradina said, opening her arms wide. Without thinking any longer, Qiara immediately carried herself into Faradina's arms and shed her tears there.

"Auntie is grateful because it's you, Qi. Aunty is grateful because the person who loved Danny so deeply is you. Always happy, huh?"

...****...

Dean and Ray sit side by side at a Bar table holding their own drinks. For the first minutes, none of them had intended to open the conversation, until Ray let out a long sigh while playing a small glass in his hand.

"Dean?" Ray started to sound. Dean only turned his head towards her after hearing her name called.

"Gue really don't want to ask this to elo, but I still want to know the situation you are in now..." Ray, who had not looked at his interlocutor, looked back at Dean and continued, ".. are you okay?"

Ray nodded then revealed the same smile as Dean. "Although we haven't been so close all this time, but I know that how much in a sense adek I made you. For that, I do not stop thanking you to elo for all the things that do for me, including for today. Thank you for taking off Qiara for Danny. It's not easy, is it, make you?"

"Because I want Qiara to be happy even though it's not with me, Ray. A few years ago, Qiara stopped me from doing anything stupid that I could do to end my life. If Qiara hadn't arrived in time then, maybe I wouldn't be here now. So whatever I do, everything I do for Qiara."

Ray remembered that day. The day Dean decided to end his life. Despite failing to do so, Qiara fell ill due to the incident. How could Ray forget about it?

"For that matter, if until Danny makes her cry once more, I will seize Qiara and force Qiara to stay by my side whatever the risk is." Dean said with great determination. He also drank his drink again.

...****...

September, 2012...

Dean was already standing on the roof of an empty, unused building. He was getting ready to jump and end his life that day. At that time, his mind was too dead-end to be able to be realistic. Her mother's death one month ago dealt such a powerful blow to her. Not to mention, he only has his Mama, going through difficult times both without the presence of a Papa. And when his mother later died of an illness that Dean never knew, he felt the earth on its ground collapsed already.

"SISTER DEAN!!" Screech someone right behind Dean. Dean, who was about to throw himself down, flinched and looked back. There was already a frightened-looking Qiara, and Danny was looking at her with a scar in his eyes.

With a step as fast as the wind, Qiara walked up to him then hugged both of his legs in a tremble. This was the first time Qiara had seen someone who wanted to end her life.

"Sister Dean promised Qia that Brother Dean would live. Brother Dean thought, Mama Brother Dean will not be sad to see what Brother Dean is doing now? Even as heavy as Brother Dean's problem is, Brother Dean can't escape like this. BROTHER DEAN JAHAAAAT!!" Qiara shouted hysterically at the end of her sentence. His tears had also dripped.

Dean's movements right now are really hard to read by him. Dean could jump at any time and Qiara was very afraid just in case he could not stop him. He hugged Dean's legs even tighter. The young man's eyes still seemed empty.

"SISTER DEAN, QIA PLEASE HURRY!!"

Whether gaining strength from nowhere, in one go Qiara's jolt managed to pull Dean's sturdy body from the iron barrier. They both fell onto the asphalt causing injuries to Qiara's temples and elbows. A few seconds later, Dean regained his consciousness, and a feeling of anxiety instantly greeted him upon seeing fresh blood flowing from Qiara's temple.

"Qia, are you okay?" Dean asked as he rubbed a trace of tears on his face.

"Sister Dean please don't do this again. Qiara was just as scared as Danny. We're afraid to be late." Qiara's tone of voice sounded weakened.

"Sorry, Brother Dean, huh? Brother Dean promised never to do that again. Sorry Brother Dean, Qi. Sorry Brother Dean. Sorry Brother Dean..." Rapal Dean many times while hugging Qiara's body in his lap.

Seeing the stifling sight of the chest, Danny who had wanted to approach them, immediately took a step back. He didn't want his presence back to make Dean lose control.

The sight becomes very sad, not only because Danny witnesses Dean wanting to end his life, but also because he sees the girl he loves in the arms of Big Brother who hates him so much. Two inevitable realities hit Danny's heart at one time, very hard and painful.

Danny knew that his Qiara was the only reason Dean wanted to stay alive.

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