Chapter 32: Her Fear

After their dinner, Evan and Daniella left the restaurant. They walked side by side, the wind blows gradually, the sky was clear just like Daniella's face.

With her stomach full, and mind at peace, she felt satisfied.

She stopped by the side of the car. She waited for Evan to open it but, he opened the door at the backseat instead.

Daniella's head tilted nervously, wondering if Evan would ask her to sit at the backseat.

(Is he still angry at me?) She asked in her mind.

(Should I apologize for calling him gay?)

(Well I didn't call him gay but,) she breathed. A voice at the back of her mind was urging her to apologize.

(Maybe I should) guilt was eating her heart out.

She was about to part her lips when Evan opened a paper bag and took out a rectangular box.

She rose an eyebrow, wondering what is happening.

(Is this a bomb?) She asked.

(Is he going to blow me because I call him gay?)

"What is that?" panic overtook her mind.

Without answering, Evan squatted on the ground and placed the box on the ground next to her feet.

Her eyes lowered and watched him as he opens the box. Seeing the flat shoes inside, her lips parted in wonderment.

"Can you put this on?" he asked.

"My shoes are fine," she bent her body, feeling unease with their position.

There are some people in the street, the light from the lamp post on the sidewalk allows the stranger to watch them.

"You are wearing heels. We are going somewhere and wearing those shoes will hurt your legs," she could hear the worry tainted in his voice.

"Alright. Alright, let me do it," she said, panicking.

She frosts when Evan suddenly looked up and stared at her with cold eyes.

"Let me do it," he said coldly.

She nodded like an obedient dog and lifted one of her feet. She watched him as he gently removed her heels and replaced them with flat shoes.

She bit her lower lips, her cheeks flushed as she watched the people around looking at them.

When Evan finished up putting the shoes on her, he put her heels inside the box and got up.

"Let's go," he said, this time his voice was soft, and his eyes were shining staring at her.

"Where are we going?" she asked. She opened the door by herself and sat on the passenger seat.

After Evan started the car, he looked at her and with a smirk on his lips, he then replied, "Amus.e.m.e.nt park."

Hearing it, Daniella's heart throbbed.

She used to love the amus.e.m.e.nt park. The crowd, the rides, the laugh and scream from the people as they enjoy the rides and most of all, the person that was always with her, James Park, her first boyfriend, and first heartbreak.

Daniella took in a deep breath as she turned to look at the road. Her mind reminisced the first time she went to the amus.e.m.e.nt park.

-

Six years ago.

A girl who had just turned seventeen was standing with hands covering her eyes.

She could smell the cologne of the boy behind her. The light scent of the perfume coming from his hand lingered around her nose.

Her heart thumped when she felt his hand moving away from her eyes.

Slowly, her eyes opened, behind her thick eyeglasses – with his handprints on them, Daniella could see the entrance of the amus.e.m.e.nt park

Her lips parted with excitement, she turned her back to face the boy, it was James park. He was the same age as her, his body was thin but, taller than her.

She could only reach his shoulder; she was very short for her age.

She looked up to him, her eyes shining with happiness stared into his.

Through her thick glasses, no one could see that her irises were changing its color, and with glasses, she could not read other people's minds.

She had been wearing the glasses since she escaped the laboratory. She and her brother needed to hide their eyes, or else they might find themselves locked in the laboratory again.

All she could see was James' eyes and her reflection. She widened her smile as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Thank you, James," she softly said, happiness was strained in her voice.

She could feel his hand on her head, gently stroking her hair.

Then she heard his voice, whispering on top of her head the words she will never forget.

"I Love you. Ella, Happy birthday."

Those words sent butterflies to her stomach. She lifted her face to look at him, and seeing the sincerity on his face, her lips beamed a bright smile.

"Daniella."

A familiar voice rang to her ears, sending her back to reality.

Daniella blinked, her head swung to her left and saw Evan deeply staring at her.

"Are you back?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"We have arrived," Evan said without repeating himself.

"Shall we?"

Daniella nodded. When he opened the door for her, Daniella got out of the passenger seat and looked at the ark of the amus.e.m.e.nt park.

It was the same place, the ride, even the guards are the same and the difference is that she's with Evan and she's not the same naïve girl.

The girl who depends on the man, the clingy girl who always had her hands wrapped around James.

Realizing that she had become a person who doesn't need a man to defend and helped her, Daniella's lips curved a victorious smile.

The last time she was here with James, she acted like the timid girl.

A girl who was afraid to hold a fake gun at the shooting machine. So, she let James play and win the price for her.

She felt secure around him, even though she had her eyes and ability hidden, she felt comfortable and at peace whenever he's around her.

To her, James was the man who should be looking after her, protecting her but, after their break up, she saw the other side of the world, the side which her brother hid from her.

She realized that to survive, she needs to be the man on her own.

With that thought on her mind, Daniella grinned confidently. She turned to look at Evan, the man has had removed his vest and loosened his shirt.

"Do you fear height?" Evan asked.

Daniella shook her head, pasting a bewitching smile on her lips, she said, "I only fear frogs and maybe," she paused and then continued, "Sadako," then she let out a faint giggle.

Seeing Evan's hand, reaching for her, Daniella turned and lead the way.