from here to eternity

CHAPTER 11: STRANGERS?

DANIELLE POV

At first, I looked at him as if he was a maniac. But oh god that smile. It caught me up. For a few seconds, I forgot everything around to look at him laugh wholeheartedly. He then spoke, bringing me back to my senses.

"Why would you even think of such an obnoxious thing?" He asked me, wiping off a single tear from his eye. I felt annoyed.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't believe how that thought even crossed your mind. You're so silly"

"huh?"

"Su-Jin is my sister!"

"What?" I waited for his sentence to sink into my mind. And after it did, I knew I couldn't face him. My head dropped low with utter embarrassment. He noticed my actions.

"Hey, come on, it's okay. It was rather considerate of you to think such for my personal life. But from now onwards, you don't have to worry about any of that. Clear?"

I nodded, my eyes still glued to the ground.

"Come on, look up," He said. I looked up as I felt his overcoat over my head, protecting me from the harshness of the rain. That's when realization hit me.

"Oh god! you're all soaked up because of me!"

"So are you," He said with a considerate small smile.

"Let's get to the shelter quickly" I said as I started walking quickly, leading the way.

DAVID POV

I kept watching her back which was drifting away towards shelter, her waving hand indicating me to follow up. I followed her up, feeling a sudden jest of deja vu.

"Let's go to my office to dry up. It's the nearest" I said as I held her hand and started walking towards my office.

DANIELLE POV

I was in his office, wrapped in his huge coat which he offered me. He promised me a ride back home, but I meticulously declined considering how much trouble I caused him. The rain slowed down a little, and I was on the street once again looking for a way to reach home. At last, the only thing I could consider was taking a bus. I was waiting at the bus station till mom called me.

"Hey mom how you're doing?"

"As usual. You don't seem home. Why are you out for soo long? Don't you see how late it must be at your place? At this rate, who will marry you-"

"Mom please. Not right now"

"Ah ok ok. But when are you coming back dear? It's been so long since your last visit"

"As if I don't know what your intentions are. You saw another guy for me to marry didn't you?"

"Uh? looks like you're a grown up now. You're right. HE IS A PILOT CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!"

"pilot? since when?"

"Oh almost 9 years I think. He must have funds to support you and your children too""What! 9 years! What exactly is his age?"

"Uhh-uh not too old just 43-" I gasped loudly.

"WHAT! YOU WISH TO MARRY YOUR 23-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO THAT OLD HAG!"

"Come on dear age is just a number nowadays" I sighed heavily.

"Mom, I don't have the energy to fight today. Just decline. It's not like I'm gonna come anytime soon" I lied.

"Nothing can be done of you can't it?" She said before she hung up.

I sighed heavily before entering the bus that just arrived.

TIME SKIP, 1 HOUR LATER

I just stepped off the bus. It reminded me of my younger years. I remember taking a hundred buses every day just to reach the university. I started walking towards my flat with memories flashing in my head. I reached my home, took a shower, ate dinner, and finally laid down on the bed, his jacket hanging right next to me, still giving the fragrance of his cologne, and I wondered, why my heart went like that. When he was so close to me, too close to just be strangers.