SOMETHING (en) √

Eight

“So, why her?”, Allan asked, fixing his seat.

“We met when we were in college. I don’t know. Something about her that I really like. She’s soft. Nothing like Nowa. I mean, I love Nowa, but just as a friend. She helped me through a lot before but Bella… is something else.”

“You can’t even describe why you love her?”, Allan was confused.

“I don’t think I can.”

“Idiot, I shall say.”

“I don’t know man. She’s beautiful, soft, and lovely and caring. She has that strong positivity inside her that I like. She doesn’t care about what people say but will take advice. She’s wonderful and strong. I know she has worse anxiety and sometimes panic attacks, but after all, she managed to be where she is now. A designer. She needs to be around a lot of people yet she didn’t let her anxiety and panic attack bring her down,” Daniel tried to explain it.

“Your eyes say a lot about it,” Allan replied.

“Can’t hide that. So, why Maya?”

“Hurm, I met Maya only 3 years ago. At a gaming competition, she’s one of the players at that competition.  We didn’t start well as misunderstandings happened during the competition between her group and mine causing a small fight. But it’s all good now. Maya is the one who brings the brave idea to do another set of games to make sure no one is cheating, despite being on the winning side.”

“Wow, if I were her, I wouldn’t back down,” Daniel somewhat impressed.

“Me neither. She manages to coax everyone to do it, and yet they still win. So, it’s my group problem.”

“What an idiot of you.”

“I don’t know. One of my team suddenly pointed it out so we just want to ask before one of us gets mad out of nowhere.”

“And what happened after that?”

“We had a reconciliation party because it doesn’t sit right to just let it be just like that. So she invites all of them and surprisingly, they all attend the party. Seeing how positively they handle the situation, I kinda like it. We talk and gossip and eat and play some games together without any hatred. After that party, we grew even closer and closer.”

“So, you are closer to her than anyone else during the process?”

“You can say that. We hang out a lot. And knowing that she lives around me makes us even closer.”

“That’s it?”, Daniel couldn’t believe the ending.

“Hurm... Maya happened to catch me doing something horrible to myself, a year after we got along with each other. She helps me to get through it. Bringing me to the psychiatrist and helping me to heal without a single thought of judgment. She was just there. No questioning whatsoever. I know deep inside she wants to know. I mean, everyone has that feeling inside them. But she didn’t ask anything. I never thought that I'd end up in the mental hospital but I did. I thought she was gonna leave me there but she didn’t. She visits me almost every day. Making sure I eat and sleep.”

Daniel saw tears in Allan’s eyes. He felt touched by it. It felt so pure. He doesn’t care about anyone's perspective. He’s good at exposing his feelings towards his loved ones.

“If it’s not because of her, I’ll already be dead by now. So the thought of her leaving me doesn’t sit right with me. That’s why I try my best to protect her, to save her, to stay alive. I’m not gonna waste any of my life, doing that shit again, so that I can meet her again and again.

“So, she’s your saviour?”

“She’s my guardian angel at this rate. The fact she doesn’t leave makes me grow this feeling even bigger. I did attempt to do that shit again after leaving the hospital but she didn’t give up. I even scolded her because I didn’t want to live. That I can’t be healed. I know it pissed her off but she still comes to visit me at my house, knowing that I’m just gonna kick her away again and again. But she didn’t leave my life. She hugged me one time after I pushed her away again. It feels so warm. I never thought I'd feel that way. She said it was okay. She’ll be there. She won’t be anywhere else but beside me. Call her if I need anything. And that’s it. She went back to her house.”