Anyone But You~

19

Authors Pov: 

The party was coming to an end everyone was leaving the mansion. That's when Hazel thought it's the right time to speak with Daniel. She approached him tapping his shoulder as his back was facing her. He turned around and quickly smiled as he saw her, she smiled back gathering to courage to speak up. 

Hazel: "Um..sir I-I want to ask you something" 

Daniel: "What is it, Hazel?" 

Hazel: "Uh...Ca-can you come to the backyard after the party" 

Daniel: "Sure, I'll be there in a while" 

She nodded and quickly went away. Daniel chuckled at her. He said goodbye to Emma & her parents then excused himself and came to the backyard, he saw Hazel, but her back was facing him, so he softly called her out. She turned around quickly, and her heart raced when she saw him, he came and stood opposite to her. Hazel doesn't say anything a quietly gives him a small paper wrapped gift. 

Hazel: "Happy Birthday Sir" 

Daniel: "Thank you Hazel" 

He took the gift from her touched by her act. 

Hazel: "Open it please" 

He nodded opening the package a cute small pendant came into view. 

Hazel: "Do you like it?" 

Daniel: "Yes...I love it it's adorable" 

Hazel: "My grandma gave it to me and now I'm giving it to you" 

He smiled but also got confused. 

Daniel: "But why are you giving to me?" 

Hazel: "Because I wanted you to have something meaningful. This locket was important to my grandma, and I wanted to pass it on to someone who would appreciate it as much as she did."

She looks at him, her eyes lingering on his face, waiting for his reaction. Daniel looks down at the locket in his hands, then back up at Hazel. His expression softens and he is visibly touched by her gesture.

Daniel: "Hazel, this is a truly special gift. I can't express how much it means to me. Thank you for sharing something so precious with me. I'll take good care of it."

She nodded with the biggest smile on her face. 

Hazel: "I trust you sir I know you will take good care of it" 

He chuckles a little before wrapping his arms around her shoulder and pulling her in for a hug. 

Daniel: "You don't know how much this gift and you mean to me" 

He whispered slowly, snuggling into her neck lightly kissing her. After a few seconds they broke the hug looking into each other's eye's words didn't express much as their eyes did. 

Hazel: "Y-you sh-should go" 

She looked down from his intense gaze making her shy and flushed. 

Daniel: "Do you want me to go?" 

She blushed more and it was enough for Daniel to guess as much as if wanted to stay with her he knew he had to go back inside. 

Daniel: "Thank you for his amazing gift, Hazel...I wouldn't forget it even till my last breath" 

Hazel: "I wouldn't forget your kindness either sir" 

She said and smiled looking into his eyes, he smiled back.

Daniel: "I'll go inside...you should come in as well its cold out" 

She nodded. They both went inside together but parted ways when they reached inside. Danile came to his room and wore the locket around his neck it wasn't too loud just a plain golden chain with very small beads on it. 

Daniel: "It looks good though" 

 He spends the night thinking about Hazel and the meaning behind her gift. He feels a strange sense of connection to her through the locket, knowing that it once belonged to her grandmother. He can't stop himself from occasionally taking it out and admiring it, feeling a pang of melancholy mixed with something else he can't quite place - an emotion he's not yet ready to explore.

Daniel: "What have you done to me Hazel Miller?" 

He kissed the locket then closed his eyes trying to sleep so that he gains energy for the next day of work. 

NEXT DAY: 

Daniels Pov: 

As usual I woke up & got ready for work wearing a grey suit with grey pants with a white shirt inside. I went downstairs for having breakfast just to see my parents already there having tea. I wished them and sat on my usual spot firstly taking a sip of water before having the eggs. I looked up to see Hazel just to see her already staring at me. I smiled at her slightly she smiled back shyly which made me giggle a little, but I quickly covered it with a cough.  

Mrs. Hernandez: "Daniel honey...When are you going to get married?" 

Mr. Hernandez: "Have you thought about marrying yet Daniel?" 

I sighed. 

Daniel: "No mom dad..I will but later" 

Mrs. Hernandez: "You have been saying this since the past 2 years" 

Daniel: "Mom marriage is a big decision I need to think and choose wisely because it's a lifetime promise of togetherness" 

Mrs. Hernandez: "I know love, but have you thought about Emma?" 

Daniel: "What about her?" 

Mrs. Hernandez: "She's ready to marry you honey" 

My heart felt uneasy about the mention of me marrying Emma she's good, but I can't convince my heart. 

Daniel: "I'll think mom" 

Mrs. Hernandez: "There's nothing to think Emma is a pretty girl with a good family background, a nice behavior also the work she does, and she has also studied from Harvard! she matches our standard too" 

I knew my mom would say this I saw it coming. 

Daniel: "Mom money, grades aren't everything!!" 

Mrs. Hernandez: "Why? what's wrong with marrying Emma?" 

Daniel: "I need to go" 

I got up from my seat and walked out of the mansion. I feel weird about marrying Emma I just don't have romantic feelings towards her it's so obvious I don't want to marry her and waste her life and my life.