Racers - Kang Daniel

12 - Chance

As I calmed down, I thought hard on how to not make things awkward.

"Flashlight" I said as I pulled out of his hug.

"What?" Daniel looked at me confused.

"Do you have a flashlight?" I repeated.

"Geez, what a party pooper. You just ruined such a romantic scene, you know that" Daniel complained.

"There's no such thing. Come on. I need to fix my bike. Do you have it or not?" I asked.

"Ouch. I didn't know you're impatient baby. Here" Daniel said as he pinched my cheek lightly before he pulled out the flashlight on his phone.

I kept silent as I fixed my bike while Daniel sitting next to me holding the light.

"(y/n)" Daniel called me.

"Hmm?" I replied while still focusing on my bike.

"So what do people usually call the thing between us?" Daniel asked.

"What thing? There's nothing between us " I said plainly.

"(y/n)" Daniel called me again.

"What?" I asked slightly annoyed as I turned my head to him. I was shocked when he suddenly leaned in to give me a peck.

"So is this still nothing?" he asked not moving his face. Our face are just a few inches apart.

"What was that for?" I asked as I pushed him away before wiping my lips with the back of my hand.

"I don't know. My best friend just told me to trust my instinct. So I did." he explained as he looked away.

"Look Daniel, I'm sorry that I got carried away earlier. You're a good person. Don't waste your time on me. You deserve someone much better than I am. I'm just too troublesome. Just save yourself." I said.

"Can you stop doing that!" Daniel yelled.

"Doing what? And why are you yelling?" I yelled back.

"Stop belittling yourself like that. It's hurting me!" Daniel ranted.

"What?" I asked softly, not sure what he meant by that.

"I don't know alright. I don't know what I feel about you. Is it just merely pity or lust or something else, I don't know, Okay? All I know is I can't stop thinking about you, I keep wanting to be close to you, and it hurts me every time you say things like that about yourself. Hhh." Daniel confessed.

"But why? You could have any girl that you want. Why me?" I asked still not believing what I just heard.

"I told you. I don't know. I haven't figure it out" he continued.

"You're probably just curious because you want to have sex with me. I'm sure there are a lot of girls out there who are better in bed than I am. Come on. Just go find someone else who has a better mental health than I do. You'll be fine without me" I said.

"Can't we just give it a try and take it from there?" Daniel asked.

"I can't. I have nothing left to spare for another broken heart. For me is either you hold me tight or you don't." I said.

Daniel looked gloomy. "I think I scare him off pretty good. I have to do this. I have to protect myself. I don't think I could survive another broken heart. He just wanted my body, and once he saw it he'll regret it, then left me. So I better not start at all" I said in my mind.

"Hhh, I can't fix it here, I need my tools in the repairing center, can I borrow your phone, please?" I said to break the ice. I called one of my colleagues in the repairing center to help me to get the bike and picked me up.

"Daniel, thank you so much for everything that you did for me. Trust me, you're better off without me. Mmm here's a towel. I'm sorry I got some ashes on your face and clothes. Take care" I said before I left him with my colleague.

Third party P.O.V

Daniel didn't say anything. He was just looking at the towel and walked towards his bike.

Once he arrived in his apartment, he looked at himself in the mirror. He touched the ashes in his chest, somehow he could feel the warmness when he embraced you in his arms and kissed the top of your head. Then he touched the ashes near his lips and remember the taste of your lips on his. It was good although it's just a peck.

Daniel was so confused, it feels like his head was going to explode "Are you sure that I'm gonna be better off without you? Fine. Let's try that" he said.

After that day, Daniel avoided every places that you would possibly be. Most of the time, he'll go to the club, and play with girls, but he couldn't feel anything. He hasn't seen you in a week, but there's not any moment that he stopped missing you. He still kept the clothes that you wore that day and the towel that you gave him. He looked at them every time he misses you.

End of Third party P.O.V

It's been a week since I saw Daniel around. Usually I'd see him in at least at one of my part time jobs, everyday.

"Hey, you're the waiter from that day right? Daniel's friend" Seongwoo said when he came to the repairing center.

"Oh yeah. Hi. We're not really friends but anyway, how can I help you?" I asked.

He explained what's wrong with his bike, and I started checking on it.

"Mmm, so how are you guys doing?" Seongwoo asked when I checked on his bike.

"Who?" I asked.

"You and Daniel" he replied.

"There's really nothing between us. And I haven't seen him for a week, so, I don't know." I replied while still focusing on his bike.

"Hmm. That explains why he's so gloomy these days. So, is Daniel also think that there's nothing between you guys too?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so. Look, Daniel is better off without me" I said finally looking at him.

"Well I have to disagree to that. I have never seen him so down before, and trust me, I've known him since we were a kid. Why don't you give him a chance? He's not as bad as he looks." he insisted.

"I know. He's a great guy. That's why I can't" I said.

"What do you mean?" he continued.

"I'm too broken for him. So, since you're his best friend, why don't you convince him to find someone better than I am" I said.

"Nobody is too broken to fall in love. Look, I don't mean to get in between you guys, but I never saw him looking at someone the way he looked at you. I might not know you, but I don't think that you're any less than any other girl and I know for sure that Daniel will agree with me on that. I just want you guys to be happy. You know, just think about it. Give him and yourself a chance. You both deserve it" he suggested.