Cherishing you ♡ - Kang Daniel

×[¤ Chapter 31 ¤] ×

○ You stole my heart, but I'll let you keep it ○  

"Sit down." Daniel patted next to him on the wooden floor.

He had chosen to bring her inside a open garden house - a bit desserted from the party, and honestly Fay didn't mind it.

After that whirlwind of sound, people, lights, and Daniel, she needed some fresh air. 

She actually liked how this part of the garden was decorated to represent a bit of a style usually seen in Japanese zen gardens. 

"Fay, about what you said at your house today," Daniel sighed as he placed his hands behind him, and leaned back.  He enjoyed the peaceful scenery in front off him, compared to the busy party. 

"I don't think I can keep to it after all."

Even though his voice sounded airy, Fay knew there was a deeper thought behind his words.

"It seems, that I just can't be 'Ordinary friends' with you." Daniel continued, taking her silence as a sign that she was listening "Even if it might only be for a short while."

Flashback~

"Daniel let's start out as friends again," Fay said, after having regained her composure.

Somhow letting it all out on Daniels shoulder, really helped her and calmed her down a lot.

It felt good to let everything out, without knowing why she really was crying. Allthough she never expected it to be on the shoulder of the very person that caused her the pain.

She had pulled back from Daniels hug, and he had taken a seat at the opposite chair of hers. He had waited patiently for her to start talking again.  Because he knew she needed her time to carefully weigh, and formulate her words.

"I'm not sure what I am thinking right now, or what my real feelings are currently." Fay started explaining slowly, meeting his gaze with an thoughtful one. She was thinking as she said the words, but she didn't say them without keeping his feelings in mind.

"I do not want to rush things anymore, but they definately can't go back to the way they were before. Not after everything that has happened between us."

Daniel whinced slightly at her words, but he decided not to protest against her words. He knew that he was actually already hoping, and asking too much from her. After everything he had done, he deserved nothing, and he realized that even more after he saw Fay cray so much.

"For now at least." Fay sighed, convulsively flexing her fingers - a sign she wasn't fully comfortable with the talk, "We're less than what we were for the past month, but more than strangers," she gave a small nod as if she was convincing herself, "I think that would be suficient regarding the situation. We'll see how the flow goes because only time can tell us."

"All I can say is thank you, Fay, thank you." Daniel finally spoke up, sensing she did not want to waste any more words on this topic "It's more than I deserve, I know that, but I can't give up on you. I just can't, not without a fight at least."

"It's alright Daniel, I don't need an explanation," Fay replied softly, releasing a bit off the tension in her by taking a deep breath.

Daniel opened and closed his mouth a few times before letting out a deep sigh. He took out his phone and quickly glanced at the time, before stating,  "Well then, I think it's time I head home."

"Yeah...that might be wise." Fay's eyes darted to the clock on the wall, not knowing how to finish this conversation.

"Will you let me out?" Daniel softly asked her as he stood up from the chair.

"Follow me." Fay didn't look back as she walked back in to the house.

"Wait!" without thinking Daniel turned her around and fixed her hair - which she had messed up whilst crying, before saying "You look less like you cried now."

He hurried into the corridor, not wanting to see the empty and tired expression on her face, but little did he know that Fay stared at his back - with a conflicted expression, as he disappeared inside before she closed the door and hurried after him...

End off flashback~

"What do you expect me to reply to that?" Fay sighed, as her gaze wanderd everywhere but him.

"Well don't you think," Daniel retorted wittily,  "You should first know why I decided on this." 

"Touché." Fay agreed, turning her head to face him, "I'll listen to your explanation, unless you come up with some cliche story, about feeling sparks right now when we danced."

"Ehe." Daniel let out sheepishly, confirming the fact that she hit right on mark.

"What was that 'ehe' for?" Fay narrowed her eyes at him, examining his face carefully, only to come to the conclusion that she was right, as she saw him bite his lips nervously.

"But Fay~" Daniel protested bouncing his leg up and down impatiently, "You can't tell me you felt nothing when we danced! You looked like you were in a trance when we stopped dancing!"

"What do you mean?" Fay asked, acting oblivious, although she very well-recalled what she felt at that moment.

"Aren't you botherd by the fact, that I was about to kiss you infront off the whole freaking crowd just now? And the fact that you didn't even seem to mind it?"

"What I'm more botherd by, is that everyone thinks we're a couple." Fay said casually, convulsively flexing her fingers again,  "Litterly everyone thinks that and by everyone, I mean the whole third year."

"I know," Daniel replied simply, not even batting an eye.

"You know? It doesn't bother you?" Fay asked raising an eyebrow at him.

"Should it? I mean, I still like you...we used to date and we could go back to that status anytime, So..." Fay could see the corners of his eyes crinkle as he tried to surpress a smile.

"How can you be so sure of yourself, geez." Fay rolled her eyes, but the cornes off her mouth unconciously lifted into a smile.

"You have no idea how much I like you, how much you make me smile," Daniel thought fixating his gaze on her face and admired her beloved features, "How much I love talking to you or, how much I wished I knew you before I wrote that stupid love letter."

"You have no idea how much I like your expression, " Fay suddenly said out loud, shifting her body in such a way that she was now seated in a position that faced him, "You're probably thinking something along those lines, are you?"

"H-how did you know?" His ears flushed pink as his eyes widened, the one thing Daniel could never hide was his emotions.

"You had that disgustingly cheesy look on your face." Fay replied trying her hardest to keep her face blank, "I can recognise it now."

"Oh really, how so?" Daniel smirked as moved closer to her, "Can you guess what I'm thinking right now?"

Fay slightly bent back, but his next words made her the one to stutter this time, "I thought you said everything was an act."

"W-we have left that phase behind us haven't we?" Fay stuttert avoiding his gaze intentionally, "I know it's clear as day it wasn't a act."

"Is it?" Daniel whisperd as his face came to a real close proximity with hers....