FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

18. Winners

"What favor?" asked Valeda without blinking.

"Come," replied Daniel. "My sister was taking a shower and suddenly exclaimed as she handed me this shampoo pack." Daniel showed me a shampoo pack with Valeda's phone number on it. "My sister asked me to call this number. He said he had a good feeling about it. So, I'm following."

"Then you came here?"

Daniel nodded. "I was asked to come here and receive some money. Miss knows for herself, now it's very difficult to get an injection of funds. If it's true this is a lottery, there's no harm in me coming" replied Daniel.

Valeda caught Daniel's hand. "It is good that this man is you!" Valeda. "I spread the lottery. I am so grateful that you got it! Help me!"

Daniel looked at Valeda without blinking. "Is it really Miss Val who has the lottery?"

Valeda. "I will be a regular donor to your orphanage, if you can help me out of trouble" Valeda replied steadily.

"What problem?" ask Daniel.

"Valeda?" Madam Emely appears behind Valeda. "Why are you staying here?"

"Ma-sorry, Ma. Val picked up Val's girlfriend" Valeda replied.

Daniel turned his head in shock towards Valeda who was now turning his back on him. He glanced at Madame Emely at a glance. Their similar faces made Daniel realize that they had a blood relationship.

"So this is it?" Mrs Emely made sure. "Come inside. We talk over lunch" said Mrs Emely, then turned and walked first into the restaurant.

Valeda looked quickly at Daniel. "Pretend to be my girlfriend" whispered Valeda. He dragged Daniel to follow Mrs Emely.

Daniel remained silent. He is still weighing the weight of his choice. He knew that Valeda was from the upper classes. Pretending to be Valeda's girlfriend will hold him responsible for a big deal.

Finally, they sat together at the table that had been ordered. Daniel, who was in direct contact with Mrs Emely, was able to realize that Mrs Emely did not welcome him with open arms.

Valeda raised his hand, calling the waiter there to order food. He glanced at Daniel who was sitting still. In my heart, Valeda was a little grateful because Daniel looked neat this time. He wasn't wearing a t-shirt and training pants like the other day.

Valeda smiled happily. It was a relief that Daniel was sitting next to him. Daniel was kind and considerate. Besides, they already know each other. At least, Daniel already knows about Valeda's background.

"Do you know who I am?" Madam Emely started the conversation, after they finished ordering the food.

Daniel nodded, but made no sound. The middle-aged woman in front of him continued to stare at him with a look of dislike.

"Isn't it rude if you keep quiet? At least introduce yourself, son," said Mrs Emely.

"My name is Daniel" replied Daniel calmly. She didn't want Valeda to feel guilty because Madame Emely had offended her.

Madame Emely snorted amusedly as Daniel said nothing more. "That's all? Can you just say your name? Nothing you can tell me anymore?" insinuations.

Valeda glanced at Daniel. For five minutes they sat there, a mountain of guilt engulfing Valeda. He knew that Daniel was a patient man. However, this time Madame Emely had gone too far.

"Nothing" replied Daniel, smiling. "Nothing I need to tell you anymore. The competent Valeda chose me. Isn't that enough to judge how I am?"

Valeda felt a cooling shower of warm water on his head when he heard Daniel's reply. Especially seeing his smile.

Mrs Emely did not comment for some time. He thought of something else to bring Daniel down again. "Yes. My son is very smart and has a good career. Realize that I want him to choose the appropriate man."

Valeda's chest puffed up at Daniel's words. He was so happy to hear Daniel support him. Even he replied to Madame Emely politely but piercingly.

"Having a partner of equal status is also a consideration for every mother" Mrs Emely rejected Daniel's opinion. He looked at Valeda who spoke a thousand languages. "How did you meet this man, Val?"

Daniel laughed softly. "The story at the restaurant" whispered Daniel, but Mrs Emely could still be heard. "When we run away in the rain."

"Val fell in love with Daniel at first sight. Daniel saved Val from the third candidate Mama sent, "Valeda replied. He himself had forgotten the name of the psychopathic man who made him run away.

"That's all?" ask Mrs Emely. "Just because this kid saved you, you fell for him?" Madam Emely shook her head in disbelief.

"Ma, Val knows Daniel. He's a good man" defended Valeda.

"Neither is not enough, Val," refused Mrs Emely.

Daniel patted Valeda on the back, asking her to stop arguing. "Food has arrived. Let's have lunch first" Daniel said.

Valeda wanted to give a big round of applause for Daniel. Even though they were just pretending, Daniel was able to control things well. His calm nature was also very advantageous.

Madame Emely, who saw her son become silent, did not make a sound. Let the sound of plates clashing against the table fill their surroundings.

A delicious lunch for Valeda. Of course he had expected that Madame Emely would not directly accept Daniel. At the beginning like this, Madame Emely did not hesitate to show her dislike for Daniel. Especially when he found out that Daniel worked odd jobs to support an orphanage. Mrs Emely will immediately draw the conclusion that Daniel used Valeda only for money.

Valeda glanced at Daniel many times. Daniel ate slowly and calmly. Valeda didn't pay much attention to Daniel at the orphanage yesterday. However, this time Valeda can say that Daniel's way of eating is very graceful. He seemed to understand the manners of high-class eating.

Feeling that there was nothing to reproach from the way Daniel ate, Mrs Emely looked for other ways to keep Daniel from being at home in his chair. "What do you do, Daniel?" Madame Emely raised her voice.

"Mama, can we talk later?" ask Valeda. He didn't want to make Daniel feel bad.

"I run an orphanage" Daniel replied. He rubbed the tip of his lips with a napkin. "To meet the needs of the orphanage children, I worked odd jobs. Most of my time, I use to send vegetables to various restaurants."

Valeda did not dare to move. Even he did not dare to look at Madam Emely who was speechless. His heart pounded very quickly and almost knocked him unconscious.

"Enough, Valeda," said Mrs Emely. "Don't embarrass yourself again!"

Daniel laughed lowly. "Valeda need not be ashamed of men who are able to take care of others well" said Daniel.

"I really don't like you, Daniel!" great-granddaughter Mrs Emely, boarded the apoplexy.

"As much as I don't like everyone, I can't expect everyone to like me" Daniel replied.

Madame Emely put her spoon roughly on the table. His face was red with anger. "Valeda, you better end your relationship with this man" Madam Emely ordered before moving from her seat.

For a few seconds, Valeda just looked towards Madam Emely disappearing. He was awakened by Daniel's little laugh.

"Miss see?" Daniel raised his hand. "I'm shaking!"

***