FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

34. Fail

Valeda sees Daniel throwing himself on the sofa near a row of vases of roses belonging to Mrs Emely. Daniel's face looked wrinkled even though he had eaten a lot of food provided at the Valeda family dinner.

"Racid?" ask Valeda, sitting next to Daniel. Valeda takes a safe distance for himself so as not to be fascinated with the charisma Daniel has.

They sit far away from the crowd. Valeda was able to see Mr. Suherman and Mrs Emely who were preoccupied with their guests. Mr. Suherman seemed busy from the moment they arrived, so Daniel decided to greet him on his way home.

Meanwhile, Alex and Joan avoid Daniel or Valeda. They knew, if making trouble now, Mr. Suherman would be wrathful to them.

Then Lucas, he's come home conscious. Lucas told Valeda and Daniel before he left. For sure, Lucas wanted to see his wife and children at every opportunity he had.

"I haven't attended an official event like this for a long time. It felt exhausting as well," Daniel replied with a smile. "Thank you for the delicious food. I can feel my stomach expanding."

Valeda giggled to see Daniel rubbing his stomach. It's true that Daniel ate too much. "Don't be able to breathe, Dan" said Valeda.

"But no matter how good the food is here, I'm still waiting for you to cook something for me" Daniel said.

"Don't talk about it first. My mood's good, right!" Valeda.

"Hahaha, look at your face right now, Val," Daniel laughed.

"Alright, alright! Breakfast tomorrow, let me do it!" reply Valeda fiercely.

Daniel shook his head slowly. "I want you to rest more tonight. Breakfast let me make it and we can have lunch at my restaurant."

"Then?"

"Make me dinner" Daniel smiled.

Valeda instantly turned his face away as soon as he saw Daniel's smile. He liked that smile, and even liked it. It became very dangerous for him. "Okay, okay! Dinner tomorrow at my apartment."

Daniel put his hand on the back of the sofa behind Valeda. "You started inviting me to your apartment a lot."

"Huh!?" great-grandson Valeda. His face immediately flushed. "If you don't like it, don't come!"

"Not like it..." Daniel said slowly. "In addition to me, don't invite anyone into your apartment this easily."

"Haha! Are you not 'dangerous'?" search Valeda.

Daniel did not reply immediately, making Valeda stop smiling. They both kept quiet and exchanged looks.

"So, when I saw you finish dressing up," Daniel whispered, "I almost lost my mind."

Valeda felt like he was electrocuted when he heard Daniel's words. If only the one who said it was someone else, Valeda would have thought that it was harassment. But, he was happy that Daniel said it. Valeda's cheeks met red, he turned his eyes away. Valeda likes moments like this.

'Time... Stop for a moment.' Inner Valeda.

"So, you agree?" Daniel awakens Valeda from his daydream.

"What?" Valeda is not connected.

Daniel stretched out his hand, gently twisted Valeda's long hair, then kissed her. "Don't invite other men to your apartment. Agreed?"

"A... I didn't even let my brother in." replied Valeda quietly.

Daniel smiled again. This time, Valeda turned his face too late. He watched Daniel smile up close and it made him bewitch for a few seconds.

"You haven't seen them, have you?" ask Daniel.

Valeda shook his head slowly. "Not yet."

"When is there free time? Tomorrow after work? We go to my orphanage first, and then tonight we go to your apartment?"

"Yes, I can" Valeda agreed.

"Would you see the picture? I've got some. They're very active and funny." Daniel pulled out his phone and immediately searched for a photo album. "Look! Adorable pointy twins!"

Valeda lowered his head, looking at Daniel's mobile screen that featured two children with the exact same face. "Well! I can't tell them apart!"

Daniel chuckled at hearing it. "I can't tell them apart either, if I don't open their pants" he replied. "But, his mother could tell them apart easily!"

"really? What's their name?" Valeda became interested because he saw Daniel's face turning bright.

"Bram and Angel."

"I want to see them soon" Valeda said. "You really like kids, huh?"

Daniel nodded in spirit. "Very, very like!" answer with enthusiasm. "I wanted my sister very much at the time, but God took her. When Dad gave me a lot of younger siblings at the orphanage, I swore I'd take care of them."

Valeda breathed. "But... You're looking for trouble with Joan."

Daniel's smile instantly disappeared as if swallowed by the earth. "You're right... I made trouble earlier."

"But Lucas has given you a warning" added Valeda. "Joan will haunt your life from now on. You should warn your sisters about Joan. I'll also add some security in the orphanage. Then, I'll install some CCTV around your place. We need to make sure your sisters are safe from Joan's danger."

"Hhh," Daniel sighed. "I've been determined to keep my mouth shut since I met Joan. But, hearing him humiliate you like that, makes me want to beat him up!" Daniel punched his palm with his other hand.

"Hihihihi," Valeda giggled at Daniel's behavior.

"That goes for Mr. Alex too, Miss!" added Daniel.

Valeda patted Daniel on the back, then grabbed him. "Thank you, Dan." said Valeda. "Before, no one had sided with me. I'm so grateful to know you."

"Aargha! But still, I failed to take your family's heart," Daniel threw himself back again. "When I've been dancing like this. I have also made up my mind to speak well since this morning. But everything's messed up because of my mouth."

"You said it yourself, right? You can't expect everyone to like you, because you don't necessarily like them either" Valeda quoted Daniel as saying at the restaurant.

Daniel nodded in agreement. "You're right. How could they like someone who wants to punch them all out."

Valeda chuckled again as Daniel said it with a serious face. "You didn't fail, Daniel," added Valeda. "You accompanied me patiently until this very second, when there was a choice to beat up my two brothers or run away. For me, that's enough. You didn't fail at all."

Daniel smiled with. Obviously he felt proud after being praised by Valeda. "In that case, for my wages tonight, I'll have fried rice cooked tomorrow night."

"And, that's off topic!" reject Valeda. "For a beginner like me, successfully making instant noodles alone is already a miracle!"

Daniel's brows furrowed at Valeda's refusal. "I want some fried rice."

"Keep that stone head now!" Valeda refused.

***