FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

40. Reason

"But all my pajamas have been donated" replied Valeda. He's so embarrassed. "I think it's comfortable. So I decided to only wear this when I'm at home. Celine's taken all the pajamas I used to wear."

"Towards you" said Daniel. "Remember this, don't meet anyone while wearing that shirt!"

Valeda rubbed the back of his hand awkwardly. "Yes, I know." He glanced at Daniel who was throwing his face away, then smiled. Valeda was happy because Daniel was worried about him that way.

"Ehem! I'll make dinner now" Daniel said. "What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm" Valeda thought for a moment, weighing what he wanted to eat for the night. "Anything, it's up to you" Valeda broke up. Valeda knew that whatever Daniel cooked would be very good for him.

Valeda sat at his mini bar, propped up with his chin, watching Daniel peel the onions. Valeda was amazed by the speed of Daniel's hand in the use of a knife. "And have you thought about going to college?" ask Valeda.

"Do you have to?" Daniel asked back. "I think I'm working enough for now. My sisters need more education than I do."

"But, while there's still a chance, you should take it, right?" valeda's Proposal. "For the tuition, I'll cover it."

"You've interfered more than you promised, Val." Daniel cut the onion he had peeled. "My life and my sisters owe you a lot."

"Why do you call it 'debt'?" ask Valeda. "Don't you pay for it by being my girlfriend?"

Daniel took the vegetables from the refrigerator and washed them. "Actually you can choose other men who are easier to handle. But, you stick with me." Daniel turned. "What I do is meaningless with all that you give."

Valeda smiled at Daniel's praise. He always liked the words of Daniel that lifted his heart. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. "I'll pay your tuition, on one additional condition."

"What conditions?" daniel asked while cutting the vegetables he had washed.

Valeda cleared his throat before answering. He was ashamed to say what he wanted. "Every Saturday or Sunday, you have to ask me out" Valeda replied in the end.

"Okay," Daniel responded quickly.

Valeda is trying hard to hide her happiness now. Daniel went back to being the man he knew and that made Valeda feel very comfortable. Daniel's tenderness was warm to Valeda.

Valeda had no objections at all to Daniel's tuition. If Daniel asked him to send his sixteenth sister, Valeda would agree. As long as Daniel is by his side.

Valeda blinked quickly, realizing what he had just thought. It's crazy to do anything for Daniel, like a teenager in love.

Daniel thrust a bowl of onions and vegetables in front of Valeda, making Valeda aware of his daydream. "Come on, learn to make a fuyung hai" Daniel said.

"What's? Now?" ask Valeda cengak.

"Just break the egg, and then you stir" Daniel added, handing two eggs to Valeda's hand.

Valeda looked at the egg in her hand in turn. He knocked the two slowly, yet there was no change to the egg shell. Then, he knocked on the two eggs impatiently.

"Hey," Daniel caught Valeda's hand. "If you do that, the egg can break in your hand."

"But this won't break!" valeda protests his own emotions. He felt inferior to that egg shell.

Daniel cupped Valeda's hands together, then slowly knocked on the eggs. "You have to control your energy, Val," Daniel said.

Valeda's head became empty. His attention was not on the egg in his hand, but on the warmth of Daniel's great hand. His heart feels like it's going to fall!

"A-a-I'll practice again next time," Valeda replied nervously.

Daniel folded his hands over the mini bar. His eyes looked straight at Valeda. "Why is your face so red?" ask Daniel.

"Ng, I'm not feeling well" replied Valeda.

Daniel stretched out his hand, tucking Valeda's hair behind his ear. Then his hand moved touching Valeda's forehead. Valeda closed his eyes and felt an electric shock that made his heart ooze.

"Is it because of the rain?" ask Daniel.

"Don't know" replied Valeda, still with his eyes closed.

"Val.." Daniel's voice softened, causing Valeda to turn away in shock. He held his breath as Daniel's face was only a few inches in front of him.

"W-what?" ask Valeda stuttering.

"Can you ask your friend to stop calling you 'Love'?"

Valeda thought for a moment about what Daniel had suddenly asked for. Daniel's straight eyes made his brain work slow. "Who--"

"I don't have to say his name, do I?" cut Daniel.

Valeda's throat was blocked. He finally realized who Daniel meant. "Why?" Valeda doesn't understand. He and Rangga have been friends since childhood. For him, it was commonplace that Rangga used a special nickname for him.

Daniel pulled his hair back. One of those reflexes that Valeda likes from Daniel. He got up and turned back to Valeda. "You're all grown up. Such a call is not suitable for you" Daniel said.

Valeda thought again. All this time, Rangga had indeed called him that. It had been going on since they peeked at Rangga's sister watching the drama 'There's What with Love'. Not that they were paired, it was just that Valeda felt closer to Rangga because of the call.

Rangga was a savior for Valeda who was difficult to get along at that time. He also taught Valeda how to get along easily with others. Not everything works, most just use Valeda because he's the son of a rich man. But, he finally met Celine and Kris. He split with Rangga because Rangga chose to continue studying abroad at that time.

"Is there another reason?" ask Valeda. Asking his best friend not to call him 'Love' again, must be with a strong reason. Rangga is a special person for Valeda. He owed a lot to Rangga. Valeda also did not want Rangga to be offended by his decision.

"That's it. Forget what I said just now" replied Daniel.

Valeda got up from his seat. He forgot the dough he was supposed to stir and went over to Daniel. "Why keep telling me to forget this and that, while you've said it?" Valeda pulled Daniel's arm until Daniel faced her.

Daniel still did not want to return his gaze. "I just feel like a couple of times I've crossed a line. I shouldn't have said that" Daniel replied.

"That's not the answer I want, Dan," Valeda said. "You make me not understand. I can sense that something's stuck between us."

Daniel smiled wryly. "You're saying it like we have a special relationship."

"For now, we do have a special relationship" Valeda said.

Daniel lifted his gaze, until he met Valeda's eyes. "really? Is it more special than your relationship with your little friend?"

Valeda's eyebrows are wrinkled. He began to suspect why Daniel did not want to mention the name of Rangga with his mouth. "Daniel, are you jealous of Rangga?" ask Valeda.

***