Daniella gave her a nod, "Robert and Scott will prepare the dishes and I have asked them to put sesame in all the dishes so -" she paused to cough and as she did blood spurt out of her mouth.
Claire went panic, she quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped Daniella's mouth, "Daniella listen! You have us, we will protect you!"
With pain in her eyes, Daniella looked up, "I know that but," she coughed once again, blood from her nose run down to her mouth, "if something goes wrong, I can only count on myself," she faintly said.
Robert who was leaning against the door clenched his fists, he hated it when Daniella thinks like this. It was as if she doesn't trust them.
"We are here Daniella, no matter how bitchy you are, we will protect you!" he walked closer to the bed and settled next to her, he lifted a hand and stroke her hair which was slowly turning into white, "I would die for you."
Daniella smiled at him, then she rested her head on his shoulder, "I know you would, even Scott and Claire but Robert," she shut her eyes, slowly her sight became blurry, "what if you need to choose between me and Sebastian?"
Robert sneered, "do you really think I would choose that idiot over you?"
"I am serious Robert," her face was slightly elevated as her head remained leaning on his shoulder.
He went serious, his mind was suddenly in chaos between family and friend.
"I only have you, Daniella," Scott said, he had the silver tray in his hand with the syringe she used, "you can count on me."
Then Daniella turned to Scott, her eyes which were puffy and red rolled, "are you sure?" then she laughed weakly, "you chose to spend your last weekend with Jenna than me," her lips form a pout.
Scratching his head, Scott smiled at her, "well, she was ahm-" he cleared his throat, while his cheeks blushed.
"Stop blushing Scott, you look stupid!" Robert commented.
Irritation flashed on Scott's face after hearing it, "What's your problem Robert?"
"Whoa! so touchy! Are you a girl?" Robert teased Scott.
Scott immediately rushed towards the bed after taking the syringe.
Seeing that the two were about to fight, Daniella's face flattened. Turning her head to Claire, she spoke, "see, this is why I can only depend on myself."
"Does Evan know about this?" Claire asked as she threw the tissue in the garbage can.
When she didn't get a reply from Daniella, her heart raced. She immediately turned and found her sleeping tightly on the bed.
She blew out a sigh, she's certain that Daniella didn't tell this to Evan. Her heart ached for her; the woman has gone through so much that she refused to depend even to her long time friend Robert.
Her thought was disturbed when Daniella's phone suddenly rang. She took it out from Daniella's bag and saw Evan's number.
With a calm face, Claire ended the call. Her sight shifted at Daniella, the woman might have love and trust Evan but still, she chose to depend on herself.
----
Staring at herself in the full-body mirror, Camille smiled. She ran a finger on the A-line dress that reach her knees, showing her perfect straight legs.
Her purple dress with sequin on the hems has given her a charming look. Her hands touched her bare shoulders and switched it to the purple gem hanging around her neck.
Despite the short notice, Camille was able to pull a dress. With this look and light makeup, she knew that Daniella would feel insecure. After all, the woman had nothing in her closet than some jeans, shirts and the usual tracksuit which she wears every day.
She walked out of the room elegantly like a princess, her heels sounded on the floor as she walked downstairs.
One hand on the rails, Camille carefully walked on the stairs. Her eyes locked at the man standing next to the door. It was Evan, wearing a white long sleeve polo and paired it with a classic blue vest.
She gulped hard, Evan was looking at her.
Heart thumping uncontrollably, she smiled at him and to her surprise, he smiled back.
She bathed her eyes, 'did he like my dress?' she thought.
"Too beautiful?" suddenly the voice of the woman who she hated the most sounded from behind.
Camille turned around.
And right there, her world seemed to have stopped.
Her black dress has made her white skin to glow. The lace going all the way her neck showed the shape of her shoulder, Camille thought she was fat but, it must have been her tracksuit because right now, she could see her deep collar bone.
She gulped hard, bit her lips in irritation when she noticed her b.r.e.a.s.t. 'is she wearing a push-up bra?' she asked herself.
Camille could no longer hide her bitterness, her face screwed when her eyes dropped to Daniella's face.
The woman didn't even bother to put makeup. Even her eyebrows were natural while her hair was fixed in a crown braid making her look like a princess of darkness.
Evan almost flew towards Daniella. His hand went on her behind while the other touched her chin.
Daniella snapped her tongue, "maybe I should change, I look too pretty in this."
But Evan didn't reply, he stayed staring at her.
"Have I told you that your confidence is just too-" Evan paused as he smiled.
"much?" Daniella finished his sentence.
Shaking his head, Evan continued, "charming. My parents will be late, should we go upstairs?" preparing the dinner.
Daniella looked sideways and found Camille standing a few meters away from them talking to Matthew.
"Only if you carry me," her hand encircled around his neck while Evan carried her upstairs.
Seeing the couple leaving, Matthew who was busy talking to Camille yelled, "hey mushroom! Your wrestle friend is here, tell him to return my rice cooker!"
Camille discreetly rolled her eyes, Matthew and Daniella were the only people yelling at this house acting like unmannered people.
As the annoyance flashed on Matthew's face, he looked at Camille. "look at those two. This house would be full of babies if that mushroom just like kids."
Hearing that, Camille's eyes narrowed, "Daniella doesn't want to have kids?"
Matthew scoffed, "she hates kids, why do you think she's treating Selena like that?" then he left the living room and went to the kitchen where Scott and Robert were preparing the dinner.