Chapter 63

Daniel.

"Aren't you curious about how Ariana is doing? Don't you want to know how she's coping?" Andrew asked, as I had anticipated.

I knew he would question why I hadn't inquired about Ariana, and I was simply waiting for him to voice his concerns.

I'd been preoccupied with various things in the past few weeks and hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Ariana or check up on her. Additionally, I felt hesitant about reaching out because she had asked for time and space. I didn't want to give her the impression that I was selfishly disregarding her request by constantly contacting her.

"Why are you not saying anything? Don't you want to see her again? Are you not even curious about the well-being of your friend?" Andrew's tone revealed his frustration, but I wasn't surprised, as he had always been defensive when it came to Ariana, and I understood his reasons.

"Just because I haven't mentioned anything doesn't mean I don't want to see her or talk to her ever again. I was simply considering the best way to respond to you without my explanations sounding like excuses," I replied.

I didn't want him to think that I no longer cared about my friend just because I hadn't inquired about her. I was aware that he might suspect I wanted to distance myself from Ariana because I felt relieved not to be under pressure from her anymore. However, stating that I no longer wanted her around would be untrue.

I was making a conscious effort to respect her boundaries and create a comfortable environment for her.

"Whatever you say may sound like an excuse because ever since the last incident with her, you've barely asked about her or mentioned her. It seems like you're growing accustomed to her absence," he accused.

"Furthermore, seeing how often you spend time and have fun with your love interest gives the impression that you're completely forgetting about the person who has been by your side for over 15 years. It's quite disappointing because I expected you to at least ask about her well-being, even if you don't ask about anything else," he chided, and I sighed.

"You don't have to portray me as such a terrible person because I am certainly not. I haven't asked about her not because I lack curiosity, but because I don't want to be told anything that might push me to go see her, especially since she has made it clear she wants me to stay away until she's ready to have me back in her life," I explained.

"You didn't need to bring up my dating life, as it creates the false impression that I am neglecting my friend while pursuing my romantic interests. These are two distinct situations. I genuinely care about Ariana, and that's why I'm choosing to give her space and patiently wait for her to reconnect with me on her own terms," I replied, my tone slightly snappish.

I despised the way he tried to portray me as selfish simply because I was pursuing a relationship with Bella while not keeping tabs on Ariana.

I needed Andrew to let go of his defensiveness when it came to Ariana. It was exhausting because I knew he had feelings for her but lacked the courage to express them. Instead, he took it out on me, resenting the fact that I didn't share his romantic interest in his perfect woman.

I had attempted numerous times to bring them closer together, believing he was a better match for Ariana than I could ever be. However, she never seemed receptive to what he wanted to tell her. In the end, he assumed the role of her best friend and comforter, likely growing tired of playing that part by now.

"I still believe you should inquire about her, at the very least. She often asks about you and how things are progressing with your wedding preparations. It shows she still cares deeply for you. Regardless of the circumstances, she wants to ensure you're doing okay. I'm not judging you for having a life and pursuing someone you like, but please don't make it seem like you've ceased to care about Ariana. It would hurt her to discover that you aren't even curious enough to ask about her," he insisted.

"I will ask about her when I'm certain I won't become too curious and show up unexpectedly. Now let me ask you this, Andrew: Until when do you intend to play the role of a good friend to her instead of honestly expressing your feelings?" I abruptly changed the topic, causing him to look back at me with a shocked expression.

"What on earth are you talking about, Daniel? Who told you I have feelings for Ariana? You know very well that the three of us have been friends for a long time, and I'm there for her only because of the situation between you two. She's just a friend to me," he denied, unsurprisingly, and I scoffed.

"You can go ahead and tell that to any other fool who hasn't known you for over 15 years. I'm fully aware that you harbor stronger feelings for her than you're willing to admit. Don't keep lying to yourself because it won't do you any good. Give her more time to move on from her feelings for me, but make sure you don't miss the opportunity to tell her how you truly feel. You'll only regret it if you continue holding back," I advised him.

I had known for quite some time that he had feelings for Ariana. Despite his belief that he concealed it well, it was evident to anyone who knew the three of us together. People always suspected a love triangle among us, cliché as it sounded. Our friendship throughout the years had indeed been a love triangle.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"I can't quite recall the exact moment I became aware, but it's been a while since I noticed your feelings for her. Initially, I wasn't entirely certain, but certain situations that unfolded over the years made it clear to me," I responded, and he let out a sigh.

"I can't believe I was foolish enough to think that nobody else would notice. The unfortunate part is that I've had these feelings even before the three of us became close, and it's been challenging for me to cope with them, knowing that her heart has always belonged to you," he lamented.

"I've come to accept that she and I can never be more than friends. It seems unlikely that she'll open her heart to someone else anytime soon, and she already sees me as her closest friend and confidant. I doubt she'll ever realize or acknowledge my feelings for her," he confessed, and I shook my head.

"What makes you think she doesn't already know how you feel about her? Haven't you realized how observant Ariana is? You weren't exactly subtle about it, so I'm quite certain she's already aware," I informed him, and his face fell.

"She does?" he asked in shock.

"Listen, buddy, the only advice I'll give you is this: Don't let your fear of rejection prevent you from expressing your feelings. Even if she chooses to remain friends, let her know that you had feelings for her. That way, she can either accept or reject you clearly, and you can move on and find closure," I advised.

I refrained from saying anything further because I wasn't entirely sure how things would unfold, and I didn't want to give him false hope.

"Oh, and one more thing: Stop suggesting that she should see other men. Otherwise, she won't take you seriously," I added, slightly amused by the horrified expression on his face.