Chapter 75

Ariana.

I was feeling quite nervous about being here because I had been avoiding him for the past few weeks, and I had no idea how he would react to my sudden appearance.

I had finally decided that it was time to have a proper conversation with him and resolve this issue once and for all. I also needed to give myself time to move on from my feelings for him so I could return to my normal life and work without the burden of awkwardness.

"Ariana?" his familiar voice called out from behind me, and I turned to look at him, forcing a tight-lipped smile on my face.

It had been weeks since our last encounter, and I didn't know how to react, knowing that I was seeing him again after such a long time.

I hoped things wouldn't be too awkward between us because I struggled with handling such situations. I didn't want to miss the chance to clear the air and have a proper conversation about the situation that brought us to this point.

"Hello, Daniel," I greeted as calmly as possible.

"Wow, you were definitely the last person I expected to see here," he blurted out, leaving me uncertain about whether he was genuinely unhappy to see me or simply unsure how to react to my sudden arrival.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it in a negative way. I was just surprised because I didn't think we'd be here anytime soon. I meant what I said because your presence caught me off guard," he explained, and I managed to force another smile.

He descended the stairs and approached me with a small smile on his face. We shared a brief and awkward hug, and I started to regret not informing him beforehand, so he could have been better prepared and less confused.

"I sense the awkwardness, and it seems like you're not entirely comfortable with my presence. Am I right?" I asked, and he let out a sigh.

"Let's take a seat, Ariana," he replied, gesturing for us to sit, and I complied.

His failure to immediately deny feeling uncomfortable around me confirmed my suspicions, and it hurt.

Deep down, I knew I should appreciate his honesty and understand that instant comfort was unlikely after weeks of avoiding each other and the difficult conversation we had the last time. However, it still stung, and I couldn't deny feeling hurt.

"Should I even bother taking a seat, Daniel? You already appear uncomfortable, and if you're not ready to talk, I can certainly leave. Just let me know when you feel more at ease, and we can have a conversation then," I suggested, unsure of how to proceed.

He smiled in response. "Ariana, I believe in being honest with you. I don't see a reason to deceive you. Yes, I do feel a bit awkward around you, but it's not for the reasons you might assume," he said, causing me to furrow my brows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked, seeking further clarification.

"I understand you might think my discomfort stems from our lack of interaction recently, and while that does contribute to the awkwardness, it's not the primary reason," he explained. However, I still felt perplexed and needed him to elaborate further.

"So, if it's not because we haven't seen each other for a while, then why do I sense that you're not pleased to see me here? Should I have informed you in advance? Is that it?" I inquired, hoping for a clearer explanation.

"You know well that you're always welcome to be around me, and I have no issue with that. But seeing you after this extended period made me feel uneasy because I genuinely don't know what to say to you, and I also bear a sense of responsibility for the state of our relationship," he clarified.

A frown formed on my face. "Why would you feel responsible for our current situation when you weren't the one who requested space? If I recall correctly, it was me who needed a break from our friendship and asked you to stay away until I could gather myself. So, you have no reason to burden yourself with blame," I reminded him, disliking the fact that he held himself accountable.

"I am aware that you initiated the need for space, and you might not understand why I blame myself. However, I believe I should have been a better friend to you, and perhaps you should have allowed things to settle long ago, so we wouldn't have reached this point," he responded.

I didn't appreciate his words, as they made me feel as though I had made him believe he was responsible for my inability to contain my feelings, despite knowing they were one-sided all along.

I couldn't blame him for leading me on or giving me false hope for a relationship because he consistently made it clear that he saw me only as a friend. Even when I had a slip-up and expressed my feelings, he quickly snapped out of it, emphasizing that he saw me solely in a platonic light.

"You're not responsible for my feelings, Daniel, and there's nothing you could have done to make them go away. Even if you had acted differently back then, I would have still needed space to sort out my emotions. What's happening now would have likely occurred regardless," I honestly told him.

If he had attempted to address my feelings earlier, I might have reacted the same way, requesting space, and perhaps even persisting despite his efforts to clarify his stance.

"Alright, let's stop dwelling on who's at fault, because I don't blame you, just as you don't blame me. I avoided asking Andrew about you because I knew any information could trigger me, and I wanted to stay true to my promise of keeping away from you," he stated, and I chuckled.

I had indeed inquired a few times if Daniel was asking about me, just as I was curious about him. Despite Andrew's initial reluctance to answer, I pressed for the truth, feeling the need to understand his concern for me better to aid my healing process.

When Andrew revealed that Daniel rarely asked about me, I couldn't hide my disappointment, though it didn't surprise me, knowing Daniel's way of thinking.

"I'm not upset that you didn't check up on me because I know how you think, and hearing about my struggles might have broken your promise. I'm actually grateful that you didn't, as it would have made it even harder for me to move forward, and I wouldn't be here today if you had reached out," I honestly expressed to him.

"I still wish I could have been there for you because I genuinely cared about how you were doing. I hope you don't mind me asking, but now that you're here, I think it's time to sort things out so we can move forward," he said, preparing to ask a question.

I suspected what he wanted to know but opted not to assume and patiently awaited his query.

"Do you still have feelings for me, or have you finally moved on?" he asked, confirming my suspicion.

"I'm not going to give you an elaborate explanation because it's unnecessary. I'm in a better place now, and your actions won't affect me emotionally. You can be assured that I won't let myself feel any particular way around you; those days are entirely behind me," I confidently assured him.

I couldn't deny that I still carried some feelings from the past fifteen years, but I had progressed to a point where I didn't desire anything from him or feel affected by his relationships or actions.

"Alright then, are you ready to come back to work, or do you need more time?" he inquired.

"I actually came here because I felt we needed to talk before returning to work. I miss being at work and feel ready to return. There's much for us to catch up on, especially regarding your issues with Christina, your father, and that snake, Angelo," I replied, noticing a flicker of frustration on his face.

I could sense that the situation was taking a toll on him, especially with the public knowledge of his supposed engagement to her, and it only became messier when he denied it.

I was determined to assist him in getting out of this situation because he was still my best friend, and I firmly believed that Christina was not the right match for him.

"It would mean a lot if you returned because everyone at work has missed you, and your presence is truly remarkable," he complimented, eliciting a chuckle and an eye roll from me.

As for our relationship, I had no clear expectations. However, I planned to immerse myself in work, mend our friendship, and strive to restore the bond we once shared.