Chapter 128: Only a Friend

Daniel POV

I pressed my back against the wall, hiding in the dark shadow near the hallway corner.

"It's not about trust!" Elena shouted from the back doorway, her voice cracking. "You completely ruined my mood tonight! Don't let me see your face for the rest of today!"

The door slammed shut. Heavy, angry footsteps came fast down the corridor.

My heart thumped in my throat. I turned and rushed back down the passage, slipping into the guest room just before the light caught me. I shut the door without a sound, threw myself onto the bed, and stared blindly at the dark ceiling.

My chest heaved. I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms, squeezing my eyes shut to force back the heat burning behind my eyelids. I refused to let a single tear fall.

Is this how much she trusts him? I muttered to myself, my jaw aching from how hard I bit down. Even when she's furious... It's still only him.

"Is there really no room in your heart for me, Elena?" I whispered into the quiet room.

The door handle turned.

Liam walked in, pulling a damp towel off his neck and tossing it onto a chair. He stopped near the frame and looked over at me.

"I still never get why you're staying here," Liam said, resting his shoulder against the doorpost. "Not like we are really that close."

I sat up slowly on the mattress, resting my wrists on my knees. "I am making the most of my opportunities."

"Doing this won't make Elena notice you," Liam said coldly.

"You will not know until the end," I replied, staring straight back at him.

"I can say that right away," Liam said.

He took two steps toward the bed, bending down to lie on his side of the mattress, but dropped midway, stopping himself to sit on the edge instead. He turned his head and looked right into my eyes.

"Did you... have you confessed your feelings to her?"

My throat locked up. My stomach sank into a deep, hollow pit, but I kept my mouth shut. I stared straight ahead, refusing to show him the weight crushing my chest. I didn't say a single word.

Liam looked away toward the window. "But why is it that it's only Elena you like anyway? I mean, you have a lot of girls that are crushing on you."

"Because it's only Elena my heart was beating for," I said softly, every word heavy in my mouth.

Liam shook his head, a faint breath escaping his lips. "Hope you know Elena's character is not that good. She's always saying weird things or even doing weird things."

I didn't blink. "Then give up on her."

"Hear me out first," Liam said, turning his face back to me. The annoyance in his eyes faded, replaced by an absolute, solid resolve. "With all that habit, I love her more than the words can describe it. So give up."

He turned around, pulled the blanket over his shoulder, and laid his head down on the pillow.

"Let's see who will win," I muttered into the dark.

"You have your parents around you and anything you wish for," Liam said, his voice muffled under the cover.

"What does that have to do with what is happening now?" I asked, my brows pulling together.

"She's the only one I have besides me," Liam said quietly.

I stared at the outline of his back, my mind racing in total silence.

He thinks having wealth and family means I have everything, I thought, bitterness rising in my throat. He doesn't know what it feels like to stand in a crowded room full of people who expect things from you, while the only person you actually want doesn't even see you.

I kept those thoughts to myself. I didn't say another word to Liam. I sat there in the dark, watching until his shoulders relaxed and his breathing slowed into a steady, deep rhythm.

I checked my side. He was completely out cold.

I pulled the thin cover off my legs, wrapped it around my shoulders, and stood up without making a sound. I slipped my shoes on and walked quietly out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

I walked down the hall and stepped out onto the back porch. Elena was sitting on the wooden steps, her arms wrapped around her legs and her knees pulled tight against her chest.

"Elena," I said, keeping my voice light as I stepped onto the porch.

She jumped slightly, turning her head toward me. Her eyes were red, her face looking tired under the dim light. "Daniel? What are you doing up?"

I sat down on the step right beside her, leaving a small space between us. "I saw you come out here. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, pulling her knees closer and looking straight ahead into the yard.

"You don't have to hide it from me," I said, leaning toward her slightly. "Elena... I know things are complicated with Liam right now. But I'm here. I have always been here for you. Just give me a chance. I can treat you better than he does."

Elena went completely still. She turned her head to face me, her expression turning serious.

"Daniel, stop," she said firmly. "Don't do this."

"I'm serious, Elena," I pressed, reaching out to touch her hand, but she yanked her arm back out of reach before my fingers could make contact. "Just think about it—"

"There's nothing to think about," Elena cut in, shaking her head. She looked me straight in the eye without any hesitation. "You are my friend, Daniel. You have always been my friend, and I only see you as a friend. That is never going to change."

My chest tightened, a sharp pain slicing through me. "Elena..."

"Don't wait for me, Daniel," she said, standing up from the step and looking down at me with a firm, final look. "You are only hurting yourself. Stop coming here, if that will make you forget about me."

She turned around, walked up the porch stairs, and went back inside the house, shutting the door behind her with a clear click.

I stayed sitting on the step alone, staring at the closed door in complete silence.