I came back to college on Monday. I was still full of hopes about my coming trip. Again and again I had to ask myself whether I was doing everything right.

   The sum of money we needed to spend on my so-called dream was huge. Mom was doing everything possible to support me, but I was shy to ask something else. She was afraid to let me go, and I understood her fears. I didn't feel good either.

   "Sophie! Why haven't you answered my calls recently?" I heard Eva's voice from a distance in the hall. She came to me. I was glad to see her in there to share the news.

   "Actually I didn't hear you calling, Eva."

   "Oh, alright," she added and changed the topic of the conversation.

  "You look like having a question to ask me. Am I right?"

   She nodded.

   "Yeah, you are." I was about to impart my news when Eva suddenly interrupted me.

   "Okay, but I'm first. There's something you will be amazed at more than Eric's disappearance. It's about Daniel. I've just overheard some gossip."

   "What did you learn?" I asked, trying not to show any partiality on my face. She shouldn't see my interest and curiosity.

   "He's leaving soon. I don't know when exactly, but still. It's said his grandmother is okay now, but he's been studying here and wants to break away anyway, you see? He wants to leave you!"

   "Daniel's not worried about me and he has never been before. It's quite OK for him to leave his friends. Moreover, we have nothing in common to make us stay together. Send him my 'goodbye', please," I stood up and tried to go away. Eva didn't want me to leave.

   "Do you think I don't see that something's going on between you two?"

   "I'm sorry to upset you, but you're mistaken." That was one more attempt to stop the conversation, but it failed too.

   "You're lying to me, Sophie!"

   "Stop it," I was begging.

   "I know you well enough to say there's something special between you two that you're trying to deny. You know I'm always right, and I want to assure you now that Daniel loves you. He loves you more than anybody else. And so do you."

   My wish then was to make up a reason for telling her how much she was wrong, but nothing came to my mind. I was overwhelmed by her assumptions. I didn't want to look at her, because I wasn't in high spirits. She could just use my mood to assure me of her conjectures. I wasn't going to accept Eva's words, as she was overreacting. The worst thing was that my heart beat fast. So, what was the reason for it?