Daniel

I had always been an early riser since the accident two years ago. According to everyone at home, I used to sleep in late before. Nevertheless, now I always woke up early even on a Sunday when I had the time to sleep in. According to Rina, only detectives are so alert that their sleeps are light and they wake up early like an alarm clock, without needing to hear the ringing of an alarm.

But I was not a detective; I wonder why my mind seemed to have the vigilance and precision of a detective sometimes.

I was seated in the living room of my house while I sipped on a cup of coffee that morning. A light movement caught my eye and I looked up to see Tiara walking out of her room and keeping her suitcase by the front door of the house.

She noticed me and smiled. I flashed a quick smile at her before turning away.

Why did her gaze and her smile stir something inside me all the time? It made me feel awkward every single time. That is the reason why I preferred to avoid her since my marriage to Narissa.

"Daniel, I want to go today. Will you send me and Mila to the nearest bus stop this morning?" I was startled for a moment to see Tiara standing right before me in the living room. As I had been lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized when Tiara had walked up to me.

"Bus stop? Yeah, sure. What time do you wanna go?"

"You could send me now. Mila and I are ready."

"Now? But it's only 6.30 in the morning! It's a Sunday; the roads will be deserted at this time."

"That's fine with me."

"I think everyone is still asleep. Can't you wait until they wake up?"

"No, it's quite urgent. I would like to go as early as possible."

"But you know Narissa and my sisters; they'll be upset if you leave without saying bye to them."

"Isma should be awake. I'll inform her. She'll explain it to Narissa and Rina."

"Okay, since you're being so persistent. Give us half an hour. Narissa and I will send you to the bus stop."

"There's no need to wake her up."

"No, I have to wake her up. You just be ready. We'll send you in half an hour."

"Alright, thanks."

***

"But where do we have to go so early?" moaned Narissa, finally getting up and sitting in bed; her eyes were still half-closed. Her hair lay in a mess and she was still wrapped in the blanket.

I smiled, seeing my wife's sleepy face in the reflection of the mirror while I changed into my T-shirt, before answering, "Tiara wants to leave."

"What? Why does she have to leave? Couldn't you have told her to go back to sleep? We'll send her at 11 or 12, whenever I wake up, if she really wants to go."

"I tried telling her already. She said it's urgent, she has to go early."

"Why does she have to go so early?"

"You ask her; she's your friend."

Narissa pouted but didn't budge as she asked, "Why can't you just send her to the bus stop? I don't have to come, right?"

"Come on, you know I don't like to go anywhere with her alone or be with her alone. I've told you, I feel uncomfortable in her presence. You're my beautiful wife, right? Get up for me, please," I pleaded with a smile, before walking over to the bed and taking her hands in mine.

"No..." she pouted again, tilting her head to her left, "I won't be beautiful unless I get my beauty sleep."

"Okay, you can have all your beauty sleep tomorrow, alright? You don't have to wake up early. I'll get ready and go to office in the morning tomorrow without disturbing you and I'll see my beautiful wife in the evening, okay?"

"Then, who will iron your shirt for you?" Narissa finally opened her eyes and looked straight at me.

"I'll iron it myself tomorrow, okie?"

"Then, you'll be late for work tomorrow."

Dang! She was delivering instant remarks to prove that my suggestion was not gonna work in getting her out of bed.

I smirked and remained silent for a moment before scooping her into my arms, without replying to her comment.

Narissa smiled a bit as I carried her out of the bed and left her on her feet beside the bed.

***

"Shall we leave now?" I asked as Narissa and I walked out of our room. I was surprised to see Mom and Dad seated in the living room with Tiara and Mila.

"Have you had breakfast, Tiara?" inquired Narissa before Tiara could answer my question.

"Yeah. Yes, I just had," answered Tiara.

Tiara turned to Mom and Dad before saying with a smile, "Thank you very much, Aunt Laura and Uncle Morris. I have to go. I'll never be able to forget how much you cared for me."

"We won't be able to forget you too. You were like one of our daughters," replied Dad to Tiara.

"We'll definitely miss you, dear. Hope you'll come again," said Mom, engulfing Tiara in a hug.

"I'll definitely try to come back here again if I can," Tiara smiled at my parents before turning to Isma.

"You are such a nice person, Isma. I'll never forget what you've done," stated Tiara before she smiled at Neil, who was in Isma's arms.

I frowned, puzzled by Tiara's statement. "I'll never forget what you've done." What did that mean?

"It's because of you that I was allowed to stay here all these days," Tiara explained, as if she had heard my thoughts, while she smiled at Isma.

Isma just smiled in response.

Tiara turned to Narissa who pulled her into a hug, before saying, "I wish you never had to go, Tiara. If you ever need a place to stay, or just a friend to talk to, I'll always be here. I hope you'll remember me."

"Of course I will, Narissa. I'll try to come back here as soon as I can if I can," responded Tiara, returning the hug.

As Tiara stepped away, Rina walked out of her room, scratching her eyes.

"Tiara? You're going somewhere?" asked Rina, looking blur as she had just woken up from her sleep.

"Yeah, Rina. I have to go. But I'll definitely try to return here as soon as I can, if I can," said Tiara, as she gave Rina a brief hug.

As Tiara turned to me, I said, "I'll go get the car. Narissa, you'll help Tiara bring her bag, right?"

"Yeah, sure," said Narissa as I walked out of the house to the car.

***

I was driving out of our lane when I noticed a black Honda CR-V following my car. The windows of the car were tinted so the people inside the car could not be seen from the outside. I frowned a bit but continued driving, ignoring that car.

Narissa was seated in the passenger seat next to me while Mila sat on her lap and played a game on Narissa's mobile.

I brought my car to a stop as we neared the bus stop; the road was deserted. The car that had been following me stopped in front of mine.

Narissa turned back to face Tiara, asking, "Tiara, are you sure you want to wait at this bus stop? If there's anywhere you want to go, you could just tell us where it is. We wouldn't mind dropping you there. This road is quite deserted, you know."

"No, it's fine. I'll just wait here–"

I didn't finish hearing Tiara's answer as the door opened and I felt myself being dragged out of my car by the collar of my T-shirt.

"Hey, what–" I was starting to shout but I fell silent when I saw the man who was holding my collar.

Raymond! Narissa's boss?

He pinned me to the side of my car as he hissed, "Won't you ever die?"

What? Has he gone mad? Why does he want me to die? What have I done to him?

"Rats, let go of him!" I heard Tiara's fiery voice as she descended from my car.

Rats? Was that a name or was she seeing rats on this road? Oh wait, she must've been telling Raymond to let go of me. But why did she call him Rats? Was that a nickname?

Raymond glared at her before turning back to me and saying through gritted teeth, "You chose him over me, didn't you? Today, you will see his end."

"It's me who you want, Rats. I'm here. Let him go!" cried Tiara, stepping towards him.

What was she saying? I could never comprehend this girl.

"It WAS you who I wanted," Raymond's hand left the collar of my shirt and reached Tiara's neck instead, restraining her to the side of the car, "But you left me. You chose him instead. Today, you will have to watch him die!"

"Rats..." Tiara stifled as Raymond was almost strangling her.

My right leg swung into action in reflex mode without a thought.

I stared at Raymond as he lay on his side on the ground.

What had I just done? I kicked him. Was I mad? How could I kick him? It was wrong! I was not a police or a criminal to hurt anyone!

I recoiled backward still reeling in shock over what I had done.

Tiara was staring at me; there was a sign of hope on her distraught face.

As I staggered backwards in guilt, the hope drained from Tiara's face.

I was startled as Raymond pulled out a gun from the pocket in his coat and aimed it at me. I raised my hands in surrender as Raymond jumped back onto his feet, still aiming the gun at me.

As I stared at Raymond holding his gun aimed at me, I suddenly blacked out.

To be continued...