"MARIELLE"

"ARE you sure you can drive? Don't you just want us to take a jeep since it's still early?" Ara asked Daniel Monday morning when they were inside the young man's car. She was then currently fastening her seat belt.

As usual, her boyfriend picked her up so that they could go to school together. She has not yet told her parents about her boyfriend's situation but she also plans to let them know the truth. So that they would not be surprised and ask why she was in the big house more often to accompany the young man.

"Of course, as long as I can, I won't let you commute. I don't want you to experience what happened to you before, you were harassed by a drunk man," he said, staring at her intently.

Ara then nodded and couldn't help but let out a sad sigh that reached the young man's hearing. It was when he took her hand, then kissed it.

"You don't have to feel sorry for me, sweetheart. I will fight, no matter how hard, I promise you that," Daniel said in a firm voice.

"Yes, I know," she laughed then caressed the young man's face lovingly. "I love you so much, if only you could just give me half of your pain so you don't have to suffer too much so that whatever the ending might be, we will leave this world together, and at least in the next life I know we won't be separated, forever," she finally said as Ara couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

That was the time when the young man stared at her and quickly wiped away her tears. "Don't cry, Love, remember we'll get a second opinion, who knows the other doctor might say something different from the first one," Daniel said in a hopeful tone.

With what she heard, Ara decided to control her emotion and eventually dry her tears that wet both of her cheeks and with a sweet smile on her face she smiled. "Okay," she even said.

"Let's go?" Daniel asked as soon as he started the engine of his car.

Ara nodded in response to that question. "Anyway, guess what? I planted vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants last week, they have already sprouted. I will continue that, for you, it is better if the vegetables you eat do not contain pesticides," she said with her desire to change the mood of the two of them but in the end, sadness still drew in his heart.

She knew why she said that vegetables and fruits without pesticides were better for Daniel, because of his illness. So at that moment, Ara again felt the rapid heating of both corners of her eyes. But she held back her tears and she succeeded.

*****

IN THE days that followed, as Daniel had told her, his mother, Marielle, arrived with Danica. But what should have been a happy reunion for them turned into an emotional one because of the young man's real condition.

"I'm happy and you came into his life sweetheart, and at least now apart from us, Daniel had another reason to fight," she was in the kitchen then and currently helping Daniel's mother prepare snacks.

Ara smiled shyly and then stares at Marielle's beautiful face.

She is so beautiful and looks exactly like her son. That may be the reason why she could feel so light-hearted with her. Because every time she stares at her it was as if she was looking at Daniel.

"I really love your son, Aunt Marielle, I don't know if he has already told you but we are planning to get married," when she said that she saw the shock on the woman's face.

"W-What?" she said with a tone of disbelief.

Ara nodded then bowed her head to hide her tears. Once again, he felt the intense heat in the corners of her eyes. He also had what seemed to be a lump that stuck in her throat, making it difficult for her to swallow and even to speak. That is also the reason why when she opened her mouth to speak she could not help but crouch.

"P-Please forgive me if I'm the reason why your son thought of doing that. But I just want to tell you right now, you can't stop us, we love each other and whatever the ending of everything is it doesn't matter to me anymore, the important thing is, even for a short time, I can experience being his wife," she said, finally bursting into tears.

"Ara, sweetheart," Daniel's mother whispered, is now holding her hand.

"I-I want to take care of Daniel and help him not as a girlfriend but as his wife," Ara decided to meet Marielle's dark eyes.

As she stared into the woman's eyes, it was as if she was looking into her boyfriend's eyes. So when they smiled, happiness quickly filled her heart again.

"I will not interfere with your plan, Ara, I have no right to do that. Like you, I also love Daniel and as a mother who loves her son so much I have no other desire but to see him happy."

With all those kind words that Marielle said Ara couldn't stop herself from hugging the woman tightly, out of sheer excitement. That is also the reason why they were both surprised when they heard that someone from behind them cleared his throat.

"What's going on with you and why are you both crying?" Daniel asked jokingly as he stepped closer to them while Danica was left smiling at the kitchen entrance while watching them.

"N-Nothing, I just formally asked Aunt Mariel for your hand," Ara replied switching her gazes between Daniel and his mother.

"Did you really do that?" Daniel asked, even though he was shocked, there was still a trace of intense happiness on his face as well as in the twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes son, she did and I agreed," the young man's mother laughed softly then put her freshly cooked Pansit on the table.

"Oh, why are you looking at me like that?" Ara asked in surprise when she noticed that her boyfriend seemed to be bitten by a snake because he was still staring at her.

Daniel didn't speak and instead, he just pulled her by her arm and hugged her tightly. A few moments later he released her, but the next thing the young man did was what she did not expect because that was her shock when he bowed without a word and then pressed a kiss to her lips.

The reaction of the people reached Ara's ears and they were obviously pleased and thrilled with what happened. But she still couldn't stop the blush on her face and the intense discomfort when Daniel released her lips. Then the bright faces of the young man's mother and sister greeted her.

"We're happy for you," Danica approached and hugged her. When she released her she saw tears forming in her beautiful eyes. "thank you for keeping your promise that you will not leave my brother," she said kissing her on the cheek afterward.

Ara just smiled at what Danica said. The truth is that she couldn't say any words that she could utter at that moment so she decided not to speak. Then she looked up at Daniel. She could see the obvious happiness on his face and the bright gleam in his eyes of his great love for her.

"As much as possible let's keep this between the four of us," Daniel told them.

"What?" Marielle asked with confusion in her eyes.

"The truth is we really plan to keep it a secret from everyone. But what Ara said is that we can let you know about it but not her parents because they will definitely disagree about the idea," Daniel explained.

"It's okay with us, how about you sweetheart, is that okay with you?" Marielle who addressed her then smiled kindly.

Ara nodded. "That's because I think it's the easier way to not have problems on my side," she replied telling her the truth.

They no longer objected to what she said. Soon, Salyn arrived, who was asked by Marielle to buy ice cream and tasty bread at the grocery earlier.

"Let's eat," it was Marielle who caught the attention of the two of them. "Salyn, join us here," she said to the maid afterward.

"All right, Ma'am Marielle," Salyn replied.

"Introduce me also to your parents, Ara. Next week is Daniel's birthday. I will prepare a lot so that I can make up for my son because he hasn't been with me for many years," the woman looked at her youngest child with so much love.

"Let's get someone who can cater Ma. Then invite all your classmates and friends, Salyn and I will take care of it, after all, Mama will take care of the expenses," Danica volunteered and then winked at the maid she knew also became close to the siblings.

"No problem, take care of it while it's still early," Marielle agreed with a smile.

At that moment the happiness Ara feels for her boyfriend is undeniable.

She could see in his eyes the radiance that she wished would have stayed there forever. While in her mind, a plan was formed that she knew Daniel would love. Something that would surely complete his birthday.