Chapter 109 Coincidence
Rachel saw we had wrapped up our program and had no reason to keep us. After swapping Facebook contacts, she reluctantly let me go.
I had stuff to do, so I left first. Mainly, I didn't want to walk with Daniel to avoid any misunderstandings. Behind me, I heard Rachel sweetly asking Daniel for his number, saying it would be easier to stay in touch.
During dinner with Brad that evening, I mentioned the welcome party. When he heard I'd be performing with Daniel and might rehearse with him, his smile faded, and his eyes lost their sparkle.
He forced a smile and said, "Practice well. Your singing is great, and everyone will love it."
I got why Brad was worried and wanted to assure him that Daniel and I were just rehearsing, with no romantic involvement. But then I figured it wasn't necessary. If Brad and I were to become a couple and eventually get married, I'd still see Daniel. After all, we were family, couldn't avoid that. Since I had nothing to hide, there was no need to over-explain.
At the time, I believed Brad knew me well enough to understand my intentions, so I didn't say much. Later, as misunderstandings deepened and I didn't know where to start explaining, I realized how wrong I had been.
The welcome party was set for Friday night, and it was already Tuesday.
Daniel had picked a new song that I really liked, so I ditched my plan to sing an old one. I downloaded the song to my phone, plugged in my earphones, and played it on repeat to get familiar with the melody and lyrics.
The next afternoon, around four, Daniel called to schedule a rehearsal. I had just finished a round of coloring and was feeling dizzy and tired. When he mentioned practicing, I didn't think much of it. I changed into a white long-sleeve outfit and headed out, mainly to clear my mind and relax after a tiring afternoon of painting.
As I stepped out of the apartment building, Daniel was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
He had his guitar slung over his shoulder and was dressed in an all-white tracksuit. The evening sunlight bathed him in a golden glow.
In terms of looks, Daniel was truly exceptional, at least the second most attractive person I'd seen in my twenty-some years.
The first was Brad.
Both were incredibly handsome but in different ways.
Daniel was tall, slender, and fair-skinned, exuding a cool elegance.
Brad, on the other hand, had rugged and chiseled features, tanned skin, deep and expressive eyes, broad shoulders, a lean waist, and narrow hips. Every muscle on his body radiated strength, giving a strong sense of security just by looking at him.
Five years had passed, and Daniel's appearance had gained an indescribable quality, a mix of maturity and youthfulness. Just standing there, he was incredibly eye-catching.
With his long-time guitar, his casual and relaxed demeanor, wind-tousled hair, and a hint of melancholy in his eyes, he exuded a fatal charm.
I suddenly remembered my infatuation with Daniel before I turned eighteen and felt that I had good taste, finding the most outstanding person in a sea of people to admire.
Back then, Daniel not only consistently ranked at the top academically but also played the guitar exceptionally well. He was the most popular figure in school. Every school celebration, party, and performance featured him.
At that time, wherever Daniel sat, strumming his guitar and singing softly, every word captivated people.
I was completely devoted to him, and to keep up with him, I persuaded Helen to enroll me in a guitar class. Every day after school, I practiced on the balcony at home.
When he found out, he said the teacher wasn't good enough and insisted on teaching me himself. I was thrilled, so I quit the class and learned from him.
I ended up learning for years. Later, I ran into that guitar teacher, who said I had a natural talent and could almost compete with pros.
This was all thanks to Daniel's tailored teaching.
But after I turned eighteen, I never touched the guitar again. Just plucking the strings brought back memories of him on the balcony, teaching me finger techniques, and it felt like a knife twisting in my heart.
Five years flew by, and seeing him standing in the sunset made me feel dazed.
"Let's go," Daniel said, leading the way with his guitar. I followed behind him.
A girl from the neighboring room saw us and whistled, winking at me. "Matching outfits already? You two are moving fast."
I was startled.
Only then did I realize that Daniel and I were both wearing white tracksuits and matching white sneakers.
No wonder people misunderstood; I had been careless.
I had chosen this outfit purely for convenience, not realizing he was also wearing white.
It was just a coincidence, nothing to do with matching outfits. But with our coordinated attire, no one would believe it wasn't intentional.
"Just a mix-up, total coincidence," I explained with an awkward laugh.
The girl gave me a knowing look and a mischievous smile as she passed us.
I suddenly felt like I was in a no-win situation, where the more I explained, the worse it got, so I stopped talking.
Daniel suddenly stopped, turned back coldly, and waited for me.
I was indifferent to Daniel's coldness; I had gotten used to it over the years. We had little interaction, so there was no need for warmth.
But wearing these outfits out would inevitably lead to misunderstandings. In a school setting, whether good or bad, news spread quickly and would soon be all over the forums.
Not wanting to be misunderstood or discussed with him, I considered going back to change clothes.
Daniel spoke unhappily, "Since when do you care so much about what others think? Time is tight, and you want to waste it? It's just an outfit; do you need to be so deliberate?"
He used the word "deliberate” that I really didn't like.
Thinking about it, it was just a coincidence that we both wore white. The styles were completely different, and it had nothing to do with being a couple. Going back to change would indeed seem too deliberate. Plus, I had to paint later that night, so I didn't have much free time. It wasn't worth wasting time on such a trivial matter.
Alright, Daniel successfully convinced me not to change.
The rehearsal location was about a twenty-minute walk.
We didn't talk along the way, but I inexplicably felt that Daniel was in a good mood, with a soft smile on his lips.
It was an unused tiered classroom, and several groups had already arrived, singing, dancing, and performing, making quite a racket.
"Let's go to the terrace; it's quieter there." Daniel led the way to the terrace with his guitar, waiting for me by the door.
Closing the terrace door, it was indeed much quieter. The air and sunlight outside were good, and it was comfortable to sit. The best part was that the terrace was enclosed, so we could shut the doors and windows to avoid disturbing others.
The terrace was spacious, with two rows of benches and a few scattered pots of unknown plants. The flowers had withered, leaving only a few leaves, adding a touch of life.
Daniel tuned his guitar and started playing, his expression calm.
I closed my eyes and listened intently, humming along softly.
Time flew, taking away our youth and memories, but it couldn't take away our feelings and the calmness with which we faced life.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
