Chapter 176
176 The Second Woman To Get Her Heart Broken
“Didn’t you fly the war flag for each other in the past?”
“I-it was... I-” Angela did not know what to say, her face somehow becoming hot especially when a faint smile appeared on Dariel’s face.
“You’ve made peace with the woman who was close to your brother? Thank goodness, you’re doing great,” Dariel said as he stroked Angela’s black hair gently making her wince. Her face grew hot and flushed.
“No, I just feel responsible for her leaving! Especially since mom and dad liked her so much,” Angela evaded, still maintaining her high self-esteem.
“Are they looking for Lea?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Then there’s no need to worry about it. Now we just wait until Arthur finds her,” Dariel said, calming Angela down from worrying too much.
“And if he doesn’t?” asked Angela.
Dariel puffed on the cigarette smoke, looking up at the ceiling of the bar with his mind on his best friend’s sugar baby. “I don’t know, but I’m sure your brother will find her sooner or later.” Dariel turned to Angela as she grabbed the hem of his shirt.
.....
“Please help my brother,” Angela pleaded with a sad look on her face, Dariel just waited silently for Angela to speak again. “Please make him realize that he loves Lea too.”
Dariel’s eyebrows raised, a little surprised by what Angela said. “Why do you think Arthur loves Lea?” Dariel asked.
“Then why is he trying to find Lea if he doesn’t love her?” Angela asked back.
“I don’t know. Maybe because Arthur still doesn’t understand why Lea suddenly left him,” Dariel replied simply. “Your brother is too magical, Angela. His caring nature and way of treating women well is his strong suit. You know that all too well, don’t you?”
“Sometimes, women just don’t want to have the kind of man who is too nice to all women. Whether it’s strengths or weaknesses, my brother is nice or a jerk, I can’t even tell the difference,” Angela said with her head still down.
“Lea must think so too. Don’t worry, your brother is a big guy. He knows what’s good and bad for him,” Dariel said trying to calm Angela down, he gently patted the top of her head.
“Can I have a hug?” asked Angela, making Dariel quite surprised, but soon he laughed softly and nodded.
“Yes, you can. Come here, come closer to me,” Dariel replied as he spread his arms slightly for Angela to come into his arms.
Angela was delighted, she rushed into the arms of Dariel, a man she had long had a crush on. Her heart was beating very fast because she could touch Dariel and smell the man’s masculine fragrance. Angela unconsciously tightened the hug, while Dariel only smiled slightly as he stroked the small of Angela’s back.
“You seem really mellow today, so worried about your brother?” Dariel asked.
“Plus the work given by seniors at the hospital,” Angela replied a little complaining, Dariel just laughed at that.
“Cheer up, until you graduate and become a great doctor in the future. It’s only a few years away, right?”
Angela released the hug, looked up at Dariel, and said, “Can I work at the same hospital?”
“With whom?” asked Dariel, playing dumb.
Angela scowled in annoyance, her expression just adorable. “Of course with you!”
Dariel laughed crisply, no less annoying than Arthur. “You can, if you qualify for a job at my family’s hospital,” Dariel replied with a lopsided smile.
Almost all of Dariel’s family members were doctors by profession, hence they owned several hospitals spread across the United States. Not only the nuclear family, but the majority of extended family members are mostly doctors or entrepreneurs. It could be said that Dariel was born into a mudblood family because of his family background.
During college, Dariel and Arthur had different majors. They became close because Arthur was easy to get along with anyone, even Dariel who at that time was more concerned with education and rarely played with his peers. However, it turned out that Arthur could make Dariel feel the beauty of college with activities other than studying. Until now, their friendship has really lasted.
“I can do it!” Angela exclaimed excitedly, as she had often imagined working in the same place as Dariel. Unfortunately, she is currently doing her koas at another hospital, called a “residency” to get the specialist degree she wants.
It would be great to get closer to Dariel, that’s what Angela dreamed of.
The first time she met Dariel was when her brother brought him to the house. At first, Angela did not pay much attention. However, over time she was fascinated by Dariel’s calm and polite personality. Until now, her feelings have not changed, especially since Dariel does not have a girlfriend yet.
However, there was actually an uneasy feeling after meeting Kalea’s friend at the hospital. She was afraid, afraid that Dariel would like the crazy girl. In her opinion, Dariel did not deserve the blonde girl, in terms of age let alone nature. Angela knew that Dariel’s kind and gentle nature was similar to her brother, both treated women well but Dariel’s asshole level was not as severe as her brother.
The corner of Angela’s lips lifted, she embraced Dariel’s arm making the man a little confused by her sudden action.
“Are you going to wait for me until I can become a real doctor?” Angela asked.
“You will succeed, Angela. Become a great doctor and always help people,” Dariel replied, returning Angela’s smile no less sweetly.
“You’ll wait for me?”
“I’m enjoying your progress, so that means I’m waiting for you.”
Angela’s smile grew wider, she could not contain her happiness because Dariel’s answer was very satisfying. The embrace was getting tighter, it felt like Angela did not want to let go of the man.
“Maybe this is what it’s like to have a little sister, that’s why I enjoy your life achievements so much,” said Dariel, who was still continuing his words. And it successfully melts the sweet smile on Angela’s face.
Slowly Angela let go of the embrace, looking at Dariel with a surprised look on her face.
“... Little sister?” asked Angela again to make sure. 𝗳𝘳𝐞e𝙬𝙚𝚋𝗻𝚘𝚟𝗲l.𝑐𝑜m
“Yes. You’re like my own sister, since I’m an only child,” Dariel replied still with his friendly smile.
Instantly Angela seemed to have been rejected by Dariel indirectly. Dariel seemed to really clarify the relationship between them. A little sister? All this time she was only considered a sister by Dariel? Even though she had thrown away her shyness, trying to find opportunities to have time only together, but she was still considered a sister?
Angela laughed softly, the sweet smile turning into a bitter smile that hurt her even more. She could not even respond to anything other than laughing, laughing at her fate. Meanwhile, Dariel only noticed Angela’s change without asking any questions.
Because he knew, if his words earlier hurt Angela. However, he had to say this because he did not want to make her continue to expect his love. His love was already for Zeline, and he did not want to make Zeline think that his feelings were just playful because he still let Angela approach him. He was quite sensitive when Zeline asked about the relationship between him and Angela, so Dariel had to make it clear that what he felt for Angela was only limited to considering Angela as a sister.
“Angela?” asked Dariel as Angela became silent with a sad look.
Shit, he did not want to hurt Angela’s feelings. However, this is what he should do.
“Dariel, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure... ask what?”
“Does that mean you’ve only thought of me as a little sister?”
Dariel understood where this was going, so he nodded in response to Angela’s question. “Yes.”
“Don’t you realize how I feel?” asked Angela again as she looked up at Dariel with eyes that were already glazed over. His purple eyes were like diamonds, glittering with tears. “Do you already have a woman you love?” asked Angela again, not caring about prestige or anything else.
“I-”
“Can I rise to the level of being more than your sister?” cut in Angela, pinching Dariel’s shirt. The man was really being asked a lot of questions.
Dariel felt guilty, looking at Angela who looked so disappointed by his words. “Angela..., calm down.”
“I can’t hide my feelings anymore. I like you, Dariel,” Angela said, a single tear finally escaping down her cheek. “I know you know that.”
Dariel looked down briefly, sighed softly and looked back at Angela. The look on his face showed even more guilt. “I’m sorry.”
“Is there a woman you love?” asked Angela, ready for Dariel’s answer even though it would tear her heart apart even more. Shortly after that, Dariel nodded slowly.
Angela removed her fingers from Dariel’s shirt. She smiled weakly, somehow her strength seemed to disappear. “Can you leave me here?”
“Angela, I-”
“I’d like to spend some time alone right now,” Angela cut in, facing the table and asking the bartender for an alcoholic drink.
Dariel was silent, if it was like this he could not force it. Because Angela’s emotions would surely explode if she stayed here. Slowly Dariel got up from his chair, without saying a word he left leaving Angela completely alone.
Angela clenched her hands, she closed her eyes briefly before finally crying more freely than when Dariel was still with her.
Without warning, without any preparation, today her love was rejected by Dariel.