It was noon, I was in my apartment standing in front of the mirror staring at the reflection of my face. Leaning forward I stroked the skin of the side of my mouth. I intentionally scrunched my face to see what I look like.

"Do I really look grumpy and crabby? Am I really turning into an old woman?" I mumbled to myself.

"Ugh! What has he done to my mind? Why am I thinking about him? And most importantly why do I care about what he says?" I stomped my feet in irritation. I was really going mad over thinking about my poker face.

It's not that I want to keep it that way but I meet many types of people, I have to give them the same look to make them believe I'm off-limits. I'm fed up with men trailing behind me who just want to have me in their bed.

Daniel too is no different, he's using his persuasive powers to come closer to me.

"El, what's taking you so long in the bathroom?" Trish's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was waiting for me in my room. Luckily, I stile two free hours from my schedule, so I decided to take a rest for those two hours. I was sleep-deprived and worn-out so Trish offered me a head massage. I love her so much!

Coming out of the bathroom I spoke "Nothing... I was just thinking about..."

"Daniel?" She cut me off excitedly.

"No!"

"Oh, come on. He's so handsome and cute. How can you resist him?"

"Who is handsome and cute?" Evan asked entering my room.

I smirked looking at Trish "Oh, she was talking about.."

"You." She shouted. "Obviously, I was talking about you." Trish ran up to Evan and hugged his torso.

"Handsome, I know... but cute? Cute is for girls, babe. You are cute and I'm handsome." Evan said kissing her hair.

"Men can be cute too," I remarked. "What's that in your hand," I asked Evan.

"Oh, it's a parcel for you from XDS."

"Open it then," I said getting on the bed to lie down.

"It's the magazine with you on the cover page and an envelope," Evan said.

"Check what's there in the envelope," I mumbled closing my eyes.

"Oh, it's a handwritten note... from...Daniel Adams."

My eyes shot open. "Daniel? Show me."

Laying on my front and balancing myself on my forearms I began to read it.

Hello Eloi

First thing first, Don't make faces while reading this. You'll look grumpy. ;-)

Scoffing, I continued reading.

I'm sending you the first copy of the magazine. Though the release of the magazine is tomorrow; I thought you would like to have the first copy of it. Don't get confused about why I sent you a handwritten letter when I could have called you. Oh, and yes, I have your number. Let's say, I have sources? But I thought, why don't I do something different? So yeah, that's why I wrote this.

I really like your work. It's commendable. I couldn't take my eyes off you when I saw you in the magazine. Though I saw you live, posing for the same, still, looking at you in the cover photo just blew my mind away. Your work proved to me why everyone wants to work with you.

Umm... I think that's all for now. See you soon.

Till then,

keep smiling...

Daniel Adams

I swear I felt the corners of my mouth twitching up.

"Woah! He's cute." Trish squealed in my ears making me fall on my face, on the bed. Evan laughed who now was lying beside me on the bed.

"When did you two come by my side?" I inquired, sitting up.

"When you were lost in reading the letter, Eloi." Trish batted her eyelashes.

"Don't you dare call me that again." I chided.

"Oh, come on that's a nice nickname he gave you. And trust me, he's doing good in approaching you." She smiled.

"Yeah, because he wants the same as other men. He just wants to take advantage of me. Everyone does. It's not like he sent the note just to me, must have sent it to Clarie too." I replied nonchalantly.

"Stop it, El. Till when you'll act like this? You have lost yourself, El." Evan said in a serious tone.

"Yes, El. Not everyone is like your Ex." Trish added. That got me frustrated.

"I know," I said loudly. "But he's the only one who made me like this. What he did to me made me not to trust men." I couldn't hold it.

"El..." Evan and Trish put their arms on my shoulder, to console me.

"Till when you'll cry over that? He's not worth it. Somewhere, he's living a happy life not caring about you. He already forgot you. Why don't you then? It's good cautious... but don't drive every man away." Trish said softly.

"It's not just about him." I sighed. "Every single man who approaches me just wants to get me in bed. You two have seen everything, you two know everything. Then tell me how should I make myself trust anyone?" I asked in a low voice leaning my head on Trish's shoulder.

Evan let go of me and sat in front of me crossing his legs. "El, don't get me wrong but I think Daniel is a good guy. I mean... I haven't heard anything bad about him. I don't know him well but the way he's trying to approach you makes him different from others. I'm a man, I know this." He said.

"Did you see that El, the one who is protective for you is saying this... that means something good must be there in this," Trish mumbled rubbing my shoulder.

"Why don't you open up and become the Eloise we know?" She added.

"It's not easy," I whispered, lost in my thoughts.

"Try it, El. It's for your own good." Evan mumbled.

"I'll think about it but for now I just want to rest," I said lying back on the bed.

"Okay, then you take rest." Saying that Evan went out of the room.

Trish asked me to put my head on her lap so that she could give me a head massage. I complied with that. I sighed in relaxation when her soft fingers touched my scalp. I closed my eyes, to feel the ease of my nerves when her fingers worked in my hair; pushing me to go into the world where only one thing matters... serenity.

But before my mind could completely get into peace, someone's image and thoughts revolved around in there... Daniel Adams.

Evan and Trish were right, he's different. I have tried my best to keep my encounters/short with him so that he couldn't get any chance to hit on me. And in those short meetings, his eyes didn't go down my face... like others who stare at my body like it's the last thing to see on this planet. And that is what makes him a little different from others.

I knew I was doing wrong by judging him too soon, but what could have I done? Not just one, but many experiences have turned me into a suspicious person, a person who takes every single step in caution in order not to slip into the wrong place.

Before I get into a deep slumber, I wanted to let something out of my heart which was making me a little restless. And maybe confessing it could help me relax and after all, I had the best person with me who would listen to me without judging me.

"Trish?" I whispered sleepily.

"Hmm?" She hummed.

"I know Daniel is not like others... but... I'm scared."

"I know what you're thinking, El... I understand your worry. It's not easy to cope up with the past but you can't dwell in the past forever. You have to let go of it, only then you'll enjoy your present, only then you'll be able to plan your future." She whispered sweetly to make me understand.

"El, I and Evan are always there for you, we'll help you cope up with your past but for that to happen...You have to take a step first."

"What should I start with?" I asked.

"Maybe by making a way for Daniel?"

"Trish..." I sighed silently.

"El, don't get to the conclusion. Daniel seems to be a genuine person. Try opening up to him."

"Why him?" I asked in a low pained cry.

"Maybe because he's genuinely trying to talk to you? Or maybe because he did something which no one was cable of doing?"

I understood what she was getting at. May it be by annoying me or mocking me, he made his way in my head. He's the only one who after making me frustrated was still in my thoughts.

"Will it be worth it?" I asked.

"From what I'm seeing... Absolutely."

Those were the last words I heard before I found my peace.

___________________________________________