Ariel went over to her father's place where she could at least smile after a horrible evening. She had been totally absentminded in the cab that the cab driver had to call her attention many times before she remembered to get off his cab.
After apologizing to the elderly man, she paid him absentmindedly and began walking in heavy steps to her dad's porch.
"Hey, little girl," the cab man called after Ariel, startling her a little. Had she forgotten to pay?
"Uhm?" Ariel asked back as her mind was brought back to earth.
"I know I'm a stranger to you. And I also know something is bothering you. I'm not usually noisy, but I have a daughter of your age, therefore I'm worried about you. Do you mind sharing what's on your mind?" the elderly man asked politely with a reassuring smile on his face.
Ariel felt warm by his concern. If only Jessica had cared as little as this man, she wouldn't feel this bad. She felt her eyes grow heavy as she stared at this nice stranger.
He made her remember her late grandfather. He was as sweet as the desserts she loved.
Ariel thought about it. She couldn't tell her dad what's on her mind so maybe, perhaps, she could tell this elderly man.
He would surely have some good advice to offer, plus he was a stranger after all. She had once read that sharing your feelings with strangers is way better than sharing them with people you know.
Taking in a deep breath, she asked, "Are you sure I'm not going to delay your work?" Ariel asked, concerned.
"It's okay. I really don't mind," the man smiled again. His smile was always so simple but nice. Ariel felt comfortable with him.
"Well, it's just that I got used by a guy my friend hooked me up with and she isn't feeling remorseful that I was used." Ariel said, trying to keep the explanation as simple as it could be.
"Well, it's normal to meet a few garbage before you finally meet a real guy. That is normal. Eventually, you would get over it. You would be surprised to wake up one morning only to discover the pain is no more. You would eventually laugh at this memory with time. But your friend isn't concerned you're hurt? Or you didn't show her you're hurting?"
Ariel gazed at the elderly man for almost five minutes. She didn't know if it was because he was a stranger, but his words made so much sense and somehow dismissed her worry towards Daniel. Maybe one day she would wake up and Daniel would only be a distant memory.
Thinking back to his question, she wondered if she hadn't shown any pain; that was why Jessica didn't worry much. Or maybe it was because they had a fight? She didn't know.
"I don't know. Maybe I didn't show any weakness in front of her. But she should know I'm hurt, considering the fact that I was always talking about him and I told her I liked him a lot."
"I see... How close are you to this girl?"
"She's my best friend, so that's a lot of close."
"Then why didn't you want to show any weakness in front of her? Aren't you supposed to be comfortable with your best friend? You should ask yourself that."
Ariel thought over it. Why didn't she show any weakness in front of Jessica? Was it because Jessica was close to Daniel or because Jessica didn't pay much attention to anything concerning Daniel?
"Well, I noticed anytime I bring up this guy, she isn't interested at all," Ariel shrugged, not thinking it to be a big deal.
"Tell you what, when you get home, tell her you're hurting and see what she has to say," the man suggested.
"Sure." Just as she was about to thank him for his time and leave, her phone dinged with a notification from Jessica. She had sent the messages to her.
Ariel didn't want to play them before she went to see her father. She knew what was in there wasn't any good.
Ariel looked up at the man before saying, "Tell you what, she just sent me the audio he sent to her. I think there are two. One belongs to him while the second one to her. Listen and briefly tell me what you think because I'm running late," Ariel said pleadingly.
"Sure." the man said, taking her phone. After glancing at Ariel a few times in between listening to the voice messages, Ariel didn't need a prophet to tell her that the content wouldn't do her any good. He then breathed in and returned the phone to Ariel.
"You said she's your best friend, right?" the man asked, with a little bit of pity latched in his voice. That was the last thing Ariel wanted right now. She didn't need anyone's pity. She'd get through this like she always did.
"You tell me, from what you heard. Is she a friend?" Ariel asked back.
"Friends have a lot of definitions, child. But she didn't fit into any one I'm aware of."
"As expected. She had given me a heads-up that she didn't have my back. So, what did it say?"
"In summary, the boy in question mentioned you complaining and being an emotional blackmailing queen and that Jessica, which I'm assuming is your best friend, should warn you about it," the man said, trying his best not to go deeper than that.
How flattering. She was labeled a queen of blackmailing. Ariel thought begrudgingly.
"Well, ouch," Ariel giggled, acting like she was fine. She had prepared for the worst actually, and she was sure this was the tip of the iceberg.
"I know it hurts, kid. But trust me when I say it will all blow over. This will soon become the least of your worries. Maybe this is God preparing something better for you," the man offered with a sweet smile.
Ariel felt her heart warm up. It was so nice for a stranger to sacrifice his time for her when he had other things to do. But she felt this man was oddly familiar. She just couldn't tell where she had seen him.
"Thanks so much, sir. I will remember the help you did for me this night. It means a lot," Ariel said honestly.
"It's fine, child. What's your name by the way?"
"Ariel."
"Mr. Finn."
"Thank you, Mr. Finn," Ariel said as she turned her back to leave. She felt empty. There was this hole in her heart that seemed to be dark and full of pain.
She walked over to her father's porch absentmindedly. She looked around the surroundings with her big teary eyes. Memories of her growing up in this environment rushed in.
Why!?
Why can't she have happiness?
Why was it always beneath her grasp?
Here was the childhood she had grown up in. worry-free, no responsibility, no weight of the world.
And now look at her… drowning in her own thoughts and the betrayal of a friend. Worst of all… going through heartbreak because of a boy. This wasn't the life she wanted.
She looked around and sighted a house that was now abandoned. She remembered the occupants of the now-empty house—it was the house of Martins, her childhood friend. She now wondered where he was and if he'd still remember her. Honestly, she wasn't even sure she'd remember what he looked like.
While she wandered in her thoughts, the door was opened by her father.
Immediately she saw him, the man who had played the role of both a mother and a father, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Daddy,"
Ariel called softly as she hugged him tightly. She just hoped the pain could go numb.
Mr. Anderson, on the other hand, was taken aback. Why was his daughter suddenly so emotional? He knew she was a strong girl who rarely showed her worries, just to keep him from worrying. For her to come crashing like this, she must have gone through hell.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asked while rubbing her back slowly.
"Nothing, Dad. I just missed you," Ariel said, sniffing.
"Silly child, I know you have something on your mind."
He knew Ariel too well. He knew she wouldn't say anything.
"For real, Dad. Won't you invite me in?" Ariel said, withdrawing from her father as she tried to change the topic
"You know you don't need permission to enter your own home," her dad chuckled as he quickly made way for her to come in.