Chapter Twenty Two - A Different Kind Of Sunday
by @khalie436
Saturday had arrived quietly.
Too quietly, perhaps, for a day that would leave Tiara with something she hadn't realised she needed.
By noon, she had already finished the few chores in her room.
The bed was made.
Her clothes were folded.
The little corner where she kept the baby's things was arranged for what felt like the hundredth time, even though there was nothing left to arrange.
She stood in the middle of the room for a moment, hands on her waist.
Then she looked around.
"So this is what people do when they have nothing to do?"
She dropped onto the edge of the bed.
The room was quiet except for the soft whirring of the fan above her.
Weekends had become strange lately.
During the week, there was always something demanding her attention.
The supermarket.
Customers.
Cleaning.
Kira's instructions.
Aria's endless noise.
Money.
Appointments.
The next thing she needed to buy.
The next thing she needed to save for.
Even her thoughts seemed to have a schedule.
But Saturdays were different.
The silence gave her too much room to think.
Tiara leaned back slightly and stared at the ceiling.
"Boring."
She reached for her phone.
Nothing.
She dropped it beside her.
A few seconds later, she picked it up again.
Still nothing.
She frowned at the screen as though the phone had personally disappointed her.
"This is ridiculous."
She tossed it onto the bed.
Then it rang.
Tiara immediately looked at it.
Daniel.
She stared for a second.
Then another.
A small smile threatened the corners of her mouth.
She quickly wiped it away.
"Don't start."
She picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Finally!"
Daniel's voice came through with enough energy to make her pull the phone slightly away from her ear.
Tiara laughed.
"What?"
"I was beginning to think you had travelled without informing me."
"Where would I travel to?"
"I don't know. Somewhere mysterious."
She settled against the headboard.
"Maybe you entered one of those buses that disappear after collecting passengers."
Tiara snorted.
"Daniel, please."
"I am serious."
"No, you're not."
"Okay, fine."
He paused.
"I was bored."
Tiara stared at the wall.
"And?"
"And I'm telling you."
"So?"
"So come and keep me company."
She immediately sat up.
"Come where?"
"My house."
Tiara blinked.
"You're inviting me to your house because you're bored?"
"Yes."
"That sounds like your problem."
Daniel laughed.
"Please come."
Tiara crossed her legs.
"I don't just go to people's houses."
"People?"
"Yes."
"Am I people?"
She rolled her eyes.
"You know what I mean."
"I actually don't."
"You're annoying."
" Awww, thanks queen ."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I received it as one."
Tiara shook her head, fighting a smile.
Daniel had an irritating talent for making it difficult to stay annoyed with him.
She glanced around her quiet room.
Then back at the phone.
"Fine."
There was a brief silence.
Then—
"Yessssssssssssss!"
He screamed into the phone
"Ohhh my God, why are you so loud!"
"Sorry, boss lady. I’m just too excited ."
"Yeah, i understand you’ve not seen a celebrity before and yes it’s remarkable that one is coming to your house today ."
She raised her shoulders proudly as though he could see her.
"That doesn't mean you have to burst my eardrums."
She said in a serious tone.
"Oh my world…you’re not serious right now."
She didn’t acknowledge he has spoken.
"Anyways, I’ll come so you can finally meet your celebrity crush."
Daniel laughed.
"I'll send the driver."
Tiara's expression changed.
"Your driver?"
"Yes."
"You couldn't have just told me that earlier?"
"I only decided now."
"You are unbelievable."
"I know."
The call ended shortly afterward.
Tiara looked at the phone for a moment.
Then she looked around her room again.
"Okay."
She stood.
"Let me go and disturb somebody else's peace."
---
The car arrived not long after.
By the time Tiara stepped through Daniel's gate, she had already decided that she wasn't going to behave like someone who had never seen a beautiful house before.
That decision lasted approximately four seconds.
She stopped.
Her mouth fell slightly open.
The compound was enormous.
Not crowded.
Not flashy.
Just carefully maintained.
The house stood behind a wide paved driveway, its clean white walls catching the afternoon sunlight. Dark wooden details broke up the brightness, while carefully placed plants softened the edges of the building.
Everything looked deliberate.
Even the quiet.
Tiara slowly turned her head.
"Wow."
"Why are you standing there?"
She turned.
Daniel was walking toward her.
He had changed into something simple—dark trousers and a relaxed shirt, his cornrows neat and falling naturally along his head.
He stopped a few steps away.
"You've been staring at my house for almost a full minute."
"I have not."
"You have."
"I was appreciating it."
"Same thing."
Tiara looked at him.
"Your house is huge."
Daniel shrugged.
"It's just a house."
She gave him a flat look.
"Don't annoy me."
He laughed.
"You haven't even entered yet."
"Exactly. I'm still trying to process the outside."
Daniel stepped aside.
"Come inside before you start calculating how much the tiles cost."
Tiara gasped.
"I was not doing that."
Daniel enjoyed teasing Tiara, she always snapped. It’s fun to see the mighty Tiara getting upset over little things.
She walked past him.
"Can you be quiet?"
He followed her inside, still laughing.
The living room was even more impressive.
Large windows stretched across one side of the room, allowing sunlight to fall over the polished floor. The furniture was elegant without making the place feel untouchable. Dark wood, soft neutral colours and a few traditional pieces gave the room warmth.
Tiara slowed down again.
Daniel noticed.
"You're looking at everything."
"Because everything is beautiful."
Daniel paused.
"Was that a compliment?"
"To the house."
"Oh."
He nodded.
"Good."
Tiara looked at him.
"You thought I was complimenting you?"
"I was hopeful."
She burst out laughing.
"You're too confident for my liking."
"I've been told."
They settled in the living room.
For once, neither of them rushed to fill the silence.
Tiara leaned comfortably into the sofa.
Daniel reached for the remote.
She immediately looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting something on television."
"No."
He looked at her.
"No?"
He held the remote in confusion
"Why?"
"Because I didn't come here to watch television."
Daniel placed the remote down.
"Then what did you come here to do?"
Tiara thought about it.
"Disturb you."
He nodded seriously.
"Excellent."
"That was your plan too."
"Of course."
She laughed.
The afternoon slipped into the kind of conversation that had no real destination.
Daniel told her about a ridiculous situation at work, complete with unnecessary sound effects and dramatic facial expressions.
Tiara had to stop him twice because she was laughing too hard to understand what he was saying.
"You are lying."
"Funny how I’m serious about this"
He pressed his lips together, but the corners kept twitching upward.
"Bruh, you were obviously exaggerating ."
Tiara said holding her stomach laughing so hard
"Fine…. you caught me." He raised his hands in mock surrender.
"I know right."
Daniel leaned back.
"Exactly. That's what makes a good story."
Tiara shook her head.
"You need help."
"That is why I invited you."
She pointed at him.
"Don't make me regret coming."
"You already look comfortable."
"I am comfortable."
"Good."
She paused.
"Wait."
Daniel looked at her.
"You invited me here because you were bored."
"Yes."
"And now you're not bored."
"No."
Tiara narrowed her eyes.
"So I am entertainment."
Daniel considered it.
"Premium entertainment."
She threw a cushion at him.
He caught it.
"Violence."
"You deserve it."
"I welcomed you into my home."
"You've been disturbing me since I arrived."
Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line of pretend annoyance.
Tiara held out her hand.
"Give me that cushion."
"No."
"Daniel."
"No."
"Give it."
He hugged the cushion to his chest.
"You're dangerous."
"You're the one who started it."
She leaned forward and tried to snatch it.
Daniel pulled it away.
"Ah-ah!"
"Give me!"
"No!"
Tiara laughed, finally giving up and sinking back into the sofa.
"See why I don't like you?"
Daniel looked pleased with himself.
"You came all the way here."
"Unfortunately."
"You're still here."
"For now."
"Exactly."
She shook her head.
"You're too confident."
"And you're too stubborn."
Tiara gasped.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
She placed a hand dramatically over her chest.
"I am one of the most reasonable people you know."
Daniel stared at her.
Then he slowly looked away.
Tiara burst out laughing.
"You don't even believe yourself!"
"I was trying to be respectful."
"Liar."
---
After a while, the noise settled.
Tiara noticed a framed photograph sitting on one of the side tables.
She leaned forward.
"Who's that?"
Daniel followed her gaze.
"My sister."
She studied the picture.
"She looks strict."
Daniel immediately nodded.
"She is."
Tiara laughed.
"I knew it."
"You haven't even met her."
"I don't need to."
"What do you mean?"
"That face."
Daniel shook his head.
"You're judging my sister from a photograph."
"I'm observing."
"Same thing."
Tiara looked at him.
"Older sister?"
"Yes."
"Then she's definitely a strict, cute and bossy sister."
Daniel pointed at her.
"Exactly!"
Tiara laughed.
"Older sisters always think they are second mothers."
"She thinks she's my entire government."
"Awww, so cute……she must love you so much."
"She does."
There was a small change in Daniel's voice.
Something warmer.
Tiara noticed it.
She didn't tease him about it.
Instead, she looked back at the photograph.
"She must be important to you."
"She is."
Daniel leaned back.
"So are my parents."
Tiara nodded.
"What are they like?"
"My dad is serious about everything."
"Ah."
"My mother is the opposite."
"Soft?"
"Very."
Tiara smiled.
"Lucky you."
Daniel looked at her.
"You'll meet them tomorrow."
Tiara's expression changed immediately.
"Tomorrow?"
"Sunday dinner."
"You're still doing this?"
"Yes."
"Daniel."
"Tiara."
She stared at him.
He stared back.
Then she sighed.
"You don't give people enough warning."
"You would have found an excuse."
"I would have."
"I know."
She shook her head.
He was right.
That irritated her.
But not enough to make her refuse.
She looked down at her hands.
"I've never met people like that before."
Daniel's expression softened.
"You don't have to impress them."
"Easy for you to say."
"You just have to be yourself."
Tiara looked at him.
"What if myself is embarrassing?"
Daniel smiled.
"Then I'll be embarrassed with you."
She laughed.
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It makes perfect sense."
"You're weird."
"So are you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The tension in her shoulders loosened.
She hadn't realised how much she had been worrying about tomorrow until that moment.
Daniel didn't tell her everything would magically be perfect.
He simply made the whole thing seem less frightening.
That was one of the things Tiara had begun to appreciate about him.
He never seemed to need her to become someone else before he could sit beside her.
She could be stubborn.
She could be dramatic.
She could be quiet.
She could laugh too loudly at his nonsense.
She could tell him when he was annoying.
And somehow, she never felt like she had to apologise for being herself.
Tiara looked around the room.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"I think I like your house."
Daniel smiled.
"I knew you would."
"But I don't like you."
"That's fine."
He reached for the remote.
"I'll survive."
Tiara laughed.
"You're very confident."
"I have to be."
She shook her head.
"Idiot."
"Drama queen."
She smiled.
For the rest of the afternoon, they didn't discuss anything important.
They didn't need to.
They talked about food.
Work.
Aria.
Daniel's sister.
The ridiculous things people did in public.
The strangest customer Tiara had ever seen at the supermarket.
And, at some point, Daniel discovered that Tiara had a very strong opinion about terrible television shows.
He found this deeply amusing.
She found his amusement offensive.
By evening, the room had filled with the soft golden light of sunset.
Tiara stood near the window, looking outside.
For a moment, she forgot about the room she would return to.
Forgot about the money tucked away for emergencies.
Forgot about the appointments.
Forgot about tomorrow's questions.
She simply stood there.
A girl in an unfamiliar house.
Laughing with someone who had somehow become one of the few people she could relax around.
Daniel walked past her and stopped.
"You're quiet."
Tiara turned.
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous."
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't spoil the moment."
He held up both hands.
"Okay. I'll behave."
Tiara smiled.
"Good."
She looked outside again.
Then, almost casually, she said,
"Tomorrow is going to be interesting."
Daniel nodded.
"It will."
She glanced at him.
"And if your family starts judging me—"
"They won't."
"But if they do…"
Daniel waited.
Tiara's eyes narrowed with playful determination.
"I'll blame you."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
She picked up her bag.
"Good."
"Ready?"
Tiara nodded.
"Very."
As she walked toward the door, she paused.
Then turned around.
"Daniel?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then his usual grin returned.
"Don't get emotional."
Tiara scoffed.
"I wasn't."
Tiara rolled her eyes in annoyance l.
"I was saying thank you."
"Same thing."
She shook her head.
"Goodbye."
"See you tomorrow, annoying cat."
Daniel frowned in awe,Tiara smiled sheepishly running of quickly before he start another round of his lectures.
And Daniel stood there for a momentafter the door closed, shook his head with a smile on his face.
The house felt quite and empty without Tiara.