Chapter 5 Knowing His Name

• "Daniella?" He called with equal surprise.
• Daniella, being shocked to the bones. "Chris?" She called out in disbelief.
• She had forgotten everything and every face that she had seen that night, but one person she couldn't forget was this man standing right here.
• Daniella might have been drunk, but she was a sap drunk.
• The huge man had been so nice that night, she could have mistaken him for her brother if she had one.
• "W—what are you doing here?" She asked, stammering, finally finding her voice.
• "I should be asking you the same," Chris replied with a chuckle, shaking his head, his eyes taking her figure. "You are pregnant?"
• "Y—yeah?" Daniella scratched her head. "Kinda?"
• "Kinda?" Chris snorted with a raised eyebrow. "Or, you are pregnant."
• Ashamed, she admitted. "Yes, now don't make fun of me."
• "I am not," Chris reassured, with his hands raised. "Trust me I'm not that kind of guy."
• "I choose to believe you." Daniella nodded, spotting a fake glare. "What are you doing here anyways?"
• "My mom's sick, she was admitted here last night." He said with a shrug.
• Biting her lips, and wincing, "Sorry." She mouthed.
• "Don't bother." He laughed, "She was diagnosed with cancer some months back, so I am prepared for the worst."
• Hearing his words, and how hard he tried to play it off, Daniella felt bad.
• She didn't mean to open up wounds. She knew the pain of losing a loved one. This was just his way of telling everyone around him not to worry.
• "She will get better," Daniella said, her eyes firm. This was her way of reassuring the man.
• "I hope," he said, looking at the sky, and sighing.
• The air around them grew quiet, both with their thoughts.
• "So," Chris' voice cut the silence in the air. "Who's the lucky guy that got you pregnant? I remember you crying your eyes out that night about your fiance being a cheat."
• Daniella laughed nervously, looking everywhere but at him. "My fiance was a cheat."
• "So… ?" Chris drawled on, "you let your cheat of a fiance get you pregnant?"
• "God no!" She screamed. "Why would you think I will still be with that scumbag after what he had done, and be stupid to make him get me pregnant?"
• Chris taunted, "Weren't you the one screaming about how you were going to make him beg you to get on with the engagement? What happened now, you got off the stupid train?"
• "I did not do that!" Daniella refuted, "And I am not stupid! I was just in love with the wrong guy."
• "That's what I still call stupid sister." Chris deadpanned.
• "Chris," Daniella exhaled, "for the love of God, can we forget about this?"
• "Sure, but it doesn't change the fact that you were stupid for a few years in your life. I might not have seen it but I can imagine it." Chris added, lamenting. "Oh, your poor friends."
• Mentioning her friends, Daniella remembered Mia and Caden. She had no idea what was going to happen between them now, but she still prayed they wouldn't break up or something worse.
• Just looking at their interaction, anyone could feel the love they both had for each other.
• They were like peas in a pod. They fit so perfectly, that she was sometimes jealous of their love.
• It was one of the reasons she chose to continue with Victor. She thought she hoped their relationship could be like theirs.
• "Is something wrong?" Chris called out gently. "you have been quiet."
• "Sorry, I was just thinking of something." Daniella waved off. "I was meaning to ask you, about that night."
• "That night?" Chris repeated, "What do you want to know?"
• She was scared to ask. Breathing in, she asked with her eyes closed. "That guy who sat beside me, do you remember?" She opened her eyes slowly.
• Chris made a face. "Daniel?" He asked, "Is that who you are asking of?"
• "Daniel?" She asked with an equal frown. "Was he the one you came to defend me from?"
• *Yes, he was the only one I confronted." Chris confirmed, "what about him? Did he do something to you?"
• "No, no. I just wanted to ask if you remembered him." Daniella replied, shaking her head.
• Knowing his name, it clicked in her head, and clips of their interactions resurfaced in her mind.
• After doing the deed she wished so much to forget about everything due to guilt. But now, the memories flooded her brain like a tide.
• Daniella facepalmed herself, as she remembered some of the words she had told him. She wished she could jump in a hole. God!
• "F*ck!" Chris cussed, "Don't tell me. He's responsible for the baby."
• Daniella dodged, and her behavior confirmed it.
• "F*ck, Daniella! Don't you know what condoms and contraceptive pills are for?" Chris admonished, "Even if you were a virgin, you have heard of these things. How could you let yourself get pregnant?! What if he had some disease of some sort?"
• Daniella refused to reply. This was the first time in ages she had been lectured like this.
• "I was drunk. I thought he was going to be careful." Daniella said with her head down.
• "He was going to be careful? Do you hear yourself?" Chris chided, "When it comes to s*x, men's brains are filled with sperm! Didn't anybody teach you that?!"
• "I'm sorry."
• "Who are you sorry for? Me or the baby?" Chris condemned, "How are you going to explain to your baby when they ask you where they came from? Or why do other families have dads and they don't?"
• "I don't know." Daniella weakly replied, tears streaming down her face.
• No one, even Mia had talked to her like this. They only persuaded her to keep the child.
• "Fine," Chris breathed, stop crying, I will see what I can do. Give me your number, and I will help you look for the bastard, and you too better start looking for him as well."
• "I was already planning on doing that. It's just that I didn't remember his name." She said handing him her phone.
• "God! You didn't even remember his name!" Chris exclaimed, astonished.
• She blushed, "At least now I know what his name is."
• "Don't say that to me, I will be very mad." Chris glared at her. "You make me feel bad for leaving you with him that night."
• He beeped her phone after dialing her number. He handed her phone back to her. "Save the number. I will call you frequently."
• "Do you help everyone like this?" Daniella asked curiously.
• They had only met once, and it was during that night but here he was speaking like they had been friends for ages.
• "No," he shook his head. "Only you."
• "Why?"
• "I just feel like it," Chris said, walking off. "Bye."
• "Bye! And thanks!" She waved back, shouting. "I hope your mother recovers safely!"
• He had already fun off. She didn't know if he heard the last part but she prayed he did.
• "Daniel." She muttered, biting her lips. "We have similar names. Maybe fate brought us together, who knows, it might be a coincidence."
• Meanwhile, in an office, a man seated in an office at a building sneezed. "Who keeps calling my name?!"