James burst out laughing. He laughed so.hard that he began to cough.
"Why are you laughing?" Dan asked him, frowning slightly.
"Do you think it's easy?" James asked back, stopping his laugh. "Lucas is a very hard nut to crack. Besides, you've never interested in men so how do you think your plan will succeed?"
Dan hissed. "Isn't it all about making someone fall in love with me? I don't see any difficulty in it."
"What if you end up falling in love with him?" James asked.
Dan paused, thinking about the possibility of that happening. He had never felt anything for a guy; he's never gotten interested in his fellow gender so he could not see it happening.
"It's not possible," he replied. "I won't and can not fall in love with him."
"Well," James breathed. "If you think so, I hope so."
"Yeah"
"You will be needing information about him; such as his likes and dislikes, his hobbies, his free time and all that. As a good friend, I'll help you with that."
"Really?" Dan asked, relieved. "That will be great."
"I should get it down before dawn. It's already past midnight," James said and then yawned. "I'll be hanging up right now, bye friend."
"Yeah, thank you."
After putting down his phone, Dan smiled. He could not wait to start his plan — he was sure going to do it because his mind was already made up.
He glanced down at his belle and sighed. "I need to do something about this "
-------
The following day, Dan woke up as early as five and began to do exercises. He had made a plan to seduce his enemy and for it to be successful, he had to go all out; for example, getting into shape once again and maintaining his great appearance. This way, it'll be easier for anyone to develop feelings for him.
After he was done with the exercises, he took his bath and having put on the same clothes he had worn yesterday, he left the apartment.
It took him long hours to drive back home and anyone who saw the flashy black car on the street thought it was some rich person and wondered who they were looking for. The moment the car stopped at the front of the apartment, loud gasps were heard coming from the onlookers.
But as soon as the car opened and Daniel stepped out, every mouth fell open in disbelief.
"Daniel?" someone whispered from a distance, as if saying the name too loud would make it less real.
He stepped out confidently, the black car gleaming behind him like a symbol of the man he was becoming — no longer the pudgy boy with slouched shoulders and dust-stained slippers. His posture had changed. His presence had changed. And though he still wore the same clothes as the day before, something about him radiated new weight — not in flesh, but in purpose.
Kids stopped kicking their ball. Mama Risi dropped the plastic bowl of oranges she had been arranging. Even the goats seemed to pause their scavenging, sensing a shift in atmosphere.
Daniel didn't acknowledge the stares. He locked the car, slid the keys into his pocket, and strode toward the small house where he'd grown up.
Inside, his mother was crouched by the stove, stirring a pot of soup with care. The place smelled of pepper, sweat, and familiar struggle. She turned when the door opened, and her eyes widened when she saw him.
"Dan?"
"Morning, Mom," he said, smiling lightly.
She stared at him — at the glow in his skin, the new sharpness in his jawline, the absence of his usual lazy slump. It's been only a few hours but he seemed to have changed.
"My God," she murmured. "Where have you been? And whose car is that outside?"
He walked over, kissed her cheek gently, and sat at the table. "It's mine."
She blinked. "Yours? Daniel, you better not be doing—"
"I'm not into anything illegal," he cut in quickly. It was a half-truth. Maybe less. But he couldn't afford to worry her. "I got a job. A serious one. Everything's changed, Mom. I've got a house now. Somewhere better than here. I came to get you."
His mother dropped the spoon, covering her mouth with one hand. "You mean… we're leaving?"
Daniel nodded. "You won't have to sell sweets by the roadside anymore. You won't have to sleep with rats scratching in the walls. We're done with this life."
She stared at him for a long moment, then sat down slowly across from him, as if her knees couldn't support the weight of what she was hearing.
"Thank you," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
He reached out and held her hand. "You raised me, didn't you? Now it's my turn."
"I'm glad that I have you here," she said and hugged him.
Daniel hugged his crying mother back and the two of them stayed like that for a while. After consoling her, he wiped the tears in her eyes.
Suddenly, his stomach grumbled.
"You haven't eaten yet?" She asked him.
"Yes, mom. I haven't had anything good since yesterday," he replied.
"Okay. Go take your bath and change your clothes. The food will soon be ready. We can have a good conversation while eating, I want to know how you became rich overnight."
Daniel smiled at his worried mother. " Alright, mom. I'll be right back."
His mother smiled as she watched her son head for the bathroom. Though it was still very much strange that her son's life and that of hers had changed for good, she could not help lie that she was happy and relieved.
"Soon, all those who looked down at us will come back begging for our help. Hmph!" She said and scoffed.
She smiled again and then went back to what she was doing. After a while, Dan was out of the bathroom and she served their foods and they began to eat.
"So tell me everything, son," she said whilst eating.
"Mom, you know James, right? He's the one who helped me," Dan replied.
"You mean your friend who comes here often to stay with us?" She asked. Dan nodded and this got her more curious. "How? Tell me."
"Well, you know it's been two years since he suddenly disappeared. He came back not long ago and..."
Dan's mother listened attentively as he told her everything. In the end, she was pretty much surprised at James' transformation.
"So you mean to tell me that James has become rich?" She asked him after he was done telling her everything.
"Rich is an understatement, mother," Daniel replied with wide eyes. "I'm so happy for him."
"You should, son," his mother said. "I am happy that you made him your friend. See how he remembered you in the end, he's a true friend."
"Indeed, mother. He is a good friend and I'm grateful to God for giving me him."
The remaining breakfast was done in silence and after that, Dan returned to his room while his mother took care of all the dishes. In his room, he turned to his phone; James had already sent Lucas' information a while ago so Dan decided to look into it.
"He loves to play basketball ball every Mondays,Thursday, and Saturdays.... Wait, today is Thursday! Damn it, I can't miss today!"