Chapter 21: A Heart That Knew
The morning after everything that had happened, Precious woke up with a strange feeling in her heart.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.
Then she remembered Daniel.
A small smile appeared on her face before she could stop it.
She pulled her blanket over her face.
"Why am I smiling like this?" she whispered to herself.
She tried to hide the smile, but it only grew bigger.
Daniel had become more than just the boy who had entered her complicated life. Somehow, without her noticing, he had become the person she looked for whenever something happened.
Whenever she was frightened, she wanted Daniel.
Whenever she was happy, she wanted Daniel.
And whenever she discovered something strange about her past, somehow, she wanted to tell him first.
Author's thought:Sometimes love does not arrive loudly. Sometimes it quietly becomes the person you want beside you whenever life gets confusing.
Precious finally got out of bed and prepared for school.
As she walked through the hallway, she noticed something on the table.
A small folded piece of paper.
Her name was written on it.
PRECIOUS.
She opened it.
Meet me outside before school. I have something for you.
There was no name.
But Precious already knew.
"Daniel," she whispered.
She smiled again.
When Precious reached outside, Daniel was standing near the gate.
The moment he saw her, his face brightened.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," Precious replied.
Daniel looked at her for a moment.
"What?" Precious asked.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"I know."
She laughed.
Daniel smiled.
"I just wanted to see you smile."
Precious looked away shyly.
"You're becoming too sweet."
"Too sweet?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll try harder."
Precious laughed again.
Daniel reached into his pocket and brought out a tiny bracelet.
It was simple, with a small silver star attached to it.
"I saw this yesterday," he said. "And I thought of you."
Precious stared at it.
"Daniel…"
"I know it's simple."
"No." She shook her head. "I love it."
He carefully placed it in her hand.
Precious looked down at the little star.
"Why a star?"
"Because even when everything around you gets dark, you still find a way to shine."
Precious became quiet.
Her eyes softened.
"That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me."
Daniel smiled.
"Then remember it."
"I will."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there, smiling at each other.
Then Precious held out her wrist.
"Put it on."
Daniel carefully fastened the bracelet around her wrist.
"There," he said.
Precious looked at it.
"It fits perfectly."
"Good."
She looked at him.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Then, without thinking, Precious hugged him.
Daniel froze for a second in surprise.
Then he smiled and gently returned the hug.
Precious closed her eyes.
For once, she wasn't thinking about visions.
She wasn't thinking about secrets.
She wasn't thinking about the strange things happening around her.
She was simply happy.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them smiled shyly.
Daniel said, "You know, you don't have to face everything alone anymore."
Precious looked into his eyes.
"I know."
"And I'll keep reminding you."
She smiled.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
At school, they walked together.
Their friends noticed immediately.
Angel raised an eyebrow.
"Hmmmm."
Precious looked at her.
"What?"
Angel smiled mischievously.
"Nothing."
David laughed.
"You two are becoming inseparable."
Precious blushed.
Daniel simply smiled.
Later that day, Precious sat beneath a tree during lunch.
Daniel joined her.
He brought two bottles of juice.
"One for you."
She accepted it.
"You remembered my favorite."
"Of course."
Precious smiled.
They talked about everything and nothing.
They laughed about school.
They joked about their teachers.
Daniel even tried to imitate one of their teachers, making Precious laugh so hard that she nearly dropped her drink.
"Stop!" she said between laughs.
"I haven't even started!"
"You're ridiculous!"
"But you laughed."
"Yes, because you're ridiculous!"
They continued laughing.
Then Daniel became quiet.
"What?" Precious asked.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how different things feel now."
Precious looked at him.
"Different how?"
"Before I met you, I thought life was simple."
"And now?"
"Now I have a girl who can see things nobody else can see, mysterious secrets everywhere, strange messages, and somehow…"
He smiled.
"…I wouldn't trade it."
Precious smiled softly.
"You wouldn't?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you're in it."
Precious's heart skipped.
She looked down at her bracelet.
Daniel noticed.
"You like it?"
"I love it."
"Good."
Precious looked back at him.
"I love something else too."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
She smiled.
"You."
Daniel became completely silent.
Precious immediately covered her face.
"I can't believe I said that!"
Daniel laughed softly.
"Precious."
She peeked through her fingers.
"What?"
"That just made my whole day."
She lowered her hands.
"Really?"
"Really."
He smiled at her.
"And I love you too."
Precious smiled.
For a moment, everything seemed peaceful.
But then—
FLASH!
Precious suddenly saw something.
A dark hallway.
A locked door.
A photograph.
And Daniel standing beside someone she had never seen before.
Then the vision disappeared.
Precious gasped.
Daniel immediately noticed.
"Precious?"
She looked at him.
Her smile had vanished.
"What did you see?"
Precious looked down at the bracelet on her wrist.
"I don't know yet."
Daniel reached across the table and gently held her hand.
"Then we'll find out together."
She looked at him.
"Together?"
"Always."
Precious squeezed his hand.
And this time, she wasn't afraid.
Because no matter what the future had waiting for her—
she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone. ❤️