13 "ARABELLA MADRIGAL"

"WHAT did you say earlier that we only live in the same village?" after a long silence that was what Daniel heard Ara ask.

Daniel was unable to help but smile.

Despite the obvious annoyance that Ara feels for her, the tone of her voice is still very sweet to him.

"As I have said, long story," he replied as the beautiful smile on his lips seemed to be permanent.

Dry is the laughter he heard Ara released. "You can explain it to me now, we still have a long time to travel, maybe by that time you will have finished explaining," Ara insisted.

Daniel felt in the tone of Ara's voice that she was curious and she really wanted to know the truth so thoroughly he decided to give her what he asked for.

"So, you bought Mrs. Gonzales' house?" she told him. "It's been for sale for a long time, we thought it could not be sold," was Ara's only comment.

"Mama really wants us to move here to Manila," he added. "You, did you grow up here in Manila?" he asked in a friendly tone.