I Don't Want Us to be Friends Anymore

04:06 pm, Cooper's Residence.

The dinner meal was arranged much like a thanksgiving dinner. The translucent dining table hosted a big chicken breast at the centre of the table, a weaved basket containing light-brown buns and three pots with sweet corn, cabbage and carrot respectively.

Each of the seats had a plate with cutleries on the side of each of them. The dining was long enough to seat eight people, which was enough to seat Daniel and Sophia's family, and it even remained a seat.

Daniel sat on the couch nervously as the time ticked away. "Mom, where are they?" He asked. "They're coming like they were ten seconds ago when you asked me", Mandy replied indifferently.

As the long hand of the clock went behind one, and seeds of doubt began to form in his mind. What was the chance that she'll even be here? Katie is in hospital, and she probably is sleeping now.

However, in the next moment, the doorbell ringed. "I'll get it", Daniel jumped off his seat and ran towards the door. "What's with him?" Daniel's brother, David asked with a frown.

"Don't worry. It's just your brother being quirky sometimes", Mandy explained. "Nah, I think it's Sophia that's making him Koo-Koo", he said, gesturing to emphasize his expression.

"Language", Mandy glared at him with cold eyes. "Sorry", David apologized, although he didn't mean it. It was true, whether his mom believed it or not.

However, before Daniel opened the door, he rechecked the collar of his pure cream shirt to make sure it was properly aligned. He had painstakingly ironed the collar to curve around his neck perfectly.

He pressed down the handle and pulled the door open. Sophia's mother, father, and she was at the entrance. The smell of sunflower filled his lungs.

"Good evening Mr and Mrs Adams. Uh please come in", Daniel ushered them in. His eyes were on Sophia all the time. She looked stunning as always.

She wore a poker face as she walked past Daniel, not even sparing him a glance.

At least she was okay coming, Daniel thought. After sharing pleasantries, they headed to the dining and sat down. Then they began eating, while they chattered in a lively atmosphere.

Even Sophia's dad seemed to be in a good time. The food was delicious, and David kept jokes which tickled everyone's funny bone. Dinner turned out better than Mandy had imagined.

Daniel, however, watched in silence as Sophia ate her food with enthusiasm and chatted with his brother. She was okay coming here after all. Twenty minutes later, the table was cleared.

The men separated from the group and began talking. Mandy and Sophia's mother stayed in the dining and engaged themselves in varying topics.

Sophia though was seated with David as they talked about a movie playing on TV. It was the season one series of Young Sheldon, where a genius boy was born into an average Texan family.

Daniel watched them chat lively as he went and refilled two cups of a tall glass with water.

With the courage he could muster, he walked over to the sitting room and sat on the couch nearest to the one Sophia was seated on. "Uhm, Sophia, do you care for a glass of water? It's sparkling water", Daniel asked as he stretched the glass of water to her.

Sophia stopped her conversation and focused on Daniel. Then she looked at his hand that contained the glass of water. "I don't drink sparkling water", she said flatly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't… Uhm can we talk?" Daniel asked. Sophia's face displayed a rare emotion of conflict. David sensed the tension, so he made up a lame excuse and quickly left.

Daniel sat opposite Sophia and dropped the tall glass of water which no one would drink because he doesn't drink sparkling water.

"Let me start with apologizing for coming to your house unannounced. It… I followed my mom, but I had no idea that she was heading to your house", Daniel said sincerely.

Sophia didn't reply to the apology. She maintained her poker face and looked at the TV. "I wanted to know if there is something I did that might have might strain our relationship. You've been distant towards me for a long time, and I'm worried.

"Sophia, I want to be among the list of your best friends. I do. Just give me a word, and I can apologize right away", Daniel paused to take a deep breath.

This time, Sophia turned to him and shook his head slowly. "There's nothing you did that requires an apology. We're fine", she even smiled to buttress her point.

"Then what is happening? Why are you becoming cold? I know I'm not supposed to bring this up, but ever since that...boy came to our school, everything changed for us", Daniel said with a higher-pitched tone.

Even after he disappeared, which was much to his relief, Sophia still stayed distant from him. At one point, he began running after her like a desperate ex.

"And that's where the problem is Daniel", Sophia suddenly snapped, startling him. "You have a toxic attitude, and I couldn't keep up with that", she said.

"I need to be honest with you Daniel. I only decided to be friends with you because of my dad's relationship with your dad. I never liked you as a person.

"You're a bully, a pushover, annoying, and let me not omit a pain in the ass. I just stayed silent and endured it, again because of my dad. Our parents have a flourishing business relationship, which I'm fine with by the way.

"The problem was you trying to change the scope of our friendship to a mutual one", Sophia said all with a straight face. Then standing up, she stared straight at Daniel's dazed eyes.

"I don't think I want to be friends with you anymore. We're classmates, and let's keep it that way. If you ever call me, or text me about this again, then it's done".

Sophia walked out of the sitting room and boarded the limousine.