New Happiness, Begins
The Part 51

"You feeling pain?"

"My old injuries sometimes recur." David looked at Kendall sharply.

Like when he's up all night for making love.

Kendall's cheeks became warm, but she did not need to answer because it was saved by the arrival of the waiter who delivered the order. After the servant left again, they were caught in silence. Kendall takes a sip of her coffee, racking her brain in search of neutral and safe words to discuss.

David also sipped his coffee. "Say, Doc... Do you always sneak out of bed in the morning after having sex one night?"

Kendall choked on the hot liquid in her cup. "No." When he saw David staring amusedly, he straightened his body, aware that his answer had made him sound like a person who often does that. "I mean, I don't have much experience in that field."

David lifted the cup. "I'm glad I could help."

Kendall doesn't know what to say. He never shrewdly talk about things about lovemaking and the incident last night apparently did not also make it smart. From the bag, his phone rang. It seemed like the time was right to answer, so he excused himself and exited the restaurant to stand near the entrance. When looking at the phone, Daniel's name was written clearly on the screen. Kendall sighed, then decided that it was better to sort things out.

He answered that phone. "Hello?"

"Kendall?" Daniel's voice sounded shocked. "Kendall, it's me... Daniel."

Bend Kendall choked. "Yes, I know. What do you want?"

Daniel looked for the right words. "How are you?"

Kendall folded her hands and glanced back at the table where David was sitting. "I'm fine and busy."

"Where are you?"

"It's none of your business" Kendall said.

"I know, I know," said Daniel. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you."

"Daniel, I don't need you to worry anymore."

Daniel scolded. "I deserve all of that. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Kendall. I guess I doubt I'll bond with a woman, so I'm losing my mind."

Kendall gasped with tears at Daniel's haughty explanation, but tried to keep her voice firm. "I'm not interested in hearing why you betrayed me, Daniel. Did you call for some reason?"

"I. yeah." Daniel cleared his throat. "Kendall, I know I have no right to ask, but I love you and I want us back together. Can you forgive me for making a stupid mistake?"

Kendall's heart was racing and her stomach was wrapped around. In the first days after the man admitted that he had fallen in love with another woman, didn't Kendall expect Daniel would come to her and say that line? His chest hurt in anger mixed with wounds because Daniel had dumped his love as if it had no meaning. But, more than anything else, Kendall wants things to go back to how they were. But can he trust Daniel again?

"Daniel," Kendall finally said on the phone, "I can forgive you..."

"Oh, thank you, baby! I thought we could solve this problem."

"But" Kendall continued, "forgive you doesn't mean I want to come back with you. Those are two different things."

"Right," Daniel quickly agreed. "And I know I've asked too much of you, but please promise me you'll consider giving us a second chance."

"I can't. Unlike you, I can't make promises easily."

Kendall looked up and saw David looking at her. The man pointed towards the watch.

"It was before" said Kendall.

"OKAY. I love you."

Kendall hesitates. "Goodbye, Daniel." Then he cut off the phone with trembling hands.

"All is well?"

Kendall looked up and saw David approaching her on crutches.

"Yes," Kendall replied, though she still felt shaken as she returned the phone into the bag.

"It's not about asking you to hurry, but it looks like we should leave immediately."

"Sure," said Kendall, trying to control themselves. Thinking of Daniel while David stood in front of him was like receiving two radio programs in one channel.

To Kendall's great relief, David did not bring up their togetherness the night before during a trip to the medical supply store. The two of them seemed to be retreating into their respective safe areas. By the time they arrived at the store, the sales manager had already collected product samples for Kendall to consider, making the ordering process quick and efficient. Small-sized gear filled the car to the brim, and David arranged for delivery trucks to follow them with larger equipment.

The journey home to Happiness for ten hours was tense and painful. Kendall felt very uncomfortable with the burly man beside her, how they had previously been so intimately hugging and were now so far away. And the phone conversation with Daniel continued to fill his mind like a hammer pounding. When they stopped in front of the clinic, Kendall's head was dizzy and she just wanted to lie down. He got out of the car and picked up the bag he was carrying.

"I'll be back later to get the equipment out" he said.

After miles of silence, David suddenly looks as if Kendall isn't willing to leave. "I can get one of the workers to drive you to the dormitory and return the car here."

"What's wrong, I can walk."

"Thank you for going with me" David said.

"Walking."

Kendall smiled flatly, then turned towards the dormitory with a sigh. What a mess he's making. And what made the situation worse, even though he had only returned home for a few minutes, his allergy was felt again.

As he stepped inside, he avoided the inquisitive gazes of the women who had already helped him overhaul his appearance. He could only imagine what gossip had been circulating about him and David during their time away.

And did the affirmation of the gossip appear on his face?

When he met Khloe, he asked her to meet him at the clinic in an hour to help set up a new practice there. Then he rushed up to his room upstairs to look for an aspirin and lay down for a few minutes to calm a troubled mind.

After lying down with a cloth compress on his forehead, Kendall began to calm down. Last night with David, a call from Daniel did not change his intention to leave Happiness. The only decision to make is where it will go from here.

Then consciousness hit him and Kendall groaned.

It's not going anywhere. He forgot to buy a new gas line to fix his car.

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