When We Were Perfect

Opening the door in one swift motion, Daniel went inside his office. Looking around he saw a person sitting in front of his desk facing the glass window, he could say that the person looked quite familiar but still he couldn't figure out who he was. Slowly Daniel walked inside nearing his desk but before he could ask anything, the man stood and turned towards him. Daniel froze in his steps, not sure what to do or how to even react to what he had just seen. All his thinking sense left as the air was knocked out of him. His eyes switched emotions from surprise, a shock to hurt and anger. Standing in front of him was none other than his childhood friend whom he called his brother Silas Alakurt. A grin was plastered on his face, like a soldier who returns victorious from war but yet hesitancy was there somewhere in his eyes.

"Hey bro! Finally, we met after almost two years!" Silas said nervously, edging closer to his side with a smile. Daniel's jaw clenched as he remembered Amy's hurt face when Silas left him, her hostile behaviour, their damaged friendship. All this could have been avoided if this idiot didn't run away like a coward after promising to marry her, he did have a part in his suffering. Silas tilted his head seeing that Daniel stood in his place stiffly blinking his eyes with the most threatening look he had ever seen on his face. Silas suddenly felt like losing his stance although he did come prepared.

"Daniel! Look…." Silas started.

"YOU IDIOT!!" Daniel roared with so much fury, his emotions overshadowing his rational side, as all Amy's words echoed in his ears. In a fit, he lunged at him. Their bodies clashed against the showcase that held several glass pieces and books, as they fell and shattered around. Daniel held him underneath him, giving a strong punch to the side of his face and nose, Silas was ready for the blow and prepared himself but he forgot that Daniel Saritas was one strength of a person, not anything like his weak self during school days.

"AFTER RUNNING AWAY LIKE A COWARD, YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO RETURN AND PRETEND AS NOTHING HAPPENED!!"Daniel growled hitting his nose making him curse in pain but Silas didn't try to block him he knew he deserved it somehow yet the hurt and anger in Daniel's eyes were indescribable. He felt his weight lifted off him as a shock stricken Ashton held him from behind flabbergasted at the scene as he never his boss acting like a violent freak.

" Daniel, please stop," Silas shouted holding his bleeding and slightly crooked nose.

"You expect me to stop!!" Daniel yelled once again ready to charge forward but Ashton tightened his grip on him.

"For God's sake let me explain Daniel and when did you turn so violent," Silas exclaimed attempting to stand up, his head feeling dizzy from the impact.

"Sir, Please stop! Your fighting and yelling will wake up  Baby Ozan!" Ashton pleaded, reminding him of Ozan who was asleep on the other side of the office in his cabin. Remembering Ozan, Daniel cursed himself, all this could have frightened him. Pulling away from Ashton's grip Daniel glared at Silas who was dusting the shards of glass from his shirt which was stained from blood oozing out of his nose drop by drop.

"I told you to stay with him, Didn't I!!" Daniel raised his voice at Ashton who trembled.

"Sir! I was with him but then I listened to noises coming from your office. I was just worried that's why I came here," Ashton exclaimed, not wanting to lose his job.

"Just go to him and stay there. Don't leave him alone! " Daniel grumbled as Ashton quickly nodded before dashing out. He turned towards Silas who was now sitting on the chair wincing while wiping away the blood with his handkerchief. For a moment, he felt bad seeing his bruised face and then at his slightly bloody knuckles. How can he act so violently with him? Although he deserved a slap and good yelling, this was beyond Daniel's behaviour. He never raised a hand on anyone especially his brother like a friend. It was like, all his rationality left him, guilt started to settle in him.

Daniel silently went towards his desk, grabbing a first aid box from the bottom drawer. He sighed before walking to Silas who cautiously watched him, opening the first aid box he took out an antiseptic wipe and dabbed it on his nose.

"OI! That hurts," Silas winced, ever the dramatic type.

"Good" Daniel retorted.

"Since when were you all bark and bite," 

"Since you ran away,"

For a moment, both of them were silent as Daniel focused on cleaning his face and putting a bandage on cuts. Done with the cleaning, Daniel went to wash his hands before returning and taking the empty seat in front of Silas.

"Explain!" Daniel said crossing his legs and staring at him sternly. Silas sighed 

"What do you want to hear brother,"

Daniel scoffed. "Don't call me brother, brothers don't keep secrets and run away,"

"Doesn't this" Brothers don't keep secrets ``thing apply to you, Daniel?" Silas asked.

"What do you mean?" Daniel said, raising his brows.

"You loved Amy, you loved her since our school days but you never uttered a word about it once," Silas announced, making his eyes widen. His grip loosened on the chair, heart beating fast.

"What does this mean, where did you get this idea," Daniel asked perplexed.

"Don't try to lie, Daniel, I know everything and that's the reason I ran away because I couldn't marry the woman you loved and still love to death. I couldn't do this to the person whom I called my brother," Silas replied honestly, eyeing his friend. Daniel swallowed looking intently at Silas, trying to find any reason why he could be so sure about this thing but the honesty in his eyes was enough to tell that knew but how?

"How do you know about it?" Daniel inquired, his mind buzzing. Silas looked down feeling guilty that he had to dig into his privacy.

"Remember the night, Amy announced that we both are getting married. I was unsure of what to do because, in reality, I didn't want to marry her in the first place but with the way she pleaded involving Vahide mom, I couldn't say no at the moment. It was until later that I realized my mistake and decided to visit you, tell you about my feelings towards Amy and how I didn't want to be a part of this marriage." Silas said, looking at the floor before continuing.

"I went to your house and just like always walked straight into your room, somehow I ended up in your closet and there I found a scrapbook, I know it wasn't ideal to intervene with your privacy bit I just did," Silas let go in one breath, raising his head to gaze at Daniel. The word scrapbook was enough to tell him that he found everything about his love for Amy, the love he had hidden somewhere in his heart for year's. His breathing hitched, 

'Did he do everything in pity for me?' Daniel asked himself.

"You did this out of pity or sacrificed your relationship just because of me!" Daniel asked the question which nagged him. Silas quickly shook his head.

"No! Daniel, I ran away because I didn't love Amy and the only option seemed for me to end this hollow relation was to run away, I always wanted to end it, I know it was a cowardly thing to do but at that time, I realized that no one could love Amy the way you do. I wanted her to realize that." Silas responded, Only if she realized. Daniel stared at Silas, not knowing how to react to this revelation of his that he did that on good purpose, wanting him to be together with Amy but he doesn't know that she will never be his.

"Why come back all of a sudden?" Daniel said holding his stare.

"Isn't it obvious, I missed you dude!" Silas grinned but it faltered when Daniel's stare remained unchanged.

"Ok! Ok! I thought now that you have settled down in life with Amy, what was the purpose of staying away besides I need to beg forgiveness from some persons and maybe it's time for me to settle to bro," Daniel raised his brow at the last part wondering how his friend thought that life was that simple now. But a part of him said that there was more to it.

"You think life is all roses and rainbows right, you run away and then come back, ask forgiveness and you are forgiven"Daniel raised his voice incredulously at him.

"Bro, I know things are not….."

But Ozan's shrill crying snapped them out of their talk.

"Damn!!" Daniel cursed, looking at his watch, remembering that it was past Ozan's feeding time. Without glancing back he rushed towards his cabin leaving a surprised Silas behind…...