Daniel's Team.
The first rays of dawn painted the sky with hues of pink and orange, signaling the start of a new day. Tina stirred, her eyes fluttering open. The memory of Daniel's promise the night before filled her with a glimmer of hope. He had vowed to organize a rescue team to bring her sister back. His words had been a soothing balm to her troubled mind, finally allowing her to drift off to sleep. And now it's a new day! bigger things ahead.
She stretched, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had been so worried, her eyes burning with unshed tears the night before. But Daniel's comforting presence, his gentle touch, and his reassuring words had calmed her anxieties. She had fallen asleep nestled in his arms, his strong presence a shield against the darkness.
Now, she was eager to see him, to hear his plans, to be a part of the rescue effort. But as she looked around, she noticed Daniel was still asleep, it wouldn't be so nice to wake him up, it's good to let him enjoy his sleep. He was usually an early riser, his energy boundless. She waited, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Finally, Daniel stirred, his eyes opening slowly. He stretched, a sleepy smile gracing his lips. He glanced at Tina, his eyes softening with tenderness. "Good morning, love," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.
"Good morning," Tina replied, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "So, about the rescue team..."
Daniel's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "We need to talk about something else first," he said, his tone serious. "The food situation is getting critical."
Tina frowned. She had noticed the dwindling supplies, but she hadn't realized it was this bad. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Daniel sighed. "We need to ration what we have left. It's not much, but it's all we have until we can get more. We need to make it last as long as possible."
He explained that they were relying on the kindness of others, and they couldn't afford to be careless. They had to be mindful of every bite, every crumb. He spoke about the importance of sharing, of ensuring everyone had enough to eat. He reminded them of the hardships they had faced, of the sacrifices they had made. His words were a call to unity, a reminder that they were all in this together.
Tina listened intently, her heart heavy with the weight of their situation. She knew he was right. They had to be careful, to conserve their resources. They had to survive, not just for themselves, but for their loved ones, for their hope.
As Daniel spoke, Tina couldn't see him talking anything or pointing at the rescue mission which were supposed to go look for her sister, everything he was talking was just on food alone.
Maybe Daniel just wanted them to have more resources before going to hunt for Gina, because it was going to be very bad if they have to encounter police men again with limited source, then they are definitely going to be starved to death, So Daniel not talking about it now doesn't mean that he is a fool, he knows exactly what he is doing.
The memory of their last encounter with the police force was still fresh in their minds. They had managed to escape, but not without a price. Yes, they were betrayed though. But the betrayers had been injured, but the memory of their attack, the fear of being caught, was still a heavy burden.
Tina sighed, her heart heavy with worry. She sat alone, watching as Daniel diligently distributed the meager food rations. She hope he's still not forgetting that he made a promise, to organize a rescue team, but he seemed to be taking his time. Though she was trying to pretend that she's okay about it but that's a lie, she's growing impatient, her anxiety growing with every passing moment.
When it was her turn, she accepted her portion, a small, meager offering. It wouldn't be enough to satisfy her hunger, but she would manage, just like everyone else. The food felt like a foreign object in her hand, the taste of it suddenly unappealing. How could she eat when her sister was in danger? How could she enjoy a single bite when her sister was suffering?
She watched as Daniel chatted and laughed with the others, seemingly carefree, unburdened by the weight of her situation. His lack of urgency was maddening. She wanted to scream, to demand action, to remind him of his promise. But she held her tongue, choosing to wait. Perhaps after they had eaten, after the immediate need for sustenance was met, he would finally address the issue that was consuming her thoughts. She would wait, but her patience was wearing thin.
But nevertheless, that doesn't mean that she have forgotten that Daniel was a strategist, a master of planning. Perhaps he was simply trying to boost their morale, to ensure they were all fully committed to the rescue mission before revealing his plans. She held onto her food, patiently observing, her mind racing with possibilities.
Daniel, too, was nearing the end of his meal as much as others as well. He glanced up, his gaze meeting Tina's. He saw the unshed tears in her eyes, the unspoken question hanging in the air. He knew why she was waiting. He knew what she was thinking.
A wave of guilt washed over him. He felt a familiar pang of remorse, a sharp ache in his chest. He shouldn't have made promises he couldn't keep. He should have been honest with her from the start. But he had been blinded by his own desires, his own fears. He had chosen to comfort her with lies, to offer false hope, instead of facing the harsh reality of their situation.
He had noticed her from the moment she woke up, her sadness a constant presence in the room. He had tried to avoid her gaze, to pretend he didn't see the pain in her eyes. But now, their eyes had met, and he couldn't escape the truth. He had to say something, to offer some explanation, some justification for his silence. But what could he say? How could he explain the web of lies he had woven?
He knew he couldn't tell her the truth. Not now. Not yet. He knew she wouldn't understand. She had placed her trust in him, her hope in his hands. He had become her anchor in the storm. How could he shatter her faith, break her heart, by revealing the truth?
He reached out, his hand hovering over hers. He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mixture of guilt and desperation. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He was trapped in a web of his own making, a prisoner of his own lies.
"Hmm, would I still find it offensive... sorry, I mean, would you still find it offensive if I ask why you're not eating your food? Are you not hungry? Everyone needs food! You have yours, and it's even the biggest one among them, and you're just holding it, looking at it like that."
Daniel's words pierced Tina's heart. She found his statement deeply offensive, a veiled accusation that she was being ungrateful, that she was deliberately refusing to eat. His words were a slap in the face, a reminder of their power imbalance, of the way he controlled the situation, even the distribution of food. It wasn't just the food, it was the tone, the way he spoke to her, as if she were a child who needed to be reminded of basic needs.
"Okay then, I think I'm going to believe that the rest of them might still probably be hungry. So I believe that it would be better if you give it back to them so that they could eat. Because me, I am not hungry. And I don't know why you should bring a big portion for me. I don't really need it. So please, take it back," Tina said, her voice laced with anger. She shoved the food back into his hand, her eyes blazing with resentment.
Daniel could sense the anger radiating from her. He knew he had crossed a line, but he couldn't help himself. He was desperate to distract her, to avoid talking about her sister, to keep her from asking the questions that threatened to unravel his carefully constructed facade.
"Oh, come on! Tina, I just said it out of joke. I didn't really mean it! Why would I even say such a thing against you? So please, I am very sorry about that, okay? Just go ahead and eat your food. I don't know why you're holding it like that, like it was about to bite you, right?" Daniel said, forcing a smile, trying to play it off as a harmless joke.
Tina stared at him, her confusion growing. She couldn't understand his behavior. Why was he avoiding the topic of her sister? Why was he trying to change the subject? Why was he acting so strangely? She felt a growing sense of unease, a creeping suspicion that something was wrong.