Bella remained frozen, not daring to move. For a long time, she did not hear Daniel behind her, and wondered.

Was he asleep?

At this she secretly opened her closed eyes, intending to turn around to see if he was really asleep.

But she turned her head and looked into Daniel's dark, smiling eyes, which were now looking back at her with a touch of playfulness.

Bella smiled awkwardly and said, "You're still up, so why aren't you talking?"

"I thought you were asleep, so as not to disturb you." He said, half smiling, but with the unmistakable expression that he knew she had been pretending to sleep.

Bella felt...