While Tara and her two friends were chatting and laughing, Dana approached them. She stopped behind Tara, and as soon as Kalon and Tiana noticed her presence, their smiles immediately faded.
Tara was confused by the sudden change in her friends' expressions. She turned around to see what they were looking at, only to meet a pair of brown eyes that instantly made her wary, though she did not show it.
Dana smiled at Tara and said, "Hi, you must be Tara," as she stretched out her hand for a handshake.
Tara looked at Dana without revealing anything on her face. She glanced at the offered hand before finally shaking it.
"And you are?" Tara asked calmly.
"Oh, how rude of me. I'm Dana, your cousin," Dana replied with a faint smile that did not even reach her eyes.
Tara slowly withdrew her hand from Dana's and said, "My apologies for not recognizing you."
"It's fine. After all, you just came from the slums, so it's understandable that you don't know me," Dana said with a smile.
