Ｏｎｃｅ I parked my car at the curb, I picked up the bouquet, and a box of cupcakes that I bought at the bakery shop on my passenger's seat, and my duffle bag at the back seat before padding to the front door of our home, after ringing the doorbell for the third time finally, someone opened the door.
My mom's surprise expression welcomed me followed by a forming unshed tears on her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hands while looking at me like I'm Jesus Christ that rise from the dead. Mom is really an emotional, and sweet person, something that I missed about her after being away for a long time.
'My son. Oh my god. You're here. I miss you so much.' With trembling hands, she touched both of my cheeks and caressed it like she usually did when I was kid.
'Hi mom, I miss you too.' I smiled at her before embracing her in a tight hug.
I never mentioned to mom that I'll be coming back home today since I should still have a month to finish my training but, since classes will be starting, my dad decided to dismissed me at early time. I want to surprise her which didn't disappoint me.
She ushered me inside the house after I gave her the flower which she wholeheartedly took with a kissed on my cheeks. The aroma of a home-cooked meal engulfed me once I stepped inside our hallway, I forgot that it's almost lunchtime and mom most likely done her cooking but, I never expected the four unfamiliar faces that greeted me in our living room.
'Honey you didn't inform me that you're coming back, I should have prepare your favorite meal.' Mom said while wiping the remnant of her little breakdown a while ago.
I just stood there awkwardly in front of her guests that are now looking at me like I had grown two heads. Its kind of unnerving but, I don't want to be rude so I just gave them a polite nod.
'Ohh silly me. I forgot to introduce you to our guests. Everyone this is my eldest son Bryson. Honey that is Mr. Roberts and his wife Mrs. Michelle.' She gestured her right hand to an old couple sitting on our love seat. They both have a gentle smile on their faces that I just returned with my tight-lipped one.
'And over there is Mr. Anderson and his wife Mrs. Grace. They are all my
colleagues at work.'
The couple that are sitting on our leather couch also gave me a smile. Mom works at the Mayor's office as a secretary that's why from time to time she had guests visiting our house but, this was my first time seeing these people, and they presumably don't know me also because of the confused look on their faces considering my reputation before.
'Is that the one that attended the military training camp? He looked like his father but, more attractive.' Mr. Roberts winked playfully that gained a hearty laughed from my mom.
'Yes and don't be ridiculous Michael, of course my son is attractive if not for a couple of girls he dated in the past.'
Everyone laughed because of that comment but, I just cringed mentally. To be honest, I'm not really proud of my previous hooks up. I had never brought a girl in our house and introduced to my parents as all of those are not really considered as serious relationship. Its most likely a one-night stand and just a fling. Well, except this time I want them to meet someone preferably a petite girl with a kind smile and innocent demeanor, I'm sure they'll love her.
My mom just assumed that I'm in a relationship whenever my younger brother reported her my whereabouts, including my make out sessions. How did that asshole know? I don't have a fucking idea. He is way better than a private investigator.
'Oh by the way we are just having our lunch. Join us honey. I know your starving.'
All of them went to the dining room and I reluctantly followed behind. Yes, I'm starving but, the last thing that I wanted to do right now is to listen to whatever they need to discuss or talk about.
'Mom I bought your favorite cupcakes, do you want me to store it in the fridge?'
Mom stared at me while holding a bowl of salad, smiling from ear to ear and wiggling her eyebrows. I just rolled my eyes before opening our fridge and putting the cupcakes inside.
'Thanks hun. When did you become such a sweetheart huh?' She said with a teasing tone and a nudged on my shoulder.
'Just driving around the town and happened to saw the shop. That's all.' She just narrowed her eyes at me but didn't commented.
'By the way, dad said he had been calling you but, you're not picking up. Call him back mom, I'm sure he's worried sick.'
'Oh! I'm sorry honey I didn't know. We've been busy discussing some important matters. I charged my phone in our room. Don't worry I'll call your father after lunch 'kay?' I just nodded my head understandably and help her fixed the table.
'By the way mom, where is Elijah?'
Elijah is my younger brother by two years, we both have similarities when it comes to physical attributes but, we are quite opposite in behavioral department. He always followed me around that sometimes it irritated me but nonetheless, we are still brothers that's why its just normal for us to depends each other. But, he still annoy me.
'He's staying at Luigi's place for lunch. You know those two, like two peas in a pod. But he'll be back before dinner time.'
I eat my food silently with gusto and fast as I can cause, I don't want to spend my entire day with these people that talked about whatever it is their business as much as they munched their foods.
Mom definitely enjoyed their company though and from time to time I can feel their gazes at me which I deliberately ignored to avoid being included on their conversation. It's not like, I want to participate anyway since my mind is somewhere else, specifically from what just happened at the flower shop.
Daisy. That name is stuck in my head that I can't help but, held my attention to the one I just bought a while ago. It was placed and arranged in one of my mom's porcelain vase. What is she doing right now? Has she eaten already? I hope so.
I should get a hold of myself or I might really go insane.
Shaking my head, I gobbled all the foods on my plate, put the dishes on the sink and tapped the faucet to drink some water.
'Mom I'm going in my room now. I've to unpack my things, I'll catch up with you later okay? Just call me if you need anything.' I pecked both her cheeks and just gave another stiffed nod to our guests before getting my duffle bag on the entryway and went upstair.
After a quick shower and changing to my sweatpants, didn't bother to put a shirt on since it's hot anyway. I lay my back on the mattress while looking at the ceiling. I should be happy that I could finally sleep comfortably in my bed that is soft which was really different compared to the hard surface of the makeshift bed at the training camp that didn't helped to ease the muscle cramps in our body after a long day of our drilled.
So why Am I feeling empty? Maybe because, I didn't get the chance to talk to Daisy. It's not like we can have a vocal conversation but, I could think about another way to communicate with her. She can write up on a piece of paper whatever her responses are or anything just to have a penny of her thoughts.
I just closed my eyes, and succumbed myself to the darkness with just one wistful thought. I want to fucking see her.
－✿－
The shrilling sound of my phone woke me up abruptly. I forgot that I turned off the silent mode after talking to dad earlier. Feeling grumpy and groggy, I picked up my phone on the nightstand and answered it without looking who's the caller ID. I'm more than pissed off that someone has the audacity to disturbed my sleep.
'What the fuck do you want?' I asked the person on the other line with obvious irritation in my voice.
'Woah. Woke up at the wrong side of the bed?'
The fucker laughed like hyena that belong to only one person I had instantly recognized. If I have the ability to grab him through my phone I've done it in a heart beat.
'What do you want Elijah?' Rubbing my free hand on my face, I just stood up from my bed and went to the closet to grab a shirt.
'What? No I miss you brother or something. I'm hurt man.' The fake- softened his voice just further made my mood crankier.
'Fuck off! I'm hanging up.'
'Wait! Wait! I'm sorry man. I'm just kidding. Geez, is that what you learned at the camp? You sounds like dad.' He teasingly said. I didn't answer and just wait whatever he has to say.
'Could you pick me up at Gi's house? He can't drop me off since his dad used their car.'
I just rolled my eyes at his antics. I had done this before because he usually spent his time at his best friend's house more than in ours so, I know my way out there.
'Fine. This will be the last time that I'm saving your ass off.'
'Thanks man'
After putting my shirt on and grabbing my car key on the nightstand, I descended the stairs and leaned my body on the door frame of our kitchen. Mom is cooking our dinner while humming a soft melody of an 80s song.
'Mom I'm gonna pick up Ej.'
'Hmm. . . I thought Luigi's going to drop him off.' Mom answered still focused her attention in the pot she's stirring.
'His dad used their car. I'm going now.'
－✿－
The moment I parked the car on the sidewalk of Mr. Samiento's residence, my idiot of a brother came jogging at the passenger's side after fist bumping his best friend that was sitting on a bench on their porch. He opened the door and buckled up the seatbelt. I started the engine and honked my car for Luigi's acknowledgement.
'Sup man. Thanks again for picking me up.' Ej said while giving me his smile that says 'I'm still has a favor for you'.
I just nodded my head but, silently praying that he had no other plan shit to make. I'm still sleepy and tired so the only thing that I wanted before my eventful day end is to bond with my bed.
'Yea yea. We're going home now. Mom's probably done with dinner.'
I stepped the accelerator and maneuvered the car to make u-turn that would led us to the long highway through the center of the town.
I just focused my attention on the road ahead and just keep on driving but, even if I'm not heeding inside the confinement of the vehicle, I can feel my brother's fidgeting on his seat like he's about to blow up any second. It's bothering me.
'For fucks sake Ej. Stop squirming like an abuse animal in a cage.'
He heaved a long sigh and stop his fidgeting, after a minute of awkward silence he spook again.
'Bry bro could you please stop by at the diner where dad usually brought us. Just. . . got something to do.' And here we go again.
'What is it?'
'Just personal business.'
'You have to tell me what business that is if you want me to bring you there and how the fuck did you even knew I'm at home?' I said in a nonchalant voice.
Told you, I had done some shit for him before and even though Elijah is considered as one of those 'smart-ass', sometimes his brain is in the gutter and couldn't seem to function very well so, like a good brother that I am, I have to fastened his loose screw.
'Well dad called me during lunch. And hmm. . . there is this girl that I just recently started going out with and I promised to picked her up after her shift. Ya know to make a good impression.' He said the last part in a quiet voice almost like a whisper but, still managed to infiltrate my ears.
Hmm. . . Impression. Well fuck that! If he wanted to impress some bimbo, he better drive her home by himself not asked me to be their designated driver or he shouldn't promise anything that he couldn't even comply.
I tried to breathe in and out the air in my lungs to calm myself down.
'Fine. This will be the last time Elijah cause I'm done with your shit. If you want to impress some girl you better true and man up to your words.' He didn't say anything and just keep his mouth shut throughout the ride. Good, cause I want some peace and silence.
I stopped the car once we were in front of the diner. The exterior is still quiet the same since the last time I went here and I guess nothing much really changed. Elijah immediately opened the passenger's door and stepped outside. He approached the two girl that are standing under the lamp post in front of the restaurant. They exchanged some brief greetings before the girl with black rimmed glasses and dressed in a white sweater and jeans waved her hand to the other one, since the other girl is standing facing her back at me, I can't really see her face well but, her build is quiet familiar—her small body that was covered with pink sweater and black jeans plus the curly strawberry blonde hair that cascaded on her back.
Is that Daisy?
I averted my attention when I heard the door in the backseat opened and Ej's girl went inside, after a while Elijah slid into the passenger's side.
'Thank you for picking me up Sir and I'm sorry for the trouble. Oh, by the way I'm Summer. Nice to meet you.' The girl said timidly.
I'm little surprised that my asshole of a brother is going out with this type of girl. Like the nerdy kind and too nice for her own good. The last time I checked he mostly interested with some bimbo that goes to every party and hooked up with every guy they deemed to find attractive. I guess both our tastes changed.
'Bryson and it's no problem.' I'm about to start the engine when my eyes caught again the girl that is still standing beside the lamp post. There is this unsettling feeling in my chest that is bothering me, like it's reminding me of something very important.
'Is that your friend standing there?' I asked looking on the rearview mirror. Megan nodded her head while also peeking at the backseat window.
'Yes. She's waiting for her service. I think the driver will be late.'
My brother gave me a confused look as to why I'm asking about a girl I don't even know of and why I'm still not leaving so, we can go home like the initial plan. I just ignored his accusing stares.
'I told her to just wait inside since it's kind of chilly outside and dangerous on top of it but, Daisy insists of waiting there.'
Megan keeps on talking but, the second I heard the name Daisy, my head snapped at her direction I'm afraid I gave myself a whiplash.
'Daisy?'
'Yes. Do you know her? She worked at the flower shop.' Summer asked, a bit excited of the newfound information just based in the tone of her voice.
I tensed immediately on my seat and the gripped on the steering wheel tightened.
'Sort of.' I replied shortly.
She seemed kind of lost while looking down on her shoes and kicking the pavement. It's cute actually but, I don't have the time to think about that because I couldn't decipher the idea that the girl that keeps on running and invading inside my head is just a step away from me.
Just a while ago and up until now, I'm thinking when I would be seeing her beautiful face again and fate might have heard my thoughts and granted it cause here we are, just a few feet away. I might have a chance to take her home and this time, ask her number.
I immediately opened the driver's door and dig my phone out in my jeans pocket. Daisy must have sense my approaching footsteps as she looked up from her shoes and scrunched her little nose that cause my heart into somersault. She's so fucking cute.
I slowly stepped forward as to not frighten her. Once she saw my face that was being illuminated by the light of the lamp post, her face brightened up like a kid in the candy store. She probably recognized me at the shop. If not for my heart beating rapidly before, I think it did tenfold by just the way she looked at me now.
She waved her dainty hand and made a sign language that like the moron that I am, I don't have an idea what it is. I should probably learn sign language.
I immediately typed something on my phone and gave it to her to read. Her chestnut eyes scanned the text whilst I just stared at her face that my eyes couldn't seem to avoid. Every thing about her mesmerized me and my sour mood earlier vanished just by being in proximity with her.
She typed something on my phone then gave it back to me.
'You can speak because I can still hear you. I'll just type my reply on your phone since I can't talk'
After reading her reply, my mind drifted off to the topic about her inability to speak. Daisy said she can't speak but, still can hear. It means she was not born lacking a sense of hearing so there must be something that happened in her life which were the reason for losing her voice, maybe an accident or something worst.
I just hope none of that were the reason because, I don't know what to do if someone inflicted some pain to this angel-face. She's like a gem you could only find in the deepest and dangerous part of the cave— no one deserves such valuable and rare piece of treasure. So, its kind of hard to believe if she happened to experience a traumatic event.
A tagged on my shirt brought me back to reality, I'm thinking too much again. Daisy is looking at me with her doe chestnut eyes, her head tilted to the side and hand still holding the bottom of my shirt. She's so fucking adorable. She's like a true angel that was sent from heaven to cast away and clean the dark side of this world. I have this primal urge, a desire to claim her as mine, it's very unusual for me – like all of a sudden I wanted to be territorial or some shit.
I run my hand through my hair and held her hand that was still tagging my shirt. I felt a shiver on her body and her face morphed into something surprised because of my sudden action that made my lips pulled up into a curved though.
Her hand is like all of her features, small, soft, smooth and like an expensive chinaware that would probably break if you wouldn't handle with so much care. It is also cold compared to my big callous warm one.
'Is it okay if I drive you to your place? It's pretty chilly outside and its kind of dangerous to be staying here awhile longer. Your friend Summer is in my car now with my brother. Don't worry I'm not a bad person.' I gave her a reassuring smile to ease her worries or doubt that I might be some bad guy trying to kidnap her. Well, I'm about to do that if not for my sanity still intact.
She looked down while biting her pink kissable and pouty lip. Seeming to have a second thought to my offer. Regardless if she rejects it or not, I'm still going to insist of bringing her safe to her home. After a minute or two she looked at me again o the eyes with trust I don't even deserve because of my unpleasant thought about her.
Nodding her head as an answer, I breathe a sigh of relief.
Still holding her hand, I escorted her to my car and opened the backseat door. Summer scooted to the other side to give her some space. I gave her a questioning looked that silently asking her if she's comfortable enough before squeezing her hands which she returned with a gentle smile and a sign language again for thank you. Even if it's against my will, I let go of her hand, closed the door and then went to the passenger's side.
My brother eyed me like I'm some kind of a weirdo but, my mood is too good that I will not let anyone ruin it. He can ask whatever he wanted once I feel like answering it but for now, I refuse to entertain whatever that'll feed his curiosity. And like an observant brother that he is, he just kept his thought to himself.
Every once in a while, I glanced on the rearview mirror just to get a glimpses of Daisy's face. She's looking out on the window and every time the light on the streetlamp reflects on her small face, it takes my breath away. I have to do my breathing exercise that I had learned in military just to keep my system at bay. Being in a confined space with her is something that overwhelmed me to no end.
She's like an enigma to me that I want to discover every crook and cranny especially because, she's affecting me in every way that I didn't experience before. I just hope that when the right time comes, she'll let me in her life and tell me her story but, whether that wishful thought came into light, there's only one decision I'm sure of. I will not let this girl go.
✿ ✿ ✿