'Ｈｅｙ bro. How did you know Daisy?'
Elijah asked the moment we stepped inside our house. The idiot didn't even beat around the bush. It's too good to be true that in just a span of short time, I had come to realized that the girl name after a flower managed to infiltrate in my life and get my attention without even her knowing it.
Asides from I got her phone number, I also knew where she lived now. It's just a ten minutes drive from home so, I could visit her anytime if I want but, of course if she invite me.
'Flower shop.' I answered in a bored tone, ending the conversation.
'Hi guys. What took you so long?' Mom chimed in while placing the plate on the table. Steak and mash potatoes are already served as our dinner. I walked to the sink to washed my hands and grabbed the orange juice in the fridge afterwards.
'Ask him Mom.' I pointed my left thumb at Ej's direction that is now sitting comfortably on the dining chair and already filling up his plate like a greedy swine. Asshole
'What? Ej! Did you do something bad again? How man—'
Ej just laughed at my mom's frantic voice and waved his spoon off in the air to dismissed the topic. I hit him upside the head for being rude.
'Ouch! Sorry. I didn't get into trouble mom. Just personal matter but, I'll tell you about it when the time is right okay?'
Mom narrowed her eyes at him then looked at me expectantly. I just shrugged my shoulders, not saying anything. It's my brother's call to tell about his girlfriend and besides, as long as his mind is in the right place and hasn't done anything wrong or harmful, then it's all good. After all, I promised dad to looked after my younger brother so, that he won't chase the wrong path.
'Fine. Let's just eat shall we?'
We ate peacefully with occasional conversation regarding the events that happened in our lives for the past year. Mostly mom asking how was my training or my dad doing and Elijah's improper behavior but not as severed as mine before.
With the noise of the platters and chewing of our foods, we continued feeding our hungry selves and enjoyed the comfortable silence not until my brother opened his garrulous mouth. I should better know now that he's worst than a gossip girl. I mentally screamed in my head not to really punch him in the face.
'Mom. Did you know that Bry is interested to someone that works at the flower shop?'
I almost forgot he's our household personal investigator. He gave me that cheshire cat smile that looked like the killer doll named Chucky. How did he even know Daisy anyway? Did he tried to flirt with her before? I hope not.
I just keep on eating to avoid mom's scrutinizing stare. Even though mom is oblivious about my escapades years ago, I still had this feeling that she knew everything all along and just pretended the she doesn't. One of the thing that I love about mom is, she's not constantly breathing behind our neck and let us have our own privacy.
'Oh really? Which one is it? Megan or Daisy?' Mom was surprised, I can definitely see that in her face. Who wouldn't anyway? I only just got home this morning and here I am again, flirting with a girl. But, I'm not flirting. I mean, I will occasionally— but, it will be totally serious this time.
And as much as I want to talk about Daisy, I didn't imagine it to be like this. I want to know her better so that I can talk about her freely and could finally introduce her to my family. Its not a question of how or why cause I already have an answer. It's just when.
'Daisy'
Guess I don't have a choice. If I have to be engage in this topic about the girl that I plan to make mine, maybe I'll gain some information about her in the process.
'Really? Wow. I didn't know she's the one you're interested in. I mean no offense okay? Daisy is really such a sweet and lovely girl but, I thought you are more into—'
Mom paused like she doesn't know how to continue her sentence. Yeah I totally get what she's implying.
'Outgoing and party-goers kind of girl.'
'Yeah.Well uhm. . . I hadn't really into any kind of relationship—'
Elijah snickered beside me and I just gave him a glare. He cleared his throat and refill his glass with orange juice. Prick.
'What I mean to say mom is. . . I really like Daisy and I want to know her better to hopefully introduce her to our family someday. But, we just only met a couple of hours ago when I bought the flower at their shop so. . . I still have a long way before it happen.'
I took a sipped of my orange juice to cleared my throat from that little confession I made. This is my first time talking about a girl to my mom. Its actually a good decision because at least mom already have an idea about my plan in the near future and won't be surprise if she see me interacting or even having a date at the town with Daisy. Well I'm gonna ask her sooner anyway. Maybe tomorrow?
Elijah nudged my shoulder to get my attention and looked at me like I had just done something worthwhile that had me featured in a Guinness Book of Records. What the fuck is his problem?
'Dude! Seriously? I thought you're just messing around.'
'Yes I'm fuc— I'm serious about her so shut your mouth up.'
Is it really unbelievable? Am I that really bad at relationship before? Obviously yes if even my own family are doubting me.
'Honey, I might not know Daisy very well because she just only moved here a year ago. She's kind of closed off and introverted. Asides from a few friends she's hanging out with, I heard she doesn't really associate herself to anyone but, Daisy is really a kind girl. Always smiling and never forget to greet us. So please be good to her okay? I just feel bad that she's incapable of talking but, I like that girl honey.'
The last part of the sentence had my mom lowered her voice almost like a whisper. I also heard a hint of sympathy, and sadness.
'Mom I promise, I'll treat her good like what she deserve and I know about her disability and it didn't bothered me in the slightest. I don't really care about that, even if we can't talk vocally, there are still a lot of way to communicate with each other and I plann to do that as much as I can. I'm just a little bit intrigue how she lose her voice. Daisy said she still has her sense of hearing but, it doesn't really make any sense for me.'
Now that I managed to expressed my bottled up feelings, I felt a little bit lightweight but, I can't still help myself not to overthink about Daisy's situation. I know I'm being too nosy but, I don't really give a shit as long as she is involved.
'As far as I know she was not born deaf, I'm guessing that its something that happened in her past that is also why she moved here all by herself. The Mayor also know her very well and help her settled down. If I were to decide, I want Daisy to have some company in her home, it's dangerous being alone all by herself and not to mention, as few months ago, someone tried to broke in to her house. Can you imagine that? This peop—'
My hand that was about to grabbed the glass of juice suspended in the air. I stopped what I am supposed to do and looked at my mom.
'Moved here by herself? What do you mean mom? And what about the broke in incident?'
Suddenly I feel like someone twisted my gut. I know I'm being such an asshole and rude for cutting her off but, now that kind topic about Daisy was brought up. I felt agitated all of a sudden. My foods are long forgotten, the tension in the room is slowly rising, my fist formed into balled unintentionally because of my losing temper. Only Daisy can make me react like this in front of my family, like I want to lashed out or something. She's alone now? What if a burglar tried to barged in to her house again and even worst. . . No don't even think about it. Fuck! I want to see her.
'Honey you need to calm down okay? I don't really know why she moved here alone and yes hun, the police got those people and they are now paying off their wrongdoing at the prison. So you don't have to worry about her okay? I'm sure she's doing fine now.'
Doing fine? Doing fine!? She's all alone for fuck's sake. It's not everyday you heard some criminal activities happening in this town but, being all alone—defenseless and no one could help you in case of emergency is like the worst situation.
Mom put her hand on top of my balled fist. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and gulped down my glass of orange juice. Elijah fidgeted beside me and I felt him moved his chair farther away, they knew me very well that if I lost my temper, no one can stop it asides from dad but, he's not here with us.
'Mom I'm going to her house.' I have decided and that was a non-negotiable statement that even before my mom could react, I already got up from my sit and ascended upstairs to grabbed my hoodie due to the cold temperature outside.
'Honey are you sure about this? You could just visit her tomorrow before class. She might be frighten if you just go there uninvited.'
Mom said standing on our entryway, I feel bad that I spoil our dinner. We were supposed to have a peaceful night while catching up the lost time but, I can't do that right now especially if I'm too worried about the well-being of Daisy. I just need to see her to make my worries subsided.
'I'm sorry mom. I will just text her when I get there and I promise I'll make it up to you okay?' I kissed her forehead then bid her goodbye before I stepped outside and walked toward my car.
Since my cars key and phone are already in my pocket, I starts the car right away after inserting the key in the ignition and drove as fast as I can at the traffic free highway and almost depopulated street of the town. It's almost nine PM and most of the stores were closing up but there are few that still open.
I hope she's still awake.
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