'Ｈｅｙ. Are you okay? It's not like I'm expecting you to talk all of sudden, even though I really want to hear your voice but, you were not yourself this morning and keep on spacing out. Did something happened? I only leave you for one day. Did you really missed me that much?' Bryson flashed his toothy grin and brieftly glanced where she was seated before focusing again on the road. She heard and felt the worries underneath the teasing tone of his voice but chose to ignore it.
Daisy doesn't have any idea where the guy would be taking her due to her absent-minded state all throughout the morning. She didn't even care that Bryson was dragging her to who knows where. Half of her wants to protest, to demand the guy to bring her back to the shop where she supposedly be working at this time.
How could she be so neglectful of her job? What would Megan say when she came back? They still need to finish the arrangement that their customer ordered yesterday. Oh god. She felt guilty all of a sudden for leaving her friend in the middle of their working time. It took her when she felt not belonged at her new place, then this is her repayment?
Maybe this is still good— a temporary escape before the harsh reality slapped her hard.
It was even concerning for Megan that she came at the shop looking like someone who had never seen the light before. Her skin was paler than it originally was, eyes bloodshot plus eyebags adding the 'high but not entirely' looked and her always cheerful aura was nowhere to be found.
Megan tried talking to her, making her spill out what made her mood deadened but, she didn't respond to any of her attempts that eventually, she just let her go. Daisy didn't know what is happening to her. Its like, back to zero again. Doesn't know if she still thinking straight or not. Not.
She feel low-spirited, doesn't want to do anything for that matter and just curled up in a ball and hide beneath her cold mattress. Maybe if she fall asleep again and wake up, everything will be back to normal like there were no bombs that was suddenly being catapult to her, making her world demolished.
'You don't have to worry, Megan gave me her approval for taking you away from your work. Just reminded me to bring you back in piece and. . . your usual self.'
Daisy wanted to say that this is actually her usual self because behind her jolly and cheerful facade is a just a broken girl— crying and exigent.
She just let Bryson speak as she don't know how to react. Glad that Megan let her leave? Not. She just keep her thought to herself and plan to apologize to her friend tomorrow.
'I prefer the smiling while blushing you, rather than this no care in the world.' Bryson sighed when she didn't react, he momentarily removed his hand on the steering wheel to squeezed her thigh.
It makes Daisy averted her attention from the window of the passenger's seat and finally give the guy the attention that he wanted. If it is another day, she would probably be embarrassed for being absent-minded or the fact that Bryson was touching her in a part of her body that had never been touched before. Even if his hand was not directly making a contact with her skin because of the jeans she's wearing.
'Talk to me shorty. I mean, just make a sign that you're okay or type it down like you usually did. I'm f—, worrying here okay?' She felt bad, truly, she doesn't want to hindrance everyone around her because of her own misery but, she can't help it. Daisy couldn't find the will to be happy, she can't even just pretend. Its in her nature— a crystal clear that she wear her feelings in her sleeve.
'If you don't want to tell me what is running inside of that pretty little head, then fine. I'm not gonna force you but, you can't expect me to just sit here and do nothing to make you feel better.' Bryson's lips curled upward with a newfound determination on his face and just slightly tightened his hold on her thigh.
Daisy didn't complain about the intimate touched, couldn't— it brings her a sense of comfort, a diversion that someone is there for her right now when she needed the company the most.
Looking again on the window to shunned his pricking to her thought, she leisurely placed her hand on top of Bryson. The guy stiffened, not expecting her sudden initiation but, he recovered and turned his hand to intertwined their fingers. Bryson's hand engulfed her, it's so big that it could probably crushed her head in just one go.
If only this moment will last forever and everything around them disappear, every problems, the harsh reality— just for a moment. However, there's no permanent, no forever, no constant in this world and before you know it, the dreamland will eventually shatter.
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She doesn't know how many minutes or hours they'd have been driving when the car slowed down and Daisy just only descried their unfamiliar surrounding. The path was stony and narrowed, it look likes they were entering a more secluded area. Daisy doesn't have any idea where they are, don't really care at all. They could be lost at an uncivilized part of the world or a lone island in the middle of the sea where no one can find them and she'll gladly go with the man inasmuch as he will help her forget everything and be gone for good.
'Don't worry I'm not gonna leave you here if that what's you're thinking. I will not let something bad happen to you either. Trust me and you'll see.' Bryson coaxed, grinning when he saw her dismantled face.
The guy stepped on the brakes and the vehicle came to a halt. Bryson took the key in the ignition and gave his full attention at her whilst still holding her hands.
'Do you trust me?' Bryson asked sincerely.
Daisy second-thought about her answer.
Would she really entrust herself to someone she just only met almost 3 weeks ago? Daisy knew from the very beginning the answer to that question. She waited for a feeling of objection, hesitance or resistance but, a sense of belonging was the only emotion that reigned. Daisy nodded her head and fiddled her free hand.
'Good. Now let's go. I can't wait to bring you there.'
They both leave the car, Bryson opened the trunk and get something inside before padding straightaway to her, joining again their fingers together while he was holding a basket in his free hand. They started their voyage and unplanned trip to nowhere. With a sunny smile on his face, he led her to their destination.
Daisy wandered her eyes everywhere, thick and tall different trees ambient the one-way road. No establishments or houses in sight— only the chirping and rustling sounds of animals nearby, the crunching noise of dried leaves underneath their footsteps and a breeze of fresh woody scent of air. The afternoon weather was completing the look of the setting— a context from a fairy tale that was turned into inanimate.
'We're almost there.' Daisy looked at Bryson's back. It never seized to amaze her how broad, bulky, and very manly his back is, even if it is hidden behind the tight black plain shirt he's wearing, the muscle was still prominent and bulging. Its her first time meeting a godly looking guy like Bryson, well, its her really first time interacting and being acquainted to a guy close her age so, she doesn't know if every guy are like him. No. There's no one that can equate with Bryson.
Daisy was too busy analyzing and appreciating every aspect of Bryson's being that she isn't aware they already stopped walking. He is facing her now— blocking everything as his glowing face and eyes so blue the only thing her chestnut colored eyes could see, he gazed down at her, holding both of her hands and smiling from ear to ear.
'You're the most beautiful person and girl have known and seen in my entire life Daisy. I always wanted and love to make and see you smile that I'll do anything if someone or something take that away from you. I know you're dealing a lot of things in your life and probably won't involve me in any of it but, I want you to enjoy every moment with me and that includes right here.'
Daisy just keep on looking up at him, submerging to his pool of ocean, how could be someone took all the glory and goodness in this world? How could be someone like Bryson exist?
Daisy, never leaving her eyes at the guy in front, she wait for his next move until her view was unblock when he stepped aside and her eyesight was shortly blinded by the sunlight then a force of wind suddenly blown on her face, making her hair swayed and danced along with it.
Rubbing her eyes to clear her vision, she tucked the strands of hair on her face behind her ears. Daisy blinked once. Twice.
And her expression slowly morphed into amazement once the majestic scenery came into view. She only have one feeling at that moment, pure bliss.
Hundreds and hundreds of different wild flowers are strewed at the huge open field. Different kinds, colors— its overwhelming and galvanizing that she doesn't even know where to stopped her eyes from looking at. The smell of it were wafting her senses and a vibrant colors that shining under the sunlight was so fascinating— its like a diamond in a cave, stars in the galaxy and a picturesque that came to life from Claude Monet's painting. Its a landscape you can only see at a childrens book that later on you'd be dreaming about, a perfect spot to spend your last breath with a smile on your face.
'Do you like it?' Bryson asked after he let her memorized, and captured in her eyes every beautiful pieces and creation. Like it? Like cannot be even compared of what she's feeling. It surprised her to the moon and back because that was very first time she saw the amazing landscape.
'I love it.' Daisy signed wholeheartedly which she knew Bryson will understand due to their lesson.
'That is the smile I was looking for.' Bryson said breathlessly, hands slowly traces her cheeks, admiring the crimson color that were painted on it before he let his hands down and face the view.
They were now standing side by side, watching and beholding the beauty in front. Hand never letting go with each other's and a peaceful, contentment— a something more feeling that heightened the blissfulness.
Daisy couldn't comprehend in her mind how she became so lucky for being with Bryson. For bringing the light in her dark life and for making her experienced and to make her realized that, despite her crude past, there's still a promising future waiting in the finish line.
How did he knew how to make her happy when she was feeling down?
'Its only a partial part of my plan. I might not be the best guy in town or not the most patience in everything, except when it comes to you, not the guy you dreamed about but, it's only me and that's all I can offer.'
Bryson held both of her shoulders to turned her around, her back facing him.
A warm, callous but, soft hands slightly grazed her neck then Bryson slide all of her hair on her right shoulder, sending an electricity—flowing and impaling her body before a slightly cold metal was pressed around her neck.
Daisy shivered at the cold air hitting the exposed skin of the back of her throat and the lost of contact from Bryson's warm touch. She cupped the pendant on her chest and feels the smooth texture. It's a daisy pendant, a single flower with diamonds engraved in every petals, making it glow and shine every time the light hit the gems. So beautiful that it took Daisy's breathe away. The feelings were filling her up that her heart and body stopped cooperating.
'I know it's not that special but, I really wanted to give you something that will remind you of me. That everytime you feel sad or lonely, you can just touch the pendant and remember that there's a guy that willing to wait for as long as he can just to have you in the end.'
What am I supposed to do now? What am I supposed to feel at this moment? How am I supposed to show him my feelings? Daisy keep on thinking and thinking until one reason, and one feelings triumphed in all of those overwhelming thoughts.
Before she knew it, she lunched herself and wrapped her arms on Bryson's waist. Finally, she was able to do the thing she longed for the very first time she caught the sight of an ocean blue eyes. No vacillation, just her heart pouring everything she can through her action.
Bryson tensed and obviously startled by her sudden intrusion, she just tightened her hold and pressed herself even more to his solid, hard but unexpectedly smooth body—right cheek was resting on the bottom of his chest because of their huge height difference.
Daisy felt the guy's arms encircling on her waist and his face pressed on her shoulder. He took a long breathe and inhaled her lavender, and vanilla scent.
'I can die with a happy face now.' Bryson murmured huskily, making her giggled because of the tingling sensation from the vibration that emitted in his voice.
'I supposed, you really like my gifts.'
They untangled from their intimate embraced but still close enough, afraid of letting go and losing each other's vicinity. Daisy knew whatever her feelings are undeniably showing up on her face— full of admiration and fancy for the guy that she only met 3 weeks ago but, brought her already to such extent of fondness.
'I know I'm being persistent and I told you that I'll wait for you as long as when you become ready but. . . I like you Daisy, I really really like you. Everything about you. No words, reasons or explanation as to why I hold such deep feelings for you. . I really wish to be part of your life. I want you to trust me and let me shoulder at least half of you problem for. . . I don't want to lose the color and light in your beautiful eyes. I want to be always beside you— someone you can lean in anytime. So. . . please give me a chance. . . Please be mine now.'
Bryson's eyes at her were like a whirlpool of storm— brewing and ready to strike anytime soon but, instead of a destruction and a feeling of solitude once the calamity onslaught, Daisy will gladly embrace it, for once the storm died down, a new illustrious day shall come. And that day is what Daisy needed the most.
How could she leave the place where she learned to be herself and being contented for having a normal life? How could she leave the place where her heart belonged? To a man name, Bryson.
Is it selfish of her to be happy at this time of her life? Is it unfair for her family if she choose to temporarily escape from all those painful things? Just for one day. Just a moment. That is all she need.
At that time, she let herself be free from all the pending problems, issues, and pressures on her back. Daisy just let her true feeling bursts out and all she could only do was to yield her heart.
Before she even realized it, her head was already nodding with a bright smile on her lips that is never faltering.
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