At 10:55 AM, the library buzzed with the quiet activity of students buried in their work, the occasional shuffle of papers or the faint hum of a laptop the only sounds breaking the serene silence. Daisy sat at her usual table, her mind only half-focused on the open book in front of her. The words blurred together as her thoughts drifted toward the man who had occupied so much of her mind since yesterday.
Ferdinand had been an enigma, a stranger whose presence had disrupted her usually calm world. The note she'd left on his wallet earlier that morning had been a spontaneous decision, and now, the weight of what she'd done hung over her like a cloud of uncertainty. Did he even intend to meet her at the coffee shop? Was he angry, or did he find the gesture amusing? She couldn't tell, and the not knowing gnawed at her insides.
Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall—10:55. Only a few minutes left until 11. She glanced over to where Ferdinand sat, his face lit by the soft glow of his laptop screen. He was still engrossed in his work, his brow furrowed in concentration. Daisy felt a pang of doubt. Maybe he wouldn't come at all. Maybe he'd stay right where he was, and she'd be left sitting alone at the coffee shop, her face burning with embarrassment.
But then, to her surprise, Ferdinand reached up and closed his laptop. Daisy's breath caught in her throat as she watched him methodically pack up his belongings. His movements were efficient, purposeful, as if he had already made up his mind about where he was going.
Butterflies erupted in Daisy's stomach. He was going! The realization sent a wave of nervous excitement coursing through her. She fumbled to gather her own things, her hands shaking slightly as she tried to pack up quickly without drawing too much attention to herself. Her bag slipped off the edge of the table, and she scrambled to catch it, her heart pounding in her chest.
Ferdinand, oblivious to her clumsy attempts to keep up, swung his bag over his shoulder and strode toward the library exit. Daisy, still flustered, hurried after him, trying to keep a reasonable distance so as not to seem too eager. But her thoughts raced ahead, imagining the conversation they might have, the questions she wanted to ask him.
As she reached the entrance of the library, she saw him heading toward the bike racks. She felt her heart skip a beat—he was going to the coffee shop! The very idea made her feel light-headed with anticipation. Daisy quickened her pace, trying not to lose sight of him as he unlocked his bicycle and began to pedal away.
She fumbled with the strap of her bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she hurried after him, nearly tripping over the uneven cobblestones as she tried to keep up. She wasn't exactly athletic, and the gap between them was growing, with Ferdinand pedaling effortlessly down the narrow street leading toward the north block of the campus.
Daisy's heart was pounding for more than one reason as she picked up her pace, nearly jogging now, trying to catch up. But as she turned a corner, she realized that Ferdinand had vanished. She paused, looking around in confusion. The street was empty, save for a few students milling about, completely unaware of her internal panic.
Where had he gone? Daisy's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of him. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. She felt a knot of frustration tighten in her chest. She had been so close, and now he was nowhere to be seen.
Her thoughts raced—maybe he had taken a shortcut she didn't know about, or perhaps he had simply outpaced her. Either way, she needed to find him. Taking a deep breath, she quickened her pace, heading in the direction of the coffee shop at the north block. The sun was high in the sky now, casting long shadows on the ground as she hurried along the path.
The minutes ticked by, each one making her feel more anxious as she realized she was running late. She had suggested the breakfast, after all—she should have been the first to arrive. What would he think of her, arriving after him? She bit her lip, pushing herself to walk faster, her mind racing with what she would say when she finally saw him.
By the time Daisy reached the coffee shop, it was 11:10. She paused outside for a moment, catching her breath, her heart pounding not only from the physical exertion but also from the swirl of emotions churning inside her. She hesitated at the entrance, smoothing her hair and straightening her clothes, trying to compose herself before stepping inside.
The coffee shop was cozy and inviting, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the scent of pastries wafting from the counter. The warm light inside contrasted with the cool autumn air outside, and the soft murmur of conversations filled the space.
Daisy's eyes scanned the room quickly, searching for him. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Ferdinand seated at a corner table by the window, his laptop open in front of him. He was facing the window, the sunlight casting a warm glow on his face as he appeared to be typing something. The sight of him there, looking so calm and composed, made Daisy's nerves flare up all over again.
Daisy's heart raced as she approached Ferdinand's table, her footsteps feeling heavier with each step closer. The sight of him seated there, bathed in the soft, golden light filtering through the large window, took her breath away. The way the sun highlighted the angles of his face, the sharp line of his jaw, the gentle curve of his lips—it all seemed almost too perfect, like something out of a daydream.
She had seen him in the library many times, but here, in this different setting, Ferdinand looked... different. There was an air of calmness about him, a quiet confidence that made him seem both approachable and mysterious. His dark hair, slightly tousled, caught the light just right, and the way his fingers moved across the closed laptop as he set it aside was almost mesmerizing.
Daisy could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, her face flushing with a mix of nerves and something she couldn't quite place. She hesitated for a split second, feeling as though her legs might give out under the weight of her own thoughts. What was she even doing here? Was she really about to sit down with him and have breakfast, like it was the most normal thing in the world?
But it was too late to back out now. Ferdinand had already spotted her, and the soft, almost imperceptible smile on his lips made her heart do an odd little flip in her chest. He looked at her in a way that made her feel seen, truly seen, and it sent a flutter through her entire being.
"Daisy," he said, her name rolling off his tongue in a way that felt both intimate and casual. The warmth in his voice was soothing, yet it sent a ripple of excitement through her. He closed his laptop and pushed it aside, giving her his undivided attention. "I'm glad you made it."
"I—sorry I'm late," Daisy managed to say, her voice a little shaky as she struggled to keep her composure. She felt like her cheeks were on fire, the flush spreading down her neck. "I thought I was keeping up, but then you just... vanished."
Ferdinand's laugh was a low, gentle sound that sent a warm sensation straight to her chest. The way he laughed made the air between them feel lighter, less daunting. "I have a habit of taking shortcuts," he said, still smiling as he gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Please, have a seat."
Daisy nodded, trying to mask her nervousness as she slipped into the chair across from him. But the table between them suddenly felt like a barrier, something solid and tangible that kept her from getting too close. She placed her bag down carefully beside her, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the table as she tried to steady herself.
As she looked up, she realized just how intense this moment was. Ferdinand was even more striking up close, his presence somehow both calming and overwhelmingly magnetic. His eyes, deep and contemplative, held hers for just a beat longer than she expected, and she had to look away for fear that he might see too much of what she was feeling.
And then, as if out of nowhere, a split-second thought flashed across her mind, taking her completely by surprise. *I could date him. Marry him. Bear his children.*
The thought was so sudden, so unexpected, that it nearly made her choke on her own breath. Where had that come from? She barely knew him! But the idea, however fleeting, had planted itself in her mind like a stubborn seed. The thought of a future with him—a life beyond these tentative first steps—felt absurd and yet, strangely comforting.
Daisy quickly pushed the thought away, her heart thudding in her chest. *No, no, no. What are you thinking?* She mentally scolded herself, feeling her cheeks burn even hotter. *You just met him, you don't even know him like that!*
But the image lingered for just a moment longer, a brief flicker of what could be if she allowed herself to dream. She shook her head slightly, trying to clear the whirlwind of thoughts that had invaded her mind. It was just nerves, she told herself, just the excitement of being in a new situation, with someone who intrigued her more than she was willing to admit.
Daisy stole another glance at Ferdinand, who seemed completely at ease, his expression soft and inviting. His calm demeanor only made her feel more self-conscious. She felt a warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the embarrassment and everything to do with the man sitting across from her.
Ferdinand was, undeniably, attractive. And not just in a superficial way. There was something about the way he carried himself, the way he looked at her, that made her feel a connection she hadn't expected. He seemed mature, grounded, and there was a quiet intensity in him that drew her in, making her want to know more, to peel back the layers and see what lay beneath the surface.
*Stop it,* Daisy told herself firmly. *Focus. You're here to have breakfast and talk, nothing more.* She took a deep breath, forcing herself to push aside the thoughts of what could be and instead focus on the present moment.
"Ferdinand," she began, her voice still a little shaky but steadier than before, "thank you for meeting me here. I wasn't sure if you'd actually come."
Ferdinand's smile widened just a touch, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "I wasn't sure if I would either," he admitted, his tone light and sincere. "But I'm glad I did. I'm curious to know what made you leave that note."
Daisy felt her nerves start to settle as she focused on the conversation, on the words they were exchanging rather than the wild thoughts racing through her mind. "Honestly," she said, her fingers playing with the edge of her bag, "it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I've seen you around campus, in the library mostly, and you always seemed so focused, so... in your own world. I guess I just wanted to reach out, to see if maybe we could... I don't know, connect?"
Ferdinand leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Connect," he repeated, as if testing the word, weighing it carefully. "It's not something I'm particularly good at, I'll admit. But I appreciate the gesture. It's not every day that someone leaves me a note asking to have breakfast."
Daisy smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "I suppose it's not something I do every day either," she confessed, a small laugh escaping her. "But sometimes, you just have to take a chance, right?"
"Right," Ferdinand agreed, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "And I'm glad you did. It's... refreshing, in a way."
They fell into a comfortable silence again, the sounds of the café filling the space between them. Daisy's initial nerves were beginning to fade, replaced by a growing sense of calm and contentment. She felt more at ease now, sitting across from Ferdinand, engaging in a conversation that felt surprisingly natural, despite the butterflies still fluttering in her stomach.
As she sat there, stealing glances at Ferdinand, she couldn't help but think that maybe this could be the start of something special. Perhaps those fleeting thoughts of a future weren't so absurd after all. But for now, she would take it one step at a time, savoring this moment and the possibilities that lay ahead.