Ferdinand sat at the corner table in the local town grill, his eyes trained on the entrance, anticipation coiled tight in his chest. The evening crowd was beginning to gather, filling the air with a low hum of conversation and the savory aroma of grilled food. He had been waiting for nearly ten minutes, though it felt like hours as his mind raced through a series of what-ifs. What if Daisy didn't come? What if she had misread his note or, worse, decided she wanted nothing more to do with him?
His thoughts were interrupted as the door opened, letting in a gust of cool night air. Ferdinand's breath caught in his throat as Daisy stepped inside. His initial reaction was one of surprise—she was dressed in a simple tracksuit, a far cry from the carefully curated outfits he'd seen her in before. The soft fabric clung to her hourglass figure, accentuating her curves in a way that was both casual and incredibly alluring. Her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, stray strands framing her face in a way that made her look even more delicate and approachable.
For a moment, Ferdinand was too stunned to react. This was not the image of Daisy he had expected, yet he found himself drawn to her even more. There was something undeniably attractive about the way she looked right now—vulnerable, real, and unguarded. It was as if this was a side of her that few ever got to see, and the fact that she was here, like this, made him feel unexpectedly privileged.
Daisy's eyes scanned the room, looking for him, and when their gazes met, a shy smile touched her lips. It was a small, almost hesitant expression, but it warmed Ferdinand from the inside out. He stood up as she approached the table, his heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and excitement.
"Ferdinand," she said softly as she reached him, her voice carrying a note of relief. "I'm sorry I'm late. I wasn't feeling too well earlier, but I didn't want to miss this."
He shook his head, waving away her apology. "I'm just glad you came," he replied, his voice steadier than he felt. He gestured to the chair across from him. "Please, have a seat."
Daisy hesitated for a moment, as if unsure of how to proceed, before she finally sank into the chair, her body language still slightly tense. Ferdinand could see the faint traces of exhaustion on her face, the way her shoulders slumped just a bit as if the weight of the day had been too much to bear.
"Thank you for the flowers," Daisy said, her fingers playing nervously with the edge of the napkin in front of her. "They were beautiful. I... I wasn't expecting them."
"I wanted to do something special for you," Ferdinand said, his voice softening as he watched her. "You deserve it."
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide and full of a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Why?" she asked, the word slipping out before she could stop herself. "I mean, we barely know each other. Why go through all this trouble for me?"
Ferdinand's heart ached at the question, realizing just how little she thought of herself, how undeserving she believed she was of such kindness. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table as he tried to find the right words.
"Because you're worth it, Daisy," he said, his voice low and earnest. "You might not see it, but I do. You've made more of an impact on me in these past few days than anyone has in a long time."
Daisy blinked, clearly taken aback by his sincerity. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she quickly looked down at the table, unable to hold his gaze. "I don't know what to say," she murmured, her fingers still fidgeting with the napkin.
"You don't have to say anything," Ferdinand replied gently. "Just let me take care of you tonight, okay? No more worrying, no more overthinking. Just enjoy the evening with me."
Daisy finally looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. There was something so vulnerable, so open in her expression that Ferdinand felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and take her hand. But he held back, not wanting to push her too far too soon.
Instead, he offered her a reassuring smile. "Are you hungry?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
Daisy nodded, a small smile of her own creeping onto her lips. "Yeah, I didn't have much of an appetite earlier, but I could eat something now."
Ferdinand caught the attention of the waiter with a discreet gesture under the table, signaling for them to come over. When the waiter arrived, he looked at Daisy expectantly. "What would you like?" he asked her.
She glanced at the menu briefly before giving a simple order—a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries. "I'll have the same," Ferdinand added, not even needing to look at the menu.
As the waiter left, Daisy looked at him curiously. "You didn't even glance at the menu," she remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Ferdinand shrugged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I trust your taste."
Daisy's smile widened at that, and for the first time that evening, she seemed to relax a bit more. They fell into an easy conversation, talking about everything and nothing all at once. Ferdinand found himself mesmerized by the way she spoke, her words tumbling out in an excited rush whenever she got caught up in a topic she was passionate about.
As their meals arrived, Daisy dug in with enthusiasm, clearly more hungry than she had realized. Ferdinand ate more slowly, his attention divided between his food and watching her. He couldn't help but admire the way she seemed so carefree in this moment, her earlier worries and exhaustion melting away as they continued to talk.
Time slipped away from them as the conversation flowed naturally. Before they knew it, the sky outside had darkened completely, the soft glow of the streetlights casting a warm light through the windows of the grill. Daisy's laughter filled the space between them, light and musical, and Ferdinand found himself smiling more than he had in a long time.
It wasn't until Daisy happened to glance at the clock on the wall that she realized how late it had gotten. "Oh my gosh, it's already 9:00 PM," she exclaimed, a look of surprise on her face.
Ferdinand chuckled, glancing at the clock himself. "Time flies when you're having a good time," he said, a teasing note in his voice.
Daisy blushed again, but this time it was accompanied by a smile. "I guess I got a bit carried away," she admitted, looking a little embarrassed.
"Don't apologize," Ferdinand said quickly. "I enjoyed every minute of it."
The atmosphere between them shifted slightly, the easy camaraderie giving way to something deeper, more intimate. Daisy's gaze softened as she looked at him, her earlier doubts and fears seeming to melt away in the warmth of his presence.
"Thank you, Ferdinand," she said quietly, her voice full of sincerity. "For tonight, for the flowers, for everything. You didn't have to do any of this, but you did. And it means more to me than I can put into words."
Ferdinand felt a surge of emotion at her words, his chest tightening with the realization of just how much this evening had meant to her. He reached across the table, hesitating for only a moment before gently taking her hand in his. Her fingers were warm and soft against his, and he gave them a reassuring squeeze.
"You're welcome, Daisy," he said softly. "And if it means anything, tonight was just as special for me."
They sat like that for a moment, their hands intertwined, the connection between them deepening in a way that felt almost tangible. Ferdinand's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but one thing was clear—he didn't want this night to end.
But before he could say anything more, the waiter returned with the bill, placing it discreetly on the table. Daisy reached for her bag, intending to pay, but Ferdinand quickly intercepted, handing the waiter his card instead.
The waiter gave a small nod, slipping away with the card before Daisy could protest. "You didn't have to do that," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Ferdinand smiled, shaking his head. "I wanted to," he replied simply. "Consider it my treat."
Daisy opened her mouth to argue, but the words seemed to die on her lips as she looked at him. There was something in his expression, a quiet determination that made her realize he wasn't going to back down. So instead, she simply nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Okay," she said softly. "Thank you."
As they finished their meal, Ferdinand felt a familiar nervousness begin to creep back in. He had one more plan for the evening, and he wasn't sure how Daisy would react. As they stood up to leave, he took a deep breath, trying to gather his courage.
"Daisy," he began, his voice steady despite the fluttering in his chest. "Would you like to go for a walk? There's a nice spot near the campus where you can see the stars."
Daisy looked surprised, but her expression quickly softened into one of warmth. "I'd love to," she replied, her earlier exhaustion seeming to fade away as she smiled at him.