Daisy didn't even notice the time as they stepped out of the cozy, warm ambiance of the town grill restaurant. The clock had already struck 11 PM, but the night felt young to her, filled with possibilities and the soft thrill of being close to Ferdinand. The warmth that radiated from him, the way he looked at her with those thoughtful eyes, made her heart flutter uncontrollably, and any trace of sickness she'd felt earlier had completely vanished. The butterflies in her stomach danced wildly, pushing away every other thought, every other concern. She was with Ferdinand, and that was all that mattered.
As they walked, Ferdinand carried a large bottle of wine, his steps steady and assured. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle night breeze. The sky above was a canvas of deep blues and purples, speckled with stars that twinkled like diamonds. It was the perfect night—almost too perfect, like something out of a dream.
"Let's go to the garden," Daisy suggested, her voice soft but filled with excitement. She looked up at Ferdinand, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. "It's so beautiful out. We can see the stars."
Ferdinand glanced at her, his expression softening as he nodded. "Sure, that sounds nice."
They made their way to the garden, a secluded spot not far from the restaurant, surrounded by tall trees and lined with benches. The garden was peaceful, a hidden gem in the city, away from the hustle and bustle, where time seemed to slow down. They found a spot under a large oak tree, its branches stretching out like protective arms, sheltering them from the world.
Ferdinand uncorked the wine bottle and poured them each a generous glass. They sat down on the grass, the cool earth beneath them grounding the moment in reality. Daisy leaned back, looking up at the sky, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. The stars above seemed endless, each one a tiny beacon of light in the vast darkness.
"This is perfect," Daisy whispered, more to herself than to Ferdinand. She took a sip of her wine, the rich, fruity taste filling her senses. She was aware of Ferdinand beside her, his presence calming, reassuring, and somehow, that made everything even more perfect.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the occasional rustling of leaves and the soft clinking of their glasses. Daisy was content just being there, feeling the warmth of Ferdinand's shoulder against hers, the night air cool on her skin.
But as the minutes passed, the wine began to work its magic, loosening Daisy's thoughts and tongue. She glanced at Ferdinand, who was staring up at the sky, lost in thought. Her heart swelled with emotion, and before she knew it, the words were spilling out of her.
"Ferdinand," she began hesitantly, her voice small, "do you ever feel like… like you're not good enough?"
He turned to her, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in her tone. He could see the worry etched on her face, the way she bit her lip as if afraid of what she might reveal.
"Everyone has those moments," he replied gently, his voice steady. "But you're more than good enough, Daisy. You really are."
Daisy let out a shaky breath, taking another sip of wine to steady herself. "But I don't feel that way. I feel like I'm always falling short, like… like I'm a failure."
Ferdinand frowned, his heart aching at the pain in her voice. "You're not a failure, Daisy. You're one of the strongest people I know. And you care so much about others. That's not something a failure does."
She shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "But I'm not strong. I'm just… pretending. Pretending to be someone I'm not, so people will like me. So I won't feel so… alone."
Ferdinand reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "You don't have to pretend with me, Daisy. I like you just the way you are."
His words were sincere, and they touched Daisy in a way she hadn't expected. She looked down at their joined hands, her voice trembling as she spoke. "But what if… what if you find out who I really am and you don't like me anymore? What if I can't be everything you need?"
Ferdinand's grip on her hand tightened slightly, a reassuring pressure that told her he wasn't going anywhere. "You don't have to be anything other than who you are, Daisy. I don't need you to be perfect. I just need you to be you."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, feeling foolish for getting so emotional. But the wine had lowered her defenses, making it impossible to hold back the flood of insecurities she usually kept buried deep inside.
"I'm scared, Ferdinand," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared that if I let you in, you'll see all the parts of me that are broken and you'll leave."
Ferdinand's heart broke at her words. He could see how much she was struggling, how deeply these insecurities had rooted themselves in her mind. He wanted nothing more than to take away her pain, to make her see herself the way he saw her.
"You're not broken, Daisy," he said softly, his voice full of conviction. "You're human. And being human means having flaws, having fears. But it also means having the capacity to love and to be loved. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here with you, through all of it."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of hope and doubt. "You promise?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I promise," Ferdinand replied without hesitation. "You won't lose me, Daisy. I'm here, and I'm not leaving."
Daisy leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. The warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest, was comforting, grounding her in a way that nothing else could. She closed her eyes, letting his words sink in, trying to believe them.
Ferdinand, sensing that she needed more reassurance, pulled out his phone and discreetly opened a note-taking app. He began typing, making a mental note of everything she was saying, every insecurity she voiced. He wanted to remember all of it, so he could help her work through these feelings later, when she was sober, when they could talk about it properly.
"I'm scared that I'm not enough," Daisy continued, her voice soft and slurred from the wine. "That I'll never be enough… for you, for anyone."
Ferdinand's heart ached at her words, and he quickly typed them into his phone. "You are enough, Daisy," he said gently. "You're more than enough. And I'll remind you of that every day if I have to."
She let out a small, sad laugh, the sound tinged with disbelief. "You're too good to me, Ferdinand. I don't deserve you."
"You deserve all the good things this world has to offer," he replied, his voice full of warmth. "And I'm just lucky to be a part of your life."
Daisy didn't respond, her thoughts swirling in a haze of wine and emotion. She didn't know what she had done to deserve someone like Ferdinand, someone who was patient and kind and who saw past all her flaws. But even in her drunken state, she knew that she didn't want to lose him. The thought of being without him, of being alone again, was too much to bear.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
"You don't have to worry about that," Ferdinand said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation settling between them. Daisy's thoughts were still heavy with doubt, but Ferdinand's presence was a balm, soothing her worries, even if only temporarily.
Eventually, Daisy finished her glass of wine and, without thinking, reached for the bottle. Ferdinand noticed her movement and gently placed a hand on her arm. "Maybe you should slow down," he suggested, concern lacing his voice.
But Daisy, her inhibitions completely gone, pouted like a child. "I'm fine," she insisted, pouring herself another glass. "I want to keep drinking. I'm having fun."
Ferdinand watched as she took another sip, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol. He didn't want to push her, but he was starting to worry. She was already tipsy, and if she kept drinking, she'd be completely drunk soon.
"Daisy," he began gently, "maybe we should call it a night. It's getting late."
But Daisy shook her head stubbornly, her eyes wide and pleading. "No! I don't want to go home yet. I want to stay here… with you."
Ferdinand sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't want to ruin the night, but he could see where this was heading, and he didn't want her to wake up tomorrow regretting anything.
"Daisy, it's almost 3 AM," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "We should really get you home."
She pouted again, looking up at him with big, doe-like eyes. "But I don't want to go home," she whined, sounding more like a child than the confident woman he knew. "I want to go to your place."
Ferdinand's heart skipped a beat at her words. The thought of taking her back to his room