As Daisy walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, she couldn't help but grumble under her breath, mimicking Ferdinand's calm, steady voice, "Take a bath, you'll feel better." She rolled her eyes, still feeling the sting of embarrassment from the morning. *How could I feel better after making a fool of myself?* The memories of the previous night were still patchy, but she recalled enough to feel her cheeks burn every time she thought about it.
She reached to Ferdinand's room but paused before entering. Curiosity flickered inside her as she thought about what his space would look like. She hadn't really explored much of his apartment yet, and now that she had the chance, she couldn't resist snooping around a bit. *After all*, she reasoned with herself, *if he went through the trouble of taking care of me, I should get to know him a little better.*
She pushed open the door to Ferdinand's room and stepped inside, her eyes immediately scanning the space. His room was just like the rest of the apartment—simple but with a few personal touches. The bed was neatly made, and the furniture was organized in a very deliberate, almost methodical way. But as she walked closer to the desk in the corner, something caught her eye that made her stop.
On the surface of his desk, tucked in the corner next to a stack of neatly arranged papers, was a small collection of toy cars. Daisy blinked in surprise. *Toy cars?* She leaned in, examining the tiny models. There were various kinds—sports cars, trucks, even a little fire engine. A warm smile spread across her face as she reached out and picked up one of the cars, rolling it between her fingers.
*So, he's a bit childish too.* The thought immediately lifted her spirits. It was comforting to see this side of Ferdinand, something playful and lighthearted beneath his serious exterior. She glanced around the room again, noticing a few more signs of his hidden childishness—a few figurines from fast-food happy meals, some scattered books that looked like they hadn't been touched in a while, and a small plush toy dog perched on a shelf.
Daisy laughed softly to herself. *I'm not the only one who has a childish side, then.* Somehow, the discovery made her feel less self-conscious about her own vulnerability. She wasn't the only one who had embarrassing moments or little quirks. Ferdinand, with his carefully crafted cool and collected demeanor, was human too.
With her mood lifted, Daisy finally decided to head toward the bathroom. When she stepped inside, her eyes widened in surprise. It was spacious and luxurious, with sleek tiles and soft lighting that made the whole room feel like a spa. The bathtub was large, with built-in jacuzzi jets, and the shower was modern with a rainfall head. But what really caught her attention was the mirror—a massive, beautifully lit mirror that took up almost the entire wall.
The first thought that popped into her mind was how fun it would be to take pictures in front of this mirror. She could already imagine herself and Ferdinand standing side by side, making goofy faces or striking poses. The thought of it made her heart flutter, but then she quickly scolded herself. *Stop thinking about him like that,* she mentally chastised. *You're already embarrassed enough.*
Shaking her head, Daisy tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on the bath. She turned to the counter and froze when she saw the neatly arranged items waiting for her. There, on the counter, were her clothes—washed, dried, and ironed, neatly folded and stacked. Next to them was a bag full of feminine products—everything from a clean toothbrush to makeup remover wipes.
Daisy's jaw dropped. She stared at the items in disbelief, feeling a mix of gratitude and shock. *He really thought of everything.*
Her mind raced as she picked up the clean toothbrush. *When did he have the time to do all this?* She remembered waking up late, and yet somehow, in the time between her sleeping and waking up, Ferdinand had not only made sure she was taken care of but had also gone out of his way to provide everything she could possibly need. It was thoughtful. No, more than that—it was... kind, and so typical of him.
A wide grin spread across her face as she set the toothbrush down. She couldn't help it; a sudden burst of energy surged through her as she grabbed the hair dryer sitting on the counter. Without thinking, she held it up to her face like a microphone and started dancing around the bathroom, singing a silly made-up tune about how thoughtful Ferdinand was.
"He's got the style, he's got the care, the boy really knows how to be fair!" she sang, spinning in circles and pretending the hair dryer was a real mic. "He's neat, he's sweet, and he's got those cute little feet—"
Daisy paused, laughing at her own ridiculous lyrics as she caught sight of herself in the big mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. She hadn't realized how much fun she was having just goofing off in the bathroom. Her earlier embarrassment and self-consciousness were fading away with each silly dance move.
As she danced around, she noticed the bathtub was filling up with warm water. The soft sound of the water splashing against the sides of the tub added to the cozy atmosphere, and the steam began to fog up the edges of the mirror. Daisy twirled around one last time, holding the hair dryer above her head like a pop star, before she set it down and turned off the water.
The bath was ready.
Daisy let out a contented sigh as she undressed and slid into the warm water. The jets from the jacuzzi began to bubble around her, soothing her muscles and melting away the last of her tension. She leaned back, resting her head against the edge of the tub, and let her mind wander.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt relaxed. The chaotic mix of emotions from the past few hours—the embarrassment, the overthinking, the nervousness around Ferdinand—seemed to dissolve in the warmth of the bath. Instead, she felt a quiet sense of contentment, like everything was falling into place.
She thought back to Ferdinand again—how thoughtful he had been, how he had taken care of her even when she had been a mess. And now, seeing his playful, childish side… it made her see him in a whole new light. He wasn't just the calm, collected guy she had met; he was also someone who had a hidden depth, a side that was fun and maybe even a little goofy.
*He's full of surprises,* she thought with a smile. *Just when I think I have him figured out, he does something like this.*
Daisy closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the bath wash over her. She couldn't help but feel a little giddy at the thought of what might happen next. There was still so much she didn't know about Ferdinand, so much she wanted to learn. But for now, she was content to just soak in the moment—quite literally.
As she lay there, she found herself humming a soft tune, the echoes of her earlier silly song still lingering in her mind. The mirror across the room was fogged up now, making her reflection blurry and distorted, but in a way, it felt symbolic. Things were still a little unclear, but slowly, everything was coming into focus.