The movie had ended, and as they drove away from the cinema, Daisy was still buzzing with excitement. The night air was cool, and the car's gentle hum felt almost like a lullaby, but Daisy showed no signs of slowing down. She was leaning slightly toward Ferdinand, her voice animated as she rambled on about the movie, reliving every scene as if they had just watched it seconds ago.
"I can't believe the way they pulled off that twist! I thought for sure the villain was going to win, but then bam!" Daisy clapped her hands for emphasis. "The hero pulls off the impossible. Seriously, how did you not see that coming?"
Ferdinand smiled, his hands gripping the steering wheel loosely as he drove through the quiet streets. He didn't mind Daisy's endless chatter; in fact, he found it quite soothing. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her excitement about something as simple as a movie was enough to make him smile.
"I guess I was just too focused on the action," Ferdinand said, glancing over at her with a smirk.
Daisy's eyes lit up as she continued, her words flowing rapidly. "The action scenes were great, though! Especially that car chase. Oh my God, the stunts were insane. I swear, if you ever drive like that, I'm jumping out of the car."
Ferdinand chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind."
As the conversation flowed naturally, with Daisy yapping away and Ferdinand responding here and there, the sudden ringing of Ferdinand's phone broke through the easy rhythm of their back-and-forth. The sound was jarring, cutting through the comfortable noise of the engine and Daisy's voice. His expression didn't change as he glanced down at the screen, seeing the familiar name: his younger sister.
He sighed quietly, just enough that only he noticed, and glanced at Daisy, who had gone quiet as soon as the phone started ringing. She gave him a curious look but didn't say anything, sensing something in his demeanor.
"Hold on," Ferdinand said, his tone neutral, almost detached.
On the other end, his sister's voice immediately began chattering away, diving straight into a mixture of gossip, family updates, and random bits of her day. It was a typical call from her—nothing too urgent, just the usual back-and-forth they shared when catching up. Ferdinand responded calmly, his words short and spaced out between her sentences.
"Yeah... that sounds about right... No, I haven't... I'll check on that later."
As his sister continued talking, Ferdinand maintained a steady grip on the wheel, occasionally murmuring "uh-huh" or "I see" in response to her rapid-fire updates. He could hear the excitement in her voice but remained focused on the road. Daisy, now quiet, started to shift in her seat, her head leaning against the window. Her eyes fluttered slowly, and it wasn't long before her eyelids drooped, heavy with the fatigue from the long day.
The call lasted about fifteen minutes, but by the time Ferdinand hung up, Daisy had completely drifted off. Her head was resting comfortably against the car window, her breathing slow and even, the remnants of her earlier excitement replaced by a serene sleep.
Ferdinand stole a glance at her as he hung up the phone. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he took in the peaceful sight of her. She looked utterly exhausted, but there was a certain innocence in the way she slept, her expression free of worry, as if the world outside the car didn't exist anymore.
He slowed the car as they approached the turn towards the university dorms, his initial plan to drop her off so she could rest in her own bed. But seeing her asleep like this, so calm and comfortable, made him rethink his decision. She'd been through a lot over the past couple of days, and the idea of waking her up just to send her back to the dorm didn't sit well with him. Besides, it was getting late, and the drive had relaxed him as much as it had lulled her into sleep.
Ferdinand made a quiet decision. He steered the car away from the dorm and headed toward his apartment instead. It wasn't far from the university—a fifteen-minute detour—but it would be far more comfortable for her to rest there than in a cramped dorm room. He drove carefully, making sure not to wake Daisy with any sharp turns or sudden stops.
The streets were mostly empty, lit by the soft glow of street lamps. As they neared his apartment building, Ferdinand glanced over at Daisy again. She hadn't stirred once. Her face was slightly turned toward him now, her lips slightly parted, and her breathing steady. For a moment, he just watched her, a sense of calm washing over him.
Pulling into the underground parking garage of his apartment, Ferdinand parked the car in his usual spot. He turned off the engine, and the sudden silence felt heavy after the low hum of the drive. The only sound in the car was Daisy's gentle breathing. He leaned back in his seat for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He had never expected to bring her back here, not like this.
Carefully, Ferdinand stepped out of the car and moved over to Daisy's side. He opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb her slumber. She was in such a deep sleep that even the slight jostling as he unbuckled her seatbelt didn't wake her. Without a second thought, he leaned down and gently scooped her into his arms.
Daisy murmured something incoherent in her sleep, her head falling against his chest, but she didn't wake. Ferdinand held her close, adjusting her so that her head rested comfortably against his shoulder. She felt surprisingly light in his arms, her body limp with the weight of sleep.
As he walked through the softly lit hallway toward the elevator, the quiet hum of the building seemed to match the steady rhythm of Daisy's breathing. Ferdinand glanced down at her occasionally, watching the rise and fall of her chest, her lips slightly parted as she drifted deeper into slumber. The warmth of her body against his was oddly comforting, and he found himself feeling a strange sense of responsibility for her. She was safe with him.
The elevator ride was smooth and silent. The soft ding of the doors opening broke the quiet, and Ferdinand stepped out, adjusting his hold on Daisy as he headed toward his apartment. As they passed through the lobby, he nodded briefly at the night-shift doorman, who gave a knowing smile but said nothing, respecting the peacefulness of the moment.
Ferdinand entered the dimly lit corridor that led to his apartment. His footsteps were light, careful not to disturb Daisy's sleep. The hallway was bathed in the faint glow of the moonlight coming in through the large windows at the far end, casting long shadows on the floor. His keys jingled softly as he fished them out of his pocket, unlocking the door with one hand while balancing Daisy gently in the other.
The apartment was quiet, only the faint hum of the city outside could be heard. Ferdinand carried Daisy through the threshold, his eyes adjusting to the dark interior. He nudged the door closed with his foot, careful not to make a sound. For a moment, he just stood there in the entryway, looking down at her as she snuggled deeper into his chest, her hand unconsciously gripping the fabric of his shirt.
He made his way across the living room, passing the large windows that overlooked the city skyline, and into his bedroom. The room was simple but comfortable, the bed neatly made with soft, dark sheets. Without disturbing her, Ferdinand gently lowered Daisy onto the bed, placing her head on the pillow. She stirred slightly, her hand reaching out as if searching for something.
Ferdinand paused for a moment, unsure if she was waking up, but then she sighed softly and settled back into sleep. He couldn't help but smile, watching her for a brief second before standing up straight. His mind wandered back to the day they'd had, her laughter, her endless chatter, the way she was so full of life. He didn't mind her company; in fact, he enjoyed it more than he thought he would.
He pulled the blanket over her, tucking it around her body to keep her warm. Her face relaxed as she settled into the soft sheets, the corners of her lips twitching slightly as if she were dreaming. He stood by the bed for a moment longer, observing how peaceful she looked, so unlike her usual energetic self.
Ferdinand's gaze lingered on her for a beat, feeling an odd mixture of fondness and protectiveness well up inside him. Shaking his head, he quietly exited the room, leaving the door slightly ajar in case she needed anything. He made his way to the living room, deciding that the couch would be his bed for the night.
He stretched out on the couch, running a hand through his hair, which was slightly ruffled from the day's events. His mind drifted back to the phone call with his sister. It had been nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual gossip and updates, but it had reminded him of the different world he lived in before Daisy started weaving her way into his life.
For a moment, Ferdinand thought about the responsibilities waiting for him, the deadlines he'd been putting off, and the workload that had been growing in the background. But then he remembered Daisy—her smile, her laughter, and the way she had filled the past few days with unexpected joy. He let out a quiet sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion slowly creep up on him. It had been a long day, and as much as he tried to stay awake, his eyes began to close, and he drifted off to sleep.