The afternoon sun was hanging low in the sky as Ferdinand made his way through the university campus, feeling the familiar mix of exhaustion and calm after a long day. The walk to the library was routine by now, but today felt different. He couldn't shake the nervous excitement building in his chest as he thought about seeing Daisy again.
When the library came into view, there she was, leaning casually against one of the pillars outside, her arms crossed over her chest, gazing out into the distance. She hadn't noticed him yet, and for a brief moment, Ferdinand allowed himself the luxury of watching her, taking in the way the sunlight caught her hair, the soft smile on her face as she seemed lost in her thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, he walked toward her, trying to play it cool.
"Hey, stranger," he greeted her, his voice light.
Daisy turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. "Hey yourself."
They exchanged small smiles, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. Ferdinand could feel the shift in the air, something that had been brewing between them for a while now, an unspoken connection that neither of them had fully acknowledged until recently.
"So, standing outside the library, huh?" he teased, nodding toward the entrance. "Is it because you missed me, or are you trying to sneak back in despite the ban?"
Daisy rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, please. I don't need to break into the library. Unlike you, I follow the rules."
Ferdinand smirked. "Hey, that's not fair. I didn't get us banned. We were just... you know, talking. Loudly."
"Talking?" Daisy raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "More like you were the one causing all the trouble."
Ferdinand shook his head in mock defense. "Oh, come on. You were the one who got all sarcastic and loud. I was just sitting there, minding my own business."
"Oh, really?" Daisy tilted her head, giving him a knowing look. "You're saying it wasn't you who escalated things when I was trying to tell you about your campus-wide fame?"
Ferdinand chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, maybe I did get a little defensive about that whole 'Ferdy' nickname thing."
"A little?" Daisy scoffed. "You were practically fuming."
He groaned. "Can you blame me? It's the most embarrassing nickname ever."
Daisy laughed, the sound light and infectious. "I don't know, I think it suits you. But then again, I'm biased."
They fell into an easy rhythm, their banter flowing naturally as they began walking slowly away from the library, the conversation taking on a playful back-and-forth. Despite the teasing, there was something comfortable between them now, something that felt right.
"So," Daisy said after a brief pause, glancing at him with a smirk. "Now that we're banned from the library for a whole week, who's going to take me to a peaceful place to study?"
Ferdinand raised an eyebrow, pretending to be deep in thought. "Hmm, that's a tough one. Maybe you'll just have to manage without me."
Daisy gave him a mock pout. "Oh, come on. You know I can't concentrate without your constant overthinking next to me."
He grinned. "Oh, so now you need me?"
She shrugged, a teasing smile on her lips. "I never said I didn't. You're kind of essential, you know."
Ferdinand chuckled, but his voice turned playful. "Yeah, well, it's not like I was the one who got us banned. That was totally on you."
Daisy gasped, feigning shock. "Excuse me? You were the one who couldn't keep your cool when I started telling you about your reputation. If anyone's to blame, it's you."
"Oh, come on," Ferdinand said, grinning at her. "You were practically shouting. If you ask me, you were asking for it."
Daisy stepped in front of him, her arms crossed, giving him a playful glare. "So you're saying I got us kicked out?"
"Pretty much," he said, his grin widening. "But don't worry, I'll forgive you."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her expression. "How generous of you."
They walked in silence for a moment, the playful bickering giving way to a quieter, more comfortable vibe. Ferdinand could feel the warmth of the afternoon sun on his face, the sound of birds chirping in the distance, and the soft shuffle of their footsteps on the path.
Daisy broke the silence, her voice softer now. "But really, what are we going to do? I need a peaceful place to study, and now thanks to you—"
Ferdinand interrupted, grinning. "—Thanks to *you*."
"Fine, thanks to me," Daisy said with a chuckle. "I've lost my spot. Who's going to help me now?"
Ferdinand shrugged, his tone teasing. "I'm sure your *boyfriend* could help with that."
The words slipped out before he could stop them, and he immediately regretted the teasing tone he'd used. For a moment, there was silence, and he wondered if he had crossed a line, his heart skipping a beat as he glanced at her, worried about her reaction.
But to his surprise, Daisy didn't seem offended. Instead, she stopped in her tracks, turning to face him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Tell that to my boyfriend, huh?"
Ferdinand felt a lump form in his throat, unsure of where this was going. "Uh, yeah. You know, maybe he could find you a new peaceful place."
Daisy's expression softened, and to Ferdinand's shock, she reached out and took his hand, lacing her fingers with his as they continued to walk.
"You *are* my boyfriend, silly," she said, her voice playful yet serious, a warm smile tugging at her lips.
Ferdinand's heart skipped a beat. He blinked, trying to process her words. "Wait, what?"
Daisy squeezed his hand gently. "You heard me. You're my boyfriend. Isn't that what you've been trying to tell me?"
Ferdinand felt his face flush, his usual calm demeanor suddenly thrown off balance. He hadn't expected her to say it so casually, so effortlessly, but now that she had, something inside him relaxed. Maybe it was because the words felt right, or maybe because he had been hoping for this moment for so long without even realizing it.
He chuckled, still in disbelief. "I didn't think you'd make it official so soon."
Daisy laughed softly. "Well, I figured someone had to say it. You weren't exactly going to, with all that overthinking you do."
Ferdinand felt a rush of warmth, the anxiety that had been gnawing at him all day finally fading. He looked down at their joined hands and then back at Daisy, his grin widening.
"So... you're serious?" he asked, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside him.
Daisy nodded, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. "Of course I'm serious. You're not getting rid of me that easily."
Ferdinand couldn't help but laugh, the sound coming from deep within him, a rare burst of genuine happiness. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll have to find you that peaceful place."
"Exactly," Daisy teased, nudging him playfully as they continued walking. "Now, don't keep your *girlfriend* waiting."
The word hung in the air between them, and for the first time in a long time, Ferdinand felt a sense of peace, like everything was finally falling into place. He had spent so long avoiding relationships, building walls around himself, but here he was, hand in hand with Daisy, and everything felt so... right.
They walked in silence for a while, letting the weight of the moment settle in. The campus was quieter now, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the grounds. Every so often, Ferdinand would glance over at Daisy, marveling at how quickly things had changed between them.
"So, where are you taking me?" Daisy asked, breaking the silence.
Ferdinand grinned. "Somewhere peaceful, I promise."
Daisy raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's better than the library."
"Trust me," Ferdinand said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I've got just the place in mind."
With that, they walked toward the campus gates, leaving behind the buzz of university life for a while, stepping into a world that felt like it was theirs alone. Together.
As they passed through the gates and out onto the city streets, Ferdinand felt a sense of calm settle over him. Whatever came next, whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going through it alone.