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H E R

Ｏｖｅｒ the past year Daisy had lived in Beaufort she had never met a guy so attractive. The very definition of tall, dark, and handsome. When her mother asked her to move somewhere far from their home, she oath to herself to stay low and avoid any attention, unwanted or not.

She was too busy looking over her shoulder every time she walked home from work, went on grocery shopping, or just enjoying the fresh air and view at the park, that she has never had a time for any romantic relationship.

So what does it makes difference now? Was it because the guy she met just a couple of days ago was nice to her?

Her disability didn't even bother him in the slightest, as if there is no invisible barrier that exists among them. It terrified her to let someone unveil her screened that once the only piece of clothing remained, they'll discover the nasty and scarred skin underneath. No one should look at it.

But, is it selfish of her to let at least one get a glimpse of it?

Daisy wanted to believe that someday, she could finally have a normal life, like those people she had seen on the street, wherein no bodyguards or chaperones that always there hiding and watching their every move or that they can live whatever they want and whoever they could be. She hopes to have that kind of life.

But, that wishful thought is still far away from her reach and every day it got farther and farther even more.

•・•✿•・•

Daisy keeps on glancing at her phone for any upcoming messages, she expects to receive from the only two people that are constantly checking up on her. Her mother and the guy that visits her every day. For the past couple of days, Bryson always came to the shop to hang out or sometimes run an errand of buying flower's seed for his mom, during lunchtime it never failed to bring her some food, always reminding her to eat well because Bryson liked to point out how small her body is. It's sweet and Daisy had never really anyone that cared for her that much asides from her mom.

She just finished arranging the last batch of order that needs to be delivered at the end of the day and she doesn't have anything to do with her free time anymore. Well, asides from cleaning but, the place is already spotless.

"What's the wrong bae? You keep on sighing," Her close friend, Megan asked beside her where she's wiping the counter with a rag but, stopped when she heard her released another long sigh.

"Nothing. I'm just bored that's all."

"Well, it seems nothing to me at all. Tell me. Is it because of your boyfriend?" Daisy was really glad she met Megan when she started coping with the way of life here as she became already attached to the beautiful brunette girl. Megan even went such a length of studying and learning the basic sign language just to communicate with her.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"He is your boyfriend, he's a boy and your friend so doesn't it make him your boyfriend, " Daisy can't help but smile because of her friend's humour.

Shaking her head, she peeked again on her phone on top of the counter.

"When that guy. . . what's his name again?"

"Bryson."

"Yes, Bryson. When he came here and asked about your whereabouts a week ago, I'd just assumed he was your boyfriend cos he didn't correct me when I said that you hadn't mentioned that you're dating someone—, " Megan trailed off while looking at her expectantly like she's waiting for some kind of reaction Daisy doesn't have an idea.

When Megan saw her confused looked, she took a long sigh and put both hands on either side of her shoulders.

"Look Bae. . . What I'm trying to say is, that guy is definitely into you. Like totally wants to go out with you. Isn't he the sweetest, bringing you food every day, driving you home after work, texting you like every minute to ask how's doing. I'd jump the guy if he's only my type even though he is such a jerk sometimes. . . but, you know what I mean? So what's the matter?" Everything matters.

Yes, all those things Megan said about Bryson were true but, what makes Daisy afraid of, is for someone to come knocking in her life when she doesn't even know how to open her locked up heart. And that someone is Bryson.

"I don't know. He told me that he'll be waiting and I know he is sincere about his feeling but isn't it too fast to level up our friendship into something more? I mean, we still don't know each other very well. I'm not even that special. I'm defective and abnormal. What if I'm just his pa—"

"Hey. Hey. Stop right there. Who says you're defective and not normal huh?" Megan stopped her frantic movement of showing up her feelings through body language. Her friend was looking at her sternly like a mother scolding her child, "Don't. Ever. Say. That. Do you hear me? Nothing's wrong with you? And if that guy thinks otherwise then to hell with him. You're beautiful Bae, inside and out and don't think any less about yourself, 'kay?" 

Daisy can feel the sincerity in Megan's words. It was her first time hearing such words of encouragement and she was thankful for that, but if you're too close from the shore to losing your sanity, it was too hard to run away and get to the safe zone again.

She was losing out of her control and the voices inside her head started screaming again. It's faint, barely above a whisper but it's still there.

The truth is, Daisy was only making excuses. She hates to confront any foreign feelings. She already had enough problems on her plate and she doesn't want to add one more to it. It'll only complicate things and it's just impossible.

'They say, you should chase your dreams and I answered, I'm already chasing it right at this moment. So when the time is all right and you feel like I'm worthy of you. Can you help me fulfill my dream?"

Bryson's voice nullified the screaming in her head and somehow just by thinking those words he had said, it calms her down and soothes her.

She gave the poor guy a subtle response regarding his intentions towards her, but Daisy doesn't know if she can keep her words and make it. After all, she was nothing but just a medium that caused problems and brings anguished to anyone she cared about.

If Bryson finds out about her deepest and darkest secret, it will make him distaste her and probably leave her for good. The anxiety was building up inside again and whenever her thought drifted off to the closed door at the back of her mind, the screaming was increasingly getting louder and louder, and louder until that door would finally open.

She tried to keep herself levelheaded and minified the horrendous voice. Think about anything. . . Bryson's voice and her mom's words of wisdom. Yes, she can do it.

Again.

Bryson said he will wait no matter what, but what if he'll get tired and— No. Don't think about it. He will not gonna leave you like everyone else. He promised that.

"Bae? Bae? Hey! Are you okay?" The concerned voice of her friend followed by a firmed squeeze on her shoulder pulled her up from sinking and she found herself shaking.

"Hey what's wrong? Didn't you hear what I've said? You just zoomed out all of a sudden and Jesus! You're trembling. Are you okay? Do you want me to get you some water?" It took her a second to respond because she was still trying to reign her senses back. 

Unable to find the strength to answer the question, she just nodded her head. Megan immediately went to the water dispenser just behind the counter and gave her the glass of water. Daisy chugged it in just seconds.

"What happened to you bae? You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were having a seizure or something."

She just keeps her head down, trying to focus her attention on her surrounding. The pleasing smell of flowers, the cold air that seeped in her skin beneath her sweater, and the vague noise coming from the outside.

Daisy took a deep breath and face her friend that she had perturbed. Daisy gave her a smile that might be looked like she was constipated but nevertheless, it eased her friend's worried expression.

"I'm sorry. I'm fine, " she weakly signed.

"Why don't you rest now? The s—, " her phone dinged and Megan just nodded to her phone before petting her head and walking into the storage room.

Bryson's name popped up in her notification. Just a while ago she was antsy to receive his text message but now her energy subsided and she just only want to be curled up in a ball in her chilly and lonely bedroom.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Hi, Shorty :). I miss you. What time is your work will end?
－

Daisy bit her lower lip to keep the smile from creeping out. Bry's admittance of missing her made her heart skip a bit in a rapid rhythm and it somehow relaxes her.

She slowly types her reply 'I still have half an hour,' before putting down the device once again. Bryson replied right away like he had been watching his phone come to life with her message without even batting an eyelid. It makes Daisy's mood lighten up.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Got it. I'll be picking you up, let's grab a bite before I drive you home.
－

Okay. You always picked me up after work and grab a bite before you drop me home anyway. Ohh... Btw, I'm paying this time remember.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Touché. Wait... Are you complaining? And nope I don't remember you saying that.
－

Hmm maybe. . . Then suits yourself. I'm not going with you.

She can almost imagine Bryson's face right now, his eyebrows furrowing, lips pressed into a thin line, and his fingers fast typing on his phone. It almost makes her laugh internally. 

Daisy had been a little bit preoccupied with her texting that she didn't notice her friend, standing right beside her with a teasing smile on her face and a hint of worry.

"Is that your boyfriend? Hmm. . . He must be the reason why you keep on glancing on your phone every second a while ago, " Megan asked, wiggling her perfectly arched eyebrows.

Daisy was glad Megan didn't ask her any question about her almost panic attack, but also feel bad that she made her upset. She just smiled at Megan and nudged her shoulder then went back to her phone when it chimed in.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Fine. I didn't know you'd got some silliness and stubbornness in your bone. It makes you cute tho. But, we're splitting up the bill. Period.
－

Deal.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ ★
Finally. I'll be there before you even know. See ya soon Shorty! :)
－

Daisy doesn't know how long would it take before she yields her defences from Bryson's advances. She wants to experience falling in love, going on a movie date or just chilling and watching some Netflix at home, but the morbid thoughts that keep on nagging inside her constrict all of those hopeful things.

She doesn't know what to do, it freaks her out but sometimes it also excites her to no end.

Daisy only wishes that whatever might be the outcome of her blossoming relationship wouldn't cause unfixable damage.

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