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        Ｂｌｕｅ, pink, violet, and orange hue flickered in the sky as it fights for dominance which shines the brightest. It was an aesthetic sight to see.

A once in a while parade of beauty that only appeared once the sun decided to rest for another day and it was time for the moon to take the spotlight as it brings the beacon to a long night of darkness.

Daisy and Bryson were heading their way back to the town, the shadow of the trees at either side of the road depicts an illusion of a phantom creature that lurks in the dark. She watched the live show as the branches and leaves swayed together that gave her an eerie feeling.

She really hates when the dark defeated the light, it brings her back to her old helpless self.

"Baby," Daisy blinked twice to cast away the spellbound of her dire past that bewitched her mind and looked at Bryson that was driving the long road with a small smile on his face.

"I have to tell you something but please don't be mad or upset at me 'kay?" He runs his tongue over his red and pouty lips before clearing his throat. Daisy just only watched him, waiting for what he has to say.

Why would she be mad or upset with him? After all the things he had done to her.

"So hmm— I want to bring you to my place and join us for dinner. I also plan to introduce you to my mom as my official girlfriend. If you don't want to or if you're still not ready, we can do it another time. What do you think? It's up to you, really," Bryson glanced at her for a brief moment then focused on his driving again.

Daisy looked down on her lap and fidgeted her hands on top of it to avoid the expectant looked of her boyfriend. She couldn't still believe that after 17 years, almost 18 of her existence, she finally has a guy she can call her mine and now that guy was asking her if she's willing to go with him to introduce to his family.

Is it too soon to do that? Is this what relationship supposed to happen? Isn't there any preparation first?

"Are you not okay with it? It's okay if you're not comfortable enough. I mean, we only just got together—," she put her hand on his arm and Bryson stopped talking then tilted his head to her side.

What's the point of protracting the thing that undoubtedly will still happen in the future if they could do it now. Besides, if going with Bryson will make him happy, then who is she to repudiate it?

When Bryson saw her head nodding, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion with a tinged of hopefulness. She wanted to say 'yes I'd love to join your family for dinner, but of course, Daisy would not be able to handle it if the screaming inside her head started uproaring again once she let her voice out so like the usual, she just typed her reply on her phone.

How inconvenient.

"Yes. I'd love to do that. But, what if your mom gets mad when I come over uninvited?"

Since driving while reading the text was not a good idea considering the road was already devoid of lights, Bryson momentarily pulled over the car.

He reached her hands to hold it and kissed her knuckles. That made her looked at his face that was overshadowed by the creeping sunless of the night. It makes her heart fluttered because of the sweet gesture. Thankfully, he can't saw her blushing face due to the dimly luminescent.

"No shorty. Mom will love you if you join us tonight and honestly, she couldn't seem to stop talking about you and keep on nagging me about inviting you over for some tea. I heard you like it and know how to make it," he sincerely said while looking at her intently.

Daisy just returned the gesture with a timid smile to reassured him that she believes him and the doubts in her heart finally eased.

Bryson gave her knuckles one last kissed, a bit longer than the last time then goes back to driving. Their trip went on for like twenty minutes or so before the 
establishments that operate at night and the people that patronized the business came into view.

Daisy doesn't know what to do when they finally arrive at her boyfriend's house. What if they don't like her because she's not only a simple-minded girl with a messed up life, but also a defective one. A girl that you will not expect someone like Bryson would date.

Daisy feels nervous and edgy just by thinking about their opinion or reaction when they finally found out the reason why she hadn't used her voice for so long.

It was a secret she oath to hide for the rest of her life especially because someone like Bryson was already part of her never-ending tragic story.

She just wishes their story will different this time.

"Mom will certainly bombard you with questions. Just tell me if you feel uncomfortable 'kay? And don't oblige yourself for answering any of those," Bryson said cutting off her disoriented thought. She just filled her lungs with air and let it out in a soft sigh.

"Don't be nervous. I'll be by your side the entire time and don't mind my cash—, my brother if he jived humourless comments 'kay? If you already want to leave just sign me the word and I'll drive you home right away yeah?"

Daisy once again nodded her head and went on looking at the view outside through the window. After ten minutes again of driving, passing the busy street of town. The car turned at the right side of the highway and scuttled a rocky road before a huge beige-coloured house appeared in front of them.

The outside was highlighted with bright lightbulbs on the porch with benches and hammocks decorating it. Each side of the steps of the stairs has flowers in a pot. The stony pathway toward the front door was also surrounded by daffodils and purple crocus.

"I told you, mom really loves flowers. I bet she's praying every night to have you as her daughter 'cause she doesn't have anyone to accompany her with gardening since her two only child doesn't have a freaking idea about tending it," he chuckled with a profound look in his eyes that was looking directly on his house.

She once had that kind of expression, growing up surrounded by a massive garden that seems to stretch for miles in their backyard. Those flowers were the only thing that keeps her company.

Daisy closes her mouth to stop herself from gawking because of the grandiose adobe that had a pretty similarity with her home back in the UK.

She misses their home.

Bryson parked the car at the curb in front and stopped the engine before pulling out the key in the ignition.

"Are you ready?" She took another deep breath and closed her eyes to restraint herself from squirming on her seat. She felt his big callous hand squeezing her left cheeks then stretched it lightly.

"You're so fucking cute when you're fidgeting. Just be yourself baby. Mom will not gonna bite you. Well. . . except me," he chuckled at something he had said which she didn't get the meaning.

Daisy gave him a sideways glare for pinching her already reddened cheeks, it only makes Bryson laughed and kissed her heated face before opening the driver's door and walking over to her side. Her eyes just followed his every move.

He helped her step outside as she could hardly do it herself. Daisy pouted because of their huge height difference and for always looking up at Bryson. Unfair.

He is a giant like Goliath. Daisy snickered to herself. The guy padded toward her after getting the basket in the trunk and tilted her chin upward.

"Let's go?" He asked but just the way he was looking at her seems like he doesn't want to go and just keep her to himself. Weird.

Daisy shyly nodded her head and they both walked towards the house while holding each other's hand.

"Mom I'm home!" Bryson shouted once they set foot in the foyer. The background noise coming from the open television in their living room muffled his voice. Daisy smells mouth-watering home-cooked foods that made her stomach grumbled even though she ate a lot during their picnic.

"She's probably in the kitchen."

Bryson led her to the kitchen whilst all along she let her eyes meandered on the picture frame hanging on the light blue with flowers sequence wall. The inside was more warm and welcoming, it's reeked of the scent of chamomile combined with a minty and sour fragrance probably from a lemon balm.

Perfect for relaxation and calming the nerves down. Most of the furniture was old-fashioned with a touch of modernization. The interior was like a picture from a home magazine, classic but vintage looking.

"Hi, honey. You're back. How was your date?" A familiar soft and feminine voice resounded as Daisy became tense after hearing it.

Since Bryson was blocking her view, she couldn't tell if she had already been seen or what was Annie's reaction upon seeing her together with Bryson.

"Hi, mom. It's good, actually," Bryson stepped aside to give her the limelight, "I brought my girlfriend with me," he announced proudly.

She just only stared at the woman in front of her if not for the kitchen counter between them. Annie was holding a transparent bowl with lettuce and other vegetables inside.

"Oh! Hi Daisy. Welcome to our threshold," Annie beamed at her while putting the bowl down on the counter and treaded toward her to embrace her in a motherly hug which she just returned awkwardly. Her movement was stiffed and she was probably looked like plywood.

"You looked so beautiful dear and it's nice to see you again. I hope my son didn't give you a pain in the head and if I didn't pester him to invites you, he will probably just waiting until pig can fly to do it," Annie chaffed glaring at her son.

"Just be patient to him dear okay? He's a little bit slowpoke," she added in a hushed playful voice.

Daisy immediately loosened up after sensing and feeling the welcoming gestured of her sudden arrival. She shyly smiled at the lady before returning courtesy of her own. All her uncertainty before just melted like ice cream on a hot summer day.

"Such a polite girl," commented Annie.

"Of course not Mom. My girl wouldn't agree to go out with me if she's not happy right babe? And what do you mean I wouldn't ask her to come over. I already did. See," Bryson butted in, grumbling under his breathe beside her before Annie leave her alone to slapped the guy's arm.

"Oh hush! If I didn't give Daisy a subtle message of invitation, I bet she wouldn't come with you tonight."

"Mom. What does that even mean? I invited her myself and she willingly gave in. Stop gushing at her anyway, you'll make her uncomfortable."

"Keep your opinion to yourself hun. I'm just excited to finally have a bonding time with Daisy. Isn't she lovely?"

Bryson rolled his eyes in irritation but the smile on his face says otherwise.

Annie slapped his arm again before giving her a playful winked and went back to her task. Bryson narrowed his eyes at her whilst she just shrugged her shoulder.

Right, how could she forget that her boyfriend's mother had invited her for some tea making? It slipped in her mind because of her past stressful days. Daisy made a mental note to teach Annie in making a chamomile tea some other time.

"Come sit down dear. It's time for dinner. Bry, call your brother," Bryson's mom shooed her boyfriend outside of the kitchen and he lazily complies not before kissing her forehead and putting the basket down on the marbled counter.

"Mom, what's for dinner? Is it ready now? I'm starving. Ouch! What was that for?"

A slightly familiar voice like Bryson, but not enough deep and husky chimed in behind her since she was sitting on the dining chair, back facing the entryway of the kitchen. It was probably Bryson's brother.

She only met the youngest family member once when her boyfriend drove her home for the first time and that was inside Bryson's car and on top of that, it was dark so she can't really remember Elijah's face.

"Can you please be a little decent? You're such a prick," Bryson seethed to his brother then sat down on the chair next to her.

"I'm not a prick. I'm just hungry okay. What's wrong with— Oh wow. Is this your girl?" Daisy heard Elijah's voice asked beside her.

She looked up at the guy that was staring at her with a sly smirk. Bryson growled seeing how much his younger brother ogles her. Daisy's cheeks promptly heated at how he scrutinizingly stared at her.

The younger brother was surprisingly looked exactly like Bryson with his ocean blue eyes and brown hair just slightly longer than her man and he has a much younger and friendly looked compared to Bryson that was dark and dangerous. 

"Yes. So stop fu—, staring at her or I'll make you look away from her," Bryson put his big hand on the back of her neck to turned her head to his side, eyes were still throwing daggers at his younger brother whilst clenching his jaw.

"Chill bro. I'm not checking her out kay? I have my own. Just trying to appreciate the beauty in front of me. Ya know, like a tourist. Haven't heard of it? Nah? Okay."

Daisy can't help but giggle because of Elijah's goofiness and it was even entertaining that her boyfriend was now looking at her like he couldn't believe she was enjoying his brother's antics.

"Guys! Guys! Behave! We have a guest. I'm sorry dear for my two-birdbrain son. I don't know what I fed them when they were just a baby, probably spoilt milk or something," Annie butted in breaking the slight tension in the room.

"Mom, what the? Seriously? You breastfeed us. Remember?" Elijah said in utter shocked and horrified expression. He dragged the chair across from her and sat on it still leering at her once in a while.

"How sure are you that I breastfeed you? I just found you in a dumpster," Annie playfully commented. Laughing at her's son horrified look.

"Wh— Mom!"

"Elijah," Bryson said with an edge of a final warning in his voice.

Elijah muttered something under his breathe then went back again on staring at her like she was the most entertaining thing on the planet.

"I just can't believe that you are really going out with someone and chiefly someone like her. I mean dude did you hypnotized or threatened her?" Elijah said while giving her a looked that could rival a detective in an interrogation.

"Tell me now Daisy. I'll help you escape from this monster. Come on," Elijah whispered but still loud enough for Bryson to hear. He even softened his voice and cooed her like she was a three years old kid being lured by a kidnapper.

His face was even hilarious that added to his facade. Daisy hides her smile by biting her lower lip and looking at the table instead.

Bryson is not a monster just a huge man with a bundle of sweet and caring personality beneath his stoic facade.

"Elijah if you won't stop right now. You'll regret it later."

Elijah raised both of his hands in surrender and just busied himself by standing up and getting the juice in the fridge.

"Leave the couple alone Ej and get your butt in here and help me set up our dinner," Bryson's mom said ruffling Elijah's hair who only grumbled an annoyed sigh.

Daisy watched their little way of bonding, feeling lost and empty all of a sudden. She was happy to see that Bryson's family has a unique way of communicating with each other, very different from her own.

It makes her missed her family so much because it had been a long time since they had dinner together even though, her family also consists of four members, they were not as carefree and cheerful as the Kingston.

"I'm sorry baby for my half-wit brother. Did he make you uncomfortable?" Daisy looked up at Bryson and shook her head.

His expression while gazing down at her was so different unlike when he was having an internal and silent debate with his brother using his serious and dark eyes.

Every time his ocean blue eyes were directed at her. It was soft, gentle, and full of adoration. Something that no one had granted to her for a very long time.

It must be very nice being part of this family. Daisy thought to herself.

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