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        Ｔｈｅ following day, Daisy woke up feeling like she was hit by a ten-wheeler truck. Her mind was unorganized and her body was aching for lack of sleep.

The first thing that she remembered was the occurrence that happened yesterday.

What a nice thought to start up my day.

Daisy sarcastically embarked to herself. Luckily, Bryson didn't ask another question when he dropped her off and didn't get the chance to stay any longer for he needs to meet up with his school's friend.

Shaking her head and praying it wouldn't happen again, she proceeded of doing her daily routine. Daisy made sure to check if everything that needed to be locked was secured before grabbing a protein bar. She doesn't have the time for breakfast as she already woke up late.

While locking the doorknob of her front door, she stepped something that made a crunchy sound. Looking down on her foot, a withered flower was lying on the doormat. She picked it up and inspect it, it was magenta.

Daisy looked at her right and left to somehow catch someone that could be potentially the one that put the withered flower but nobody was in sight. Strange.

Why did someone put this in here?

It wasn't here yesterday when they came home from grocery shopping and if someone intentionally put it there, why a withered one? Daisy just shrugged it off and throw it away. Thinking that it may be blown by the wind and landed on her doorstep.

"Hey, Babe! Good morning!" Megan's gleeful smile welcomed Daisy with a buoyant atmosphere surrounding the shop. She returned it with her a wave of her hands before she padded toward the storage room to get her apron.

"So? How was the lesson?" Her friend was sitting on the barstool, her right elbow was resting on the counter and her face was leaning on her palm, looking at her with a smirk on her nude painted lips.

"Just fine. He was patient even though he keeps on complaining about how hard it was. He still needs some beating to memorize everything but, he's quick-witted so it was all good," she answered.

"Hmm. One look at that guy and you can immediately tell he has a short temper. But, I guess when it comes to you, everything impossible is possible," Megan nodded to herself while flashing her a canny looked. Daisy temporarily forgets about the things she shouldn't dwell in her mind anymore.

Thanks to her concealer and a little bit of knowledge about makeup, she was able to cover up the bags on her eyes due to waking up three times in the middle of the night.

It had been a long time since she experienced having a nightmare, not until last night and that would be the last time as long as she won't forge her mind into it.

"So did something happened asides from teaching? Like did he stayed at your place the entire day or did the two of you go out on a date after that? Tell me," Daisy wandered off to the supposed to be their plan of watching some movies after eating the lunch Bryson's cooked.

It still made her feel bad for postponing it.

How could she make it up on him anyway? Was he disappointed?

"We just went on grocery shopping after we ate our lunch," Megan's smirk intensified and looked up like she remembered something funny.

"Ohh. Bryson really moves smoothly but faster," Megan paused then muttered to herself  "Wait. That came out wrong," before she continued, "What I mean is playing house and such that. I've never thought he would take my words seriously," Daisy's brows meet in the middle because of her friend's words.

Playhouse? Like a barbie doll? But, they didn't play dollhouse and of course, they were too old for that so, why was her friend insinuating something ridiculous?

Megan waved her hands off in a lazy manner when she saw her perplexed expression while laughing softly before saying, "Never mind Bae. You're too naive to understand it. Anyway did you cook for him?" She wanted to object to her friend calling her naive because she wasn't. Or so she thought to herself.

She might be simple-minded, but still aware of the vulgar part of this world. Daisy just decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

"No. He cooked Chicken Alfredo and I was impressed it was good."

"Really? Very unexpected. He's earnestly taking his daddy's role huh. I wish I have a guy like that but of course, guys nowadays only fucks no commitment. I don't mean all okay? And Bryson is not one of those arseholes."

Daisy cringed at the obscenity but didn't say anything as their first customer's arrived. Megan was mostly the one doing the talking while she just assisted on the sideline, especially if the customer were crowding inside the shop.

They didn't usually have many customers. There was only a particular month wherein they need to overtime just to meet their deadline generally if the order was by batches of arrangement they were making.

Daisy's phone dinged in his jeans pocket and she digs it out to see who texted. Her mom's message popped up on the screen just a few seconds ago and Bryson's text that she probably didn't notice because her mind was in another dimension.

－Ｍｏｍ♡
Good morning sweetheart. I hope you have a nice day. Call me when you get home after your work. We need to discuss something. I love you, sweetheart. Take care.
－

Her phone suddenly feels like it weighs ten times and her breathing became laboured after reading her mom's text. She could almost foretell the topic that they were going to converse.

Is it about the condition of her dad? The issue their family is dealing with right now? Just based on her mom's message, it sounds like a serious matter.

Daisy tried so hard to think rationally. It was not the time to add one more thing to be worried about. She just only needs to endure whatever suspense she was feeling. Taking a deep breath, she let herself relaxed by reading Bryson's text message.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Ey Shorty. Good morning! Like always I miss you. Sorry, can't hang out and picked you up today. Gonna deal with some school stuff, my groupmate won't cut me some slack :(. Just gonna drop by tomorrow kay? Don't miss me that much and eat your lunch ;).
－

Daisy's aura dampened even more like she had bathed under the cold water without drying herself off after. If only she can tell Bryson to do whatever he was supposed to do at another time and just join her for lunch, but that would be selfish of her and the guy has a life to live for.

But, she really wants to see Bryson as he is the only person that can uplift her mood.

It's okay :). Good luck with your group activities.

－Ｂｒｙｓｏｎ★
Nah. I'm sure it'll be boring, it's more fun being with you. Btw, ask Megan to drop you off kay? Wouldn't want to worry bout your safety.
－

Megan stopped her texting by tapping the screen of her phone and nod her head in front. Daisy put the device back in her pocket to face the customer who was standing at the other side of the counter. A woman in her late 30's with brown shoulder-length hair and very familiar ocean blue eyes who were smiling fondly at them.

Daisy instantly recognized it as Bryson's mother since their eyes were so identical and a face like a carbon copy, except, Mrs. Kingston has feminine and soft features compared to the rugged and dangerous look of her son.

Daisy felt the heat in her body leaving up to gather all around her cheeks because the mother of the guy she had just been texting caught her slacking at work.

So embarrassing.

"Good morning Mrs. Kingston. It's nice to see you again," Megan enthusiastically greet.

"Good morning dear. It's been a while since I came here. Business is booming yeah?" Mrs. Kingston replied with a teasing tone.

"Fortunately yes. Is it the usual Mrs. Kingston?"

Daisy already meets Mrs. Annie Kingston 'cause she visits their shop twice or thrice a week to buy some flower's seed. She was a very lovely lady with an always gentle smile on her still young-looking face.

She doesn't have any problem interacting with the lady before, truthfully she admired Mrs. Kingston's friendliness toward her despite her condition. She very understanding and made small talk with her even though she just more on nodded her head in answer.

But now, Daisy couldn't help but feel shy knowing Annie is Bryson's mother and she feels like having a secret affair with her son.

"Yes, dear. I also want to buy chamomile. I want to put it in my room, I read somewhere that chamomile symbolizes relaxation. I just want to know if it works."

Bryson's mother laughed heartily followed by her friend's humorous one, but Daisy only remained quiet.

"That's very true Mrs. Kingston. You can also make some tea with it."

"Really dear? Oh, I haven't tried a chamomile tea before. I'll search how to make it later time."

Megan's hand tapped her shoulder and squeezed it to get her attention since she was looking at her shoes the entire time, unable to find the will to looked into a pair of ocean blue eyes.

"Well, My friend here Daisy, knew how to make delicious tea Mrs. Kingston."

Daisy's eyes went wide open because of her friend's remarked and she felt small all of a sudden. She doesn't want to be put in the spotlight especially in front of Bryson's mother. Of course, she loves making and having a tea ceremony all by herself. It was one of the therapeutic activities that helped her mind at ease.

"Oh, that's lovely. Maybe you can teach me sometimes dear. You can come to our house if you have free time. My son, Bryson is pretty fond of you, " commented, Annie. Smiling at her softly and sweetly.

The smile reminds her so much of her mom. She misses her terribly.

"Yes, that is correct. Bryson always visits here. They're quite close friends by now," Megan knowingly said before excusing herself to get the chamomile at the right side of the shop where it is currently being displayed.

Daisy finally looked up with an amplified embarrassment showing on her face. She couldn't believe Megan said those words, it's not like she doesn't want Bryson to introduce her as a friend to his family, that would be great or doesn't want to know his mother that they were always hanging out with each other for the last 2 weeks. It just Daisy doesn't know if it's okay for Mrs. Kingston.

"That was must be the reason why my son is always in a good mood lately," Mrs. Kingston softly said, eyes staring at her and a smile showing the wrinkles in her face. 

"I'll tell Bryson to invite you to come over to our place dear. I hope you don't mind, he also mentioned to me that you'd like to help with my gardening. I'm looking forward to it, I just got a bit busy with work that it slipped in my mind."

Megan stood beside her again, putting the pot on the counter and nudged her shoulder when she didn't respond right away. Her friend had done all the work whilst she just stood there looking like a display.

What does Mrs. Kingston will say now? She was not only incapable of talking but also working? Why did she have to think negatively every time and judge everyone she met?

That was not how her mother's raised her. She felt disappointed in herself. 

Daisy was torn between accepting Mrs. Kingston's offer or politely reject it. Well, she chose the leadoff as she doesn't want to appear rude and ungrateful.

Daisy never really refused someone, a nature that she hated in herself sometimes. It took a minute or two to fully collect her jumbled thought before she signed her answer wherein her friend translated for Mrs. Kingston to understand.

"Daisy said, she'd like to help you in any way she can in your gardening and thank you for inviting her."

"No problem dear. I hope to see you again soon," Daisy just returned the lady's smile with her timid one.

"Here you go, Mrs. Kingston. I already put the pack of chrysanthemums like the usual. That'll be $25, Ma'am, " Mrs. Kingston handed the payment over and get the paper bag with her order inside.

"I have to go now dears. Thank you for your service, I'll be back again some other time. Good luck with the business."

"You're welcome and thank you, Mrs. Kingston. It's our pleasure serving you. Come again."

"I will dear."

Annie's eyes lingered at her for about five seconds more before she walked out of the shop. Daisy followed the retreating back of the lady until she disappeared at the corner where her car had been parked.

"Wow meeting up the in-law right away huh, at least you already know that you're on the good side of his mother because clearly, she already liked you. Your relationship is levelling up. I can almost hear the jingle of the church's bells. Don't forget to invite me to your wedding, kay?"

Daisy just shook her head because of her friend's excited and playful chatter, but she didn't say anything. She was still hung up on the idea that Mrs. Kingston invited her to their house, on top of that, she will gonna help the lady in her gardening and making some tea.

How will Bryson react if he finds out? Is he going to be happy or not?

Daisy put both of her hands on her cheeks to cooled down the blushed that was still imminent. She was so excited but also jittery.

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