He turned to his uncle.
"Can we go home now?"
Mangal studied him with mild curiosity.
"Shy, young man?
Don't you want to attend the party tonight?"
Halish curved his lips into a small, carefully masking his disappointment.
"I do. I'm just tired and sleepy. Maybe I ate too much today."
Concern flickered across Mangal's face.
"Alright then. I'll go call your aunty."
Halish nodded, watching as Mangal disappeared into the house. His thoughts drifted back to earlier – to Daisy. He was still drawn to her, still curious, yet the feeling left him unsettled. He didn't understand why his chest felt heavy or why emotions he'd never known before were stirring now.
A few moments later, Leisilembi came out with Mangal.
"Halish, let's stop by the hospital before going home."
She said worriedly as she walked toward him.
"You said you're tired and sleepy. We should get you checked."
Halish smiled faintly.
"It's okay, aunty. Sleeping might help."
Mangal and Leisilembi exchanged uneasy glances, but neither of them pressed further. Mangal gave a short nod.
"Alright then. Let's go home."
They bid farewell to Indra and other before walking to their car and climbed inside. Mangal started the engine and soon the vehicle disappeared down the road.
An hour later, they arrived at home. Leisilembi stepped out first to open the gate, while Mangal parked the car in the garage. As soon as they entered the house, Halish headed straight to his room without a word.
Mangal and Leisilembi went to their own bedroom.
"Halish was acting strange today, wasn't he, darling?"
Leisilembi said anxiously as she stood before her husband, gently removing his blazer and resting it over her arm.
"Mhm. I noticed that too, dear."
Mangal replied with a soft chuckle.
"He was usually quite. Almost like a different person."
Leisilembi loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"I was really worried something might have happened to him."
Mangal chuckled again, amused by her clueless.
"I think I know the reason."
She paused, neatly folding his clothes before placing them on the bed. Then she looked up at him, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"And what reason is that?"
Mangal stepped behind her, his expression turning playful as he reached up to gently undo her gold necklace.
"It's because his springtime has begun. You're so clueless, dear."
He whispered the words near her ear and placed the necklace on her palm.
Leisilembi laughed softly.
"So the young man has fallen in love."
Inside the room, Halish lay sprawled across his bed, staring up at the ceiling as memories of the day replayed relentlessly in his mind.
Everytime he closed his eyes, Daisy's soft smile surfaced before him – clear, gentle and entirely unwanted. He turned to his side then onto his back, hugging a pillow tightly as if it could offer some form of comfort.
But his thoughts only grew more tangled.
'Does she have a boyfriend? A lover?'
The questions gnawed at him, stirring irritation and doubt. He scolded himself silently. He had no right to feel this way – not for someone he had just met. He had always been surrounded by women, could have anyone he wanted.
Feeling like this was foreign... and unacceptable.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
By the time the clock crept past 9:00 pm. Halish and Leisilembi were done preparing dinner. They exchanged worried glances before Mangal finally sighed and made his way up the hallway.
Stopping outside Halish's room, Mangal raised his hand and knocked gently.
"Young man, dinner is ready."
A groggy voice replied from inside, low and distant.
"Uncle.. I don't think I can eat more today.. Please have dinner without me."
Mangal exhaled softly, concern weighing on his chest, but didn't insist. He turned and walked away.
Back in the room, Halish remained wide awake.
Sleep refused to come. Daisy's presence lingered stubbornly in his thoughts, making him restless, irritated – uncomfortable in his own skin. The feeling clawed at him until he clenched his jaw.
'I have to see her.'
The realization struck him with unsettling clarity. If he didn't meet her soon – didn't hear her voice, didn't confirm the truth – he felt like he might lose his sanity.
He let out a frustrated sigh and abruptly sat up, grabbing his phone from the bedside table. The dim light burned his tired eyes.
"Shit... It's 3:20am.."
The mutter came out sharp with irritation. He paced back and forth across his room, running a hand through his hair again and again before stopping.
Enough.
He dressed quickly- pulling on a black turtleneck sweater, a dark wool coat, fitted jeans and sturdy winter boots. A scarf was loosely wrapped around his neck, though he doubted it would help with the storm raging inside him.
Moving silently, Halish slipped into his uncle's room. His heart pounded as he located the car key and pocketed it, then crept out of the house.
Minutes later, he was behind the wheel.
He drove faster than he should, the empty roads blurring past as desperation fueled his speed. In just twenty minutes, he reached Daisy's address. Parking a short distance away, he stepped out and approached her house cautiously.
Only then did reality hit him.
There was no easy way in. No open gate. No shadowed corner. And three dogs barked loudly from the yard, alert and unforgiving.
Still, he didn't turn back.
He needed to see her. Needed to hold her – if only for a moment.
After some effort, he managed to climb up to the first floor. Soon he stood on the eastern balcony, directly in front of her window. The cold air bit into his skin as he paused, steadying his breath.
Slowly, carefully, he raised his hand and tapped on the glass window – soft enough that no one else would hear.
No response.
Of course. Who would open their window at this hour? He almost laughed at himself. A fool – that's what he was.
He lifted his hand to knock again when –
"Oii.. who is it?"
Her voice. Soft. Whispered.
His heart slammed violently against his chest, relief and happiness flooding him all at once.
"Che Daisy.. it's me. Halish."
He whispered back.
There was a brief pause.
"And what are you doing here?"
"I can explain."
He pleaded quietly.
"Just.. please let me inside."
Another moment of silence -then-
"Okay. I'll open my brother's door. It connects to the balcony you're standing on."
His eyes lit up instantly.
He hurried toward the adjacent door just as it is. Daisy pulled it wider, her eyes sleepy but alert.
"Oi, come inside quickly – before someone notices."
He didn't waste a second. Slipping inside, he locked the door behind him.
They walked quietly until they reached her room.
Daisy went to her bed and sat down, blinking up at him groggily, curiosity etched into her face.
Halish stood in front of her, staring down with an unreadable expression. She was dressed in that homeless – looking outfit again. Her hair loose and falling naturally around her shoulders. Despite the winter chill, she looked perfectly fine.
Too fine.
The sight made something in his chest ache violently. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and never let go.
"Hey."
She said sleepily, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"You still didn't tell me why you are here."
"I was at a party at your place."
He replied smoothly.
"I felt really cold... so I came to you for help."
A lie- clean and practiced.
She raised a hand and scratched her head lightly like she was unsure what to do.
"Then why sneak in instead of asking mom or uncles downstairs for help?"
Halish exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves.
"Because I don't trust them."
He said bluntly.
"They all look angelic but they're actually rude."
He paused, he crossed his arms over his chest, huffing softly.
"I observe them when you're out for date. But I still trust you."
Daisy stayed silent, unable to argue. He wasn't wrong.
"Okay, okay. But I didn't go out on a date, brat."
She said finally before rolling her eyes and continued to spoke.
"You said you're cold. I'll give you a blanket – then you leave quickly."
"What? You don't go on a date?"
His eyebrows shot up in surprise and shock before panic surged through him.
"N-No."
He stammered.
"Please.. my uncle and aunty might scold me if they find out I snuck out. Let me stay-"
"Nah."
Her firm response made his heart sink.
He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a shaky sigh.
"Okay.. then. I'll leave. Just– please let me borrow your blanket."
She nodded and picked up a blanket from the bed and handed it to him.
Halish slowly reached out, his hand trembling as he took it. The thought of wrapping the blanket she used around him made his heart race uncontrollably.
"Thank... you.. che Daisy."
He mumbled, quickly wrapped the blanket around himself.
"Well..."
She said softly, standing up closely to him now, worry furrowing her eyebrows as she looked up at him.
"You can stay here."
Halish frozen at her words.
"Why?"
Halish blinked for a few times, then looked down at her – confused, yet unmistakably excited.
"You just told me to leave.. and now you're saying I can stay...?"
Daisy nodded and sat down on the bed again, turning her face away as she searched for the right words.
"Well... you know how wild teenagers can be- especially during farewell parties and New year. I was just..."
She hesitated.
"I was just worried something might happen to you."
For a brief moment, Halish's expression softened. Something warm flickered across in his eyes.
Then, just as quickly, a smirk replaced it.
"Then I'll sleep with you."
He said lightly as he walked over and plopped down beside her without hesitation.
Daisy shot him an unimpressed look.
"Nah. You're sleeping on my younger brother's bed. He already went to boarding school earlier. So go there."
Halish pouted at her stern tone. Without another word, he suddenly flopped backward onto the bed, dragging the blankets over his head like a sulking child.
"I can't sleep alone."
He mumbled from beneath the covers.
"At home, I sleep with my uncle."
Daisy just continued to sat on the bed, staring at the lump under her blankets, completely unsure of what to do. Kicking him out didn't feel right – and she didn't have the heart to shove him off the bed and chase him away.
The room felt quiet, filled only with the faint sound of his breathing and the pounding of her own conflicted thoughts.