When they heard the news, Daisy looked curious but remained silent. Halish however, spoke up with a small, playful grin.
"Tomorrow? So che Daisy come yesterday, and tomorrow is your son – bro Nganba – is coming? That's going to be fun to spend time with. By the way, uncle will go to pick him up?"
"Yeah."
Leisilembi replied as she walked toward the rice container and opened it to prepare for washing the rice.
Halish's grin widened at her answer. He leaned forward eagerly.
"Can I go too? To pick him up?"
Leisilembi chuckled softly as she started rinsing the rice.
"Of course you can."
Halish beamed with excitement at the thought of finally going out. He had been staying at home all the time, doing nothing but studying.
Daisy, on the other hand, seemed unbothered. Her brief curiosity faded as she quietly continued eating her breakfast.
The next day, around 6:00 pm.
Daisy was in her room, fast asleep. She was still wearing that simple oversized black hoodie and grey sweatpants, her hair loose and falling freely around her face.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and reached out for her phone beside her pillow. She glanced at the screen.
"Ah.. I've been napping for four hours."
She groaned softly, dropping the phone back onto the bed as she slowly sat up, rubbing her forehead with both hands.
"My head hurts so much from napping too long..."
She mumbled half-asleep as she stood up and walked out of the room, heading downstairs.
As she stepped down the stairs, dizziness hit her suddenly. Her foot slipped, her balance faltered – and she was about to fall when an arm wrapped firmly around her waist and pulled her into someone's chest.
Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the sudden warmth and steadiness holding her upright.
She quickly looked up to see who caught her.
It was a tall young man – even taller than Halish. Halish was tall at 190cm, but this boy was around, 195cm, towering over her small 157cm frame.
He was still holding, looking down at her with a calm, unreadable expression.
"A- haha... I didn't mean to fall."
She said with an awkward smile, slowly trying to step away from his arms.
Instead, his grip tightened slightly. Daisy's eyes widened in confusion and surprise when he didn't immediately let her go.
"You, kid. Watch where you're going."
He said flatly, his tone flat and emotionless. Then he finally released her and continued walking downstairs without looking back.
Left standing there, Daisy narrowed her eyes at his retreating back, clearly irritated.
'What's wrong with this brat?
He catches me all dramatically, grabs my waist and pulls me close – then refuses to let go – and now he suddenly acts cold, tells me to watch my step, and walk away?
Does he think he's in some Chinese romantic drama and think he's so handsome? Ugh! He's going to be more annoying and cringier than that Halish brat. Who is this guy anyway?'
Daisy grimaced, letting out a small annoyed sigh before heading toward the bathroom to wash her face.
A few moments later, Daisy walked out of the bathroom and was about to pass through the living room.
"Che Daisy! Wait!"
She paused and turned around. Halish was sitting on the couch with someone new – the same tall boy who had caught her earlier.
Once again, he was staring at her with that blank, unreachable expression.
Daisy felt slightly uncomfortable under his gaze but said nothing, instead, she looked at Halish in silent question.
"Che Daisy – no, actually... I'll call you sleepy head from now on."
Daisy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, replying calmly.
"Just tell me what you want instead of teasing me. It won't work on me anyway."
Halish chuckled softly, amused by her response. Then he glanced at the new guest and back at her.
"Since you were sleeping, you didn't know that uncle's son arrived."
He nodded toward the boy on the couch.
"This is Nganba."
"Ohhh..."
Halish raised an eyebrow at her calm reaction.
"Ohhh? That's all you have to say?"
"Yeah."
He laughed at her short reply.
"Alright, alright. Why don't you sit with us and talk for a bit?"
"I'm going to the kitchen."
She replied simply, already turning around and heading toward the kitchen to help Leisilembi.
Halish returned to the couch and sat down beside Nganba.
"That's girl was Daisy. She's three years older than me – and two older than you."
Nganba lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
"... That's not what I explained. I thought she was just a kid."
Halish laughed quietly at his reaction.
"Same here, bro."
Nganba fell silent, looking thoughtful.
Halo noticed and thought to himself.
'There's no way bro Nganba is interested in her.. and even if he is. What can I do?
Che Daisy wouldn't be interested in him anyway. That's a relief.'
A small smile tugged at his lips as the two of them sat in silence.
In the kitchen, dinner was ready. Leisilembi turned to Daisy and spoke gently.
"Sweetheart, can you call the boys for dinner?"
Daisy clearly didn't feel like dealing with the duo, but she nodded and walked back into the living room.
"Dinner is ready. Come eat."
She said casually. Both boys looked up. Halish immediately stood up with a wide grin.
"Did you cook, che Daisy? If you did, I'll eat everything."
Nganba shot him a sharp glare at the shameless flirting, but Halish ignored it completely.
"Come on, bro. Let's go eat."
Halish said cheerfully as he followed behind Daisy. Nganba stood up more slowly and walked after them.
When they reached the kitchen, Leisilembi had already finished preparing the food.
"Come, come. Sit down and eat."
She said gently. They did as told – Halish sat right beside Daisy, while Nganba took the seat across from them.
"Mom, let's eat together."
Nganba said softly to his mother. Leisilembi smiled but remained standing near the table.
"I'll eat later, I'll stay and see if you need anything."
Halish looked up at her and spoke warmly.
"No, aunty. Please eat with us. You can do the rest when uncle comes."
Leisilembi chuckled at his words.
"Alright, alright. I'll eat with you youngsters."
She served herself a plate of rice and chicken curry and sat down beside her son. Nganba gently poured curry over her rice before serving himself.
Soon, everyone began eating quietly.
Meanwhile, Halish leaned slightly toward Daisy and whispered.
"So... Sleepy head, did you enjoy your four–hour beauty nap?"
Daisy shot him a glare. She stepped on his foot and leaned closer, whispering with a sharp sarcasm.
"Yeah, your majesty. And why on earth are you eating rice and curry with a spoon? Isn't that uncomfortable?"
Halish yelped softly in pain and slapped her thigh in warning, muttering under his breath.
"Hey, you monster. That hurts."
She froze at his touch and shot him a deadly glare. Halish immediately furrowed his brows and pouted, looking almost offensive.
Without another word, Daisy stomped on his foot again – harder this time – before calmly pulling her foot back.
Halish let out a loud, muffled scream, instantly throwing his hand over his mouth when Nganba shot him a sharp look.
Leisilembi, however, only chuckled in amusement as she glanced between them. Her voice was gentle, teasing.
"What are you two up to?"
Daisy simply lowered her gaze and continued eating as if nothing has happened. Halish, on the other hand, had cheeks burning red – half from pain, half from embarassed.
"N-Nothing, a-aunty."
He stammered. Slowly, he set the spoon aside and washed his right hand before returning to his plate.
Leisilembi smirked, clearly enjoying this.
"Oh? Why you suddenly wash your hand, young man?"
His face flushed even deeper. Trying to hide his embarassed. He put on a careless expression and let out a light scoff as he mixed the rice with curry, using his fingers.
"Because I was the only one eating with a spoon."
He said casually.
"It felt... out of place."
It was an obvious lie – and Leisilembi know it – but she decided to it was a good change for him anyway.
"Good."
Leisilembi said warmly.
"Our young man is being a good boy today."
Halish grinned like an idiot at the praise. Daisy bit her lip, struggling not to laugh at his stupid grin, while Nganba could only think about how painfully cringe the whole scene was.
As they ate in silence, Halish kept shooting sharp little glare at Daisy. Daisy, of course, ate as if nothing in the world concerned her. Nganba quietly watched the two of them from time to time, while Leisilembi merely shook her head with a soft chuckle, thoroughly entertained.
Days passed.
A whole week had gone by since Daisy started staying with them.
She was still awkward around Leisilembi and Mangal, even though they were nothing but kind to her. Maybe it was the age gap, or maybe she was simply didn't know how to act around adults who are genuinely warm. Around Nganba, she felt even more uncomfortable – not because he was rude, but because he was silent, observant, and always seems to be watching her with unreadable eyes.
But around Halish?
She was completely at ease.
Somehow, their energies matched – both sharp-tongued , playful, stubborn, and secrets soft underneath. Halish, especially, had changed in ways that surprised everyone. The so – called 'bad boy' now studied seriously, helped around the house without being asked, and still followed Daisy around like an overly loyal puppy.
Chasing her included.
Today – 10:,09 am.
Mangal and Leisilembi were in the living room and seated on the couch, talking quietly. Leisilembi was wearing babypink without mapan phanek with an babypink innaphi. She wore half-sleeve black top, tying her hair up into a bun.
Mangal was wearing grey sweater and black trousers. He crossed his left leg over the other.
"Our son, young man and sweetheart have been staying here for quite a while now."
He said thoughtfully.
"I was thinking we could take them shopping – let them pick what they like."
Leisilembi smiled, clearly pleased.
"I was thinking the same, darling. Today feels like a good day for it."
Mangal nodded and raised his voice.
"Nganba, young man, sweetheart – please come downstairs."
Nganba had been in his room, sketching quietly in his notebook. When he heard his father voice calling them, he gently close the book and headed out.
Halish, however, was in Daisy's room – and deeply regretting all of his life choice.
He stood there in a dark half-sleeve top and black mapan hakpi yellow phanek wrap. She also given him light makeup as part of his 'punishment' for trying to boss her around earlier.
He looked dramatic.
Daisy held a makeup brush on her left hand, carefully adding the final touch.
"Hold still."
She said seriously.
"You're ruining my masterpiece."
Just then they heard Mangal's voice from downstairs. Both of them froze. Daisy immediately shut the make-up box, placed it away, and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.
"Wait for me, you monster."
Halish whispered urgently as he followed her. His ears were burning red from embarassment, but since everyone was being called at once, it had to be important. So he walked after her anyway – shoulder stiff, pride wounded, dignity completely absent.
Nganba met them hallway down the stairs and raised an eyebrow.
Daisy looked innocent.
Halish looked like a tragic homo walking toward his doom.