Chapter 22: The blissful afternoon

Daisy stepped out of the room, wrapped in the comfort of Ferdinand's oversized t-shirt, her hair still damp from the bath. In the living room, she heard a familiar melody drifting through the air, and her heart skipped a beat. The soft strumming of Coldplay's *Sky Full of Stars* played on the speakers, and as she walked closer to the dining area, she saw Ferdinand, standing by the dining table, mouthing the lyrics with a smile that was both warm and mischievous.

Ferdinand hadn't noticed her yet, lost in the song, his fingers tapping to the beat on the back of a chair. His voice was low, humming along with the music, and Daisy couldn't help but join in softly as she dried her hair with a towel. Her voice was barely audible, but enough to catch Ferdinand's attention. He glanced up and froze for a moment, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of her. 

Daisy wasn't wearing her usual glasses, and her face, framed by the damp locks of her hair, looked soft and natural. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, either from the warmth of the bath or the sight of Ferdinand standing there in front of her, looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

"Wow," Ferdinand whispered to himself, loud enough for Daisy to hear. His gaze lingered on her as if he were trying to memorize every detail.

Daisy, completely oblivious to the way she was affecting him, fumbled with the towel and continued humming, her eyes flickering between Ferdinand and the floor. "Are you singing *Sky Full of Stars*?" she asked, trying to ease the sudden tension she felt building in the room. Her voice was innocent, her tone almost shy.

Ferdinand smirked, stepping closer to her. "I was, but I think the stars just walked into my living room."

Daisy's eyes widened, her face instantly turning a deeper shade of red. She wasn't used to this—being flirted with so directly. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She awkwardly laughed, her eyes darting away from Ferdinand's intense gaze.

"You... you made lunch?" she asked, trying to change the subject as quickly as she could. She walked toward the dining table, where plates of pasta sat waiting for them.

Ferdinand followed her, still smiling that flirtatious smile that made Daisy's heart race. "I did. Specially made it just for you." His voice dropped lower as he leaned in closer, his lips dangerously close to her ear. "I thought you might need something delicious after that bath. Something to match how good you look right now."

Daisy felt her knees go weak. She was not equipped to handle this. How was she supposed to respond? She wasn't used to flirting—especially not with someone like Ferdinand, who seemed to be an expert at it. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the nervous laugh that threatened to escape her.

"You're... you're too much," she finally managed to say, her voice small, but her heart pounding loud in her chest. She glanced at the pasta, desperate for a distraction. "It smells amazing, by the way."

Ferdinand grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. He pulled out a chair for her with a dramatic flourish. "Please, have a seat, my lady. You'll be happy to know that this pasta was made with you in mind."

Daisy blushed even harder as she sat down, still trying to recover from the way he was looking at her. She wasn't used to being the center of someone's attention like this, especially not someone as charismatic and charming as Ferdinand.

Ferdinand took his seat across from her, watching as she carefully picked up her fork and took a bite of the pasta. The moment the flavors hit her taste buds, her eyes lit up. "Oh wow, this is really good!"

Ferdinand leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "I told you, I made it just for you."

Daisy looked down at her plate, trying to hide the smile that was creeping onto her face. "Well, thank you. I guess I'll forgive you for being so... flirty."

Ferdinand chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Oh, come on. I'm just telling the truth. Is it my fault you look so stunning?"

Daisy gave him a playful glare, but her cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. "You're impossible."

They both laughed, the tension in the air slowly melting away as they settled into their meal. Daisy took a few more bites of pasta, savoring the flavors, but she quickly realized that she was more interested in the conversation than the food.

"So," Ferdinand said, leaning forward slightly. "Tell me, what kind of music do you usually listen to? I know you liked Coldplay since you were humming along earlier."

Daisy's eyes brightened at the question. She loved talking about music. "Yeah, I've always liked Coldplay. Their songs have this... I don't know, this nostalgic, dreamy feeling to them."

Ferdinand nodded in agreement, taking a sip of his water. "Yeah, I get that. What else do you listen to?"

Daisy thought for a moment, twirling her fork in the pasta. "I listen to a bit of everything, really. I like indie, alternative rock, sometimes even classical music when I'm studying."

Ferdinand raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Classical, huh? I wouldn't have guessed that."

Daisy shrugged, smiling shyly. "Yeah, I don't know why, but classical music helps me focus. It's calming."

Ferdinand's smile softened. He leaned in, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at her. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Daisy blushed again, unsure of how to respond. She glanced away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I guess I am."

Ferdinand chuckled, clearly enjoying how easily flustered she became. "I like that about you."

The conversation flowed easily after that, the two of them talking about their favorite bands, their different tastes in music, and the kinds of concerts they'd been to. Daisy felt herself relaxing more and more as they talked, the earlier awkwardness fading away. She was still a little shy, but Ferdinand had a way of making her feel comfortable.

They played a few of their favorite songs, letting the music fill the room as they finished their meal. Occasionally, Ferdinand would get up and twirl Daisy around the living room, laughing as she stumbled over her feet, clearly not as skilled in dancing as he was. 

"Come on, just follow my lead," he teased, his hands resting gently on her waist as he guided her through a few more steps. Daisy giggled, feeling completely out of her element but enjoying every moment of it.

"I'm a terrible dancer," she admitted, laughing as she nearly tripped over her own feet again.

Ferdinand grinned, pulling her a little closer. "You're doing just fine. Besides, it's not about being perfect—it's about having fun."

Daisy smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. She felt a warmth spreading through her, not just from the food or the wine they'd shared, but from the connection she was building with Ferdinand. He was easy to be around, even when he was teasing her, and she found herself liking him more with each passing moment.

Eventually, they both collapsed back into their chairs, laughing breathlessly. The music continued to play softly in the background as they sat there, catching their breath.

"You're a lot of fun, you know that?" Ferdinand said, his voice soft, but his eyes shining with sincerity.

Daisy smiled, her cheeks still flushed from all the dancing. "I think that's the first time anyone's ever said that to me."

Ferdinand looked at her, surprised. "Really? Well, then people have been missing out."

Daisy blushed again, feeling that familiar flutter in her chest. She wasn't used to being complimented like this—especially not by someone like Ferdinand. But as she looked across the table at him, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she was starting to believe him.