For a brief second, the world seemed to pause as their eyes met.
Daisy held his gaze, then quickly lowered her own.
Halish looked away as well, heat rushing to his cheeks. Mangal continued speaking, clearly enjoying the moment.
"She said she didn't want to come here at first. But her dad and mother thought it would be good for her to go out more – she's always alone in her room, phone by her side."
Daisy's cheeks flushed in embarrassment at Mangal's words. Leisilembi let out a soft, amused chuckled.
"And that's good, darling. You brought her out."
Halish slowly stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke, his voice slightly unsteady.
"So... where will she sleep? I-I mean, my room is big enough –"
Mangal shot him a playful look.
"Young man, you are not a girl."
Halish's face turned even more reddened. He huffed and crossed his arms.
"I know that, uncle. I just.. if you don't have a spare room –"
Leisilembi smiled gently and interrupted him.
"Since she said she prefers to sleep alone, she'll be staying in the guest room."
Halish looked disappointed but stayed calm.
Mangal stepped forward and stopped in front of Daisy, his voice warm and gentle.
"So, sweetheart, what is your favourite curry? Chicken? Fish? We will cook whatever you like to celebrate your arrival."
"It's alright, uncle."
Daisy replied softly.
"You can cook whatever you wish."
Leisilembi shook her head, still holding her hands gently and fondly.
"No, sweetheart. Don't be shy. Tell us – what's your favourite?"
Daisy smiled shyly and fell silent, thinking for a moment. Before she could answer, Halish suddenly spoke up.
"Chicken."
Leisilembi and Mangal both turned and shot him a playful glare.
"We are not asking you, young man."
Leisilembi said it with a gentle smile. Halish rolled his eyes lightly.
Daisy finally spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Chicken is fine."
Their faces immediately lit up at her response. Mangal turned to Halish, smiling.
"Come on then, young man. Let's go buy chicken. Meitei chicken."
Halish nodded eagerly and quickly headed out of the room, Mangal following behind him.
Soon, only Leisilembi and Daisy remained in the living room.
Leisilembi turned to Daisy, gently releasing her hands.
"Come, sweetheart. Let's unpack your things. I'll show you your room."
Daisy nodded and lifted her simple black tote bag onto her shoulder.
Leisilembi led her upstairs to the second floor. When they reached the hallway, she stopped and spoke softly.
"This will be your room. Make yourself at home – feel free. I'll go downstairs to prepare the rice."
Daisy nodded once more and stepped inside. The room was right next to Halish and painted in the same calm colours.
She placed her bag on the bed, took off her clothes and folded them neatly before unzipping the bag and putting them away. She pulled out a pair of grey sweatpants and a black oversized plain hoodie and changed into them. There wasn't much to unpack – just small bag, two hoodies and two pairs of sweatpants.
Afterward, she left the room and went downstairs, heading into the kitchen.
Leisilembi was washing the rice in a large bowl. She paused when she noticed her and smiled.
"Ah – sit there, sweetheart."
She pointed to a chair by the dining table. Daisy followed obediently and sat down, smiling shyly.
"Aunty.. is there anything I can help you with?"
Leisilembi's smile widened at the way Daisy addressed her. She gently shook her head.
"No, no. You don't need to do anything. Aunty will take care of everything."
Daisy nodded quietly. She sat there in silence, feeling awkward – this wasn't her home, and even though everyone here was kind and gentle, the unfamiliar warmth made her feel uneasy, like she didn't quite belong here.
Soon, Mangal and Halish returned and entered the kitchen. Mangal placed the polythene bag of raw Meitei chicken on the dining table.
"We are back. Let's cook quickly."
He said gently.
"The youngsters must be hungry. It's getting late."
With that, he moved toward Leisilembi to help her. Halish hesitated for a moment before pulling out the chair beside Daisy and sitting down.
The instant he did, his heart skipped. He couldn't stop himself from stealing a glances at her.
Daisy remained still, resting her cheek against her palm, pretending not to notice anything. Inside her mind, however, her thoughts were far less calm.
'What is wrong with this brat?
Why does he keep looking at me like that?
It's so uncomfortable.
If he were one of my cousins, I'd have smacked some sense into him.
Does he think he is so attractive and handsome that I will fall into his feet like the others?
Honestly.. he looks like a playful. How creepy..'
Meanwhile, Halish's thoughts were drifting in the opposite direction entirely.
'We are sitting so close again.
I wonder what she is thinking about now.
If feels like the world shrinks when she is near – as if it's just the two of us.
I hope she stay here..
No –
I wish I could hold her and never let go.'
After a brief silence, Daisy finally spoke, her tone calm and casual.
"So.. why are you here?"
Halish snapped out of his thoughts the moment he heard her voice. He paused, then lifted his right hand and ran it through his hair, letting out a soft, sheepish chuckle.
"It's my punishment."
He said lightly.
"Something my parents decided."
"Punishment?"
Daisy tilted her head to the right sight a bit, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Why?"
Halish shrugged, a hint of self – mockery in his voice.
"Because I'm a bad boy – short tempered, unforgiving, always causing trouble, you know."
As he spoke, his voice gradually softened. A small, almost unfamiliar smile curved his lips as he lowered his hand and rested it on his lap.
"But... I don't know why.."
He admitted quietly.
"Something change when I – when I got here."
He glanced at her and caught her rolling her eyes. Poutunat her reaction, he felt his cheeks warm with embarassment.
"Hey, don't roll your eyes."
Daisy remained calm and silent. From a short distance away, Mangal and Leisilembi exchanged amused smiles, watching how naturally the two were already bickering.
"Oi, don't ignore me."
He frowned, eyebrows knitting together as he looked at her. Daisy felt a small spark of irritation at his words and childish tone.
"Brat. Go study."
At her firm tone, Halish turned away without a word. He plopped down where he was, sulking quietly.
Time slipped by, and soon it was bedtime.
Inside her room, Daisy sat on a chair while Leisilembi gently prepared the bed.
"Sweetheart, don't hesitated to call us if you need anything."
Leisilembi said softly as she finished arranging the blankets. She turned to Daisy with a warm smile.
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
Daisy nodded in response, watching her leave. Once the door closed, she walked over and locked it, then returned to the bed. She climbed into and pulled the blankets over herself.
She picked up her phone. The screen read 10:46 pm.
It was late, yet sleep refused to come. Being in someone else's house always made her uneasy – and insomnia didn't help. She opened anime episode, lowering the volume, and watched quietly beneath the blankets, the soft glow of the screen lighting her face.
In the next room, Halish was just as restless.
Knowing her room was right beside his only made it worse. He pace back and forth, dragging his fingers through his hair, then rubbing his face in frustration.
Finally, he stopped and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, staring down on the floor.
'Is she asleep...? I want to hold her, but I know it's wrong.
God, what am I even thinking?
I'm so pathetic. I don't even know what she thinks of me.
She probably sees me as some kind of pervert or creep...'
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts refusing to quiet down - just like his heart.
The next morning, Halish stood in front of her door.
He hesitated, lifting his right hand halfway before letting it fall again. After a brief pause, he finally raised it and knocked gently.
"Che Daisy.. are you awake?"
"Ashhh – go away. Let me sleep peacefully.
You guys always ruin my dreams."
Her irritated voice made him flinch.
He froze, startled by her sharp tone and stood there in silence, unsure of what to do.
Inside the room, Daisy eyes flew open.
She paused herself upright, her heart skipping a beat as reality caught up with her.
'This it not my house.'
Only then did she realize her mistake – she had yelled, thinking it was her mother waking her up. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, flowed quickly by relief. At least it was not Mangal or Leisilembi.
She cleared her throat, forcing her voice to sound calm.
"Yeah. I'm awake."
Outside, Halish let out a quiet sigh of relief before replying.
"Then open the door. It's already 8:00 am. You sure you enjoy waking her this late?"
Daisy grumbled, feeling both annoyed and embarassed by his teasing tone.
"Brat."
She muttered under her breath.
She quickly fixed her messy hair, climbed out of bed, and walked toward the door. Taking a steady breath, she reached out and opened it.
The moment she opened the door. Halish still stood there with a teasing smirk. His eyes lingered on her – her hair was tousled, her face still soft with sleep.
'She looked.. cute.'
A quiet chuckle escaped him as he leaned casually against the doorframe.
"You still look sleepy. Couldn't sleep last night?"
He tilted head to the left side a bit, grin widening.
"Or were you thinking about me?"
Without answering, Daisy walked past him and headed downstairs to brush her teeth.
Halish pouted at her familiar silent treatment and followed after her.
"Hey, you are ignoring me again. Che Daisy, stop ignoring meee..."
Her irritation only grew the first thing she had to deal with in the morning was him.
As soon as they reached the bathroom, Daisy slipped inside, shut the door and locked it.
The sound made him pause.
His heart sank slightly at her cold reaction, but he exhaled slowly, reminding himself that he was being childish – and that not everyone reacted the same way.
Straightening up, he spoke more calmly.
"Okay. I haven't eaten breakfast yet either, so I'll wait for you in the kitchen. So, hurry up."
He turned to leave.
"Breakfast? I skip it every day. It's my habit, so eat by yourself."
Her voice came through the closed door, casual and unbothered.
Halish stopped mid-step and turned back toward the bathroom, concern flickering across his face.
He crossed his arms, staying where he was, his tone shifting back to playful teasing.
"Ohhh? Then I'll tell uncle and aunty that you skip breakfast."
Inside the bathroom, Daisy froze mid-brush. She narrowed her eyes at the mirror, replying.
"Hey, don't."
After a brief pause, she added calmly.
"I'll eat."
She resumed brushing her teeth, Halish's lips curled into a satisfied grin.
"Good girl."
He muttered under his breath as he finally walking away, heading toward the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Daisy walked out of the bathroom and headed toward the kitchen.
When she stepped inside, she saw Halish was already seated at the table.
The moment he noticed her, a smirk tugged at his lips.
"Come, come. Sit here."
He pulled the chair beside him closer and patted the seat invitingly.
Daisy rolled her eyes, thoroughly unimpressed. She walked around the table and sat down on the chair directly across from him instead.
Halish pouted, lightly nudging the empty chair away with his feet before crossing his arms.
"Che Daisy has become even more cruel to me. Unfair treatment."
Daisy caught his mutter and let out a small, teasing smirk.
"And you are acting like a completely spoiled rotten brat."
She said bluntly as she reached out, grabbed a sandwich, and took a bite.
The words stung, and he felt it – but he couldn't bring himself to protect. Deep down, he know she wasn't wrong.
He let out a quiet huff and reached for his own food.
They ate in silence.
Every now and then, Halish shot her a sideways glare, which she deliberately ignored.
Leisilembi entered the kitchen with a gentle smile.
She had just came from her room, where she'd been helping her husband prepare his clothes for works.
"Youngsters, I have some good news."
Both Halish and Daisy pause mid-bite and looked up at her curiously.
"My son will be coming home tomorrow because of the winter vacation."