Nganba paused and slowly looked up and down Halish.
Halish felt his face burn with embarrassment. He lifted the edge of the phanek slightly so he wouldn't trip over it, though it was already slipping as he awkwardly walked behind Daisy. Nganba followed them, completely bewildered by what he was seeing.
When they reached the living room, Mangal and Leisilembi looked up – their eyes immediately fell on Halish.
Their expression froze. Then their eyes widened in pure shock.
The trio quietly walked over to the couch and sat down across from them.
"Young man.. what happened to you?"
Mangal asked calmly, though the corner of his lips twitched as if he was trying very hard not to laugh.
"I –"
Before Halish could finish, Daisy cut in smoothly.
"He said he wanted to try our traditional women's clothes, so I let him borrow mine."
Halish turned to her with wide eyes, completely stunned by the excuse – but he stayed silent.
Mangal finally lost the battle. A soft chuckle escaped him as he looked at Halish with both amusement and disbelief. Leisilembi followed with a gentle laugh of her own. Only Daisy and Nganba kept straight faces.
Halish, meanwhile, wished the floor would open up and swallow him.
"Oh my... I can't –"
Mangal tried to speak, covering his mouth with his right hand to stop himself from laughing too loudly.
"Young man.. go back to your room and change."
He said between chuckles.
"And wipe off that makeup too... Haha!"
Halish felt as though the entire universe had betrayed him.
Grumbling under his breath, he stood up and walked upstairs to his room, his embarrassment weighing heavier with every step.
A few minutes later, he came downstairs again – this time changed and sulking.
He was now wearing a simple black T-shirt tucked into his black jeans, his hair still slightly damp from washing his face. His lips were pushed into a pout, and his whole posture screamed mildly offended hero.
The moment he spotted Daisy again, he shot her a playful glare before walking over and dropping down between her and Nganba.
Leisilembi smiled warmly and clapped her hands softly to get their attention.
"Youngsters."
She said cheerfully.
"We're thinking of taking you shopping today. You can buy whatever you like."
Nganba looked bored. Daisy looked uninterested.
Only Halish lit up instantly.
"Yeah, yeah! Let's go then."
He said eagerly, leaning forward.
Nganba sighed.
"Mom, dad. I don't want to go. I already have everything. I don't need to buy anything yet."
Everyone, except Daisy turned and stared at him in surprise.
Then Daisy spoke gently, tilting her head slightly to the right side.
"Aunty.. I feel carsick whenever I'm in a vehicle. I don't think I can go."
The room fell into a brief, awkward silence.
They're looked at each other, unsure what to say.
And then –
Thump.
Halish suddenly kicked Nganba's ass, sending him down onto the floor. Not hard – just enough to be annoying.
"Get up already and go outside."
Halish said with a small frown. Then he turned to Mangal and Leisilembi.
"Uncle, aunty. Drag him out. I'll drag Che Daisy. Let's throw away these two idle."
Mangal smiled in amused disbelief. Leisilembi let out a light laugh. Nganba frowned irritably as he tried to stand, but before he could protest. Mangal grabbed his wrist and gently pulled him out of the room. Leisilembi followed after them toward the car.
Soon, only Daisy and Halish were left in the living room. Halish stood in front of her, hands on his waist, looking down at her with a flat unimpressed expression.
Daisy meanwhile, acted like he didn't exist. She slowly sank deeper into the couch, stretching comfortably.
"Ahhh.. it would be nice if I could stay here for a while."
She muttered innocently, looking up at him.
"You sleepy head. Get up before I drag you down."
He warned.
She didn't respond. She simply pulled out her phone and started scrolling.
That did it.
Halish felt a sharp pinch of irritation.
He reached out, grabbed her left wrist, and tugged.
"Hey, hey –! Let go."
Daisy protested in panic, clutching her phone protectively. But he didn't stop.
With a sudden movement, he pulled her fully up – and before she could react, lifted her into his arms in a bridal carry. Her eyes went wide.
"Let go! I don't want to! You brat!"
She shouted lightly, hitting his shoulder.
Halish smirked down at her, completely unbothered.
"Told you, princess. I'd drag you out."
He said cockily.
"Now you make a scene. Take responsibility."
Daisy lifted her eyebrows at his cocky words. Then she calmly raised her left hand... and grabbed a handful of his hair.
"I'll make you bald if you don't put me down."
Halish froze at her threatened words. His grip on her tightened instantly.
For a split second, he didn't even breath – and then he panicked.
"DON'T YOU DARE DO THAT!"
He spun around and bolted out of the living room, still carrying in his arms.
"I said let goooo!"
She continued pulling at his hair while he rushed out of the house toward the car.
Mangal was already in the driver's seat. Kris open the door just as Halish reached the car.
He unceremoniously dropped Daisy onto the back seat.
"Hey –!"
She let out a small yelp as she landed face – first onto Nganba's lap. Mortified, she immediately tried to sit up – but at the same time, Halish climbed into after her and slammed the door shut, making the car rock slightly. She lost balance again. And fell right back onto Nganba's lap.
Leisilembi walked around and sat in the passenger seat, still smiling in amusement.
The engine started, and the car rolled forward toward the shopping area. Mangal and Leisilembi began chatting about what they wanted to buy, their voices light and relaxed.
In the back seat, however, the atmosphere was... different. Nganba stared down at the back of Daisy's head in quiet disbelief.
After an awkward moment, Daisy finally managed to straighten herself and sit properly between the two boys.
Her face was warm with embarrassment but she stayed silent. Nganba turned away and looked out of the window. Daisy turned her head toward Halish and spoke calmly.
"I'll sit near the window. Let's exchange seat. I need cold air."
She glanced at him meaningfully.
"Or later.. someone will have deal with my carsickness."
Halish stared back at her, completely unconvinced.
"You liar. Meh~"
He stuck his tongue out at her mockingly. Then, just to be annoying, he leaned closer and pressed his body against her – which, in turn, pushed Daisy against Nganba.
Nganba didn't react at all. He simple kept staring out of the window like nothing was happened.
Daisy shot Halish a murderous glare. Then she stopped struggling. She leaned back slightly.. and went quiet.
Very quiet. Which was dangerous.
About fifteen minutes passed as the car drove along. The road grew a little uneven. The motion started to get worse.
Daisy's face slowly lost it's color. Her lips pressed together. Her breathing change. And then – the car hit a small bump.
Daisy lurched forward, lost her balance, and fell straight into Halish's arms. Before he could even process what was happening – she threw up.
All over him.
For exactly two se.. there was complete silence. Halish froze. His arms were still around Daisy. His brain had stopped working. His soul had left his body.
Then the smell reached him.
"..."
Slowly... very slowly.. he looked down at his shirt.
His once – clean T-shirt was now ruined. Warm. Wet. Very ruined. His eyes widened. His face went pele. His lips parted.
And then –
"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"
He let out a scream so loud that Mangal nearly slammed the brakes.
"WHAT – WHAT IS THIS – WHAT HAPPEN – WHY YOU – CHE DAISY!!"
He tried to push Daisy away while simultaneously trying not to touch his own shirt, his arms flailing uselessly.
Daisy, on the other hand, looked equally horrified. She stared at his chest. Then at his face.
"Oh my god – I – I didn't mean to – I warned you – I told you –"
Nganba finally turned from the window. He looked at the scene. Looked at Halish. Looked at the mess.
Then quietly leaned farther away toward the door.
"...Disgusting."
Leisilembi twisted around in her seat immediately.
"Oh my goodness!"
She exclaimed.
"Daisy, are you okay?"
"I-I'm sorry.
Daisy said weakly, covering her mouth.
"I really didn't want to –"
Mangal pulled the car over instantly.
"Alright, alright."
He said calmly.
"We're stopping here."
The car came to a halt on the side of the road. Halish opened the door and practically fell out of the car. He stood outside, arms spread, staring down at himself in despair. He muttered.
"This is stink..."
Daisy climbed out slowly too, her face red with embarrassment.
"I told you I was carsick."
She said quietly. Halish turned to her, looked at her. Sighed deeply. Then defeatedly.
"Okay... That one's on me."
Leisilembi handed Daisy a tissue and patted her back gently.
"Drink some water, sweetheart. You'll feel better."
Nganba got out last, stretching.
"She warned you."
He said flatly to Halish. Halish groaned.
"I hate all of you."
Daisy held the tissue with both hands and gently wiped her mouth and cheeks. Mangal walke over, opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. She took it and drank a few sips and washed her mouth before placing the bottle back inside the car. Then she glanced at Halish. The embodiment on her face slowly faded. And a familiar, mischievous smirk appeared.
"Aw.. I'm so sorry, little bro."
She said with mock sweet.
"Now are you going to take off your shirt or are you just going to keep wearing that?"
Halish shot her a glare, sharp enough to cut glass.
"Oh, you think you're funny, funny now?"
He snapped.
"Shut up!"
Daisy responded in irritated, real this time. Tired of his behaviour and acting like she is the blamed for everything now. She then turned away from him.
Halish shut up, feeling guilty for snapping her. He looked down at his ruined shirt again. Then back at her. Then sighed dramatically.
"I'm sorry for snapping you, che Daisy."
He said softly before grabbing the hem of his T-shirt and peeled it off with visible disgust, holding it away from his body with two fingers like it was radioactive.
Leisilembi immediately looked away and covered her eyes.
"Young man!"
She scolded lightly.
"What? It's gross."
He protested.
"I'm not walking around like this!"
He opened the trunk and rummaged around until he found an old jacket. He slipped it on without bothering to zip it. Then he turned back to Daisy.
"You."
He said, pointing at her.
"Buy me a new shirt."
Daisy still didn't turned to him. She responded coldly.
"Don't talk to me."
He glared harder.
"...Buy. Me. A. Shirt."
Daisy was enough of this, she quickly opened the car and get inside, she sat near the left window. She spoke to Nganba calmly.
"Nganba, sit next to me."
Nganba nodded and opened the car and sat down beside her. Halish looked guilty again, scolding himself for acting like that again.
Mangal chuckled quietly. He said.
"Alright, comedians. Now that everyone is alive again, shall we continue to the shopping?"
Halish spoke up.
"I'm sitting in the front."
He was upset that Daisy and Nganba get to sit together so he thought sitting in the front is the best instead of sitting beside Nganba.
Everyone got inside the car and headed to the shopping area.
When they arrived, Halish wanderd around excitedly, his eyes moving from shop to shop.
Daisy walked behind Nganba, squinting slightly under the bright lights, feeling a little uncomfortable and dizziness. Still, she occasionally stopped to pick up some spicy snacks.
Mangal and Leisilembi followed them quietly, while Nganba also buy whatever caught his interest.
Soon after, they returned home and rested.
Now it was 6:48 pm. Mangal and Leisilembi were in the kitchen, preparing dinner together.
Halish sat on the edge of his bed in his room, holding a pink paper bag in his hands. He took a slow, nervous breath. After a moment, he stood up, still gripping the bag with both hands and walked toward the door.
When he walked out the room, he paused and stood there when he noticed Nganba already standing in front of Daisy's door, holding a white polythene bag in his left hand.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The quiet between them felt heavier than usual.
Both of them were standing outside the same door – for the same person.