MY NAME IS DAISY - NOT A BAD DUCK
9. I've loved it, ever since.

Maxi sat behind his desk. He had just finished a meeting with a fruit supplier for a syrup factory that he co-managed with Luca's father. The fruit produced from family plantations is insufficient to meet production needs.

He remembered Daisy.

After he finished delivering Daisy, he immediately took a shower and left for the office so as not to be late for a meeting schedule at one noon.

Maxi grabbed his phone. He opened the chat app. Opens the Edoardo family chat group which is all about family events schedules. In the family group is prohibited chat carelessly such as chat that is not important. Because Grandpa Edoardo and Grandma Luisa don't like it.

Maxi sees the list of group members. There's Daisy's number there. He then keeps Daisy's number in his cell phone's contact list.

'How are you doing now?' Maxi writes a message and sends it to Daisy.

He saw Daisy online.

'It still hurts. And the wound has not healed ' Reply Daisy.

Hhmmh little duck base. Just got hurt this morning, where maybe now it's healed.

'According to doctor Scott it took about four to six days for the stitches to dry, Miss." Write Maxi

'I want to see your condition after work. Is it possible and when is it time?' maxi wrote inquiring.

'Please come before seven o'clock' Daisy replied.

Maxi looked at the watch on his left hand, at 16:05. I have to hurry, he thought. There is no job that matters.

He rushed to his father's room, telling him he was coming home quickly.

"Come in, Maxi" his father's voice as he knocked on the door of the room.

"I want to go home now. Do you need my help for the next hour?"asked Maxi who was sitting on the chair across from her father's desk.

"none. Come home quickly. You want to see Daisy, right? Make sure Daisy's condition is okay." Answer father. Maxi flabbergasted.

How his father found out about Daisy.

"This morning Ronald's doctor told Edoardo's grandfather that Daisy was injured. Grandpa immediately asked Albert to check the incident through CCTV. Grandpa spoke in the parent's group chat earlier. All the parents already knew about this" his father understood what was on Maxi's mind.

"As for Cleo, her grandfather and parents had already made up their minds. Let it be grandfather's business. You, take care of Daisy" said her father.

Maxi speechless. This news reached Grandpa's ears.

"You like her?" asked her father to look at Maxi.

Maxi nodded "yes, father. I liked it, a long time ago. When he first came" Maxi said firmly.

"Dad knows. Even though you always act like you hate him. Because you're afraid he'll turn you down if he knows you like him" Dad laughed softly

"He was very young, Dad. But he's very smart. I'm insecure" said Maxi

"You were a kid too. But I know how you feel. You often secretly stare at her behind your book at garden parties. Or glancing at him with the tip of your eye while eating together in the main house" Dad laughed as he shook his head.

"Dad even read your diary about Daisy, two years ago. At that time Clarissa gave to my father that it was your book left in the library" said the father made Maxi surprised. His face flushed with embarrassment.

"But I gave it back to your room at that time" he continued. Dad laughed softly.

"It's really embarrassing me. But why do you think it's funny?" maxi thought, covering his face with both hands.

Aaah Clarissa, the detective boy must have read the contents of the book.

"You must take good care of him and never hurt him. Because all about Daisy, will deal with Edoardo's grandfather" said his father.

"Hurry home, so that it is not too late until home. Tomorrow's the morning of your graduation, right?"dad saw his agenda.

"Yes, dad. Eight o'clock in the morning must be present in the campus hall" replied Maxi.

"alright. I'm h-home. See you at home" Maxi rushed out of his father's room.

"carefully drive" his father said. Maxi raised his thumb. Then he disappeared behind the door.

***

"You're coming home from work sooner, Max?" ask Daisy.

"Yes, I had permission for my father to go home quickly" Maxi replied.

"Your father allowed?" ask Daisy.

"of course. The proof is that I'm here now" Maxi replied with a laugh.

"He knew I was going to see you" Maxi said.

"Oh yeah? I don't think he likes me" Daisy murmured at Maxi.

"He loves you because you're his nephew. It's just that he didn't show his feelings" Maxi said.

"I like you" said Maxi again."I love.falling in love with you" Maxi made clear what he meant.

"Since you first came, little duck" Maxi smiled.

"Daisy Fiorella Alessio" Maxi said quickly when she saw Daisy's eyes round, protesting that she was called a duck.

"You're so frank. What if grandpa finds out?" Daisy's scales from a distance of three meters separating them.

Maxi laughed at Daisy's behavior.

"As long as I take good care of you and don't hurt you, Grandpa will definitely agree" Maxi said

"we're cousins, Max" Daisy said

"I think your detective brother told you who I am" Maxi muttered.

Daisy smiled with her lips pulled wide to the side and eyes narrowed. Like a kid caught eating candy in secret.

"He knows that Clarissa and I gossip a lot" Daisy said in her heart.

"So it doesn't matter if I like you?" ask Maxi

"That's your right to like me, Max. The thing is, you didn't ask me if I liked you or not" Daisy replied, leaving Maxi flabbergasted.

"You're too sure and confident, Brother Maxi" Daisy said.

"Just because you like a lot of women. One of them was Cleo. Then you think I like you too?" ask Daisy in a soft voice.

Maxi. He sighed and then rubbed his temple. Hhh.he is too sure and confident.

"So you don't like me?" Maxi looked at Daisy with a look of wasp. She is very afraid of accepting Daisy's rejection.

"I didn't say that" replied Daisy.

"I don't know. I'm only seventeen, Max. I've never been close to a man" Daisy replied.

"It means close because you like each other. I've never been. All this time the men who were close to me were only Cedro and Caesar because we were affectionate as brothers"

"I knew. That's why I want to be the first and last man for you" Maxi said, he felt there was a selfish feeling in his tone. But it is not natural to have such a wish, Maxi thought in self-defense.

"And you were first and last for me" Max continued, perfecting his speech.

"You've always been a bitch to me, always telling me ducks. You've always been fierce to me" Daisy continued..

Maxi smiled shyly at her

"I'm just pretending to be fierce" said Maxi. "I'm sorry that it's been so annoying to you" Maxi said.

They were silent and looked at each other.

"What's the conclusion? do you like me or not?" ask Maxi.

"You expressed a feeling when my head was still injured, Max. It's all right" Daisy murmured with a grimace.

"Even you haven't asked me since I got here"

"I'm so worried about your injury that I came to see you" Maxi said.

"I've been waiting for you to ask about my situation" Daisy murmured softly.

"Well, I was in the office and went straight to the meeting. After the meeting I immediately sent a chat asking you" Maxi defended himself.

"You missed me?" maxi asked with a happy smile.

"Your questions are many. You asked me if I liked you or not. Now you ask me again if I miss you." Daisy.

Maxi laughing. He realized, the girl in front of him was working on him.

"You're a very smart girl. Just answering two questions is easy" Maxi said.

Daisy laughed softly." Yes, I was waiting for you." said Daisy

"So you miss me?" ask Maxi.

"It seems so" replied Daisy.

Maxi smiled happily.

This girl seemed to have intentionally made him curious.

"So...do you like me?" ask Maxi.

Daisy was silent thinking.

"I seem to like you a bit, but only a little bit" he replied, pointing out the tip of his fingernails.

"hahahaha.nothing even if it's just the tip of a fingernail" Maxi laughed.

"Love will come because it's used to it" Maxi said.

"You said you liked me, Max. Not love me" daisy corrects.

"I told you I was in love with you, Miss Daisy"

Maxi got up from his seat. Then kneel in front of Daisy.

"Miss Daisy Fiorella Alessio. I like you and love you. Will I be willing if I try to make you like me and love me?" maxi asked seriously, his eyes looking at Daisy sincerely

He never messes with his feelings and words.

Daisy seemed to think for a moment.

"I'm ready, Mr. Maxi" Daisy said with a smile.

Maxi jumped happy.

"But give me time. Because I still have to know you better"

Maxi rubbed his own hands. "It is with pleasure, Miss" he said nervously. His heart is happy. But he can't hold Daisy's hand. He must respect and take care of her.

So he could only rub his hands to vent his heart.

"Thank you, Daisy" Maxi sat back in her chair across from Daisy with a beaming face.

"Is it because I'm not wearing glasses anymore that you're expressing your feelings, Max?" ask Daisy.

"With or without glasses you remain my beautiful and clever little duck Daisy" Maxi replied.

"I'm not Max's duck" Daisy protested.

"Hehehe.iya. I'm sorry"

"I'm planning on approaching you if you're seventeen, Daisy"

"I'd rather you keep wearing your glasses" Maxi said.

"Since long ago, I've always tried to keep you from the annoyance of those three girls. What do you think it's because of? just prank?"

"That's because I care and like you" Maxi looked at Daisy who was blushing.

Silent mood.

"Haallooo's...Daisy. Hellooo..Maxis. I'm sorry if I eavesdropped" Clarissa appeared in front of the entrance. His voice broke the silence. Then sit next to Daisy.

Daisy and Maxi looked at each other. And laugh together.

"I was recording it. If you don't like it, please delete it"Clarissa handed the camera to Maxi.

Maxi grabbed Clarissa's camera while shaking her head.

"A detective of his style has always been like that huh. Came suddenly startling" muttered Maxi.

"Bring the camera anywhere. Are you a detective or a real photographer?" Maxi chuckles at Clarissa.

Clarissa laughed in response. "Can both. While in America, I worked part-time as a freelance photographer at a travel magazine"

Maxi saw Clarissa's recording. Clarissa approaches Daisy and sees Daisy's wound.

***