Chapter 16 Did I do something wrong?

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Did I do something wrong?

Alessio stared at her. "I did not know you are mute," he said.

Daisy shrugged. She gave him a small smile. Then she pointed at him, then at her ears, then made a listening motion.

You did not know. It is okay. You can speak. I can listen. That is how this works.

Alessio watched her hands. He did not understand the specifics, but he understood some. He understood she was neither angry nor offended.

He looked at her face to see her expression. Her big dark eyes were framed by the longest eyelashes he had ever seen. They cast tiny shadows on her cheeks when she blinked. Her skin was fair and milky, almost translucent in the dim light with a soft rosy color blooming across her cheekbones. Her caramel hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and a few strands had escaped to frame her face. Her lips were pink and full, shaped like a bow and they curved into the gentlest smile he had ever seen.

She was incredibly beautiful, but it was a pity she was mute.

Alessio realized he was staring. He looked away and cleared his throat.

"You were humming," he said. "Before I came. I heard you."

Daisy’s eyes widened slightly. She touched her throat again, then made a small gesture with her fingers.

A little. Not much. It is all I can do.

"It sounded nice."

Daisy looked down at the flower pot. Her cheeks turned pink. She did not know why his words made her feel warm. He was just a stranger.

She pointed at the bench beside her, then at him, then made a sitting motion.

Do you want to sit?

Alessio understood that.

He hesitated for a moment. His cold expression flickered. Then he sat. Not close to her. There was a respectable distance between them, but close enough that he could smell the faint scent of her perfume, something soft and floral like jasmine.

Daisy sat back down, still holding the flower pot in her lap.

She looked at him. He looked at the flower.

Silence.

Alessio broke it first. "You come here often?"

Daisy nodded. She pointed at the sky and the stars. Then she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, then opened them and pointed at the moon.

I come here to look at the stars and the moon. It helps me sleep.

Alessio looked up at the sky.

"The moon is full tonight," he said.

Daisy nodded. She pointed at him, then at the moon, then tilted her head in question.

Do you look at the moon?

Alessio understood.

"Not usually," he said. His voice was cold and distant again. "I do not have time."

Daisy’s expression softened. She pointed at the moon again, then at the bench, then made a small gesture with her hands.

You should make time. It is beautiful up there. It waits for you every night.

Alessio looked at her. Something was happening inside him. Something unfamiliar. Something uncomfortable. His chest felt tight. His heart was beating faster than it should. His thoughts, usually so clear and ordered, were jumbled and strange.

He did not like it. He did not like not being in control.

Without warning, he stood up. The movement was sudden and almost jerky. The bench scraped against the stone floor. Daisy jumped slightly, her eyes widening.

He left quickly as fast as he could without running. His footsteps echoed on the stone path, sharp and hurried.

Daisy watched his back disappear through the glass doors. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. She tilted her head, her hair falling across her shoulder.

Did I do something wrong?

But from the way he left, walking so fast and so stiffly, she thought maybe he was running to the washroom. A realization dawned on her face. Her cheeks turned pink again. She looked down at the flower pot, then back at the door, then down at the flower pot again.

She let out a small private smile.

Poor man. Must have been urgent.

She sat back down on the bench, cradling the rose pot in her lap, and looked up at the moon.