THE OUT OF MY LEAGUE

23

Like the days before, the McGold family home now really feels like home again after Lily comes back and becomes part of it.

Because yesterday then Mary finally came home from the hospital, today Lily is busy taking care of her needs for school, such as; cook breakfast from five o'clock before the father and son on the second floor wake up, then ironing Darren's suit and Mary's school dress that a few days ago piled up and he had to wash it clean, until finally waking them up one by one to take a shower.

Opening the door of the white-painted room, Lily stepped into the bed where Darren's figure was sleeping quietly. Lily sat on the edge of the bed after opening the window curtain and started patting Darren on the shoulder, whispering softly for the man to wake up.

Sensing Lily's presence, Darren, who had been sleeping irregularly for days, immediately opened his eyes. It seemed that he was already better at this moment, the dark circles under his eyes, or the reddishness in his eyeballs, were now faintly visible.

Darren smiled when he knew the first thing he saw in the morning was the figure of a woman who lately made her days like a roller coaster.

Grabbing Lily's hand, Darren grasped her quite tightly with the position still lying down. Slowly but surely, a charming smile was engraved there. I don't want Lily to answer.

“Let's wake up, today you have to go to the office,” Lily gently advised.

But Darren shook his head under his blanket. “Let me stare at you for a while.”

In silence the two of them only did that one activity; staring at each other wordlessly, only a smile spoke, explaining how much they had feelings for each other.

“What's satisfied?” Lily asked at the end.

But for the umpteenth time again Darren even shook his head not satisfied. At that time Lily felt toyed with, she then pinched Darren's right arm, making Darren grimace with a look of betrayal.

“Aww ... Why pinch me?”

“Say it was just for a moment. It's morning, still want to relax, hm?”

Darren chuckled as he woke up. “Iya, yes ... I'm up, okay?”

For a moment he looked back at every inch of Lily's face, throwing in the most beautiful smile, a split second later he pinched Gulf's cheek in a fit of anxiety. Lily glanced at the perpetrator's hand while grimacing. Unable to bear it, she finally pinched Darren's cheek back, pulling him down without pity until the man was pulled to the side, because otherwise his cheeks would stretch out right then and there.

“Aww!”

Darren held onto his cheek, squealing towards Lily who was now sticking out her tongue to mock, before finally the woman ran out of the room. From outside Darren heard the sound of Lily's laughter which seemed to enter Mary's room.

Fortunately he was patient. If not ... Darren is hunting Lily for revenge.

...----------------...

“Disciplined, yaaa. Listen to the teacher,” Darren tells Mary as soon as her car stops right in front of the school.

“OK, Dad!” Mary waved her hands cheerfully before entering the school gate. Darren replied no less cheerfully while leaning on the door of his car.

As soon as Mary was out of sight, Darren rushed to the office. Today his mood was really good, it felt like if he was being climbed by a dove even though he would have no problem. Ah ... Anyway since her relationship with Lily improved, everything became possible. Her future becomes clear, she will fight for Lily and marry him.

With a floating smile, Darren stopped his car when he saw a flower shop on the way to the office. After getting out of the car, he stepped in and greeted a girl by the name of Neena on the identification board of the surface of his clothes.

“Welcome! Want to order what flowers?”

“I'll take a look first, can?”

Neena smiled. “Please.”

Darren then took a small walk, sorting all kinds of flowers in front of his eyes to choose. Everything looks beautiful and fresh, as if freshly picked on a refreshing spring morning. However, among all that beauty, Darren's gaze fell on dozens of the largest yellow flowers. Sunflower. Somehow, as soon as he saw the flower, Darren immediately remembered Lily's bright smile that lit up his days.

“Have you found your options?” Neena came to interrupt the figure of Darren who was immersed in delusion.

Darren turned around with a smile. “I'll order this one,” He pointed to his sunflower.

“What's there still?”

Darren shakes. “Quite one type of this one only.”

“Then I will pack with flannel bouquet, how?”

Darren did not know about the world of inflorescences, so he nodded.

After that, Neena did her job meticulously like a professional. The result was even better than what Darren thought. She was sure that Lily would like her too.

“Lumayan, I should be in the office in 10 minutes.”

Neena smiled. “Then we have shipping option, do you want to use it?”

“Really? Then I'll use it.”

“You may also be interested in writing a special card for its recipient, how?”

Darren's expression couldn't be brighter. Their service is really impressive. He will remember this flower shop. Maybe someday when Darren and Lily get married, he'll need their hard work.

...----------------...

Lily was ironing the rest of the pile of clothes downstairs while watching the variety show on TV when the bell in front of the house suddenly interrupted her.

Shrinking the sound of the TV and putting down the iron, Lily got up from sitting down and went to open the door. But how surprised he was when he saw a bouquet of sunflowers closed his eyes.

Lily stepped back. “With whom?”

In the end the face of a courier appeared behind the sunflower. “What's this right Mr McGold's house, with Ms Lily?”

Lily nodded. “Iya.”

“Please sign first, Bu.” The courier handed her a paper and a pen that Lily signed.

After that, the courier handed over the bouquet. I don't want Lily to accept it. “This is the flower of his order. Then I say goodbye first. Thank you.”

The courier gave his greetings and left in a hurry, Lily replied by putting on a dumb-ass face. Then he glanced at the flower in his hand, silent for a moment looking at him. It's exquisite. Oho! There's a letter too.

Curious, Lily immediately closed the door and returned to the front of the TV. He put down his sunflower and took the letter that was tucked away.

For my woman,

Thank you for always being there. Thank you for giving me a second chance. Thank you for understanding me so much and thank you for all the love you have given me and Mary over the years. You know I love you, always, today, now, and forever. Please, never be sad again, and don't be tired of smiling, be like this sunflower that brings happiness to the beholder.

From People Who Never Tired To Love You.

Lily chuckled, her smile as sweet as the contents of the letter she had just read. Billions of butterflies flew wildly inside her stomach, and Lily could not help but smell the scent and tightly hug the sunflowers that Darren had sent her.

Is this how it feels to be in love? As if everything about him was always special. The slightest behavior, the slightest attention, it felt so valuable even though it was simple.

...----------------...

Lily had no idea since when she last had a nightmare.

But that night ...  She dreams of Mary. The little elf was playing by the pool, splashing water with her tiny legs. Lily came up to him from behind, and a split second later Lily pushed the boy to the bottom of the water. But the boy reappears and shouts loudly for help, but Lily reluctantly leaves the pool and chooses to watch Mary completely immobile. His body floated into a corpse. So terrible when the clear pool water became a blood clot that sucked Mary's body into it.

At the same time, the dimension of her dream suddenly changed, when Lily was asleep, a male figure appeared in the doorway, his face invisible, so mysterious and giving off an aura of death. His footsteps were so light he went in and approached Lily's bed and strangled her right then and there.

“Lily! Lily! Aware!”

A bright spot led Lily to the ceiling of her room in one fell swoop. Lily opened her eyes. The nightmare is over. His breathing was wheezing, and he found Darren shaking his body to wake up instead of strangling him.

Lily could no longer hold back her cries. He immediately rushed into Darren's arms. Buried his face as if afraid of the dream coming true.

“Shh .... Already, already. It was just a nightmare.”

Lily felt Darren gently stroking the tops of her head and back consecutively, sending a warm feeling into Lily's heart. Only then did Lily make her sobbing sound, crying like children who didn't know what to do.

“I ... Me ..”

“Shh ... Don't explain that it's burdensome for you, Lily. All you have to know, I'm here and that's enough.”

And Darren's been there all night. Rubbed Lily's back until she stopped crying. Accompany her until she falls asleep again. It may be exhausting, but there is nothing more beautiful than the care and love of a man for his woman.