CHAPTER 38: THE LINE IN BETWEEN

Daisy slowly put down the fork. Her eyes flicked up, locking onto the man in front of her.

"You said you plan to stay forever..." she asked softly, her voice laced with something between hope and hesitation. Then, she smiled, the corners of her lips lifting with practiced ease. "Let’s create a new memory together."

Theo didn’t respond right away. He leaned back slightly, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to detect what lay beneath the words, was it sincerity, or just another layer of sarcasm?

He gulped lightly, the movement barely noticeable, but the weight behind it hung heavy in the quiet space between them. For a split second, it felt like his carefully constructed facade had a crack, like she’d seen through him.

"Well..." he muttered, voice low, "sounds good to me."

He stood up slowly and walked toward the table. Pulling the chair out beside her, he sat down, the space between them narrowing.

"Let’s make it a memory worth keeping, shall we?" Daisy rested her chin in her palm, the same soft smile still on her lips as she turned slightly to face him.

After a few moments of silence, Daisy broke it, "I’m full," she said quietly. "And since you like dessert..." she nudged the plate gently toward him, "can you finish it for me?"

Theo glanced down at the plate of cake, then back at her. "Ah... dessert at two?" He shook his head. "Just leave it there... if you can’t finish it."

Daisy stilled. Her smile faded just slightly, her tone gentler now. "It’s been a while since I wasted food," she said quietly, eyes on the cake. "I told myself I wouldn’t do that again. Not when there are still people out there who can’t even afford a meal."

Theo didn’t respond immediately. He studied her for a moment, the usual sharpness in his gaze softening just a little.

Finally, Daisy picked up the fork again and eyed the cake solemnly. "Cake, please be good," she murmured, voice low like a whispered prayer. "Don’t do anything when you’re inside me, especially in terms of calories."

Theo blinked, caught off guard. His lips twitched, betraying the ghost of a smirk.

And just like that, she took a bite slowly.

He leaned slightly closer, "Good?"

She shook her head, still chewing. "Insane," she mumbled with puffed cheeks, eyes fluttering closed for a second as if overwhelmed. "Like... illegal levels of good."

Theo let out a low chuckle, clearly watching her more than the dessert. "Good then," he said, eyes narrowing slightly with amusement. "Now wipe your mouth. You’ve got more..."

"Where?" Daisy blinked, picking up her napkin and brushing recklessly around her lips. "Done?"

Theo gave her a flat look. "You just wiped your chin. Try... two inches to the left."

She swiped again, this time across her cheek.

He exhaled through his nose. "That’s your cheek."

Daisy squinted at him. "Where exactly?"

"Here..." He swiftly leaned closer and wiped his thumb around her upper lip.

She blinked at him and he froze.

"Done?" Daisy asked, her tone light, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Theo didn’t answer right away.

His thumb hovered for a second longer than necessary before he pulled back, slow and controlled, as if retracting from something dangerously electric. His face gave away nothing, but his ears betrayed him, just a hint of red crawling up from under his collar.

"Yeah," he muttered, clearing his throat as he reached for the fork she left behind. "Spotless."

"Come to me the last bite of the cake, yum!" She smiled with her eyes while munching on it, "Oh, can I ask something?" slightly turned towards him.

"That depends," he said cautiously. "Is it going to ruin my mood?"

She gasped, then slowly bit down on the small fork. "Then... I’ll hold the question for now, since I’m liking your mood at the moment. I’m afraid you might turn into a man with a daily word quota."

Theo raised a brow, resting his arm on the back of the chair. "A man with a daily word quota?"

Daisy nodded solemnly, the fork still between her lips as she slid the last bite off. "You know... the type who thinks every sentence costs a hundred bucks and only speaks when absolutely necessary."

He gave a faint huff of amusement, his eyes more on her than the plate. "And who is that?"

"Just someone..." she muttered slowly.

Her eyes narrowed. "Him?"

Theo nodded. "Yeah, him.... since you said a MAN with a daily word quota."

"Ah..." She gave a little laugh and waved her hand dismissively. "Right... silly me."

And the silence stretched right at that second until Daisy put the fork back on the plate.

"What was the question you wanted to ask earlier?" Theo asked, his gaze steady on her.

"Hmm?" Daisy’s lips parted. "Never mind... I just want to sleep well tonight without ruining anyone’s mood, especially since there’s been a lot going on today."

"Just ask. I’m in a good mood today," Theo replied, already moving his chair to face her. "Go on."

Daisy blinked, taking a few steadying breaths. "So... do you often..." She hesitated, swallowing. "I mean... your condition. Does it happen a lot? Or is it rare?"

It took him a few seconds to respond as he hadn’t expected that.

"Hm." He pressed his lips together, then nodded slowly. "Not often."

He looked at her, measured. "But... I don’t think it’ll happen again."

Daisy shifted. "Why? Because you plan to stay like this forever?"

Theo exhaled softly, almost like buying time. Then, carefully, "I mean... I did say that earlier, didn’t I? That I plan to stay like this..."

His eyes flicked to hers, searching for a reaction. "Right?"

A quiet beat passed.

"I think I can," he added, the smile on his lips uncertain, like a man waiting to see if he’d just bet on the wrong version of himself.

Daisy tilted her head slightly. "So... what do you usually forget when you’re in this condition? Is it only... me?"

Theo blinked slowly, his mind scrambling for an answer. It wasn’t that Elias forgot. It was because his other version had simply never met her before.