"The more, the merrier." The man punched the air, laughing when she giggled at his silly act. They were planning a celebration party because she had won the storytelling competition.

As they walked, they didn't notice a man following them. He wore a red hoodie and glasses. His black bag was slung over his shoulder, and he kept his head down as if he wanted to hide his face.

His name was Evan, the quiet guy everyone talked about. Evan was the kind of person who would help with any problem; it was almost as if he was born for every situation people found themselves in.

"What kind of cake do you want?" the boy asked. The girl placed her finger on her chin, thinking.

She wants a shortcake, her favorite, Evan thought. As he considered what kind of cake she might want, she answered with the exact type of sweet.

It wasn't surprising that Evan knew everything about her, Daisy. She was his childhood friend, who seemed to have forgotten him completely. She had grown up happily, looking as beautiful as ever.

Even though she didn't seem to remember him, Evan recognized her the moment their eyes met. It was the first day of the second period of school, and they were in the same class.

It was the day Evan felt the same joy he had eleven years ago. He had finally met the girl who made his heart light up with joy. It was a strange feeling, but he cherished every second of it. However, his heart ached when Daisy appeared not to remember him.

Daisy had grown into a beautiful girl with an easygoing personality, while Evan, on the other hand, was quite different. He had become more bashful, and his voice was too soft to be heard. Evan found it hard to make friends, but Daisy made it look easy.

He wanted to talk with Daisy just like they used to. But it turned out Daisy had other friends to hang out with, and Evan didn't like the idea of anyone else being close to her.

He was deeply interested in his childhood friend. His behavior, sneaking around her, resembled that of a stalker, but he hesitated to admit it.

The man and Daisy turned left, but as Evan lost himself in thought, he could barely keep up. By the end of the day, he stopped and went home. The house he lived in was modest but comfortable.

It was cozy and warm, just like a home should be. His parents weren't home, probably busy with work. This gave Evan the space he needed. He went upstairs, opened his room, and locked the door.

He sat at his study desk, placing his bag on it and opening the drawer. As he retrieved something from it, he began to write.

It was a book filled with details about Daisy. He was very focused on her, almost as if she were a flower that bloomed for him alone. The flower that belonged only to him.

I don't like that Jamie boy. He's always around Daisy, talking nonsense. I bet he doesn't even play the guitar like he claimed; it was just to impress her.

Why do people want to be with her? She is my Daisy, the flower that blooms only for me. She was sent from above; she was meant to be with me. Only me.

My hands tremble when I imagine her walking away, holding someone else's hand. It upsets me.

The more Evan wrote, the more his handwriting became shaky. The words he kept writing were "Stop."

Stop, he thought. It is a strong word for an obsession like his. But he decided he wanted to address it. If it was meant for her and only her, he would do anything. He wanted to protect her.

Daisy seemed to drive him mad. Evan, who was once a timid person, knew that the feelings growing inside his heart were intense. But he didn't resist. He accepted it. He wanted to understand it better.

Daisy... is special to me. The only one who can make me feel this way. I need to find a way to make sure she's safe and happy.

***

Ten days after his intense thoughts, none of his plans had worked out. The boys who seemed to be around Daisy had gone missing, one after another. Daisy was always upset about the missing boys, so when another boy came around her, Evan didn't interfere.

It was the ninth of August, at six p.m. The chill in the air was biting; it was the coldest evening. It felt as though something was about to go wrong. As on previous days, Evan followed Daisy and the boy she was with.

That boy's name was Frederic. He seemed like a nice guy, though Evan still felt uneasy about him spending time with Daisy. The urge to talk to Frederic was strong, but Evan managed to keep his distance.

Although he followed them, Evan kept more distance than usual. Thus, he could barely hear their conversation. It annoyed him slightly, but as long as he could see Daisy, he was somewhat content.

They turned left at the corner of the street. Evan knew it was a dark alley where few people passed by. He clenched his fists, his frustration growing. Evan was about to approach the alley when he heard a boy shout.

It was Frederic's.

Evan hurried to the corner, but as soon as he saw what was happening, he was frozen in shock.

Frederic was on the ground, though he didn't look alive. Daisy stood nearby, looking down at him. In her hand, Evan saw a knife.

Daisy had tried to protect herself.

The warm and cheerful expression Evan was used to seeing was replaced by a serious look. Daisy's eyes met Evan's, showing she was concerned.

"Evan, you're the most important person to me," Daisy said. She put away the knife carefully and walked toward him. "I don't like it when people cause problems."

Evan blinked, trying to understand what he had seen.

She cares about me.

Daisy looked at him, relieved to see him. She walked up to him to explain.

Evan embraced her, feeling a wave of relief. "I'm here!"

The longer Daisy was in his arms, the more he felt they were connected. She smiled at him.

It was the ninth of August, and both realized they were there for each other.

***

1.183 words.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW 😭 I CAN'T SLEEP. Tried to write a family-friendly story but NOO.