The funny thing about life is…

It never warns you before everything starts falling apart.

There was a time when I believed love could fix anything.

I believed that if you loved someone with your whole heart, they would choose you every single day.

I believed that loyalty, honesty, and patience were enough.

I was wrong.

If someone had asked me a few years ago where I saw myself by the age of twenty-seven, my answer would have been simple.

“I’ll have my degree.”

“I’ll have a stable career.”

“My family will finally stop worrying about me.”

“And maybe… I’ll be planning a future with the person I love.”

That was the dream.

Reality had different plans.

Every morning, I woke up telling myself that today would be different.

Maybe today I’d receive good news.

Maybe today things would finally make sense.

Maybe today I’d feel like myself again.

But every night ended the same way…

With unanswered questions and a heavy heart.

People only see the smile I wear.

They don’t see the nights I cry myself to sleep.

They don’t hear the silence after everyone has gone to bed.

They don’t know what it’s like to feel as if your life has been paused while everyone else keeps moving forward.

Sometimes I wonder…

Was I asking for too much?

Or was I simply asking the wrong person?

Because the truth is…

The story you’re about to read isn’t just about love.

It’s about heartbreak.

Family.

Dreams left unfinished.

And a girl who kept losing pieces of herself while trying to hold everything together.

My name is Daisy.

And this…

is where my story truly begins.

...Chapter-1...

Ever since I was seven years old, I had been completely obsessed with love stories.

Whether it was a fairy tale, a romantic film, or a cheesy TV drama—I loved them all.

I was the kind of little girl who believed in happy endings, soulmates, and the idea that one day, Prince Charming would somehow find his way into my life.

My imagination never seemed to switch off.

I would spend hours daydreaming about growing up, going to university, meeting the most handsome boy on campus, and falling hopelessly in love.

In my head, he was perfect.

Kind.

Gentle.

Protective.

The sort of person who would remember the little things, make me laugh on my worst days, and never let me feel alone.

Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at myself.

I was such a hopeless romantic.

Completely lost in my own little world, believing that love was the easiest thing in life.

If only I had known how different reality would turn out to be….

🌼 Creator’s Note

Hi, everyone! 🤍

Before we begin, I just want to say… thank you for being here.

This is my very first novel, and I’m both excited and nervous to share it with you. I poured my heart into Daisy’s story, and I truly hope it makes you laugh, cry, and feel every emotion along the way.

If you enjoy the story, please don’t forget to like, comment, and share your thoughts. Your support means more to me than you know and motivates me to keep writing.

I hope you’ll stay with Daisy until the very last chapter.

Happy reading! 💛

My name is Daisy, and I’m in eighth grade.

That’s when I first saw my crush.

He was a new student, but I had no idea which class he was joining. I only saw him standing in the school office.

He was so handsome.

Tall, cute… with pink lips, fair skin, and hair that looked like Tom Cruise’s.

I swear, I fell for him right then and there.

But I didn’t even know his name or which class he belonged to.

The school bell was about to ring, so I hurried to my classroom.

The first period was Math.

Ugh… it was so boring.

Seriously, who even invented Math?

I was complaining to my best friend, Barren.

We’ve been best friends since preschool.

She has beautiful brown hair, hazel eyes, and the sweetest personality. She’s honestly like the sister I never had.

Daisy: “Barren! You won’t believe what happened this morning! I saw this boy on my way to class… He’s seriously so handsome! I don’t even know how to explain it! I completely lost my mind.”

Barren: “Okay… but first tell me this. What were you even doing in the school office?”

Daisy: “Ugh, don’t even ask! Mr. Yoon, the P.E. teacher, caught me because I wore the wrong school shoes.”

I showed her my shoes with an embarrassed smile.

Barren: “You’re seriously impossible. Do you walk around half-asleep or something? Anyway… did you finish the Math homework?”

My smile disappeared instantly.

Daisy: “Areee… I totally forgot! Mr. Wang is going to kill me today!”

Mr. Wang was both our homeroom teacher and our Math teacher.

Barren: “Now what are you going to do? Mr. Wang already picks on you all the time.”

Daisy: “There’s no time left to finish it! What am I supposed to do?”

Just then, Mr. Wang walked into the classroom.

The class monitor stood up immediately.

Monitor: “Everyone, stand! Sir is here.”

The whole class stood up together.

Class: “Good morning, Sir!”

As I slowly lifted my head to greet him…

My eyes landed on someone standing near the front.

My heart skipped a beat.

It was him.

The same boy I had seen in the office this morning.

Daisy (whispering): “Barren… it’s him! The boy I told you about this morning!”

Barren glanced toward him.

Barren: “Wow… you’re right. He’s really handsome… so cute… and so tall.”

A huge smile spread across my face.

Daisy: “See? I told you.”

Mr. Wang: “Class, we have a new student joining us today. His name is Noah Martin. He’s a transfer student, so please make him feel welcome.”

Then he looked at the new boy.

Mr. Wang: “Noah, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

The boy gave a small nod before facing the class.

Noah: “Hello, everyone. My name is Noah Martin. I’m half Canadian and half Korean, so my Korean isn’t perfect yet. I really enjoy playing football. Thank you.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

The moment he started speaking, it felt like he had this incredible glow around him.

His voice…

His smile…

Everything about him made my heart race.

Then Mr. Wang looked around the classroom.

Mr. Wang: “Noah, you can take the empty seat behind Daisy.”

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

Behind me…?

I quickly sat up straight, trying to act normal. I casually brushed my hair behind my shoulder before stealing a glance at him.

He walked over…

Sat down…

And completely ignored me.

…Hmm.

I guess he didn’t even notice I existed.

The morning classes finally came to an end.

It was lunchtime.

Barren and I were walking toward the cafeteria when I suddenly stopped.

My eyes widened.

Daisy: “Oh no! I left my wallet in my school bag!”

Barren: “Then I’ll come with you.”

Daisy: “No, it’s okay. You go ahead and get in line. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Barren: “Alright… but hurry!”

Daisy: “I will!”

Without wasting another second, I ran all the way back to the classroom.

Luckily, no one was there.

I quickly opened my bag, grabbed my wallet, and let out a sigh of relief.

Daisy (thinking): Found it!

I zipped my bag shut and started humming to myself as I walked toward the classroom door, my head lowered.

Then—

BAM!

I walked straight into someone.

The impact made me stumble backward, and my wallet slipped from my hand, scattering coins and cards across the floor.

“Ouch…”

I looked up.

My heart stopped.

It was Noah.

For a brief moment, neither of us said a word.

His eyes met mine.

The hallway suddenly felt strangely quiet.

What was he still doing here…?

To Be Continued…

Daisy quickly knelt down and gathered the coins and cards scattered across the floor.

She looked up at the boy she had bumped into.

Daisy: “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Before she could say anything else…

Noah simply turned around and walked away without a word.

Daisy stared at his back in disbelief.

Daisy (thinking): Wow… he’s so rude. He didn’t even say anything.

She shrugged.

“Whatever. It’s not like I care.”

With her wallet finally in hand, she hurried toward the cafeteria.

⸻

Cafeteria

Barren was already waiting for her.

The moment Daisy arrived, Barren crossed her arms dramatically.

Barren: “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting forever! Come on, let’s grab something to eat.”

Daisy: “Okay!”

The two girls picked up their lunch and sat at their usual table.

As always…

Their lunch turned into a gossip session.

⸻

Daisy: “Have you read Selfish Romance? It’s the new Webtoon everyone’s talking about. It’s so good!”

Barren sighed and shook her head.

Barren: “You should spend more time studying instead of reading romance comics.”

She took another bite of her lunch.

Barren: “You’re always lost in your own imagination. Real life isn’t like Webtoons, Daisy. You’re just wasting your time.”

Daisy let out an exaggerated groan.

Daisy: “Ugh! Talking to you is hopeless. It’s always, ‘Study, study, study.’ I’ve tried so many times, but studying and I just aren’t meant to be. What am I supposed to do?”

Barren couldn’t help laughing.

Barren: “Exams are coming soon. Stop living inside your fantasy world and come back to reality.”

Daisy pouted.

Daisy: “You’re no fun…”

Just then…

Her eyes wandered across the cafeteria.

She spotted Noah sitting quietly by himself.

Of course…

She wasn’t the only one looking at him.

Almost every girl in the cafeteria kept stealing glances at the handsome new transfer student.

⸻

After School

The final bell echoed through the hallways.

Since it was Daisy’s turn to do classroom duty, she packed her bag and looked at Barren.

Daisy: “Alright, I’ll meet you at the café this evening. If you get there first, just text me.”

Barren smiled.

Barren: “Okay, my love. Don’t work too hard, buddy.”

Daisy sighed dramatically.

Daisy: “Yeah, yeah… now go already.”

Barren laughed and walked away.

⸻

After finishing her classroom duty, Daisy slowly made her way across the school grounds.

As she passed the football field…

She noticed someone sitting alone on the bleachers.

It was Noah.

She quietly stopped a few steps behind him.

Before she could say anything…

Noah: “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Daisy’s eyes widened.

She looked around to make sure he wasn’t talking to someone else.

Then she pointed at herself.

Daisy: “Me…? You were waiting for me?”

Noah stood up.

Step by step…

He walked toward her.

The closer he came…

The louder her heartbeat became.

Ba-dump… Ba-dump… Ba-dump…

Her palms instantly became sweaty.

“Oh no…”

“You know how wild my imagination gets…”

She nervously took a small step backward.

Noah reached into his pocket.

Daisy’s imagination immediately went into overdrive.

“Wait…”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Did he fall in love with me at first sight?”

A tiny smile spread across her face as she secretly celebrated in her head.

Noah pulled something out of his pocket and held it out to her.

It was her school ID card.

Noah: “Here. You dropped this in the classroom.”

Daisy blinked.

Her fantasy shattered in an instant.

Daisy: “Oh… Thank you! But… why did you wait until now? You could’ve just given it to me in class.”

Noah looked at her calmly.

Noah: “You had already left.”

That was all he said.

As usual…

Short.

Simple.

And impossible to read.

Daisy watched him walk away.

Daisy (thinking): He’s seriously so weird… He could’ve just handed it to me in class.

She sighed.

“He barely talks…”

“But if he keeps doing things like this…”

“My poor heart is going to start getting the wrong idea.” 💗