I'll wait for you (Dayasco)

The post

The fluorescent lights of the grocery store buzzed, casting an almost sterile glow over the aisles. Daya pushed the shopping cart with a casual ease that made me want to run circles around him.

I was a whirlwind of excitement, grabbing random items and throwing them into the cart. He'd just shake his head with a smile, those deep blue eyes crinkling at the corners. Today was grocery day for his apartment, the one we were staying at this week. We'd been living together in a weird, happy place, splitting our time between our two apartments.

"Hey, babe, we're running low on, you know," He said softly as he navigated the cart past a stack of colorful cereal boxes. I knew exactly what he meant. We were down to the last few of our favorite kind, the ones that came with a little extra lube to make things easier for me.

"Okay, I'll... I'll go grab some," I said, my cheeks flushing with a heat I couldn't quite explain.

Daya just chuckled and continued down the food aisle picking up the last bits and pieces we needed. And I turned towards the hygiene section, my stomach clenching with an uncomfortable anxiety. There was always something about buying condoms that made me feel self-conscious. I had only done it once before, and all I could imagine was all the other women looking at me, judging my choice, whispering behind their hands.

My heart thumped against my ribs, the fluorescent lights quickly becoming overwhelming, as I felt the heat rising in my chest. I felt a wave of nausea, a deep, primal fear rising within me. It was as though I was about to have a breakdown right there in the middle of the aisle, surrounded by bright bottles of shampoo and rows of colorful feminine hygiene products.

"Bosco?" Daya's voice reached me, a low rumble that calmed the storm brewing inside. He was standing by our cart, his tall frame blocking out the world beyond.

"What's wrong, love? Has something happened?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern. He noticed the way my hands were shaking.

"I...I just feel like everyone's staring," I managed to say, my voice trembling. Daya's gaze hardened, and he turned to face the women who had been making me feel so uncomfortable. His glare sent a chill down their spines, causing them to avert their eyes and scuttle away.

He then chuckled, the sound like a warm wave washing over me. "They probably are, but what's wrong with that? It's normal to buy them. It's normal to have sex. You're not doing anything wrong."

His words were a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge. I took a deep breath, trying to soothe the panic that still threatened to consume me.

"But really baby, are You okay?" he asked, his hand finding mine, his warmth seeping into my skin.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just...sometimes," I trailed off, unable to express the deep-seated fear that still lingered.

Daya just smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "Come on," he said, gently pulling me towards the checkout. "Let's go. We've got a lot of cooking to do."

He pushed the cart towards the checkout, his strong hands moving with purpose, his movements almost hypnotic. We paid for the groceries, leaving the store and stepping into the crisp air outside. 

He unlocked his car, a sleek, dark sedan that I'd only ever seen parked outside his apartment. We usually walked everywhere, the city being so easily navigable on foot. 

It seemed so strange, seeing him behind the wheel. It was almost as if a new layer had been peeled back, revealing a side of him I hadn't yet seen. His hands gripping the steering wheel, strong and veined, making my heart thump against my ribs. 

"Hey, you okay?" Daya's voice broke the spell, bringing me back to the present moment.

"Yeah, just thinking," I replied, a goofy grin spreading across my face.