My complicated family drama had me switching schools faster than I could shuffle a deck of cards.
The schools have me held back a handful of times unable to complete a full semester.
Constantly moving to different schools because of my parents' on-off marriage had my education started from homeschooling to being accelerated, I had to beg Gran-gran to convince my parents to settle down and have me enrolled in a normal school and enroll at the year level of my choosing.
During my health check-up at the local hospital, I met Constanze by the hospital garden.
Wondering why would a beautiful girl like her be in the hospital before lunch had left me distracted.
I didn't notice her approaching me and befriending me on the spot.
Connie mentioned she was experiencing random moments of feeling weak so she's just waiting for her grandmother to be done talking to the doctor in the west wing.
She proceeded to ask me what school I go to, I showed her the school flier that I pulled out from my teddy bear backpack.
"No way! We're schoolmates!! I'm an upcoming freshman, how about you?" Connie asked.
I nodded, "Same. I'm also a freshman. Got held back quite a lot. Moved too much. So yeah, I'm a freshman too." my right hand slid into my backpack, crumpling my admissions profile for incoming seniors.
And that is how I met my best friend.
...............................
"Okay, we're finally here!" Ansel's announcement pulled me back to reality as my eyes took in my surroundings.
Ansel drove into a hidden path uphill and parked at the plateau leading to a footpath.
"Thank God I wore flats," I muttered under my breath.
Leaning towards me, a few inches away from a kiss, Ansel whispered, "Well, I am pleased to offer myself to you. Just pick the place and date. I'll always make sure to be ready for you." His silvery eyes never broke free from my emerald eyes.
Unknowingly, Ansel unbuckled my seatbelt as he informed me, "From here, we'll be walking. I have a surprise for you." Then he proceeded to step out of his car.
Quietly getting out, I then asked Ansel, "What do you need me to carry?"
"Just your bag and your bouquet," Ansel answered he gently spun me around. "My surprise requires you being in a blindfold. So.... may I?"
Looking back at Ansel, I nodded as I closed my eyes, waiting to be blindfolded.
His handkerchief smells just like him: cinnamon and vanilla.
Holding my bag and bouquet to my chest, I waited for Ansel when suddenly I felt myself being carried off the ground like a blushing bride.
"Ansel!" My clueless startled self had me wrap my arms around his thick neck as I can feel him chuckling through the vibrations I felt on my lips.
His laughter stopped as I pressed my lips firmly on his neck and his entire body froze.
"Nikita..." he growled. "Stop teasing me like that..." Ansel's voice lowered further into a husky growling rasp.
His broad shoulders tensed as I nuzzled into his neck, leaving a trail of butterfly kisses for the base of his collarbone, gently nipping at his Adam's apple, savoring every breathless moan that left his luscious lips.
All while my nimble hands enjoyed roaming from his strong chest, towards his tensed shoulders.
Thoroughly enjoying Ansel barely gripping whatever remnant of self-control he has left in his body, my hands proceeded to lovingly massage his biceps, paying close attention upwards to his shoulders as gently stroked his left cheek with my right hand. My left hand found its way, slowly raking through his thick raven hair as I deepened my trail of kisses towards his right ear.
"Niki.. ahh..." my glossy lips took their sweet time lightly leaving butterfly kisses following his sharp jawline. "this is... torture..." Ansel's footsteps continued to falter as slowed down my pace, barely grazing my lips from the base of his jaw, and painstakingly took my time leaving breathy kisses towards the back of his ear.
Feeling the heat of the streaks of sunset peer through the woods a few steps away from the top, Ansel's chest heaved as if inhaling my oxygen would multiply his depleting supply of self-control.
"Ni... ki... ahh... please..." Ansel's grip on me grew a bit tighter as I felt him stopping as he buried himself in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent.
"I'm be... gging... you... I want... to mak... our fi-...irst-tim..." Kneeling on the ground, Ansel's moans are getting louder as his nose steered some stray hair off of my neck, unable to hold back as he sucked on my neck, leaving his mark, as he peppered the same spot with kisses.
Gasping for air as I can feel Ansel's kisses trailing downwards towards my collarbone, his body tensed as he is mustering every bit of self-control in his body to say. "... spe... cial..." in between his husky breathless moans.
Feeling his desire to do right by me, I nibbled on his ear and whispered, "Thank you for showing restraint for me. The only thing I would ever apologize for is not asking for your permission. But wanting to kiss you? To claim me? I'll have you know I tend to lay claim on you with pride."
Earning a growling moan, feeling it reverberating at Ansel's chest, I felt him leave another hickey as I continued to say my piece.
"Once I love you, I intend to love you proudly. With everything we've both gone through, we both deserve to be happy. Offering the world to you would never be enough." My turn to blindly pepper his face with butterfly kisses.
Feeling Ansel's embrace tightening as he inhaled my scent for the last time as he slowly stood up and continued walking.
Resting my forehead on his, breathlessly I declared, "Ansel, you don't deserve a half-ass love." Finally, I firmly left my lip imprints on his forehead as I nuzzled my head back to his neck, my dainty index finger lazily drawing hearts on his heaving chest.
Even without my sight, I can picture this precious moment in my mind.
"You truly are my fun-sized goddess." Feeling Ansel happily smile as he kissed my forehead, he gently placed me down and I finally felt the blades of grass underneath my feet.
Wrapping his arms around my waist, Ansel buried his face to my neck's neglected left side. Marking every bit of love and possession, assuring me that he loves me in my entirety.
Growling at my left ear, Ansel whispered, "You being like this had me all worked up and existed for our first time. I knew I made the right decision of saving myself up for you." With that, Ansel nibbled my ear and placed a firm kiss on my temple as he removed my handkerchief.
Adjusting my eyes to the retreating sunlight, I am amazed by the view in front of me.
Reaching the summit of the hill, the entire city stretched out, from the posh eastern district, as the sun retreats while the nightlife in the west district started to come alive.
Here on the summit laid out a large red checkered blanket, each corner weighed down by mason jars with fairy lights. In the middle were a few throw pillows and a picnic basket.
Ansel escorted me towards the picnic area as I couldn't wipe the smile off my face when settled down on the blanket.
Struggling to hold back a smirk, I cleared my throat and faced forward as I pointed out the red camellias. "What about the red camellias?" then pointed to the lilies of the valley, "The lilies, as well. What do they both mean?"
"The Middlemist, like all red camellias, has multiple meanings, but my favorite ones would be *Unpretending excellence* and *You are a flame in my heart*."
Smirking as he placed a quick kiss on my cheek, Ansel's delicious lips were a few centimeters, approximately 3 centimeters away from my expectant lips when he spoke, "Return of happiness. That's what the lily of the valley embodies."
Staring at each other's lips, our burning desire reignited the previously dormant flame as our lips ravenously claimed each other, not caring whose air we were breathing.
The insatiable need to make each other's feelings known had been abruptly ended with the basic instinct of needing air to breathe.
Panting as we gasped for air, seeing the desire still burning in each other's eyes, we found ourselves laughing as we held each other in a sweet embrace.
Closing my eyes, feeling Ansel playfully twirling my chestnut with his fingers, my index lazily drew hearts, from his broad chest to his sculpted abs.
His hearty laughter had his chest bouncing where my head was resting, jokingly annoyed by the disruption of my peaceful resting place, opening my eyes to meet his loving silver gaze.
Hoping and praying to whoever can hear our prayers to stay in this moment forever.
Our soundless redamancy was rudely interrupted by the growling of our hungry stomachs.
The whistling breeze through the trees was overpowered by our boisterous laughter.
As Ansel helped me to sit up, he propped the throw pillows underneath my back as he laid me down in a reclined position. Once more, his handsome face, centimeters away from mine, smirked as he asked,
"Can I show you my world?"