Alex! I thought you promised it would be purely platonic!" Sarah murmured weakly, trying to free herself from Alex's grasp.
Alex chuckled softly and reluctantly released her. "Just so you know, Miss Sarah Johnson, friends can hug too. And I plan on doing that a lot tonight, so be prepared." He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.
Sarah rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile. Alex beamed, brimming with excitement that he finally had some alone time with her. Finally, finally, finally!
They walked hand in hand, disregarding Sarah's feeble protests about maintaining a platonic relationship. She knew she could pull away if she wanted, but she let her hand remain in his.
As they reached Alex's car, he grinned and opened the door for her. "After you, Mrs. James."
Sarah playfully hit his arm. "That's Miss Johnson to you," she huffed.
Alex smiled and settled into the driver's seat, starting the engine. "So, birthday boy, where are we going?" Sarah inquired, looking at him curiously.
Alex winked. "Dessert."
"Dessert? After that enormous cake?" Sarah blinked in surprise.
Alex tapped her nose playfully. "Ah, you must remember, Mrs. James, Mr. James never settles for anything ordinary. Not even cake."
"Alex, just how expensive is this place?" Sarah whispered apprehensively. "I know it's just cake, but I'm afraid to even step foot in there."
Alex chuckled and pulled her along. "Don't worry. It may look expensive, but it's on the house. It's my aunt's shop."
"Your aunt?" Sarah blinked at him. "Your family seems to have connections everywhere. Schools, resorts, and now dessert shops?"
Alex laughed and playfully nudged her into the cafe. "Come on, I'll introduce you to my aunt."
"Oh, so this is Sarah!" Miss James exclaimed. "Alex was right! You're truly beautiful!"
Sarah blushed. "Thank you," she replied, smiling shyly. Alex grinned and bumped shoulders with Sarah. "Of course. Did you expect anything less, Aunt? Did you think I'd fall for someone ugly?" he teased.
Sarah's eyes widened, and she made a face at him. Miss James laughed heartily at their interaction and shook her head in amusement. "I've saved the cakes just for you, Alex. Go ahead and sit, I'll get them ready."
"Thanks, Aunt!" Alex beamed.
Taking Sarah's hand, Alex led them to the best seats in the dessert cafe, strategically positioned by the window on the fourth floor of the shopping center. From there, they could enjoy a beautiful view of the lights from the outdoor shopping market and the towering buildings of Texas in the background.
Sarah gazed out in silence, a smile adorning her face. It was truly enchanting. Even if the view wasn't breathtaking, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly happy in this moment. However, she wondered if it was wrong to feel this way when everything she was doing seemed to be wrong.
Observing the corners of Sarah's lips twitching up, Alex smiled quietly, captivated by her presence. This was his ultimate birthday gift: simply spending time with her.
Sarah caught him staring and blinked in confusion. Alex shook his head without saying a word, struggling to convey the depth of his emotions. There was an intensity between them that transcended ordinary words, and he could only express it through his smile.
Soon, the cake arrived—a magnificent tiramisu shaped like a delicate heart. Sarah's eyes lit up in delight. "Oh my! It's so beautiful," she exclaimed inwardly. Just like you, Alex thought, blinking in surprise. Wait, did I just compare her to a slice of cake? Oh well, Sarah is an angel.
Sarah took a bite of the cake, closing her eyes and humming with approval. "Alex, it tastes absolutely delicious," she managed to say before her words were interrupted.
Without hesitation, Alex leaned forward and kissed her passionately on the lips. Pulling back slightly, he smiled at her. Sarah's initial reaction was to protest, but Alex silenced her with a gentle "Shh." "Nope, that's my gift to you. You didn't give me one."
Sarah made a face, sticking out her tongue. "I did, meanie," she retorted, digging into her bag.
Alex's face lit up, and he looked delighted. "You did?" he exclaimed, leaning forward. "What is it?"
Sarah pushed a small box, wrapped in simple light blue paper, towards him and nervously fiddled with her fingers under the table. "Here," she said.
Alex's curiosity grew as he eyed the box. "Hmm, what's this?" he wondered aloud, turning it over in his hands, his excitement resembling that of a child.
"Just open it, Alex," Sarah laughed.
With a smile directed at Sarah, Alex leaned forward to give her a quick peck on the lips before tearing into the wrapping paper with anticipation.
As he opened the box, his eyes widened, and he pulled out its contents. "A black iPod nano?" Alex's lips slowly curled into a smile. "How did you know that mine was broken?"
"Because I just knew," Sarah replied, mirroring his ability to anticipate her needs. "Just like how you always seem to know everything about me. Go ahead, listen to it," she urged.
Alex's surprise was evident as his eyes widened. "You recorded songs in here?" he asked.
"Well, that's what an iPod nano is for, isn't it?" Sarah mused.
Sarah couldn't help but be captivated by Alex's beaming smile, which seemed to reach his eyes. He quickly plugged in the earphones and placed them in his ears, turning on the device.
There were a few songs recorded on it, including some of Sarah's other favorites.
As Alex scrolled down to the last track, an untitled recording, Sarah continued to nervously play with her fingers under the table.
"Eh, is this thing on?" a voice whispered through the earphones. "Oh, no, it is! Um, hi."
Alex chuckled, thoroughly amused.
"Hi Alex, um... It's Sarah. Happy birthday. I hope you like this gift. I've prerecorded a few of my favorite songs, and I hope you enjoy them too. I overheard you mention that you needed a new iPod when you were talking to Alex. Oh, but don't think for a second that I was actually paying attention to you! Because I wasn't, okay?" You totally were. Alex couldn't help but suppress a smile.
"Anyway, happy birthday, Alex. I just wanted to say that, um... I'm glad I met you. I have to admit, I really didn't like you at first. I generally dislike the 'cool kids,' but you're different. You really are. And, um... well... I, uh... Aish, just, happy birthday!"
The recording ended, leaving Alex pondering what Sarah was about to say. He stared at the iPod in his hands, his heart racing. It was now or never. He needed to know, he needed to hear it. Right now.
Without wasting a moment, Alex stood up abruptly, removing the earphones from his ears and grabbing Sarah's hand. "Let's go."
"Huh? But what about the cake? We haven't even started!" Sarah stumbled after him in surprise.
Alex shook his head and guided her towards his car. "Next time, Sarah. I'll bring you here next time. I have a story I want to tell you."
"Why did you bring us here, Alex?" Sarah gazed out of the car, puzzled by his urgency. Alex had been driving recklessly, determinedly speeding and changing lanes. Finally, he brought them to a grassy hill that offered a breathtaking view of the city lights in Texas at night.
Alex turned to her and motioned with his head. "Come on, follow me."
He intertwined their fingers and led her to sit atop the hill, under a tree. Sarah stared at the illuminated cityscape before her, exhaling softly. The city lights resembled artificial stars, a beauty of humanity's creation.
"Why did you bring us here, Alex?" Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued. "Without even finishing the cake, I might add."
Alex gazed ahead for a moment, taking a deep breath as he replayed Sarah's recorded words in his mind.
"I've got a story to tell you, Sarah, but before we begin, I want to set the mood," Alex said.
"The mood?" Sarah repeated, curious.
"Yes. To truly appreciate this story, I need you to promise me that you'll forget everything else in the world. Our lives, everything," Alex replied, turning to face her.
"Why do I need to forget everything just to listen to a story?" Sarah chuckled uncertainly.
"Just trust me on this," Alex insisted. "Forget about Aerospace, your parents, and even Deliah. In fact, forget about yourself. Forget that you're Sarah Johnson, and forget that I'm Alex James. We're simply a guy and a girl sitting on top of a hill, nothing more."
"Okay," Sarah murmured. "I'll do it."
"Good. Now that you're ready, let me begin," Alex whispered. "So, once upon a time..."
Sarah couldn't help but giggle.
Alex shot her a playful look and pouted. "Hey!"
"I'm sorry. But seriously, out of all the beginnings in the world, you chose the most cliché one?" Sarah laughed.
Alex flicked her forehead lightly and tapped her nose. "Fairy tales start that way, and so will my story. So, shush and let me continue."
Sarah nodded, suppressing her laughter. "Okay."
Alex smiled and took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Once upon a time, there was a guy and a girl."
"This girl didn't like this guy from the very beginning. He was quite popular, and she just disliked people like him. She despised him before even having a conversation with him," Alex narrated.
"This guy, in turn, didn't like this girl either. He had heard rumors about her and, somehow, she had managed to get under his skin without even doing anything. He simply disliked her, without really knowing her," he continued.
"Alex, isn't that us—" Sarah began to interject.
"Shh," Alex interrupted, placing his fingers gently on her lips. "Let me continue. Now, where was I? Oh, yes."
"So, this guy and this girl harbored a mutual hatred for each other. It was strange, but that's just how it was."
"And then the guy met the younger sister of the girl. The sister was attractive and popular, and his friends encouraged him to pursue her because she seemed like a great catch."
"This guy, he had no experience with love. He had never had a girlfriend or even a crush before. He didn't understand what it meant to have romantic feelings for someone. When he found the sister attractive and his friends urged him on, he accepted her confession. Little did he know it would turn out to be a colossal mistake."
"Alex, what-" Sarah's voice trembled.
"And so, this guy embarked on his first relationship. On the very first day, he spent his time at a newsletter meeting. On the second day, he found himself engrossed in a heated discussion with this girl about an article, nearly getting into a fight. And on the third day, he lay on his bed, unable to get her out of his mind."
Sarah's lower lip quivered.
"At that stage, this guy still couldn't fathom that something was terribly wrong. Even though he couldn't stand this girl, he failed to realize how peculiar it was for him to think about her more than her sister. He should have seen the signs. He should have known," Alex murmured.
"And then this girl and this guy began spending more time together. It happened because of the newsletter committee, because they were in the same class, and because of her sister. And during these moments, the guy slowly warmed up to this girl. She captivated his attention, even when he resisted, right from the moment they first met."
"Soon, they became good friends, discovering they shared passions, interests, and goals. This guy couldn't believe how deeply the girl affected him, with her oversized glasses and baggy shirts. And before he even realized it, his priorities started to shift. Making this girl happy became his top priority, just to witness her radiant smile once again."
"Sometimes, he would have to remind himself that his girlfriend was her sister, not her, and he would make desperate attempts to bond with his actual girlfriend. But it just didn't come naturally to him. He once asked his friend if he constantly needed to remind himself to be affectionate with his girlfriend, or if it came naturally. He should have known then that something was amiss."
Sarah's throat tightened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Alex..."
"And then there was this jerk who always targeted her," Alex's expression hardened. "This guy couldn't bear to see how this jerk constantly made her feel miserable. He could sense the impact it had on her, no matter how she put on a brave face. There was something she kept hidden from him, something significant. It affected her decisions, her self-image, and her need for secrecy."
Alex's gaze dropped to the floor. "This guy knew she didn't want to discuss it, so he refrained from prying. Little did he know how her secret would impact their relationship, until one fateful day when his best friend played a prank on him. In that moment, he thought something terrible had happened to her, and he was overwhelmed by fear, worry, and anxiety." Alex's voice trembled softly.
"And that's when he realized he was in love with her."
Sarah couldn't contain her emotions and let out a choked sob, her body trembling.
"But when he confessed his feelings to her, she rejected him. Again and again. Offering the same explanation each time: he was her sister's boyfriend. When he attempted to break up with her sister, this girl threatened to sever all ties with him. Maybe if it were someone else, this guy would have acted differently. But because it was her, he knew she meant every word. He couldn't bear to lose her, even if he couldn't be with her."
"This secret that holds her heart captive, this guy desperately wants to uncover it," Alex's voice cracked. "He longs to understand why she sacrifices everything for her sister. What about herself? What about him? What about them?"
"Because even when he believes he understands her true feelings, even when he feels confident that she reciprocates his affection, there's a part of him that feels insecure. There's a limit to how many times he can be pushed away. Each time she distances herself, especially when she chose the jerk instead, a piece of him shatters." Sarah wept softly, hugging her knees.
"And today," Alex gazed out at the city lights, taking a deep breath, "today, this guy and this girl find themselves sitting on a hill. Just the two of them, shutting out the rest of the world."
Alex turned towards her and gently took her hand. "This guy," he said, turning to her and reaching for her hand, his eyes searching hers desperately. "He inwardly begs for her to just forget, just for this one night. Forget everything out there. Tonight, it's only her and him. Tonight, please live for yourself and not anyone else."
Alex searched her eyes, his heart thudding wildly in his chest, and the heat between their palms searing throughout his body. "Tonight," he said again, his voice filled with intensity. "This guy tells this girl that he loves her. With his life. His soul. His everything." He whispered, "What will this girl say?"
Sarah barely noticed the tear that rolled down her cheek as she stared back, deeply touched. Her heart was behaving in a similar fashion, and she desperately wanted to cry. "This girl..." she breathed softly. "This girl would say..."
Alex's grip on her hand tightened. "This girl would say that she loves him back." Sarah stared back at him, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.
Alex took a few moments to react, his eyes widening and the corners of his lips curling upwards slowly. His fingers moved to interlace with hers as he pulled her closer. "Finally."
And then he kissed her. And for the first time, she kissed him back.