Arge William was a senior in high school, but he had never felt like he belonged there. He was a quiet and reserved person, preferring to keep to himself and avoid any unnecessary social interactions. He had no friends, and he liked it that way.
On the first day of school, Arge found himself assigned to a part-time job at a café near the school. He was relieved to have something to do during his free periods, but he was also anxious about having to interact with customers.
As he walked to the café, he noticed a girl with fiery red hair walking in the same direction. She seemed to be heading to the same place, and he found himself intrigued by her.
Arge started his shift at the café, working behind the counter and taking orders from customers. It was a busy morning, and he was struggling to keep up with the demand.
As he was pouring a cup of coffee, he heard a familiar voice.
"Hi, there! Can I get my usual, please?"
He turned around to see the girl with the red hair, Kate, standing in front of him.
"Sure," he replied, handing her the coffee.
Kate flashed him a warm smile and walked away, leaving Arge feeling strangely empty.
Over the next few weeks, Arge found himself increasingly drawn to Kate. She was friendly and outgoing, the complete opposite of him, but he found her captivating. She would often come into the café during his shifts, striking up a conversation with him and sharing stories from her life.
One day, as Arge was wiping down the counter, Kate walked in, looking upset.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
Kate hesitated for a moment before finally opening up to him.
"I just broke up with my boyfriend," she said, tears streaming down her face.
Arge was taken aback by her sudden vulnerability. He had never seen her like this before.
"I'm sorry," he said, not sure what else to say.
Kate sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Thanks for listening, Arge."
From that day on, Arge found himself thinking more and more about Kate. He felt a strange pull towards her, something he couldn't explain. He found himself looking forward to her visits to the café, eager to hear about her day and share in her joys and sorrows.
As they talked more, Arge started to open up to Kate. He shared details about his life that he had never told anyone before. Kate listened intently, nodding and offering words of encouragement.
Arge was surprised to find that he enjoyed her company, and he found himself longing for more.
One day, Arge mustered up the courage to ask Kate out on a date. He had rehearsed what he was going to say in his head a thousand times, but when the moment finally came, he stumbled over his words.
"Um, Kate, I was wondering if you, uh, wanted to go out sometime?"
Kate's face fell, and Arge knew he had made a mistake.
"Oh, Arge, I'm sorry, but I just got out of a relationship. I don't think I'm ready for anything like that right now."
Arge was crushed, but he tried to hide his disappointment. "It's okay. I understand."
They fell into an awkward silence, and Arge wished he could disappear.
As the weeks went on, Arge found himself growing more distant from Kate. He was hurt by her rejection, and he didn't want to risk getting hurt again.
However, Kate noticed Arge's change in behavior and didn't understand why he was acting distant toward her. She decided to confront him about it the next time she saw him at the café.
"Arge, can we talk for a minute?" Kate asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Arge reluctantly agreed, unsure of what to expect.
"Is everything okay? You've been acting distant lately, and I can't help but feel like I've done something to upset you."
Arge hesitated for a moment before deciding to come clean.
"It's just that... I don't know. I asked you out, and you turned me down, and I don't want to risk getting hurt again. I'm sorry if I'm being distant, it's not about you."
Kate was taken aback by Arge's confession. She had no idea that he had asked her out or that he was still hurt by her rejection.
"Arge, I had no idea you felt that way. I turned you down because I wasn't ready to jump into another relationship, but that doesn't mean I don't value your friendship. I care about you, Arge, as a friend."
Arge was surprised to hear Kate's words. He had assumed that their connection was one-sided and that she didn't care about him as much as he cared about her.
Feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders, Arge smiled at Kate. "Thanks for understanding, Kate. I care about you too."
As the school year progressed, the winter dance was fast approaching. Arge didn't plan on attending, but Kate was determined to get him to come with her.
"Arge, you have to come to the dance with me. It'll be fun, I promise!" Kate pleaded.
Arge was hesitant, but he didn't want to disappoint her. "Okay, fine. But I'm not dancing."
Kate laughed, "We'll see about that."
The night of the dance arrived, and Arge found himself feeling out of place. He didn't know how to dance, and he felt awkward in his suit.
But as he watched Kate dance with her friends, a smile crept across his face. He was happy to see her having fun and enjoying herself.
As the night went on, Kate dragged Arge onto the dance floor. He stumbled at first, but soon he found himself laughing and enjoying the moment.
As the school year came to a close, Arge realized how much Kate had changed his life. He had gone from a quiet, antisocial guy to someone more open to the world around him.
He decided to take a chance and tell Kate how he felt once more.
"Kate, I know I asked you out before and you turned me down. But... I just wanted to let you know that I still have feelings for you. I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I couldn't keep it inside anymore."
Kate looked at him, her eyes shining with surprise and something else that Arge couldn't quite place.
"Arge, I had no idea you still felt that way. I... I don't know what to say."
Arge braced himself for rejection, but then Kate took a step forward and kissed him.
It was a soft, gentle kiss, but it spoke volumes. Arge knew at that moment that Kate felt the same way.
As they pulled away, Kate looked at him, a smile on her face.
"Arge, I never thought I would find someone like you. Someone who understands me and cares about me for who I am. I love you."
Arge felt his heart swell with emotion, and he knew that this was a new beginning for him and Kate. He knew that their relationship would be different this time around.
"I love you too, Kate," Arge said, his voice barely above a whisper.
They spent the rest of the night talking and holding hands, enjoying each other's company. As they walked out of the dance, Kate turned to Arge.
"Arge, I know we haven't been together for very long, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. You can talk to me about anything, okay?"
Arge nodded, feeling grateful for Kate's understanding and support.
Over the summer, Arge and Kate spent as much time together as they could. They went on dates, took walks, and watched movies together. They talked about everything and anything, and Arge found himself opening up to Kate in ways he never thought possible.
As the new school year began, Arge and Kate were no longer just acquaintances or even friends. They were a couple, and everyone knew it.
Arge still struggled with his antisocial tendencies, but with Kate by his side, he found that it was easier to face the world. He even found himself making new friends and joining clubs at school.
And as they stood hand in hand at the winter dance, just as they had the year before, Arge realized that he had never been happier.
Years went by, and Arge and Kate graduated from high school and went on to college. They faced new challenges and obstacles, but they faced them together.
Arge never forgot the way that Kate had changed his life. She had taught him how to love and be loved, how to open himself up to the world and all its possibilities.
And as they stood together, hand in hand, at their college graduation, Arge knew that he had found his soulmate.