The beach, bathed in the soft, ethereal light of the setting sun, was a canvas for a picturesque scene. A tall, strikingly handsome young man, with an athletic physique, stood at the water's edge. The sea breeze played with his dark, tousled hair, causing it to sway in a rhythmic dance. His unbuttoned shirt revealed chiseled abs and well-defined pecs that glistened under the golden hues of the evening sun.
A little way down the shoreline, my friends gathered, their eyes fixed on the captivating boy who seemed sculpted by the wonderful hands of God. Amongst them, was I, a nineteen-year-old young and beautiful rising star, with starry-eyed admiration, stood with her sister and friends; our whispers of admiration carried by the breeze.
As if summoned by fate, the handsome young man began to saunter in our direction. With a charismatic grin, he greeted us, "Hey, ladies," as he strolled by, leaving the girls breathless and blushing in his wake. Already, our hearts began to flutter with secret crushes.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the beach was bathed in the mystical glow of night, people still lingered around the shore, and then, I realized my hand band was missing. Panic surged through me, for my house key was tied to it, and without it, I couldn't get home.
Frantic, I and my teenage friends commenced a search along the sandy shoreline. It was when I retraced my steps through an area I had passed earlier that I collided with the handsome stranger. In the moonlight's subtle embrace, I stood there, speechless and overcome with shyness.
In his deep, masculine voice, he inquired about what I was looking for and why I was alone in that particular spot. Swallowing my nerves, I timidly explained my predicament, mentioning my amber hand band with a beautiful floral design. To my surprise, he revealed he worked at the beach house, where misplaced items were regularly deposited in the lost and found.
I was astonished by his unexpected kindness, and he offered to escort me to retrieve my lost item. Without a second thought, I responded with a joyful, "Yes, for sure. I wouldn't want to sleep here tonight," with a hint of jest in my voice. Together, we embarked on a nocturnal adventure, shadows elongating in the moonlight as we walked, the distant sound of waves crashing on the shore, and fireflies dancing around like stars of the night.
Our journey concluded at the lost and found, where I found my cherished hand band. Overflowing with gratitude, I cheerfully thanked him and requested his number, expressing my desire to be friends. He agreed, and as I asked for his name, he replied, "David." In that moonlit moment, under the stars' gentle watch, the first chapter of an unexpected connection unfolded.
The night was slowly giving way to the dawn as I, clutching my recovered hand band, returned to my friend and sister, Lisa. With an air of excitement, I recounted my adventure, telling them about the good-looking guy who had come to my rescue in the moonlit shadows of the beach.
As I shared my story, one of my friends, Theresa, a classmate and a colleague, couldn't resist teasing me.
"Did you flirt with him, or were you shy?" she asked playfully. I responded with a proud look, flipping my hair backward, placing my left hand on my petite waist, and extending my left leg confidently. "Trust me, girl, I never miss," I declared, evoking laughter from my companions.
Leaving the tranquil shadows of the beach behind, we all made our way to my sister's car parked nearby. It was an open-top car, and we zoomed off towards home, laughter filling the night air as the girls screamed and waved their hands to the breeze while loud music played from the car's speakers.
Upon our arrival home, my friends bade each other goodnight, and I retired to my room, my heart still fluttering from the adventures of the night.
The following morning, the sun painted the sky in shades of gold and blue, but my peaceful slumber was disrupted when I realized I had overslept and would miss my important AP tests.
In a frenzied rush, I hurriedly bathed, leaving my breakfast untouched, and donned my school uniform haphazardly.
"Whoa! Whoa!! Whoa!!! Slow down, Alex". Lisa said when she saw me running down the staircase.
"At least, eat your food. Even if it's a bite". She added.
"No time, Sis! I'm already late. Love you!" I responded quickly as I left the entrance door.
I rushed to school via an Uber.
"Please, Sir, drive fast! I'm late already!" I snapped at the Uber driver.
"What do they teach you in school? Weren't you taught that overspeeding kills?" He sputtered.
"You either sit there quietly or you get out of my vehicle!" He snarled.
I obliged and kept mute.
After a few minutes, I arrived at my destination—my school.
I made my way out of the vehicle and swiftly to the school compound. My skirt swayed as I briskly walked through the hallways. Turning a corner of the school building with the urgency of time against me, I collided with someone, sending scripts and writing materials tumbling to the ground.
"Shit! I'm so sorry, I didn't watch where I was going," I stammered in a shivering tone as I scrambled to pick up the scattered books. As I rose to return the materials to the owner, I was startled to realize it was none other than David, the same guy who had assisted me on the beach.
"You!" We both exclaimed simultaneously. A smile danced on my lips, mingling with the shyness that had unexpectedly washed over me. In a moment that felt like it was plucked from the movies, David moved towards me in slow motion. He gently lifted my face, adjusted my collar, tidied my necktie, and straightened my shirt, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on me.
With my mouth agape in admiration, I watched him, a strange mixture of surprise and fascination filling my heart. "I will take that," he said, reclaiming his books and delivering a subtle reminder. "You have a test, and you're late," he whispered, jolting me out of my daze. Realizing the urgency of the situation, I hurriedly ran to my classroom without looking back, wondering if he was still watching me or had walked away.
After school, I found myself back home, having dinner with my sister at the dining table.
"Were you able to catch up with your test?" She asked.
"Yes, I did". I responded with the food in my mouth.
"How was work today? Did you buy me popcorn from McCollum's?"
"You are at the dining table, young lady, keep quiet and eat your food before you choke on it".
My older sister reminding me of manners at the dining table made me recollect the Uber driver lecturing me on safety driving tips. I smiled slowly to myself and continued my eating.
A few minutes later, my phone vibrated, and when I picked it up, a familiar voice spoke. "Always look in the mirror before you leave the house for school, hand band girl," he chided with a chuckle. I smiled, and at that moment, our connection deepened as we chatted at length, bidding each other goodnight.
"Who was that?" Lisa interrogated.
"Oh! It was David". I replied blushing.
"And who's David?" She enquired.
"The guy who helped me out at the beach last week".
"I recall vividly. It seems you both are getting to know each other. Just be careful, Alex. I don't want you to deviate from your point of focus. I don't trust boys like that". She muttered.
"Don't worry, Sis, it's just a crush. Nothing much".
Once my sister had imparted me with some sisterly advice, I sprang into action. I cleared the dishes from the table and gracefully carried them to the kitchen, where the soft light above the sink illuminated my diligent work. With care, I washed each dish, the sound of running water and the occasional clink of porcelain creating a comforting symphony.
After completing my kitchen duties, I made my way to my bedroom, where I slipped into my cozy nightgown. With a flick, I unplugged my phone from its charger and settled into my comfortable haven, my bed. The soft glow of the screen illuminated my face as I immersed myself in the virtual world of Instagram, embarking on a journey to know more about my crush, David.
As I scrolled through his Instagram profile, I watched his reels and examined his posts, absorbing every detail without leaving a reaction or comment, so as not to alert him to my virtual presence. Time drifted by like a river's gentle flow, and as the night wore on, I eventually returned my phone to its charger before drifting into the realm of dreams.
The following morning, I was at school for my rehearsals, and my friend Theresa was by my side. We were informed that a new assistant director was about to join us, the previous one having resigned. And then, in a moment that seemed like destiny, David entered the hall, blowing his whistle to gather the students.
With a commanding presence, he addressed the students, making it clear that distractions would not be tolerated. He warned us to remain focused. After his speech, roles were assigned to each student, and the rehearsal began. Theresa couldn't help but nudge me, remarking how cute David was. He noticed our whispered exchange, prompting all the students to turn, facing us.
As the rehearsals continued, My performance drew David's attention, and he couldn't help but appreciate my talent. After the session, as Theresa and I were on our way home, David called us back, praising our acting and offering to drive us home to save on transport fare. Eagerly, we accepted his offer, charmed by his gesture and looks.
On the drive home, David and I were left alone for a moment. He confessed his feelings, asking me to be his girlfriend. I promised to think about it, to which he replied, "Take your time." With a smile and gratitude for the ride, I stepped out of the car, bidding him farewell.
That night, David called me, and without wasting any time, I said, "Yes." The excited David professed his love, and I replied, "I love you more."
The next day, a Saturday, we went on a date after our rehearsals. Under the warm, romantic glow of streetlights near my house, we shared our first kiss. As we parted for the night, I smiled and bid David goodnight.
Lying in my bed, I recalled the day's events, a smile gracing my face as I cuddled my teddy bear. High school graduation may have seemed a distant dream, but the journey had begun, and I now had a boyfriend to share it with.