Before Zinnia Lopez entered high school, her family sent her to study abroad. They wanted to protect her from the prying eyes of the public.
Being the sole heiress of a large media company meant that people were bound to invade her privacy and follow her every move. To shield her from this attention, her parents decided to send her to a foreign country where she could live normally and freely.
At first, Zinnia struggled with the adjustment. Everything was new and unfamiliar, and she felt out of place. But everything changed when she met him.
James Lucas was the name she saw written on a name tag on the chair beside hers.
She sat quietly in her chair while her classmates chatted happily around her. The language spoken was foreign to her, so she lacked the confidence to strike up a conversation.
Then, a boy who seemed to be from the same country as her caught her attention. In a classroom where she felt isolated and alone, his sudden presence was like a morning sun bringing warmth and light.
He had a gentle face with deep brown eyes and a warm smile as he approached her.
"Hello! I'm James Lucas. Nice to meet you, my seatmate." He stretched out his hand, asking for a handshake.
Zinnia was taken aback when she heard his voice. It was gentle and pleasing to the ears. Most importantly, he spoke the same language as her.
Surprised, she didn't react immediately but managed to shake his hand.
James then took the seat with his name tag and settled his things. Looking at her with a friendly smile, he asked, "By the way, seatmate, may I know your name?"
He tried to read her name tag, but it was blocked by her. So, he just looked at her face with a gentle smile, waiting for her response.
"Hmmm... I-I'm Zinnia Lopez," she said shyly. It was her first time talking to someone since she arrived in this country.
"You have a beautiful name," James said. "Does your name come from the flower called zinnia? That's actually my mom's favorite flower. She says zinnia means goodness, lasting affection, and enduring love."
"I didn't know about that meaning," Zinnia replied. "I only know that zinnia is also my mom's favorite flower, and that's why they gave me that name."
"By the way, Zinnia, is it okay if I ask how long you've been living in this country?"
Zinnia nodded and answered, "Just two weeks ago."
"Oh, I've been living here for three months already. I was supposed to be in third-year high school, but due to difficulties with processing my documents and not knowing the language, they placed me in first-year high school."
He sighed, looking sad about the situation. Then his mood brightened as he continued, "I was feeling so sad when I found out I had to start over as a first-year student. But when I entered this classroom and saw you, I was so happy. You're the first person I've met who seems to come from the same country as me."
James smiled brightly, then continued his story, "Actually, earlier when you didn't react when I told you my name, I was so nervous. I thought I was mistaken, that you just looked like someone from my country but were actually born here and spoke the local language."
He sighed and chuckled to himself. "I felt so relieved when you finally spoke. It was like... thankfully, I met someone who shares the same language. I finally have someone I can talk to without worrying about a language barrier."
He looked Zinnia in the eyes and flashed his brightest smile. "With you around, starting first-year high school again isn't so bad anymore."
Zinnia smiled back at him. She felt the same way. Even though James was chatty, she didn't find it irritating. Instead, his presence reminded her of home, filling a void left by the absence of her parents' familiar banter.
Hearing someone speak her language was comforting, especially because James had a nice voice and spoke with a gentle tone.
From that encounter, they spent their school years together. In that foreign land, James became her companion, her best friend, and eventually, her first love.
During their final year of high school, discussions about crushes and romantic relationships became common among students.
Zinnia and James, both good-looking, attracted numerous admirers. Because they were always together, people began to assume they were in a romantic relationship.
This made them both more aware of the complexities of their feelings. They liked each other, but they were afraid of ruining their friendship. What if they broke up? Would they still be able to be friends, or would they become strangers?
Their fears were valid, but they also wondered about the potential of their relationship. If they were meant to be together, wasn't it worth taking their relationship to the next level? They could show everyone who might want to come between them that their bond was unbreakable.
But what if their feelings weren't mutual? What if Zinnia loved him, but to him, she was just a friend? Or maybe James was in love with her, but she didn't feel the same way? Both were scared of an uncertain future.
The day of their graduation arrived. Before they went their separate ways, James mustered up the courage to ask Zinnia out.
"Zinnia, wait... I-I want to invite you this Saturday. It's my birthday."
"Sure! We've celebrated each other's birthdays many times. Of course, I'll be there."
"It's not just that. I want to tell you something very important. So I really hope you will come."
James blushed deeply as he spoke, unable to meet her eyes.
Zinnia's heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts raced with anticipation. 'Is he finally going to confess his feelings to me?'
"I'll be coming, I promise," she managed to say before she hurriedly walked away, almost stumbling as she did.
James chuckled, watching her departing figure. He smiled wider at the thought of the upcoming event.