Chapter 1: Enchanted Beginnings

In a place where everything felt peaceful, a gentle breeze brushed against Rey's golden-colored hair, revealing his handsome face. He sat on a bench, engrossed in a book, with the soft sound of birds chirping around him. At about 5'7", Rey had a presence that was both calm and captivating, especially in such a tranquil setting.

"Hmm, what a peaceful day it is," he whispered to himself, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he took in the serenity around him. The combination of the gentle wind, the birds' melody, and the comfort of his book made everything seem perfect. But little did he know, this peaceful moment was about to change.

As Rey sat there, lost in his thoughts and the pages of his book, something—or rather, someone—caught his eye. Just a short distance away stood a girl, no taller than 5'5", with curly black hair that framed her face perfectly. She wore a simple white fitted shirt and a pair of skinny jeans that accentuated her graceful figure. There was something about her that drew him in. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

She was stunning—so beautiful that Rey found himself mesmerized. Her presence seemed to glow, and as he watched her, he felt an inexplicable connection, like he was seeing someone he'd been waiting for all his life. His heart raced as he tried to think of what to do next.

Before he realized it, Rey had stood up and started walking towards her. The closer he got, the more he noticed about her—the way her hair caught the light, the softness of her smile, and the way she seemed at ease, just like him, enjoying the peacefulness of the day.

Lost in his thoughts, Rey didn't notice how close he had gotten to her until she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his with a curious expression. "Oh, are you okay?" she asked with a gentle smile, her tone a mix of kindness and confusion.

Rey blinked, suddenly aware of how close they were and how long he had been staring at her. "Oh! Yes, yes, I'm okay," he stammered, feeling his face flush with embarrassment. He hadn't meant to come off as strange or intrusive, but he couldn't help it. "I just... I just wanted to ask for your number... if that's okay?"

His voice was filled with nervous energy, and he couldn't help but fidget as he spoke. He had never done anything like this before, and now, standing in front of this beautiful girl, he felt completely out of his depth.

To his relief, the girl smiled warmly at him. "Don't be embarrassed, I understand," she said, her voice soft and reassuring. "Nice to meet you, by the way," she added with a playful grin. "Before I give you my number, may I know your name?"

Rey let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Oh, yes, certainly!" he replied, trying to sound more confident. "My name is Rey Frinta. I'm from London, and I'm a college student at Lexus University. I'm 21 years old, in my fourth year of studies," he said, a bit more formally than he intended. He smiled sheepishly. "And may I know your name as well?"

As the girl listened, her smile grew. She seemed charmed by his sincerity and a little amused by his nervousness. "Oh, yes! Of course," she replied with a small laugh. "My name is Mariza Waynewoods. I'm from the Philippines, and I'm also 21 years old. I study at Bulacan University. I'm here in Switzerland on vacation."

There was a brief pause as they both smiled at each other, the connection between them deepening with every passing second. The world around them seemed to fade away as they stood there, two strangers suddenly feeling less like strangers.

"And here is my number," Mariza said with a gentle smile, handing him her phone so he could input his number.

Rey felt his heart skip a beat as he took her phone. He entered his contact information, feeling a rush of excitement and disbelief. Just moments ago, he had been enjoying a quiet afternoon, and now, here he was, exchanging numbers with someone who felt like she could change his life.

As he handed her phone back, their fingers brushed for a brief second, sending a spark of electricity between them. They both noticed it, but neither said a word. Instead, they just smiled at each other, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Thank you, Mariza," Rey said softly, his voice filled with gratitude and wonder. "I really appreciate it. I didn't expect this day to turn out like this."

Mariza nodded, her eyes twinkling with a similar sense of amazement. "Neither did I," she admitted. "But I'm glad it did."

They stood there for a moment longer, enjoying the newfound connection between them. It felt like the beginning of something special, something neither of them could quite put into words yet.

As they prepared to part ways, Mariza looked at Rey with a playful smile. "Well, I guess I'll see you around, Rey."

Rey grinned back, his heart full of hope and excitement. "Definitely, Mariza. I'll see you soon."

And with that, they walked away from each other, but both knew that this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of something magical—something that neither time nor distance could take away.

As Rey walked back to his bench, he couldn't stop smiling. The day that had started off so peacefully had turned into one of the most important moments of his life. And deep down, he knew that this was only the start of a journey that would change both their lives forever.