Attention to all readers, this is an additional chapter and has no relation to the other chapters of the novel.
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under the moonlight
The sky was studded with stars, the moon was lighting up the green meadow softly, as if the night was whispering its secrets. On a distant hill, a couple lay enjoying the sparkle of the stars, the cool night breeze flowing between them, accompanied by the sound of the chirping of the grasshoppers, as if they were singing them an eternal song.
They sat under a large tree, its leaves dancing gently in the wind, blending into the still silence of the night. The boy looked at the girl beside him, his eyes glowing with the magic of the moment, then he whispered quietly.
"Isn't the moon beautiful tonight?"
The girl did not answer directly. She kept looking at the moon with dreamy eyes, as if she was recalling distant memories. Then she closed her eyes for a moment before turning to him and saying with a calm smile.
"It's been like this for a long time… we just don't usually pay attention to it."
The boy smiled as he looked at her, then said in a warm tone.
"truly?"
Their eyes met in the moonlight, and it seemed as if there were words yet to be spoken. The boy leaned a little closer to her, his voice growing softer.
"But I'm not talking about that moon…"
Her eyes widened slightly before her cheeks turned red in embarrassment, she quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her confusion, while muttering incomprehensible words. The boy didn't miss the opportunity, he moved closer to her to tease her more gently, saying slyly.
"Did you say something?"
He laughed as he watched her cute shyness, then added in a playful tone.
"You seem to have realized which moon I'm talking about."
She quickly raised her head trying to reply, but his deep gaze stopped her, she felt her boldness suddenly fade away. He moved closer, gently raised his hand, and ran his fingers through her hair, then whispered with a calm smile.
"I don't need words… your eyes tell me everything."
Her heartbeat increased, and she felt a tension she couldn't control. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself, but the warmth of his hand on her head made her feel safe. He gently pulled her towards him, and she fell on his chest without resistance.
He whispered in her ear, "I love your shyness so much."
She wrapped her arms around his chest gently, rested her head on it, and closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat, until she felt reassured. She smiled quietly, as if she had found the place where she belonged.
Suddenly, the boy pulled her closer to him, and started to swing her right and left, saying in a voice filled with love:
"I love you… I love you… I love you so much!"
The girl laughed, trying to get out of his arms, saying.
"Enough...enough, you crazy man!"
But he did not leave her, but rather he fell with her to the ground, and he surrounded her with his arms lovingly, then he whispered.
"I won't let you go anywhere."
She finally surrendered to him, burying her face in his chest, trying to hide her shyness. He looked at her with a smile, then gently lifted her face, kissed her cheek lightly, before asking her in a warm voice.
"Have you given up?"
Her cheeks turned redder, she looked at him with hesitant eyes, then hid her face between her hands shyly. He patted her head gently and said tenderly.
"I love you...do you love me too?"
She shook her head shyly, and answered in a barely audible voice.
"Okay…"
He raised his eyebrows slyly, and moved closer, saying,
"I didn't hear you, did you say something?"
He put his hand to his ear as if trying to listen, and the girl raised her eyes to him, then surprised him with a sudden hug, and whispered in his ear.
"Yes... I love you."
The boy smiled happily, then shouted with all his might:
"I looooove you!"
The girl was startled, and quickly closed her mouth as she whispered anxiously.
"Lower your voice! Someone might hear us!"
He took her hand gently, looked at her lovingly and said.
"I want the whole world to hear me."
Her cheeks flushed, but she smiled happily, then rested her head on his chest again, while he wrapped his arms around her tenderly.
The boy lay on his back, and the girl fell on top of him unintentionally. She looked at him with shy eyes, and put her hands on his chest, trying to get up, but she failed when he gently grabbed her and pulled her towards him, whispering.
"Where are you trying to go?"
She finally slipped away from him, and ran away across the green meadow, and he laughed as he chased after her, warning her.
"Careful, you might fall!"
But she didn't notice, and actually stumbled, so he quickly ran towards her, and sat beside her, holding her head and waist carefully, as he asked anxiously.
"Are you okay, baby?"
She smiled despite her pain, saying in a broken voice.
"I'm fine… no need to worry."
He examined her feet carefully, looking for any wounds, but she placed her hand gently on his shoulder, saying.
"Don't worry, nothing happened."
He sighed in relief, but couldn't resist the urge to hug her again. He hugged her tightly and whispered.
"If you try to run away again… I'll kiss you, and you know where."
She looked at him in shock, then quickly moved away, trying to run again, but he held her tightly, laughing slyly.
"I won't let you escape!"
She covered her face with her hands in shame, but she quickly lowered her hands when she saw him looking at her sadly, and said in a low voice.
"It's not what you think..."
And in secret she continued: (I can't even imagine life without you.)
When she surrendered into his arms, the boy leaned over and kissed her lips gently, holding her lovingly so she wouldn't think of running away again, then he whispered.
"I told you I would do it if you tried to run away."
Moments later, she surrendered to him completely, closing her eyes to take a short nap, which made him feel worried about her. He quickly checked her, then carried her in his arms, walking under the starry sky until he reached a large tree.
He gently placed her next to the tree, and sat next to her, contemplating her soft face. After a few minutes, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled, so he approached her to check on her condition, but she surprised him with another kiss, and whispered.
"You won't embarrass me any further, will you?"
He laughed lovingly, nodded in agreement, then pulled her close to him, covering them with his coat.
Under the moonlight, in his arms, the girl closed her eyes, and felt that she was finally… in the place where she belonged.