This is a short story about first love

I still remember when we first met. They say our first meeting is like a fairytale and I couldn’t agree more. What happened 13 years ago was still printed in my mind and I’m sure it will always be remembered by my heart.

Flashback

I woke up with a feeling that something’s wetting my face. When I finally open my eyes, the gray sky greeted me with drizzles. I sat up and look for my parents but they’re nowhere to be found. I remember my mom telling me to pack my stuff because we’re already going home and oh, before you ask me where we are, we’re at the middle of the forest, we’re camping.

I walk to our tent from the flat rock that I was laying. I open our tent but only to find out that it’s empty. I wonder where they went. I called for them as the rain starts to pour harshly. I run around the forest to call them I just find myself lost. It’s so dark I can’t see a thing. The purple jacket that I’m wearing and the gray beanie in my head are already soaked.

Then a boom suddenly made me jump. The sky’s echo resounding in my ear once, then twice, I squat and cover my ears unable to move.

‘Mama! Pa! Mark!’ I shouted but there is no use. ‘You’re a big girl, big girls don’t cry’ I remembered when my mom always said that but I just can’t help to cower in fear. Unconsciously, I began to break into a sob as I felt chills crept into my skin.

I force my feet to stand up and walk, you’ll be fine, you’ll be fine, I chanted in my head. But the lightning and thunder is crumbling my hope of either finding my way back to the tent or finding them. The rain continuously to pour as I saw something, a light. I tried to walk towards it but it suddenly disappears. Suddenly, the light directed at my face making me scream.

‘Hey, it’s alright’ a voice said but I can’t make the person’s face.

‘Are you okay?’ He sounded concern and confuse, instead of hearing my answer he suddenly pulled my hand and we ran, I don’t know where we’re going but I trusted the also cold hands that’s surprisingly giving me a feeling of warmth.

Finally, from a far I saw a mahogany house. We’re getting closer to it so maybe that’s where we’re heading. After what it feels like a marathon run, we finally arrive. He let go of my hand and I suddenly miss its warmth. I look up and saw a boy. A gorgeous one. He has dark-brown hair, coal eyes, pointed nose and pink lips.  His skin is pale which really contrast my brown fair skin. His kinda tall which made me guess that he’s way older than me.

‘Mom!’ he called and a lady appeared in front of us

‘Oh, why are you wet? Who do we have here?’ she said and looks at me

‘I found her lost in the woods and she’s cold mom, can you let her change?’ My heart made a small flip hearing the concern in his voice

‘Sure, come here sweetie’ the beautiful lady held out her hand and I reluctantly place my small ones

After she gave me clothes which I assume her daughter’s clothes, I ask her where the bathroom is and her eyes widen in a surprise. Well, I can’t blame her, I’m a six year old for god’s sake but my mind works way older than my age. I brace myself for a laugh but she just smiled and points the door to my right.

After I change, I saw the boy with a towel hang in his shoulder. He then saw me and lead me to the living where they have a fireplace. He then pushes a sit towards me and he let me sit on it. It’s surprisingly comfy and warm. Then, I felt a towel over my head and hands over it. I look at him and he just smiled. I can’t believe his drying my hair!

‘I can do it’ I protested

‘I know, but I want to’ when I say that my heart made a flip earlier now it’s doing summersault

‘Honey, I’ll just call your dad and make you soup. I bet you can look after her’ her mom wink at him and I can’t help but bow my head to hide my embarrassment

‘So… what are you doing in the woods?’ he ask me as he took a sit and by my side

‘I’m looking for my parents, we’re having camping and I fell asleep. When I open my eyes they’re gone’ I explained to him

‘How old are you?’ I ask before he can open his mouth

‘I’m 8’ so I’m right, he’s older than me and I just nod

‘You?’ he ask

‘I’m 6’ I bit my inner lip. I’m not really comfortable when people ask my age. It’s just remind me how I don’t act like one

‘We’re alike’ he stated as-a-matter-of-fact. I look at him trying to comprehend what he just said and after a second I finally get it

‘Maybe’I answered. He also doesn’t act like an 8-year-old kid.

‘Come, I wanna show you something’ he held out his hand and he guide me to his room. Not a typical 8-year-old room. It has no toys, no spiderman or batman figurines; instead it has art works, different drawings and photographs. I also saw some books in his bedside table. I walk towards it and open it. It’s a childcraft, holidays and birthdays. It’s the exact one I have since my mom is a librarian.

‘I like the part where I know the meaning of my birthday and my birthstone’ he said and I smiled

‘I like the part where I know where the name of the days came from’ I stated truthfully

‘We can read it later but I have something to show you’ he grab my hand and ushered me to sit on his bed. He then went to a drawer and grabs something. After that he turned off the light and I was confused

‘What are you doing?’ I ask him but he just shush me

I can hear his footsteps towards me and I’m getting antsy and excited at the same time

‘Look’ he said and suddenly his ceiling lit up with tiny lights and it just takes my breath away

‘It’s beautiful’ I whispered in awe. It’s like we’re looking at the sky full of stars

‘My dad help me made it, I look at it every time I’m sad or something’ he said

‘Why did you show it to me?’ I ask him

‘Because we’re alike’ he said still gazing to the ceiling and I understand what he meant

After a while his mom called us and I saw a man which I guess his dad. He looks like his dad a lot. We eat our soup while his mom who I learned her name is Julie asks me a few questions how I got lost in the woods. Her dad, Richard offered to call the police to help me find my parents which I’m thankful for.

‘Where’s your daughter?’ I blurted out and Julie looks confuse at my question

‘We don’t have a daughter, Ken is our only son’ she answered and it’s my turn to be confused

‘Whose clothes are these?’ I ask and pointed at what I’m wearing

Julie bit back a smile and answered ‘I always wanted to have a girl so sometimes I dress up Ken like a girl’ and that made me laugh

‘Mom…’ he groaned and I saw a tint of embarrassment on his cheeks which cause to make me laugh harder. Soon, Richard and Julie laugh with me

‘Okay guys, it’s not funny anymore’ he scowled at us

‘It’s okay son, whatever you look, I still love you’ his dad tease him

‘Thanks dad’ he said in a sarcastic way

After the dinner, I offer Julie a hand in washing the dishes but she said she can manage. She let us off to bed. I wanted to ask where would I sleep and she answered in Ken’s room and I just nod.

We lay together, side by side and I can’t help but feel comfortable. Usually, I wanted to sleep alone.

‘You haven’t asked me for my name yet’ I roll to my side so that I was facing him

‘I could ask you in another time’ with that he closes his eyes and drift to sleep. I lean close and whisper in his ear “Thank you” and soon I drift off to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I hear voices and groggily stand up, Ken was no longer by my side and I walk out from his bedroom. I went to the source of voices and I saw my parents talking to them. My dad saw me and rushed to me, engulfing me in a hug. I hug him back sensing how worried he was.

‘Are you alright?’ he ask and I just nod

‘I’m sorry, sweetie’ my mom said from behind and scoop me up and kiss my forehead. I wanted to cry there and then. You see, my mom is never fond of showing affection too much so seeing her worried about me is a big deal.

My parents chatted with Julie and Richard, maybe showing some gratitude and such. I walk over to Ken and saw his drawing something.

‘You’re really good’ I complimented him

‘Thanks’ he murmured, I was supposed to say something when my Julie called us. We went inside and saw our parents standing and I know what will happen next.

‘It’s time to say goodbye’ my dad said and I was right. Even for a short time, I came to like Julie and Richard, they’re sweet and funny. Furthermore, Ken… his like me. He understands me, he saved me. I don’t wanna say goodbye at all.

‘Thank you’ I ran towards Julie and hug her. She scoops me up and kisses my cheek. Her eyes glistened with tears, I know she’s fond me. She handed me to his husband and Rich did the same.

‘Don’t run into the woods again or else the bears will get you’ he joke and I giggle, he then put me down and I know I have one person left to say goodbye to.

I slowly walk towards him, every step felt like a kilo added to the weight of my feet. Finally, I was in front of him. He tilts my chin for me to look up and I can’t explain why he’s smiling. The thought that his not sad, in the possibility that we will not see each other again, cause a painful tug in my small little heart.

‘Here’ he handed a paper to me, I grab it and saw it was the one his making earlier. It’s a butterfly but there is only one wing

As if sensing my confusion he said, ‘I’ll finish it off when we meet again’ that alone made me happy and sad at the same time. I’m happy his eager to see me again but sad because our home is far from here so I doubt if we’ll see each other again

‘See you’ he said and he ruffles my hair

‘Yeah, see you’ I murmured back. It’s not goodbye. I’ll see him again, I chanted in my head as we walk out in their place and head home.

I haven’t seen him after that, but after a few months a new kid transfer to our school but I couldn’t care less. I walk towards my favorite spot where I sat alone, away from noisy kids.

I eat in silence just gazing at the sky when a shadow looms over me. I sat up and saw him standing there. My eyes widen in surprise.

‘I-I-you’ I stutter and he just chuckles

‘What no hi, or I miss you?’ he teases and I immediately stand on my feet and throw myself at him.

‘I miss you’ I whispered. He hugs me back and said ‘Told ya, I’ll see you soon’ he grins at me

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After that day, we have been together, although we don’t have the same classes since his a grade higher than me, we spent most of our free time together. We don’t play prince and princess or tea party; instead we just talk and enjoy each other’s company. He draws or clicks some pictures when he brought his camera and a few blank films, while I on the other hand read some books.

As you can see, we’re not like any other kids. We’re different. We’re both mature for our own age. Maybe it’s intelligence or maybe because of how we grow up. As for my case, it’s both.

When I was three I already learn how to read and to write. My parents, especially my mom never let me out of the house. I could only go out and have fun with the sun when I’ll finish a book that she assigned for me to read. I’ve been alone most of the times. I have an older brother but we’re completely alien to each other. I can’t blame him, we’re the total opposite. When we’re together at home, we just end up fighting. We’re jealous of each other. He’s jealous with the attention my dad was giving me and I’m jealous with the attention my mom was giving him.

With that aside, I have no friends well except for my books. I was sad about it at first when I saw girls and boys laughing and running around but then, when I tried to join them, I saw a big difference. They talk in annoying way, using their baby voice or something while I talk like I’m not a child anymore. They like to play with barbies and toy cars but I don’t understand how talking and emitting sounds to inanimate object could be fun. Soon, I found myself alone. They couldn’t understand why I’m acting the way I am and I couldn’t understand the way they are.

When I found Ken, or more technically he found me, everything changes. As we grow up together, we couldn’t care less what people think of us. We have our own world. After I knew that he transferred to our school, I also knew that we’re just a couple of blocks away living from each other. He started visiting our house and I was so afraid my mom would push him away but surprisingly, she did not.

Sometimes, he stays overnight to ours and other times I found myself in theirs. We we’re different but we have each other. Soon as years passed, things escalated. I no longer feel like he was my best friend, I feel so much more.