The morning sun streamed through Sam's window, casting golden streaks of light across his room. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his fingers absently grazing his lips.
Last night…
Their dance.
Their walk.
Their kiss.
His heart raced just thinking about it.
He had kissed Mahiru.
Twice.
And she had kissed him back.
He rolled onto his side, grabbing his phone from the nightstand. His thumb hovered over the screen, debating whether he should text her.
Would it be weird if I messaged her first thing in the morning?
Before he could decide, his phone buzzed.
Mahiru: Good morning, Sam ☀️
Sam blinked, a grin tugging at his lips.
So, she had thought about him first.
He quickly typed back.
Sam: Morning, Mahiru. Slept well?
A moment later, her reply came.
Mahiru: Not really… I kept thinking about last night.
His heart skipped.
Sam: Me too…
A pause. Then—
Mahiru: Our first kiss… it still feels unreal.
Sam exhaled, his fingers tightening around his phone.
Sam: It was real. And it was perfect.
A few seconds passed before she responded.
Mahiru: Yeah… it was.
Sam stared at the message, his heart swelling with warmth. He wanted to see her again.
Sam: Do you want to meet up today?
She didn't reply immediately. But when she did—
Mahiru: Yes.
Sam sat up, a grin spreading across his face.
Today… he'd get to see her again.
They decided to meet at the park, where the late morning sun painted the sky a soft blue, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees.
Sam arrived first, standing near the fountain, watching as families, couples, and joggers passed by.
And then—
He saw her.
Mahiru walked towards him, wearing a simple yet elegant white dress, the fabric swaying with the wind. Her golden-brown hair shone under the sunlight, and when her eyes met his, she smiled—a soft, radiant smile that made his heart stutter.
Sam took a deep breath. God, she's beautiful.
"Hey," she greeted softly as she stopped in front of him.
Sam smiled. "Hey."
They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other.
Last night's memories still lingered between them, making the air feel different. Warmer. More charged.
Finally, Mahiru glanced away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I… I still can't believe we…"
Sam chuckled. "Yeah. Me neither."
Mahiru looked up at him, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "It was your first kiss too, right?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah."
She smiled softly. "I'm glad… that it was with you."
Sam felt his throat tighten. He reached out, hesitating for a second before gently taking her hand.
Mahiru blinked but didn't pull away. Instead, her fingers curled around his.
"Me too," he said quietly.
They stood there, holding hands, letting the moment settle between them.
Then, Mahiru squeezed his hand. "So… what are we doing today?"
Sam grinned. "That depends. Do you want another surprise?"
Mahiru narrowed her eyes playfully. "After last night, I don't think I can handle another huge surprise."
Sam chuckled. "Don't worry. This one's simple."
She tilted her head. "Oh?"
Sam leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "I just want to spend the day with you."
Mahiru's cheeks turned a shade darker, but she smiled. "That sounds perfect."
And just like that, the day began.
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