I can't stop thinking about him. He's in my mind constantly—everywhere I go, every second of the day. From the very first moment we met, I knew I had fallen. And yet, I never told him how beautiful he is. I wish I could relive that moment, just once more. Maybe next time, I'll be brave enough to say it.
I've always found comfort in peaceful places. When I'm overwhelmed, I go to the temple to pray. There's something healing about offering my hopes to the universe, to God. On one of those quiet visits, just as I was about to leave, I saw something—or rather, someone—bright.
I blinked and rubbed my eyes, stunned. Could God really have answered my prayer so quickly?
Without thinking, I followed him. I know, I must have looked like a stalker, but I couldn't help myself. He turned into a café called Heaven—a place that looked just as magical as its name. I paused outside, hesitating, wondering what he was doing there. Then I saw her. A girl with him. I silently dubbed her Mystery Girl.
I stood frozen, trying to process the scene, when suddenly, he looked straight at me. I panicked and turned away, pretending not to stare. But in the process, I bumped into someone, sending everything in his hands tumbling to the ground.
My heart skipped a beat. I dropped to the floor and started helping him pick everything up.
"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"What happened? Got any noon mare?" he joked.
I looked at him, confused. "I'm sorry, I don't…"
He grinned. "I'm just kidding. Don't take it so seriously—it's okay. Happens to the best of us."
"Oh… you were joking?" I stammered, still flustered.
"Thank you," he said softly, like I'd done something meaningful.
"You don't have to thank me," I replied. "It was my fault. Of course I had to help."
"You helped, so I'm thanking you," he insisted. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah… I'm okay," I said, though I wasn't sure I meant it.
"You don't seem okay. Want a coffee?"
"Not here," I replied instinctively, still shaken.
"How about somewhere else?"
He seemed sincere, and I thought maybe I should say yes. Maybe this was something my mom would be happy about—me opening up to someone. So I agreed.
"Yeah, sure."
As I walked away with him, I didn't dare look back. I was scared. What if he already belonged to someone else? What if God had misheard my prayer?
"I'm Alex," he said with a warm smile. "And you?"
"I'm Terra. Nice to meet you."
"So… what's the deal with that guy you were staring at? Boyfriend? Ex? Lover? Crush?"
"Whoa! Slow down," I laughed nervously. "He's just a crush. I only saw him yesterday. He probably doesn't even know I exist."
"You never know," Alex said. "Maybe he does. You should tell him how you feel. Just because he's with someone doesn't mean they're together. Don't give up hope."
"I won't," I replied. "But after seeing him with her, I felt… anxious."
"Let me be honest with you. If you don't tell him, you might spend years waiting for something that never happens."
"I guess I should at least figure out his name first," I joked.
Alex laughed. "You're funny. Okay, let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
"I'll help you win him over. In return, you'll give me something I want."
I hesitated. "What exactly do you want?"
"Nothing big. It'll only take a few minutes," he said, mysterious but reassuring.
I wondered—was he asking for money? Or something worse?
Then he invited me to dinner on Friday. He told me to dress nicely, like I was meeting his parents. When I asked why, he just smiled and said, "You'll understand."
I wasn't sure why I agreed. Our connection was barely beginning. I didn't even know if he liked me, or if he was just being kind. I planned to tell Alex that I didn't have feelings for him—that I didn't need his help—but I'd still be there for him if he needed me.
Right now, I feel caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. Everything's blurry, unclear. I'm confused. Yet deep down, I have this strange, persistent feeling that something beautiful is about to unfold. Maybe there's a story here—something unexpected. What if he and I could be something real?
I don't know. I can't think clearly.
All I know is—I really like him.
I can't stop thinking about him.
It's like I've known him forever, like we've shared countless moments I somehow don't remember. I don't know where this feeling comes from. But it's there—loud and unrelenting.
And maybe, just maybe, this is where it all begins.