Moonlight Temptation

Somethings come and go

As they walked amidst the art, Ethan shared anecdotes about various pieces, his passion for creativity evident in every word he spoke. Lily found herself hanging onto his every word, captivated by his knowledge and charisma. Despite the initial nervousness, she felt surprisingly at ease in his presence.

As they moved from one exhibit to another, Lily couldn't help but notice the way Ethan's eyes lit up when he spoke about certain paintings or sculptures. It was as if each piece held a story, a hidden meaning that only he could decipher.

"And this," Ethan said as he finally put the half empty glass of wine he had been holding on a try as a waiter passed by. Gesturing towards a bold abstract painting, "This is one of my favorites. It's not just about the colors or shapes; it's about the emotions it evokes, the journey it takes you on."

Lily studied the painting, letting her gaze wander over the vibrant hues and dynamic brushstrokes. She felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her, a mixture of awe and inspiration that left her breathless. While she looked at the painting, he observed her facial features, from her plump pink lips to her straight nose and her almond crystal brown eyes. “Gosh, this girl is gorgeous, I’m glad she’s the one”, he thought to himself.

"It's incredible," she murmured. He quickly looked away from her and, She put her gaze on the painting and her voice barely above a whisper, she said “If I could, I’d love to have this in my room and look at it always while eating popcorn”. She giggled shyly.

Ethan smiled, a warm, genuine smile that made Lily's heart flutter. "I'm glad you love it. Art has a way of bringing people together, don't you think?"

Lily nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Definitely. It's like a language all its own, one that transcends words and speaks to the soul."

“Soul” he repeated, “It’s a very beautiful thing.” He said as he gazed straight at the painting. Lily decided to also steal glances at Ethan. He was a really beautiful being, so beautiful that somewhere in her heart she wondered if he was real. He cleared his throat and she swiftly looked away. “The soul is a beautiful thing, Miss Lacriz but not as beautiful as me, don’t you think so?” He boasted but his gaze not leaving the artwork. She blushed embarrassingly, he definitely knew she was gawking at him.

They continued to explore the gallery, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they shared their thoughts and feelings about each piece of artwork. With each passing moment, Lily felt herself growing more and more drawn to Ethan, his passion and creativity igniting a spark within her that she hadn't felt in a long time.

Before she knew it, they had circled back to where they started, standing once again before the entrance of the gallery. The other patrons had begun to trickle out, leaving them alone in the dimly lit space.

"Well, I suppose it's time to say goodbye, Miss Lacriz. It seems like your friend is coming to take you away", Ethan said, his tone tinged with regret.

Lily felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of parting ways with Ethan so soon, but she knew that their encounter was only meant to be fleeting. Still, she couldn't help but hope that they would meet again someday.

"It was wonderful meeting you, Ethan," Lily said, offering him a warm smile. "Thank you for showing me around the gallery. I had a great time."

Ethan returned her smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "The pleasure was all mine, Lacriz. We’ll definitely run into each other again sometime…soon. "

With a final wave, Ethan turned and disappeared into the night. As Sarah came from behind her and held her by the hand, the two walked out of the empty gallery, Lily’s heart still racing with the memory of the encounter she just had. As she made her way home, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine. And for the first time in a long time, she felt excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.

Weeks passed, and life at the university continued on its familiar course for Lily Evans. Despite the enchanting encounter with Ethan at the art gallery, she had not crossed paths with him again, and it had been three months, he remained a mysterious figure in her memory. Yet, as time went by, the memory of him faded into the background of her busy life. A memory that resurfaces from time to time leaves footprints of nostalgia.

Lily immersed herself in her studies, spending long hours in the library pouring over textbooks and research papers. Between classes and assignments, she cherished moments of laughter and camaraderie with her best friends, Sarah and Jack, as they navigated the ups and downs of university life together.

One sunny afternoon, as Lily and her friends lounged on the grassy quad, soaking in the warmth of the sun, a familiar voice called out to her from across the lawn.

"Lily Evans! Is that really you?"

Startled, Lily turned to see a tall figure in an expensive tuxedo striding towards them, a broad grin spread across his face. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the face of her childhood friend, Alex Johnson.

"Alex?" Lily exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Is this you?"

Alex laughed, his brown eyes sparkling with warmth as he enveloped Lily in a bear hug. "It's me, all right! I can't believe it's been so long since we last saw each other."

He had really grown tall, she was always way taller than him as a child, although he was three years older than her, and she made fun of him for it which always made him cry.

Lily felt a rush of nostalgia wash over her as memories of their childhood flooded back. Alex had been her constant companion during those carefree days, always there to lend a listening ear or share in her adventures. They always went to Lake Innabridge on Saturdays, where they played with the water and threw stones in the water, played hide and seek until they slept off.

Once, Alex and Lily played at the lake till it was dusk and when he accompanied her home as always, the police were outside Lily’s house and her mother looked like she had been crying. When her parents sighted her from afar, they ran towards her. “Don’t ever do this again, baby girl”. It was her dad who spoke "You scared me to death!” Her mother scolded as she bent down to hug her. Lily’s dad took Alex back home to his parents, who were also worried about him and, from that day, they were allowed to go to the lake, but only if they agreed to return home and an hour before supper.

"What are you doing here?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued.

Alex grinned, taking a seat beside her on the grass, acknowledging Sarah and Jack’s presence. "I moved back to England recently, I’m currently overseeing one of my father’s companies here. I couldn't stay away from home for too long, you know?"

Lily smiled, feeling a surge of happiness at the thought of having her childhood friend back in her life. "I'm so glad you're here, Alex. I missed you. My parents feel the same way too. I never thought I’d see you again. "

The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and conversation, the years melting away as they reminisced about their shared past. Lily’s phone beeped, she looked at it, it was a message from Sarah who was sitting just beside her to their gossip group:

SARAH: Girllllllll!!! This boy is fineeeeee. Hook me up! Please. I’ll bake you two layers of that cake you like so much. In fact, I’ll give you my soul.

LILY: Shut up

JACK: He definitely looks rich ‘cause what in the world of expensive tuxedos is he wearing? I bet it’s Brioni he's putting on.

LILY: Alex comes from a wealthy family, so what do you expect? Now, you guys should stop beeping my phone. I’m catching up on old times here.

She put her phone down. “So, university? What course are you studying? It was Alex asking her about “Computer Science”. She responded “That’s really awesome, you know? A lot of career prospects ahead of you. It’s beautiful. You could even come work at the company after school if you want. I’ll be more than happy to have you around.” She smiled, “I’ll consider that,” she said.

They exchanged numbers before he left, and the day couldn’t have ended in a better way than that.