chapter 1
364 Words
The gentle waves rolled onto the shore as the golden afternoon sun painted the sea with warm shades of orange. A grade school girl walked barefoot along the beach, letting the cool water kiss her feet. She admired the peaceful view—the endless ocean, the salty breeze, and the distant cries of seagulls.
Then, she noticed someone.
A teenage boy sat alone on a large rock near the shoreline. His head was lowered, and his shoulders trembled ever so slightly. Even from a distance, she could tell he was crying.
Without hesitation, the little girl walked toward him and quietly sat beside him.
Startled, the boy quickly wiped away his tears before turning to face her.
"Aren't your parents worried?" he asked. "Didn't they teach you not to approach strangers?"
The girl simply smiled.
"What? Do you think you're a bad person?" she asked innocently. "I don't think so. That's why I came over. Besides..." She tilted her head curiously. "Why are you crying?"
The boy blinked in surprise.
Why is a grade school girl this bold? he wondered.
She waited for an answer, but when he remained silent, she crossed her arms.
"Not gonna answer me?" she asked.
"None of your business," he replied coldly.
The little girl only shrugged.
The boy couldn't understand why she stayed. Most people would've walked away by now. Instead, she quietly sat beside him, enjoying the sound of the waves.
He turned his gaze back to the sea, hoping she'd eventually leave.
She didn't.
Instead, she stared directly at him while he looked toward the horizon.
"Your eyes are beautiful," she suddenly said.
"I know," he answered with a sarcastic smirk.
"Hmph." She puffed out her cheeks and looked away, pouting.
For the first time that day, the corner of the boy's lips lifted into a genuine smile.
She's kind of adorable, he thought.
"I saw you smile," the girl declared, turning back to him with a triumphant grin.
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, you did." She pointed at him, still pouting. "You smiled."
The boy finally looked straight into her eyes.
"So what if I did?" he asked, a playful challenge hidden behind his once-sad expression.
- Writer
