We were sitting on the lush green grass, facing the setting sun. Behind us, a river meandered its way through some trees and rocks. I could hear several birds chirping delightfully amongst some of the burbling sounds of the river. The fragrance of gardenia filled the evening breeze. Everything was serene and perfect. She sat with her knees up, crossed her arms, and placed them on top of her knees. I pushed both my hands slightly back and rested my palms on the ground, leaning back a little so that I could steal a glimpse of her face now and again. As the dusk radiated its color, I was in a dilemma if it was her beaming face or the horizon that shone brighter.

Exchanging no words, we just stayed there for a while. We were cocooned by the silence, and I was pondering hard to break the awkwardness when she said, "It took us forever to meet, right?"

"Almost three months of talking over the text and phone," I replied.

"Have you been counting days?" she smiled.

It was just another mundane day in the first month of grade 11 when I was struck by cupid's arrow when she, carrying some notebooks in her arms, walked past me in the corridors of our high school. Her face was as though the rays of sunlight were shimmering through summer raindrops.  To say she was beautiful will be an understatement; she was gorgeous beyond my comprehension. Innately attractive, everything about her engrossed me.

I never grabbed the courage to ask her out in high school. A few months ago, I texted something on her Instagram story, to which she replied. We chatted for hours that night and exchanged numbers in the end.

I turned to face her, and there she was, with the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, twinkling at me. We exchanged a few words; however, the words were followed by silence. Usually, quietness is awkward. However, the stillness felt different on that day. Both of us seemed to be delighted about the fact we were meeting for the first time, though our paths had crossed, and some awkward glances were exchanged in the past. The tranquility came with fulfillment. 

We were lost in the la-la land when a phone call brought us back to the real world. It was my mamu. She was making sure I would get home on time for a little family get-together. 

Upon hearing my words with my mother, she said, "I think we should start walking back now."

"I think you are right," to which I replied and regretted instantly, for I wanted to be anywhere but there, with her.

I stood up and extended my hands before she did. She slid her delicate hands into mine as we locked eyes, and I drew her up. I let them go because I was too nervous.

When I realized the evening breeze swept the strands of her long black hair towards her face and caressed it like a painter's stroke, I slowed down and tucked her long black hair behind her ears. My action was followed by a shy smile from her. 

We started walking at a matched pace, but we were taking tiny steps. Meanwhile, the children playing outdoors rushed towards their home as it was getting dark. I even noticed a flock of birds flying over us towards their domicile. Contrary to all of those kids and birds, we seemed to have all the time in this world. It grew darker by the minute, and the full moon played hide and seek among the sparse and feathery clouds, gleaming occasionally to my liking. I did not want to get back any sooner, and perhaps, neither did she. The darkness did not seem to bother either of us. With every step we took, we were walking closer to each other. Our elbows brushed; So, did our shoulders. 

She gently pulled my arm and encircled it with hers. Soon my fingers filled the gap between hers. The world felt so different. As her pulse synced with my heartbeat, I felt a lot about the things I knew very little about. My happiness knew no bounds. I was hoping that my face would not betray me and turn red. With every passing moment with her, I felt more captivated. I was astounded at what the slightest of her touch did to me. It made me happy and made me feel vulnerable all at the same time.

                                                          .................

I did not tell her then, nor in the days that followed, about how I felt.  I was certain she was the one and all I wanted to do was spend the rest of my life with her. Do you know what they say about uncharted roads? You never know where it might have led. And all I can dwell upon is what we could have become if we had stayed together.