The boy whose family had newly moved into the house opposite mine was the dreamiest person I'd ever seen in all my teenage years. He had the most handsome face, with eyes that looked like they carried stories of love. His nose was pointed like a potter’s finest work, and his smile felt like warmth on a gloomy day. If he were born on a Saturday, I would have no doubts because clearly, the creator made him on a day of rest. There were no mistakes.
Each time we met each other on the street, there was a mutual stare that followed. We both knew we admired each other, but neither of us had the courage to step forward for an introduction. Until we parted into different lanes leading to our destinations, my heart would beat for minutes as if in a bid to deafen me.
Sometimes, I'd sit on the terrace in front of my home, reading my favourite African literature text while keeping an eye out to see if he'd be out anytime soon. I was fortunate on most days because he would eventually show up, grab a chair in front of his house, and settle into any activity that allowed us steal glances at each other. But other times, I would flip through almost all 30 pages of my book without a single sight of him and my waiting would be in vain.
One morning, after our parents had all gone to work, the teenagers in my neighbourhood gathered for games in the estate's playfield. It was a ritual we engaged in every holiday since most of us were either in boarding school or had strict parents who didn't want us playing around every single day. During this time, everyone made friends with the new neighbours, shared snacks and looked forward to winning at least one of the games for the day. I wasn't left out because this period was one of my most cherished moments as someone who didn't get to play with a lot of people outside my home.
The first person I met when I arrived at the playfield was my friend and classmate, Sandra. She was already seated in one of the white chairs at the center of the shade, sipping from her bottle of Chapman. I sat close to her, exchanged pleasantries, and we hugged. We visited each other a lot, but meeting her elsewhere always felt like seeing an old friend after a long time.
We went over to say hello to the boys, and while they warmed up for football, Sandra and I spoke to the other girls about the funny experiences we had from our last term in school. It was our final year before graduation, so we had a lot to tell. Everyone shared their stories, and we all laughed heartily.
The boys began their football match, and we all cheered for our preferred teams. While this was ongoing, my eyes searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I was torn between sadness and hope, but I chose patience when I saw two other people arrive after the match.
We moved on to other games like tennis, badminton, and a quick vocabulary challenge, where my team won against Sandra's. I shared some snacks I brought from home and had my drinks. Not long after, I stepped away to go sit on my chair under the shade when I felt a soft tap on my shoulders. I turned back, and he was right there behind me.
My heart leapt for joy, and my lips pressed against each other in excitement. His hands felt exactly like I’d imagined. It was warm and gentle. His developing baritone voice was the icing on the cake, firm and rich. He smiled and introduced himself as Gabriel. My smile grew wide, and I said my name right back.
He asked if I wanted to play Scrabble, and I quickly nodded because that was my favourite game, and there was no way I was saying no to him. He sat opposite me, and we went several rounds on the board. He was such a good player with a retentive memory, and that made it hard for me to win. We took a short break and I offered him my last pack of juice. He accepted it and thanked me before he gulped it all in a minute. We played some more and he won the entire game by one round.
We spent the rest of the time talking, and getting to know each other, almost like we weren't two shy people a while ago. He mentioned he was also in his last year of secondary school, and everything felt just right. I shared a few things about our estate, including the end-of-year parties and the classism that usually came with them. He called me good company, and I think that was the loveliest thing I heard that day.
He later joined the others for some card games and tennis, and there, he introduced himself to everyone. The attention seemed like a lot for him, and I could tell from his facial expressions. Seeing the look on his face reminded me of my first time joining the estate games. I was overwhelmed, but just like I overcame the day, he also did. He exchanged contacts with some of the boys, and when it was time to leave, he handed me a small brown envelope. There was so much to say, but instead of letting our hearts speak, we shook hands and said goodbye. I quickly slipped the envelope into my bag before anyone noticed and went back to my chair.
Sandra, who had been fully involved in the games, finally came to sit with me once she saw that he had left my side, and that alone made me laugh. I already knew she had questions when she stared at me with a knowing smile, so I told her everything. we laughed over the details and made jokes about me finding my +1 just for graduation dinner.
When I got home, I didn't rush into the bathroom to freshen up. I was too curious to read what he had written because I was sure it was a letter. I tore the envelope open, and my eyes beheld the most beautifully designed note. His name was signed at the bottom as Gabe. He had written a poem about us, expressing his admiration for me and describing us as two peas separated from a pod in the former life, waiting to meet again, but this time, intentionally. My cheeks flushed pink. I was in heaven, and nothing else mattered to me at that point except basking in the sweet feeling of having a first love story.
THANK YOU FOR READING MY SHORT STORY!🤗
Sandra is me, we want to understand what is really going on. Let's know before it happens.
This piece is the most child-like love reading I've had in a while. It certainly makes you feel the intense love between the MC and Gabe. It is so tender and innocent, yet so fervent. I really enjoyed how you made go back to my childhood haha.
Oh, the old good days. Truly glorious!