First Love

<13> Continuation and Choice

"SIS! Steven's here!!" Toni heard her siblings shout downstairs as she was getting ready. "I'll be there!!" she shouted back and got her bag to go down. 

"You should really invite this Steven kid for dinner soon, sweetie" Toni's mom stated as she arrived downstairs. "Yeah, I agree with your mom. He's been like this since you guys were in 3rd year. I think it's about time you introduce your boyfriend to us" her father added which made her choke on the water she was drinking. "Dad! He's.. he's not my boyfriend. He's a.. a friend of mine who lives nearby," Toni answered and avoiding eye contact with her parents. 

She honestly doesn't know if Steven was just a friend for her now. 

"Sure.. whatever you say, sweetie," her mom stated, obviously not convinced, and smiled. 

Toni sighed. "We'll be going now!!" Toni exclaimed as they were about to leave. Her siblings kissed their cheeks and bid goodbye to their parents as they rushed towards Steven. 

Toni froze on her spot as she saw Steven. 

"Wow! Sis look! Steven has a new look! Like you!" Sophie exclaimed and pointed the both of them. 

They stared at each other with wide eyes, shocked to see the changes in each other. Though they were only the slightest changes, it was still noticeable for both of them. 

After snapping out of a trance, she went towards where they were as she hid her face which was heating up. 

"You look pretty," Steven complimented her with a smile and if she wasn't mistaken, there was a tint of red on his cheeks. "I always do," she sassed, flipping her hair to hide her blushing face. "You don't look bad yourself. I like your hair longer" she complimented back. 

"Yeah! Steven looks more handsome! And, his outfit matched yours too, sis!" Xander commented a weel which made the both of them look at each other's outfits. 

Steven was wearing a simple white tee, black jeans with a black leather jacket matched with white sneakers while she wore black tight jeans, a white off-shoulder blouse matched with white flats. 

"You guys look like a couple!" Sophie snickered, making her roll her eyes a bit while Steven chuckled. "You two don't look bad yourselves too, you both had grown a lot," he stated and ruffled their hair. "See! I told you, Xander!" Sophie exclaimed and stuck he tongue out to her brother making the two of them just chuckled.

"Let's go? We don't want to be late for the first day" Toni stated as she fixed her bag and smiled at all of them. 

Her heart wouldn't stop beating so fast. 

It had been like that. Ever since the day when she cried in front of him, it never stopped acting that way. 

At first, she was confused, happy, and scared. No one ever knew what could happen in the future that's why she's trying so hard to stop feeling that way towards Steven. 

She thought after the beach bonding they all did together, her heart would stop beating abnormally and she could stop her feelings but, she was wrong. 

When he asked her to reconsider what he said that day, she really wanted to give him the chance but the fear was still stronger than what her heart wanted. But, as time would pass by, the fear she felt would start to slowly fade, little by little. 

Unexpectedly. 

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"OMG! Did you guys became official right after the beach bonding?!" Alex exclaimed as they arrived at school. 

Both of them were shocked by how their friends look. "I see the bangs stuff happening here," Vince commented and looked at the girls.

 Alex cut her hair to shoulder-length with wispy bangs while Toni's hair grew a bit longer into a medium length tied into a half ponytail with long curtain bangs.