𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

THREE

*smut chapter ;)*

ALEX

I told myself it was only going to be one phone call. Just ten minutes. One phone call became an endless amount where I lost count, and ten minutes became five weeks. Now, here I was downtown at the mall, Ana right next to me.

I look at her. Her eyes are wide, lips parted. Her expression was like a child's. Maybe it was because I was spoiling her like one.

Our first date was at the mall. I saw a jewelry store and took my chance. I brought her in and told her she could get anything she wanted in the store, and I would pay for it.

"Anything?" She asked in disbelief.
"Anything," I assure her. I meant it.

She faced me and smiled, the corner of her eyes wrinkling. Apart from being gorgeous, Ana was adorable.

And so I watched her pick out a heart necklace with diamonds on it and a golden bracelet with rubies on it. I insisted she pick more, but she stubbornly refused.

We barely got out of the store when I took the necklace and placed it around her neck. Ever since then, I haven't seen it off.

For our second date, we went to the theater. We watched Les Misérables—well, more like Ana watched it. I didn't pay too much attention to it. I was solely focused on how to grab her hand. In previous relationships, I had never struggled with this. I'd simply take the girl's hand, but for some reason, the thought of holding Ana's shook me with anxiety. It turned out the play ended, and I never did hold her hand.

On our fifth date, we went to a bookstore downtown. One of the very first things Ana told me about herself was that she liked reading, specifically romance books. I put it that she was a helpless romantic, searching for the love she deserved. It was quite silly to me. Ana usually talked so lowly about herself without even noticing. I always wondered how anyone could not show her that kind of love. This was the least I could do, and so I followed her everywhere, the pile of books in my arms growing with every minute. I kept on looking at her as she ran her fingers against the spine of the books.

I told her I would buy as many books as she wanted, but in all honesty, I would have bought that bookstore if she asked.

It was something about Ana that intrigued me, lured me deeper into her life, and I wasn't quite sure what it was.

At the end of our first month of dating, she had a surprise for me. When I arrived at the park, I saw a picture-perfect scene. She had made a picnic just for us under a willow tree, the blanket spread out on the green grass, the food laid out for us to grab.

That evening we spent hours talking and laughing. We lay down together, watching the stars. I told her about my fascination with them, and she listened. I felt her hand slither into my own. She squeezed it tight and looked at me. I looked at her and smiled, squeezing her hand back.

That was the first time we held hands.

Summer faded into Autumn and transitioned to Winter.

I spent New Year's Eve with Ana. We were on the rooftop of her studio apartment building waiting for the countdown. Waiting for a new year.

"It's coming." Ana grabs my arm and looks at her phone.

"Five...four...three...two...one...Happy New Year!!" We both yell. We hear fireworks explode. Ana and I hugged each other, and when we broke it she paused. "Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.