The Seven Dates

The Second Date: Childhood Memories

A 12-year-old Jenny stood by the school gate, her school uniform neatly pressed, the skirt reaching just below her knees. A navy blue sweater vest, bearing the school's emblem, hugged her small frame. In her hands, she clutched a gift-wrapped box, her fingers nervously smoothing over the ribbon. Bittersweet emotions churned within her – it was Yohan's last day at school before his family moved to the United States.

The sun roused higher, casting long shadows across the schoolyard, mirroring the growing sadness in Jenny's heart. She had been waiting, hoping to see Yohan one last time before school, to give him her farewell gift, a symbol of their cherished friendship. But as the minutes ticked by, a sinking realization set in – he wasn't coming to school today. Yohan had been distant these last few days, and now, the painful realization dawned on her that she might not get to say goodbye.

With a heavy heart, Jenny turned, her school shoes scuffing against the pavement as she ran towards her little bicycle parked nearby. Pedaling with a mix of urgency and despair, she made her way to Yohan's house, only to arrive just in time to see their car, packed and ready, pulling away in the distance. A lone tear trickled down her cheek as she watched the car disappear, taking a piece of her young heart with it.

Fast forward to the present, Jenny stood at that same spot, her striking beauty even more pronounced than in her youth. Her hair, now styled in soft waves, framed her delicate features, and her eyes, deep and reflective, were windows to her soul, shimmering with the memories of the past. She wore a simple yet elegant outfit that accentuated her graceful figure, embodying her gentleness.

As she was lost in her thoughts, Yohan's voice came from behind, pulling her back to the present. "Hi Jenny, isn't this our school? It looks so different now. I guess that one over there is the new building." His voice was tinged with a mix of surprise and nostalgia, oblivious to the emotional journey Jenny had just revisited.

Jenny turned to face Yohan, her eyes lighting up with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. "Yes, that's the old building where we used to have classes, and the one on the right is the new addition," she explained, pointing towards the structures with a fond smile.

Yohan's response came in his now-familiar cheerful tone, tinged with curiosity. "Nice! So, what's the plan for today? Why did you choose to meet here, right by our old school?"

"Well," Jenny began, her voice filled with a hint of mischief, "I thought it would be fun to revisit the old times. Plus, since it's a holiday today and my dad talked to the principal, we've got the entire place to ourselves." Her smile widened at the thought. "Can you imagine having such an opportunity as kids? The entire school, with no teachers around to tell us what to do." The idea seemed to amuse her, a playful glint in her eyes as she envisioned their childhood dream turned reality.

Yohan's eyes mirrored her excitement, a youthful spark rekindling in him as he looked around the familiar surroundings, now devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. "That sounds amazing," he said, his enthusiasm growing. "What are you waiting for, let's go in."

As they entered the gate, Jenny and Yohan took in their surroundings, a mix of the familiar and the new enveloping them. The schoolyard, with its well-trodden paths and ancient trees, held echoes of laughter from a decade ago. Some things remained unchanged, steadfast relics of their childhood, while others had transformed, reflecting the passage of time.

As they neared their classrooms, "Do you remember how we were made to kneel here for the entire day because we didn't do Mrs. Kim's homework?" Yohan said, pointing to a spot near the corridor outside the classroom. "What really got to Mrs. Kim was that her star pupil, Jenny, also skipped her homework. I mean, it was expected of me, but you? How did you forget to do it?"