Cold Water

TWENTY SIX

                ♡BRANDON♡

  We walked over to the spot I'd chosen, the grass soft beneath our feet. I laid out the blanket and set up the picnic while Athalia looked around, taking in the serene beauty of the place.

  The water shimmered in the sunlight, and the trees rustled gently in the breeze.

   "This is beautiful, Brandon," she said, sitting down on the blanket and looking around with wide, appreciative eyes. "I can see why you wanted to bring me here."

  I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "I'm glad you like it. I used to come here with my mom. It's nice to share it with someone who appreciates it."

  We settled into the picnic, enjoying the food and each other's company. Athalia chatted about her new photography projects, and I listened intently, feeling more at ease with every passing moment.

  The conversation flowed effortlessly, and I found myself laughing and smiling more than I had in a long time.

  After we finished eating, Athalia decided that we play tag. We ran for a while, chasing each other, laughing, and her clumsily tripping.

I couldn't stop laughing.

  We made our back to our spot to catch our breaths. I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing.

  Athalia watched me for a while before she picked up her camera and began taking photos of the landscape and of me while I was lost in my work.

  At some point, I just watched her. The way the wind was blowing her hair, the way she was putting herself in different positions to take the pictures.

  How she seemed fascinated by everything, how her brown skin seemed to glow when the sunlight shone on it. It was really a sight.

  The afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light, and the world seemed to slow down, leaving just the two of us in this perfect moment.

  At one point, I noticed Athalia's eyes drifting toward the water, lost in thought.

  I put down my pencil and walked over to her, sitting beside her on the edge of the blanket.

  We stared out at the water, the gentle lapping of the waves creating a soothing rhythm.

  "This place is really special, isn't it?" Athalia said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

  "It is," I agreed. "It's one of the few places where I felt completely at peace."

  She turned to me, her eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that made my heart skip a beat. "Thank you for sharing it with me. It means a lot."

  We sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's presence. The sky started to turn a soft shade of pink and orange as the sun began to set.

  I glanced at Athalia and saw her looking up at the sky, her face lit by the fading light.

  "I'm glad we did this," she said finally. "It's been a really nice day."

  I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Yeah, it has. I've had a great time."

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, we packed up our things and prepared to head back.

  When we arrived back at her house, I walked her to the door. We stood there for a moment, not quite ready to say goodbye.

"Thank you for today, Brandon," Athalia said, her voice gentle. "I really appreciate it."

  I smiled, feeling a mixture of happiness and reluctance. "Anytime. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

  She leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I was about to pull away, but she stayed close, and we stood there, just staring at each other.

  Slowly, she tiptoed towards me, her eyes never leaving mine. I could feel my heart racing as she paused just inches from my face.

  Then, with a gentle, deliberate motion, she kissed me on the lips as she gently cupped my cheek.

  When she pulled away, her eyes were still locked with mine, a tender smile playing on her lips.

  I stood there, completely mesmerized, feeling like everything had shifted in the most wonderful way.

  "Goodnight, Brandon," she said softly, her eyes sparkling with an emotion that matched mine.

"Goodnight." I replied, feeling a bit dazed but incredibly happy.

  She turned and went inside, closing the door behind her. I stood there for a moment, still savouring the kiss and the magic of the evening.

   The gentle touch of her lips on mine had been so unexpected yet perfect, and I felt a blend of excitement and uncertainty about what it meant for us.

  I walked back to the car, the drive home feeling surreal. My mind replayed the moments we shared, especially that kiss.

  I was eager to see her again to find out where this new, sweet connection would lead us.

  The drive home felt like it was in slow motion, my mind replaying the moment with Athalia over and over.

  The kiss was so unexpected, gentle, and so perfect, and it left me with a feeling of euphoria that I couldn't shake.

  When I finally pulled into the driveway and walked into the house, Aunt Dina was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She looked up as I entered, a warm smile on her face.

  "Hey, Brandon," she greeted. "How was the picnic?"

  I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "It was... really good."

  Aunt Dina raised an eyebrow, noticing my beaming expression. "Oh? It must have been quite something for you to be smiling like that."

  I chuckled, trying to contain my excitement. "Yeah, it was pretty special."

She gave me a knowing look and started to tease. "Looks like someone had a great time. Did you finally confess your undying love or something?"

I laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed but unable to wipe the smile off my face. "No, nothing like that. We just had a really nice day together."

Aunt Dina leaned against the counter, her smile widening. "Well, I'm glad to see you so happy. It's good to see you enjoying yourself."

I nodded, still feeling a little giddy. "Yeah, it's been really nice."

She continued to tease, her tone light and playful. "I guess I should start preparing for the possibility of a new family member, huh?"

  I rolled my eyes, though I was still smiling. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

  Aunt Dina laughed and turned back to her cooking. "Alright, alright. Just don't forget to tell me all about it later. Now go wash up and get ready for dinner."

  I headed upstairs to freshen up, still buzzing from the day's events. Athalia had made everything feel so right, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us.

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♡♡♡