The following morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the cabin. The sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. I lay in bed for a moment, allowing the events of the previous day to wash over me again—Martin’s confession, the laughter with friends, the magical feeling of possibility in the air.
I finally rolled out of bed, the exhilaration from the day before still buzzing through my veins. After getting dressed, I made my way down to the kitchen. To my surprise, Martinus was already there, preparing coffee.
“Good morning, early bird,” he said, flashing me that adorable smile that always sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“Morning!” I replied, pouring myself a cup. “I didn’t expect anyone to be up so early.”
“I figured I’d take advantage of the quiet before everyone else wakes up,” he said, leaning against the counter, a comfortable ease in his demeanor. “Plus, I wanted to talk to you before the day gets busy.”
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Oh? What’s up?”
He hesitated for a moment, his expression shifting to something more serious. “About last night… I really meant what I said. I know we’re just starting to figure things out, but I want to explore where this is going. With us.”
My heart raced. “I want that too, Martinus. But I’m a little nervous about what that means. I mean, we’re still with our friends, and I don’t want it to get awkward.”
He nodded, understanding. “I get it. We can take our time. We don’t have to tell everyone right away. Just… let’s keep being us, and see how it feels.”
Relief flooded through me. “I’d like that. It feels nice to keep this between us for now.”
“Exactly,” he said, his smile returning. “So, what do you say we keep it low-key today? Maybe a little hike, just the two of us?”
“Sounds perfect,” I agreed, my heart fluttering at the idea of spending more one-on-one time with him.
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After breakfast, we packed some snacks and water before heading out, leaving Marcus, Emma, and Nora behind to enjoy a lazy morning. The air was fresh and cool, and the sun peeked through the trees as we walked down the trail, our laughter mixing with the sounds of nature around us.
As we hiked, our conversation flowed easily, covering everything from our favorite movies to embarrassing childhood stories. It felt so effortless, and I couldn’t help but smile every time he glanced over at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
We eventually reached a secluded spot by a small pond, the water shimmering in the sunlight. It was serene, surrounded by tall trees and colorful wildflowers.
“Wow, this place is beautiful,” I said, taking it all in.
Martinus nodded, looking around. “I’ve come here a few times, but it’s always more fun with someone else.”
We settled on a large rock by the water’s edge, and I pulled out some snacks we’d brought. We chatted and snacked, the atmosphere relaxing as we enjoyed the peacefulness around us.
“Do you remember your first crush?” Martinus asked, a teasing tone in his voice.
I laughed, trying to think back. “Oh gosh, yes! I think I was in the fourth grade. His name was Jake, and I was convinced he was the coolest guy ever because he could ride a skateboard.”
“Really? That’s adorable,” he teased, nudging me playfully. “What happened?”
“I think I told him I liked him in the most awkward way possible. I slipped him a note, and it fell out of my hand right in front of him. Total disaster,” I admitted, groaning at the memory.
