Her (moonsun)

her

I still can't believe it. It's almost like a honeymoon. We're alone, in a foreign country, we share a room...

But that's just my fantasy. We're two friends on vacation, nothing more.

It's blaringly hot, and even more humid. My shirt sticks to my back as we walk along the sidewalk, the bustling cars whizzing by on the street. We're near the college, and we pass a few younger looking people. We're younger than them, technically. We're both seventeen, and thankfully our parents agreed to let us take a trip together before we went off to college.
I glance over. The sun hits her eyes at just the right angle to make them light up, her brown pupils dancing with joy as the corners of her eyes crinkle with a small smile. They look golden in the sunlight, and they sparkle in only a way her eyes can. Her lips, blissfully free of makeup (thank lord she's against ever wearing makeup, I don't know why she'd ever cover that beautiful face), are red and full, the line separating her upper and lower lip thin and beautiful. The wind blows through her hair, ruffling it perfectly, the brown strands coming to a rest on her shoulder. One strand lands over her eyes, and I resist the urge to tuck it behind her ear. A small smile plays on her lips, the corners turning up in a smile that's too perfect. I wish I could kiss you, I say to her in my mind.

"Why don't you?" she says suddenly, turning to look at me. For a moment I'm struck dumb by how close to my face is, and my eyes slip, unintentionally or intentionally, to her lips before focusing once more on her eyes.

"I-wait, what?" My brain absorbs what she said and for a second my heart freezes before I realize she could never mean what I think she means- what I hope she means.

And then she cocked her head, stepping closer, saying, "I said, why don't you?"

Her hand comes to a rest on my side, and my heart is racing in my chest. I'm blinking too fast, her face - her lips - are so close, I can practically feel them on mine. I'm buzzing, and my eyes are desperately searching hers for an explanation.

"W-what?" I mumble out, my voice cracking embarrassingly.

Her eyelashes flutter, and she leans impossibly close. "You said you wished you could kiss me, so why don't you?"

I'm speechless, my mind searching for words to say. I don't know what to think. I don't know what to think. I've been waiting, fantasizing, desperately hoping for this for so long, and I don't even know what to do. Suddenly I wish we were somewhere more private. I can feel eyes on us, but to be completely honest the only eyes I can see are hers because dear lord are they beautiful. The light brown is so warm and welcoming, it's comforting and filled with compassion, at the same time brilliant and passionate. They're looking at me, she's looking at me, and I keep trying to find the words, but my mind is blank.

"Well?" she says again, and I'm wondering if it's just my hyperactive, nervous mind making up the note of impatience in her voice. "Are you gonna do something or should I do something?" she asks quietly, chuckling softly. Her breath warms my face, and I feel dizzy.

"Can I kiss you?" I finally choke out, well aware that she was already leaning in. Oh dear lord, I'm not ready, my head is spinning, my heart is pounding, my hands are shaking, as I lean in, close the gap-

I can't breathe.

My heart has to be about to explode, the way it's racing, my entire body is buzzing, in a way that makes me wonder if I'm going to pass out. I am extremely excited, and yet there is a part of me that is serene, calm. Her lips pressed against mine, so close, close enough that I can feel every movement she makes, is so simple and ecstatic and warm. All I can think is I want more. Her lips are so soft and she kissing me liked she's never kissed anyone before (which she hasn't), and it occurs to me that this is both her and my first kiss. She pulls back, and I open my eyes. I seem to be continually rendered speechless by this girl. In the back of my mind, I'm aware that it's started raining, but I'm mostly focused on the girl in front of me. Before I knew I liked her, I knew it was a crush. The word love had briefly flitted through my thoughts, but holy shit am I desperately, undeniably in love with this girl. It never occurred to me before but oh my god do I love her to death. Not only as a friend but as something more.

I wince unintentionally as I suddenly realize that my lower back is being uncomfortably pressed into by the back of a parked scooter.

"We should head back, Moonbyul," she says softly, linking her hand with mine. I nod dumbly, eyes trained on her lips. I still couldn't believe that mine had been there, barely more than a few seconds ago. And now her thin fingers, cool and grounding, are laced with mine, and her shoulder is brushing warmly against mine as we walk, and her beautiful smile has grown wider, and my heart is still pounding, bursting out my chest.

This is the start of something, I know it and so does she. But for now, I'm happy in this simple moment, with the drops of rain falling lightly on our newly found love.