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IT WAS THE SUMMER of 2006 in Cúcuta, Colombia. The sun brightly shone over the people in the city of Cúcuta.
The soothing but so refreshing summer breeze washed over a young girl - by the name of Natalia Álvarez. The rays of the sun perfectly hit her bronzed child-like face.
Nearby was a young boy with dark hair, with the brightest smile, whose smile was as bright, or maybe even brighter than the sun. James - was his name - was currently playing fútbol with his mates from school.
Natalia observed the boy with the bright smile - who's name she didn't know, so she figured she'd call him; the boy with the cute smile.
He ran along with his friends, in his yellow Colombia jersey, that had the number '10' on his back - the jersey he dreamed of wearing one day to make his country proud. A layer of sweat shielded his forehead, as the heat showered down on him.
Natalia had been watching them play for quite a while now and she was amazed by the talent he possessed. He could easily stand out in the group. All his hard work at was shown in the way he played, with passion.
She decided to not distract herself anymore and went back to drawing. Natalia was focused for a good ten minutes until she heard a loud yell from the group of boys; "Cuidado!"
When Natalia turned her head to look back at the boys behind her, the ball had already hit her head and knocked her right off the bench.
James gasped and quickly ran over to the girl he had just hit with the ball. He approached her to check if she was fine or at least conscious. "Estás bien? I'm really sorry," he asked, hoping that she was alright.
"Si. I'm okay, don't worry," she muttered, looking up at him. James carefully looked at her to see if she had any type bruise on her face, but during that time he searched for a bruise all he found was her beauty, he noticed that she was very beautiful.
The girl whose name he wasn't aware of, had caramel colored hair, beautiful soft brown eyes along with long, thick eyelashes- which made her look extremely adorable. She also had the fullest and pinkest lips that he had ever seen.
James sweetly smiled at her and extended his arm out to her, which she gladly accepted and lifted herself from the ground. Natalia dusted off her pink skirt which was embroidered with tiny lilac flowers.
"I'm James," he said, almost sounding as if he was asking a question.
"I'm Natalia," she responded, with a small giggle leaving her pink lips. As soon as he had heard her laugh, the sound of her soft and melodic laugh, he loved it.
James then looked down at the ground, and it was then when he saw her tan colored journal lying on the grass. He bent down and picked up the small book, which was fully opened to a pencil drawing of a little girl with full lips and long dark eyelashes. The resemblance between the girl in the drawing and Natalia was evident.
"This is amazing, Natalia. Where'd you learn to draw like this," he questioned, gesturing towards the drawing. Natalia shrugged, not knowing how else to answer.
The little girl in her drawing was Natalia's younger sister - who had passed away a few years back. She drew small portraits of her younger sister, Teresa; by observing pictures of her younger sister, that were scattered around her room walls, the room she once shared with her younger sister.
"Thank you very much, James," she said shyly tucking away a strand of hair behind her ear. Natalia never really shared her drawings with anyone, so she felt very appreciative that someone found them amazing. They stood there for a few minutes, just sending each other awkward smiles. "How old are you?" James asked, breaking the awkward silence between them.
"I'm fourteen but I'm turning fifteen in August. How about you?"
"I just turned fifteen-" James said only to be interrupted by one of his friends, who he was previously playing fútbol with, "James, come on were restarting!"
James nodded at his friend. "I'll see you later, Nata," he said, calling her by a 'new' nickname that he had given her.
Natalia only nodded and gave him a smile, and went back to her drawing. But she was constantly turning her head to look behind her, where James would be playing. At times he would catch her staring at him, but all she would do was turn to her journal and pretend to as if she was drawing.
-
The sun began to sink beneath the many trees scattered around the park, the weather had dropped a bit making it feel much colder.
Natalia began to put away the few items she had brought into a small bag. She decided it was time to head home.
"You're going home, Nata?" James asked as he sat right next to her.
Natalia nodded. "Yeah, I have to get back home and do some homework and sleep," she replied.
"Uhm... can I maybe have your number?" He asked shyly, making Natalia's mouth curve upwards into a smile.
She nodded and took a piece of paper out of her journal and scribbled down her - or her mother's phone number and handed the small piece of paper to James.
"I'll call you around two... tomorrow," he said with a big smile on his face.
Natalia nodded. "I'll see you soon, James." She waved at him and began to walk home, which was only a four-minute walk.
James smiled, tightly holding the small but smooth piece of paper, that contained the number of a very beautiful girl, in his sweaty hand.
"I'll see you soon, Nata," he mumbled, turning around and running to his friends, who were waiting for him.
✧
my writing isn't very good and this was probably horrible; but any feedback to improve my writing please share with me :)
