Have you ever felt that jolt of excitement when your special someone's name is mentioned out of the blue? I did. Do you believe it when people say you will never forget your first love? I do. Will you always have at least a little bit of feeling for your first love even though your relationship no longer exists? I know I always will.
I did. I do. I will.
The past, the present and the future – three very distinct tenses interrelated by someone's significant experience.
This is the story of Robin and Leigh.
Some people called them star-crossed lovers, some called them rebellious teens, but none of those name-callings ever mattered to Robin and Leigh. All that mattered was that at that special moment, they were young, happy and in love.
...
On a fine Saturday morning, while Leigh was basking in books to study for her upcoming exams, a random text by an unknown sender was received. All it said was a simple, "Hi." Curious and exasperated, Leigh sent out a reply asking who it was. Not long after, she received another text from this stranger.
"Robin," the text read. "Robin from school."
Being an average sophomore student, she didn't know a lot of people. She had a very long internal debate with herself whether to reply or not. She lost to her curiosity, of course. "Robin, who?" she typed out, eyebrows scrunched in frustration. And without a moment to waste, sent the text.
A ding from her phone resonated signaling a reply. "Robin Callahan," it said.
Okay, there was only one person with that name and he was a senior. Also known for his player ways and bad grades. Warning bells rung inside Leigh's head, telling her to stop associating herself with someone like Robin and just run to the fields and get away.
She didn't, though.
Instead, she texted him again, "Why are you texting me all of a sudden, Robin Callahan?"
"I just want to be friends, Leigh. If that's okay with you, of course," he answered.
Now, Leigh wasn't dumb to notice something fishy about that answer. Could a guy just really text you out of the blue, asking for a simple friendship? Most of the guys I know don't... unless they really like a girl.
And then it hit her.
Could Robin Callahan a.k.a the senior player and basketball jock like an average Jane like her?
The answer was, well, impossible.
For all she knows, this guy could only be asking for a favor. Like, I don't know, hook him up with her other much cuter and much prettier sophomore classmates?
Yes, that was more believable.
Another ding pulled her out of her reverie. The text read, "Okay, you're probably thinking why I'm texting you all of a sudden, asking to only be friends with you. Don't stress yourself with overthinking though, Leigh. I'll save you the trouble and admit that I like you. I think you're beautiful and I want to know you better."
He likes me? He thinks I'm beautiful? He wants to know me better? What the hell is going on? She mused. She must have been close to hyperventilating by now.
Leigh Lewis was not ugly. But she also never stood out as someone stunningly beautiful. Which made her rethink Robin Callahan's sudden confession about him liking her to be all a joke, a hoax, a prank, a spoof, a jape...
She couldn't deny the fact that her heart was beating abnormally fast, or the warm feeling of being wanted for the first time, or even the stupid wide grin pasted on her face at that moment. None of these seemed real for Leigh. Her gut feeling told her to stop this madness but something inside her wanted to feed her building curiosity and succumb to this new feeling teenagers normally have – being in love.
Ah, first love, she thought, wondering how that would feel.
"Alright, we can be friends. But if this is a joke, I swear you'll never hear the end of me," she texted him back, adding a little threat to scare him.
"I promise you this is not a joke," was his simple reply that made her feel all giddy inside.
They texted each other back and forth since then, getting to know one another day and night, their phones never leaving their grasps. This is the new generation – communication was easier, ways of getting to know a person becomes less of a challenge. But also because of this, Robin and Leigh have become closer than before. Both realizing there was more to a person than meets the eye.
The things Leigh heard about Robin were all wrong, people's judging eyes only misunderstood him. Robin however, thought that Leigh was definitely something special. There was something about her that made all the other girls around him indifferent and insignificant.
And somehow, they have also found the courage to hang out with each other after school. Well aware of the prying eyes around them and their growing feelings towards the other. This became a routine for them – after school, they would hang out, sometimes along with friends, sometimes alone. And all they would do then is laugh, talk and fall harder for each other.
Everything seemed perfect. With love just around the corner, they are sure to find it. But then again, reality hits them hard when Leigh's overprotective and strict parents forces her to stay away from Robin. "You are to stop seeing this boy, Leigh," they say. "If not, we'll cut you off for good. This boy is a nuisance and he will only ruin you and your future plans."
Having to be a young teen at that time meant that she was easily afraid by her parents. Leigh was never rebellious. So she had to force her feelings away and stop everything they had going on with Robin, leaving them both devastated for quite awhile.
But isn't that the thing about love? She thought one night. We mess up, get heartbroken and maybe even forgive. Also, if we really love a person, we shouldn't just give up.
Leigh woke up the next day feeling brave, she voiced what's on her mind to her parents and told them to suck it up and respect her decision and went looking for Robin. Opening her front door in a rush, she bumped into someone standing just outside her doorstep.
"Robin –"
"Leigh –"
She collapsed into his open arms, sighing contentedly. Glad that he was even here. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I love you and I shouldn't have given up that easily."
"I love you too, Leigh. Always," he said, wrapping his arms around her petite physique where her body fit perfectly against his.
At that moment, she felt secure, warm and happy. She felt like crying. Little did she know, so did he. Although, this time it was because of pure bliss. Gone were the days where sadness loomed both their worlds. Maybe it was too early for her to assume that they will last forever. But right here, right now, she assured herself...
I'm right where I belong.
...
