YOUR FIRST LOVE IS YOUR FUTURE
How do you overcome the uncertainties of loving someone so deeply?
Is your first love the person you're meant to spend forever with-or the heartbreak you'll carry into your future?
For Rainier and Alexine, love begins...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The wind blew hard that night, as if the night itself could feel how much their feelings had grown stronger. The trees swayed above them, their leaves rustling softly against the cold breeze. The lights around the cottage flickered gently, while the moon reflected on the dark surface of the lake.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze on their side.
Their hearts beat faster, almost as if they were going to explode.
"What..."
Alexine was shocked. She had not expected Rainier to say it so suddenly, so openly, in front of everyone.
Should she trust him with her heart?
She barely knew him in person, yet somehow, their constant exchange of messages had made him feel familiar. Safe. She could sense that he was harmless, someone who would never intentionally break her innocent heart.
Rainier took a slow breath.
"I'm going to say it again."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I like you, Alexine."
This time, there was no hesitation in his voice.
He was unusually confident.
Everyone already had a hint of what was happening. They knew Rainier had finally gathered enough courage to make a move toward the girl he had been quietly admiring for so long.
So they let them be.
Except for Kristee.
She stood there, frozen, hearing every word.
For the first time, she realized that maybe she really had to let Rainier go.
Maybe Alexine was going to win him this time.
"You're unbelievable, Rainier. How can you be so cool about this?" Alexine whispered to herself. "I'm literally shaking right now."
She felt embarrassed by all the people around them. Her cheeks were burning.
Then Rainier slowly reached for her hand.
His fingers gently touched hers.
Alexine looked down at their hands, then back at him.
There was something in his eyes that made her heart flutter.
They were both trembling.
Rainier looked mesmerized.
Alexine wanted to kiss him.
She really did.
But not here.
Not with everyone watching.
She wanted their first real kiss to belong only to them.
The cold breeze brushed against her face. It was almost midnight, yet no one seemed ready to end the night.
