YOUNG HEARTS, FIRST ROMANCE

THE GARDEN OF CHILDHOOD

I was only 12 years old, but I knew I loved being at Isa's house more than anywhere else. It wasn't just the big garden, the swimming pool, or the fancy playhouse in the corner—it was her.

Our families were close. We lived on the same block, attended the same church, and always went on vacations together. Christmases were huge celebrations where our parents exchanged gifts, and we ran around the garden, pretending to be pirates or superheroes. Birthdays were just as big, filled with laughter, food, and the promise of adventure. But no matter how many people were around, I always found myself gravitating toward Isa.

Isa's house was where we all hung out—Lucas, Ben, Chloe, Hannah, Isa, and me. The six of us were always together, but somehow, it always ended up being just Isa and me, doing our own thing. Whether we were sitting in the playhouse, running around the garden, or playing with the others, there was something special about being with her. It just felt right.

Isa's place wasn't like the rest of our houses. Her dad, being an architect, had designed it to feel like a wonderland for kids. The garden was massive, with tall trees and a swimming pool, but the real treasure was the playhouse. It wasn't just some rickety little shed. No, this was a mini-house with everything—tiny furniture, a kitchen set, and even a loft. It was our favorite hangout, especially after spending hours playing outside.

Today, we'd just finished a round of swimming in Isa's pool. Lucas, Ben, Chloe, and Hannah were still splashing around, but Isa and I had snuck off to the playhouse. That always happened somehow. No matter how big the group was, we gravitated toward each other, whether we meant to or not.

"Come on, Noah, let's play Patintero!" Ben called from the poolside, splashing water in my direction.

"Alright, alright!" I called back, shaking my head. Isa grinned, knowing how much I loved the game—though, if we were being honest, I probably let her win a little too often.

Patintero was a game we all grew up playing, a traditional Filipino game where two teams compete. One team would be the runners, and the other team the taggers. The goal? To get across the lines without being tagged. And yet, whenever Isa was on the other team, I just couldn't bring myself to tag her.

We set up the lines on the driveway and split into teams. As usual, it was Isa, Chloe, and Lucas against Ben, Hannah, and me. The teasing started before the game even began.

"Noah's going to let Isa win again," Lucas snickered, giving me a sly look.

"Hey, I don't always let her win!" I protested, though I could feel my face getting warm. The truth was, I probably would.

Isa glanced over at me, her eyes twinkling. "Come on, Noah. Don't make it too easy for me." She winked playfully, making my heart race a little faster.

The game began, and Isa was darting around the lines like she always did—quick, agile, and impossible to catch. I could see the others trying their best, but every time Isa got near me, I slowed down just a little. I couldn't help it. I didn't want to tag her out. And when Isa crossed the line and her team won, everyone groaned in unison.

"See? Told you!" Ben said, shaking his head. "Noah always lets Isa win!"

I laughed, shrugging it off. "You guys are just sore losers."

After the game, Isa and I slipped away again, this time heading to the playhouse. It was our spot, a place where we could just be us. The others didn't mind—they were still busy in the pool, splashing and laughing.

Isa's playhouse was our little haven. Her dad had built it with so much care, like he knew how important it would be to us. The inside had a tiny kitchen, a pretend living room, and a loft with soft cushions where we'd hide away for hours. It felt like our own little world.

"Let's play pretend family," Isa suggested as we walked inside. Her voice was soft but full of excitement. It had always been our favorite game.

I grinned, nodding. "Alright, I'll be the dad, and you can be the mom."

It wasn't the first time we'd played this game. In fact, we played it so much that our families would joke about it, saying Isa and I were practicing for the future. Back then, we'd just laugh it off, but now, there was something different about it. Something... more.

Isa moved over to the tiny kitchen, pretending to cook while I sat on one of the cushions, pretending to fix things around the house, like I always did. It was a quiet, comfortable routine we had. The pretend meals she made always turned out perfect, and I always pretended to be impressed.

After a while, the others joined us, but they always let Isa and me take the lead. We played school, with me as the teacher and Isa as my star student. I stood in front of the tiny chalkboard that Isa's dad had built, while Isa, Chloe, Ben, Lucas, and Hannah pretended to be my students. I gave pretend lessons, making silly math problems to get everyone laughing.

"Isa, what's two plus two?" I asked, grinning.

"It's obviously four, Noah," Isa answered with a mock-serious expression, raising her hand first, as always.

"Right again," I said, giving her a playful smile. Isa was always the best at everything. She was top of our class, and I was right behind her. It had always been that way—Isa leading, and me trying to keep up.

By the time the sun began to set, we were all tired, but happy. The playhouse was filled with the sound of laughter, and Isa and I sat side by side on the cushions, like always. I glanced over at her, feeling that same familiar warmth whenever she was near.

"Noah?" Isa's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I looked at her, wondering what she was thinking.

"You're a good dad," she said with a small smile, her eyes sparkling in the fading light.

I laughed, leaning back against the cushions. "And you're a great mom."

In that moment, everything felt perfect. I didn't know how or when it happened, but being around Isa always made everything feel... right. Like we were exactly where we were supposed to be, even if we were just playing pretend. The world could change, but as long as we had Isa's playhouse and each other, nothing else really mattered.