Why did I agree to go out and buy the grocery? I would've just said no to mom if I had known that I'd be buying so much.
"Hey Sarah."
I turn around to see a familiar face. My heart starts beating faster and I can feel my cheeks warming up.
"Hey Aaron."
"You seem to be struggling with those bags. Do you mind if I help?"
"No, of course not."
I give him two of the bags I'm holding.
"Wow! This really is heavy!"
"Yeah. Go figure."
We start walking.
"So, what have you been doing lately Sarah?"
"Well. I have started learning cooking."
"I hope you didn't burn down your house this time."
"Ha-ha, no I didn't. Things turned out surprisingly well this time."
"So, which dish have you learnt to cook?"
"Well, right now I can cook pasta, pizza and steak."
"Wow, that's good. You're learning fast and you'll catch up to me in no time with that pace."
"Thanks Aaron. What have you been doing?"
"I have been painting my room."
"Really? Why?"
"Well, I got bored of the colors so, I decided to repaint."
"Wow, that's good."
"You should have seen me a week before, my face was partially blue in color."
"How did that manage to happen?"
"Just a little workplace accident."
"Come on Aaron, I won't tell anyone."
"Okay. So, I was painting my room and I kept the paint bucket on the top step. While getting down, I accidentally knocked it over and the whole bucket fell on me."
I start laughing hysterically.
"Hey, come on. It's not that funny, is it?"
"It is really funny. I mean how do you even manage to knock a paint bucket over yourself?"
"Ha-ha, I guess I possess a particular skill set that no one else does."
"Yeah, maybe you do. But, this is nothing compared to what I've done. When I was in primary school, I took my bike to the park and rode it down the stairs because I thought it was a good idea."
He starts laughing.
"Really? What happened after that?"
"After that, I fell down and broke my teeth."
"How many of them?"
"Four of them. Thankfully, all of them were milk teeth."
"Yeah, imagine if they were permanent ones. You'd be looking like a pirate right now."
I punch him hard on the shoulder.
"Ouch! You should control your punches or you'll break my bones someday."
"Ha-ha. I have actually done that once before."
"I don't even want to know how."
We stop outside my house and he hands me my bags.
"So... I was wondering..."
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I don't know why, but my heart starts beating faster than before.
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"Yes?"
"If you're free this evening, would you like to go for a movie with me?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Really?"
"Well, friends hangout with each other don't they?"
"Yeah, they do. So, the movie will start at half past six. I will be waiting for you near the entrance."
"Sounds good."
"Bye Sarah."
"Bye Aaron."
I enter the house and close the door behind me.
"I'm home mom!"
"I'm in the kitchen sweetie!"
I enter the kitchen and put the bags on the table.
"How did you carry all of these home by yourself?"
"Actually, I didn't. Aaron helped me."
"Who's Aaron?"
"He's a friend of mine."
"At college?"
"Yeah."
"You love him don't you?"
"Mom... how did you..."
"I'm your mother Sarah. I know when you're keeping things from me. Plus, your cheeks turned blood red when you mentioned his name."
"He saw through me mom."
"He saw through you? What do you mean by that?"
"He saw the scars behind my smile."
"He must really love you then."
"Yeah. I'll be going out for a movie with him in an hour."
"Sure."
I exit the kitchen and enter my room. I throw myself on the bed and then call up Hope.
"Hey Hope."
"Hey Sarah, what's up?"
"I'm going for a movie this evening."
"Going for a movie? With whom?"
"With Aaron."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm going to tell him that I love him."
"That's good Sarah. By the way, I'm going to have dinner at Jeff's house today. His parents will be there too. I'm really nervous."
"Why are you nervous?"
"Because this is the first time I'll be meeting his parents."
"Oh okay. I get it. I'll advise you to just be yourself Hope. And try not to do anything crazy."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Bye Sarah. Don't forget to tell me all about it tomorrow."
"Don't worry I won't. Bye Hope."
I hang up the phone and lie down on the bed.
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"So, the two of you are going for a movie today?"
"Yeah. Can I ask you something Jane?"
"Of course you can Aaron."
"Do you think that she knows the truth?"
"I don't know Aaron. And if I were you, I wouldn't be worrying about it. By the way, I forgot to thank you for the pizza last night."
"You're welcome Jane. I was thinking that we could go to the pool tomorrow. If you aren't too busy, of course."
"Sure thing! So, how's college going?"
"College is good. By the way, I got selected in my college's water polo team."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"I'm so happy for you Aaron!"
"Thanks Jane."
I look at my watch.
"I think I'd better go now Jane its six o' clock and I don't want to be late."
"Bye Aaron. Have fun."
"Bye Jane."
I hang up the phone and change into my t-shirt and jeans. After that, I exit the house and start walking.
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I can see him waiting for me at the entrance. Looking at him, I start to ask how someone can love me so much. I really have to tell him today. I walk towards him.
"Hey Aaron!"
"Hey Sarah! You look great today!"
"So do you!"
"Let's go inside. The movie is about to start."
"Yeah, let's go."
We enter the cinema.
"By the way, can I get you something?"
"Sure. I'll take a small popcorn please."
"Okay wait here."
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I walk over to the counter.
"Good evening sir. What would you like to order?"
"I'd like to order two small popcorn please."
"That would be six dollars."
I take out my wallet and pay the cashier. After I receive my order, I walk back towards her.
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"Hey, here's your popcorn."
"Thank you!"
We enter the movie hall and take our seats. The lights in the hall start getting dim.
"Hey look! The movie is starting!"
"Yeah, I can see that."
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No matter what the movie offers, I can't seem to concentrate while watching it. The only thing my eyes are catching is her. She is as beautiful as she was on the first day I met her. But for some reason, her expression is telling me a different story. As if, something is bothering her.
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"Hey, is everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine Aaron."
After about two hours, we exit the cinema.
"So, how was the movie?"
"The movie was really good!"
"By the way, can I drop you off?"
"Of course you can! But before that, can we take a walk in the park?"
"Yeah, sure."
We start walking. There is nothing more important in life than love. It binds us to one another and to every good deed we do. "Love hurts" is the biggest lie out there. Love heals, love makes people whole again and love fills them with goodness. What hurts is betrayal, thoughtlessness, insincerity. He made me question every promise I mad to myself. He made me open up when I didn't want to let myself in. He helped me breathe when I didn't want to anymore and he helped me see that it's okay to love again. This is why I need to tell him that I love him. Soon, we enter the park. I look up at the stars which seem brighter than usual.
"Hey, the stars are looking beautiful today."
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But, for me, you have always been more beautiful than the stars. I look up at the night sky.
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"Yeah, they are looking beautiful today. Sarah, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, you can."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Yes, there is."
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I knew it!
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"I wanted to tell you something."
"Okay. Go ahead."
"I got back together with John."
"What?! Seriously?!"
I start laughing.
"Relax Aaron. I'm just pulling your leg."
It's time that I told him.
"I wanted to tell you that... I love you."
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My heart starts thumping inside my chest. This isn't possible.
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"This is a joke isn't it? You can tell your friends to stop recording this and come out of the bushes. I'm going home."
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I turn around and start to walk the way I came.
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"Aaron wait! Just listen to me!"
He turns around and faces me.
"What is it Sarah?"
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She takes my hand in hers.
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"This isn't a joke Aaron, trust me."
"I thought that you didn't believe in love."
"I didn't, until I was shown the truth. You loved me so much that you saw through me. But, how were you able to love me so much?"
"I loved you from the very first day I met you Sarah."
I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks.
"You need to trust me Aaron. I really love you."
He starts smiling.
"So, what are we going to do now?"
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I start laughing.
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He takes me in his arms and pulls me so close that I can hear his slow and steady breaths. I can feel his heart thumping inside his chest. He moves his head closer so that his forehead is resting against mine. Our breaths are shaky from the sudden movement. I hesitantly look up at him.
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I stare deep into her ocean blue eyes. I cup her cheek and lean in closer.
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We pause, looking into each other's eyes. I swallow and hold my breath. His eyes search mine and he leans into me, his lips drawing near, my lips parting to receive them. He presses his lips against mine. Time for me suddenly comes to a stop. I don't care about the people around us. In fact, I don't even notice them. It's just me and him. It would be better if it stays like this.
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It feels as if we have been doing this for an eternity, and I don't want to stop.
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He breaks the kiss.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be by your side forever."
"I didn't know that you loved me that much Aaron."
"I love you more than you think I do."
This is the best night of my life. I will never forget it.
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I will never forget this night and this moment. I'll keep them as a memory with me forever.
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"Let's go Aaron. It's getting late."
"You're right. Let's go."
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I'm glad that my love for you made me see through you.
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I'm glad that your love for me made you see through me.