ricky looked at the time and waited in front of nini's house for their date
she came out wearing a strapless white top with a floral white and light blue skirt, wearing converse
nini adjusted her high ponytail as she ran to ricky's car and he smiles at her
she leans in to give him a quick kiss hello before putting her seatbelt on as he starts driving
"so, where are we going?" she asks him excitedly
ricky laughs "it's a surprise."
nini pouts "ricky!" she whines
he laughs harder before taking her hand in his, moving his thumb in circular motion on the back of her palm
she rolls her eyes playfully, knowing that he wasn't going to give in before looking out of the window
they drove in a comfortable silence with the calm songs playing on the radio before arriving at a park
"where are we?" nini asks confused
"you'll see," he smirks "i wanted to show you something i found."
nini gives him a frightful expression "tell me this isn't something bad."
he shakes his head with a smile "i promise."
she takes a deep breath as they both get out of the car and hold each other's hands as they walk through the greenery around them
"it's so peaceful here." nini says, looking around her
ricky feels his mood lift as he sees her eyes light up, taking in the surroundings around her
she always loved simple, natural things and loved nature
"oh my god ricky!" she squeals as she pulls him towards a couple of bunnies that were hidden on the side of the trail
ricky laughs as he sees nini discreetly kneel down to watch them and he can't help but see how kind-hearted and all-around a genuinely down-to-earth girl she was.
after a few minutes, they continue the path, randomly talking about anything that came to mind until they arrive at a wooden bridge
ricky smirks as he leads her closer to it, but nini was hesitant
"what's wrong?" he asks her
"it looks really old-"
"you'll be fine neens. trust me, i went on it not long ago." he assures her
he sees her not budging and takes a deep breath, holding her hands as her eyes shift to his
"i promise." he whispers
nini nods slowly, feeling slightly more relaxed as he continues to lead her to the bridge
they take the first step on it, making a slight creak, but otherwise it was solid, heading further to the center of the bridge
he stops midway and turns around with a smile, nini looking at him in confusion
"what?"
"so?" he smirks
"it's an old bridge?" she says in a matter-of-fact tone
ricky chuckles and nods "yeah, and what is it over?"
nini looks around her "a lake?"
he shakes his head with a smile as he takes her hand once again, leading her to the edge of the bridge
nini places her hands on the railing and he stays behind her
"look,"
her eyes shift down to the blue surface of the water, before she gasps in awe
it was filled with lotus flowers
she turns back to ricky and jumps up in excitement
"how did you find this?" she asks him, turning back to see them
he shrugs his shoulders "i have my ways. come on,"
ricky sees her pout slightly and he laughs "i promise you're going to prefer it."
she sighs and follows him onto the other side of the bridge, going down the trail and through the forest of trees
"ricky, i'm not exactly dressed for hiking," nini groans as she seats away a fly
he rolls his eyes playfully "this isn't hiking. we've been walking for only two minutes on flat ground neens."
"still, i don't get what we're doing,"
"you'll find out." he replies "okay, close your eyes."
nini stops and raises her eyebrows "i'm not closing my eyes when there are twigs and branches that i can just fall over!"
"i'll lead you don't worry," he assures her as he arrives behind her and places his hands on her shoulders
nini sighs and nods before closing her eyes shut and they walk a few steps slowly
a few more minutes and nini feels slightly anxious
"ricky-"
"just a few more steps." he says
nini nods and they do three more steps before ricky stops them
"okay. open," he smiles
nini's eyes open and thats when she widened her eyes in surprise
"oh my god," she breathes as she walks closer
it was a stone-edge surface to the river containing a bunch of lotus flowers, with a blanket laid on the floor and a basket sitting in place
"ricky!" she exclaims with a laugh as she quickly approaches the edge of the river, looking at the lotus flowers as close as possible
"do you like it?" he asks, sitting down next to her
nini's smile doesn't leave her face as she looks up at him with love, leaning in to give him a quick kiss on the lips
"i love it."
he beams at her as he takes the basket sitting next to him
"what's the occasion?" she asks him, lightly touching the pink lotus petals as he brings out the boxes of food from he basket
ricky can't help but widen his smile at the view of her awestruck expression
he places his hands on her shoulders, pulling her back ever so slightly
"what do you see?" he asks her
nini keeps her eyes scanning the surface of the water as she did before, this time trying to search for something
that's when she saw that the lotus flowers were all placed in a certain, specific position
'will you go to prom with me'
she widens her eyes and turns around to see ricky looking at her intently
the girl laughs as she nods "yes!"
he sighs in relief before feeling nini bring his arms around his neck, his hands quickly sliding around her waist as he hugs her tightly
"i love you." she whispers over his shoulder
"i love you too."
nini's eyes twinkle as she looks at ricky before leaning in to connect their lips
she feels him smile against her and can't help but do the same as she pulls him closer to her
they pull apart and rest their foreheads against one another's taking deep breaths and keeping their eyes closed as they stayed there in each other's company.
"this was too much-" she giggles
ricky laughs "oh really?"
nini nods "you didn't have to do all of this for me,"
the boy shakes his head as their eyes meet "i'd do anything for you neens."
she smiles "that's the cheesiest line you've ever said bowen,"
he chuckles and nods as they both start eating and talking
soon enough, the two are laying down, nini watching the pink flowers while ricky watches her