Page 42

Now

Hours passed without Seth realising, as he caught up with Nina on the park bench, holding her in his arms.

As always, they got lost in endless conversation, chatting about idle topics, their creative ambitions, and plucking more memories from high school to reminisce on.

Then at times, they would just sit in silence, bathing in each other’s presence.

With Nina’s head tucked against his shoulder, and him, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo and addictive flowery perfume.

It was only when the sun started to dip below the horizon, and the sky above them dimmed, that Seth thought it best to go home. He didn’t want Nina catching a cold, even though she had a cardigan and he had just a t-shirt on.

Hand-in-hand, he walked her home, but both their steps were slow and steady. If he could, he’d lock them in this moment forever. This day .

But then, a part of him was reminded that there were many more days to come. Many more filled with Nina, and their love.

Before they reached her front door, Seth pulled her into his arms once more. Pressed his lips against hers, and committed to memory how soft they felt. How right it was.

“By the way, is this the best time to ask and confirm that you’ll be my girlfriend?” he asked against her lips, and he felt her smile.

“Hmm, let me think on that. Why don’t I get back to you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” he prodded, his lips brushing against her cheek, “Are you asking me out on a date, Nina?”

“No, I’m asking me out for you. Keep up, Seth,” she giggled, and she pushed against his chest, “Goodnight.”

As she pulled away, Seth’s fingers wrapped around her hand and pressed it against her lips. The contact made Nina grin even wider, and it took everything in him not to pull her back into an embrace once again.

“Goodnight, my love,” he murmured, and he felt the absence of her touch as soon as her fingers left his.

He’ll always despise having to say goodbye to her.

But this goodbye was different from the others before, because he knew that with every goodbye, the promise of her next hello would always follow the next day.

Seth had it all perfectly planned out. Once he got home the night before, he’d gotten straight to searching for the best restaurant in the city for their first date. He wanted it to be everything that Nina deserved, and more.

He’d chosen a sky-rise restaurant, one that overlooked the cityscape. He was lucky that there was a booking available for two, since it was a popular spot.

Then, afterward, he planned for them to visit her favourite bookstore, and to stop by a dessert place that sold mint hot chocolate.

Rather than meeting her at the train platform, he met her at her doorstep, flowers in hand. He’d gotten up extra early to get them from the shopping centre nearby.

Dad even let him use the car for the day, but Nina insisted she wanted to take the train. Something about sentimentality.

When his Nina stepped out the door, looking captivating in a long-sleeved beige dress, he couldn’t believe that she was real. And that she was now his .

Maybe it was poetic.

Meeting her again, after all these years, at the train station.

Where many go, to reach a certain destination. Where lines converge, intertwine, run parallel and in opposite directions.

As if their futures couldn’t resist intertwining with each other.

And so, when their train arrived, the doors falling to a stop right where they stood on the platform, they made certain that this time, neither of them was going to miss it.