1528 Luna's Story 4: First Kiss/Luna's Diary
Most people can complain about awkward moments where they find themselves uncomfortably close to someone's face for the first time. The trend is often the earlier one can get their first kiss, the better.
Luna and Alex were on his somewhere eating ice cream sundaes and their favorite Japanese candies that they had bought at the little market down the street. As close, as childhood friends, the topic of romantic relationships came up a lot. As close, childhood friends, they usually tried to avoid talking about them being together. N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l-B1n.
Alex ruined that understood peace that day by saying, "Luna, can I kiss you?"
For a moment, she thought she had a major brain freeze, but in reality, it was just her world being spun on its head for a moment.
"Now?" She croaked.
"Not if you don't want to," Alex said, blushing himself silly.
"I just thought – well, think – that you and I, we, should – well, would be a great couple."
"Oh," She replied. They sat there for some time, silently watching their sundaes erode until they were somewhat chunky puddles.
"You know I don't kiss, Alex. You know I've been saving it for something special."
"Yeah, I know," the hint of eagerness in his eyes died as he explained his audacity in asking her for something she would give so easily.
"I just thought that I could make it special enough."
And in truth, Alex was really special. And her best friend. And though they'd never admit openly, they loved each other.
"I'm sorry, dude," She said, trying not to cry.
"I can't."
"I understand. What do you want to do today?"
"We have that project in Robert's'. Mind if we work on that?"
"Sounds good."
And that was the end of that, in her dreams.
Unfortunately, Alex's perfectly innocent question plagued her mind for the following week, until the Friday when they met next. They walked down to the market, admiring the golden aspens as they strolled.
At the market, they purchased their usual favorite Japanese candy, in addition to strawberry-flavored Twizzlers. Happily munching on the candy, they walked into the wooded park on the side of the road. Farther in they went, to the point where they couldn't see the road, or any houses, or anyone at all. It was just them, and an army of golden aspens.
They'd been here before to eat candy, so they plopped down on the dirt and munched away. Luna felt almost sick to be around him, without clearing up something to make him happy. After all, Alex had always been there for her as a friend. He deserved her affection.
"Lex, um," She choked on a piece of purple hard candy.
"Um, you have permission to, well, you know..."
It took a moment for him to answer.
"You don't have to, you know," He said.
"I know. But I want to."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, then."
A few minutes and a couple of good laughs later, they stood. There was one Twizzler left. He split the nine intertwined strands, giving four for her, and taking five for himself. They consumed them as the hot Colorado sun started to flee the skies, casting orange light to aspens around them. She ate her candy fast, but Alex was a bit slower as if doing this intentionally, he was young but sometimes behaved like an adult. They continued to eat.
Five strands. Four. Three. Two took a while to go down, due to the inconsiderate interruption of a gaseous squirrel. There was one strand left.
"Do you want to split it?" Alex suddenly raised this question.
She nodded. He gave one end to her, and she struggled to comprehend why he was still holding on to the other end. Once it clicked for her, her spine grew cold.
Because it is our real selves that bonded,
It is our real selves that each other loves.'
'I listen to you talk,
Soaking in your excitement,
Revealing in the light of your eyes,
Bathed in the warmth of your voice,
I see how you are often still,
I see how you move,
I notice how you listen to me,
How you think so deeply,
Of the right response to say,
Willing to walk my thought paths,
To take part in joint problem-solving,
There is a vast difference between strength and ego,
You are strong,
You believe in yourself,
You respect the honest heart,
And have the wisdom to see reality,
That some are players seeking only play,
Rather than mutual benefit,
And in all that,
From your ways to your words,
There is so much to love,
Yet when we add the chemistry,
The passion to touch,
The primal need for intimacy,
There is that feeling of being in love,
That it has arrived without fanfare,
As a humble traveler,
Not there a moment earlier,
Yet forevermore existing after.'
No other woman will love Alex like Luna do.
Nickaido