Aurelia sat cross-legged on her bed, clutching her phone with nervous excitement. "He added me back?" she said, not expecting it because she added his snap by mistake. She hesitated for a moment, then sent the message that would set everything in motion. On the other side of the city, Zayd received her greeting—a simple "Hi"—and replied just as quickly, his caramel skin aglow under his own lamp. "I’m Aurelia,""I’m Zayd," Their conversation started off awkward, but the spark was immediate, the air charged with the thrill of possibility.
Aurelia found herself grinning at her phone throughout the day, her laughter erupting at the private jokes only Zayd seemed to understand. Their conversations ranged from dreams about the future to the chaos of being juniors at their strict Ghanaian boarding schools. "Do you ever wish we could just skip senior year and run away to Bali or something? "Only if there’s Wi-Fi and unlimited jollof rice," The connection grew deeper, each message bringing them closer, and Aurelia felt a part of herself waking up—one that was bolder, more alive.
She stared at Zayd's latest photo he has sent her—a perfect blend of African and Asian features, brown eyes that seemed to draw her in. Suddenly, the line between friendship and something more blurred, her heart racing with every message. She wrote a song about him, the melody lingering in the air like a secret she couldn’t contain. "I, um, kind of wrote you a song... want to hear it?""Wow, really? Of course, sing it for me!" Her voice trembled as she sent the voice note, the vulnerability both terrifying and exhilarating.
After hearing her song, Zayd suggested they call, his voice deep and gentle, making everything feel more real. Their conversations stretched into the night, laughter bubbling up, secrets exchanged in whispers. Each call left Aurelia floating, her doubts swirling: Was he just being nice, or did he feel it too? "You’re easy to talk to, Aurelia. I feel like I’ve known you forever.""Maybe we were meant to meet. Even if it was just by ‘quick add’," She longed for answers but feared her own hopefulness.
Isla, her sister who is also practically her best friend, noticed the constant calls and couldn’t hide her curiosity. "Who is this person you’re always on the phone with?""No one… just a new friend I made,""You sure? You’re glowing like you’re in a K-drama."Aurelia laughed it off, but inside, she wondered if her feelings were truly that obvious.
It was time to return to boarding school—no phones, no late-night calls, no instant replies. Aurelia stood by her window, watching the raindrops race down the glass, fear twisting in her chest at the thought of losing their bond. Letters could be sent, but they would take months, and the uncertainty was suffocating. "Will you remember me when school starts?""How could I forget you? We started something... I don’t want it to end." As the bus pulled away, Aurelia clung to the hope that their summer connection would survive, her heart full of both longing and promise.
