After a few hours, the sun's rays warmed my cold room, nudging my heart out of its sleepy state. My eyes fluttered open as the warmth spread through me.
I reached for my phone to check the time—7:00 AM. A message from Alisha popped up in my chat box:
"Good morning, Alfred! What time are we going to the amusement park?" – Alisha
Seeing her message, I jumped out of bed and quickly replied:
"Good morning, Alisha! Probably around 10 AM, but we can adjust if you'd prefer sometime in the afternoon."
After sending the reply, I stretched and began cleaning the house.
A few minutes passed before Marianne woke up. Her hair was a mess, but somehow, she still looked effortlessly good.
"Big sis, want some fried egg with bread?" I asked as I was frying eggs.
"Hohoho, you seem to have slept well—and you're looking great today," she teased. "Thanks to my barbershop magic, right?"
"Of course, sis. And for that, I'll serve you today," I smiled, handing her the first fried egg.
"Oh? My little brother is so inspired today. I should definitely keep helping you with Alisha, ehehehe," she giggled, sandwiching the egg with bread.
"Sis, stop that!" I muttered, a pink hue rising in my cheeks.
"Oh, by the way," I added, "Alisha just messaged me. She said 10:00 AM works for her."
"Is that so? She messaged you first before me? My gosh, little bro, what did you do to catch her interest? Did you hold her hand? Use your charm on her?" she teased as she savored the food.
I scratched my cheek. "Well… it's not like you're wrong. I did show her my charm. I spoiled her a bit, kept her company… but, ahhh..."
I drifted into thought, both ears turning red as I imagined what holding hands with Alisha would feel like.
My daydream ended abruptly with my sister's voice:
"Remember, just let things flow naturally. Guide it, don't force it. Liking someone and loving someone are very different things."
She looked at me seriously.
"Do you want to know why, little brother?"
"Yes, big sis. Please tell me."
"Liking someone often comes from admiring what they have—whether it's their attitude, abilities, looks, or status. But love goes beyond interest. Love means appreciating their entire being—not just the good parts, but also their flaws. When you truly love someone, even their imperfections become meaningful because it's them. You're not just drawn to what they offer—you're drawn to who they are."
I took in her words and reflected. I realized I was attracted to Alisha, but I wasn't sure if I loved her.
"Sis," I asked seriously, "if I'm supposed to let things flow, does that mean I should just keep hanging out with her?"
"Well, that's part of it. But it's better to do things you both enjoy together, watch how she reacts, and build a genuine friendship first. That way, you'll understand whether you like her traits or her as a whole. It's a deep topic, but just remember—guide the flow, don't force it. Stay true to yourself."
"Yes, sis. I'll remember that."
"Good," she smiled, joining me in cleaning the house.
---
Fast forward to 10 AM, Marianne and I were waiting outside Alisha's house.
"Alisha, are you ready?" I texted.
"Yes! Just finishing my makeup."
After five minutes, the gate opened—and there she was.
Alisha stepped out in a stunning red dress adorned with delicate, aesthetic floral patterns.
"So? How do I look?" she asked.
"You look great!" Marianne said before I could speak.
Alisha turned to me expectantly.
"Umm… Alisha, you look… beautiful," I said, blushing.
"Oh… thank you, Alfred. You look handsome today, too," she replied with a shy smile and a pink blush on her cheeks.
"Alright, let's go, lovebirds! Time is ticking!" Marianne called out, pulling us both toward the amusement park.
---
After a few stops, we arrived.
The amusement park was moderate in size, and the crowd wasn't overwhelming.
"Look!" Marianne pointed to a massive roller coaster. "Let's ride that one! Hahaha!" she laughed mischievously.
Just imagining the height and twists of that ride made my hair stand on end. I glanced at Alisha—surprisingly, she looked excited.
"Um, Alisha, do you want to ride the roller coaster?"
"Yes! I want to experience the thrill!" she said, walking toward the ticket booth.
Marianne bought the tickets, and I followed them both. We boarded the roller coaster and took the front seats.
"Attention, passengers. Please fasten your seatbelts for your safety. And don't forget to enjoy the ride!" the operator announced before starting the ride.
The cart began ascending the tracks slowly. With every inch we rose, my heartbeat quickened—until we reached the very top.
The view was breathtaking. We could see the entire amusement park and the tall buildings surrounding it. For a moment, I felt at peace—grateful to be here.
But that peaceful moment ended abruptly.
"AHHHHHH!!!" I screamed as the cart dropped suddenly, diving like a bullet. It twisted through loops shaped like vertical tornadoes.
I yelled at the top of my lungs, clinging to my seat—until I glanced at Alisha and Marianne beside me.
They weren't scared.
They were… thrilled. Their eyes sparkled, faces lit with excitement and pure adrenaline.
Looking at them, I couldn't help but smile.
"This… is surprisingly fun," I muttered as we reached the highest point of the ride again—800 meters above the ground.