Anastasia was sitting alone on a bench, watching the sun slowly rise at exactly 6:00 a.m. in the park. The gentle warm breeze of the wind touched her skin. She was absorbed in her phone when suddenly, someone interrupted her.
"What the f*ck!! Who the hell interrupted me?!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the stillness of the morning.
Before she could finish her words, a familiar voice with a familiar look jumped from behind and sat beside her. She paused for a moment, staring at the guy.
"Who the hell is this guy? Wait, I think I know him," she thought to herself.
Slowly, she examined him from head to toe, her eyes following every move he made. But unexpectedly, something happened.
"Ouch!!" Anastasia shouted, her voice almost waking up some sleeping spirits from nowhere.
"Hey!! If you keep staring at me, you might fall," the guy flicked her playfully. "I'm Zake. And please don't stare at me like you want to eat me," he said arrogantly.
Beside her was a female volcano ready to erupt—Anastasia. Her face turned red with fury; smoke seemed to be coming out of her ears, her eyes wide open, and her body shook with the urge to punch the arrogant mosquito beside her.
"Mr. Blaaahh... blaaahh... blaaahhh, I don't care who you are. I just want you to know that I don't like people with less manners."
"Well, Miss Beautiful, I also want you to know that I don't like nosy people. Your face is perfect, but your attitude is damn..."
"What did you just say?" Anastasia slumped against the bench, furious.
"Chill, miss. I know that I'm handsome, but there's no need for you to be so harsh."
Zake's smug expression while he scrolled through his phone made Anastasia even more furious. She stood in silence, fuming, while Zake took a picture of his debonair face.
Anastasia stood in front of him, arms crossed. "Hey!! Why did you do that?" she asked, fixing his hair.
"You deserve that!!" Anastasia shook her head. "It's your payment for your stupid attitude and for flicking my head. Do you think I didn't know that you're the one who flicked me yesterday?" She rolled her eyes.
"Ohh, so you're that nosy idiot I flicked yesterday. Now I remember—"
Before Zake could finish his words, Anastasia gave him a sample punch.
"ACHHH!" Zake exclaimed, caught off guard.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, a smi
Time seemed to slow as they gazed at each other, the tension in the air palpable. Just then, a voice broke the moment.
"Anastasia!" It was Adrian, her ex-boyfriend, striding toward them with a confident swagger.
Anastasia's heart sank. She quickly turned her head, but it was too late. Adrian had already spotted her. As he approached, Zake instinctively leaned back, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"Adrian," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his tone as he glanced at Zake.
"Just hanging out," she replied, trying to sound casual.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. "Looks like you're having fun," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah, well, it's a free country," Anastasia shot back, crossing her arms defensively.
"Listen, I've been thinking about us," Adrian said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I want you back, Anastasia."
Anastasia felt a rush of emotions—anger, confusion, and a hint of nostalgia. "Adrian, we've been over this. You cheated on me. You broke my heart."
"I know, I know. But I've changed. I miss you," he insisted, stepping closer.
Zake, sensing the tension, shifted uncomfortably. Anastasia felt a surge of protectiveness over her own feelings. "You think I would just forget everything? You hurt me, Adrian."
"Come on, Anastasia. We had something special. Just give me another chance," he pleaded, his eyes earnest.
Anastasia shook her head, her heart racing. "I can't just pretend like it didn't happen. I've moved on."
"Moved on? With him?" Adrian gestured toward Zake, his expression darkening. "You can't be serious."
Anastasia felt a spark of defiance. "I am serious. I'm happy now."
Adrian scoffed, disbelief etched on his face. "Happy? With this guy? You're just trying to make me jealous."
Before she could respond, Zake leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, if she wanted to kiss me, she could just ask. No need to hurry," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
Anastasia felt a rush of warmth at his words, but Adrian's expression turned furious. "What did you just say?" he demanded, glaring at Zake.
Anastasia, feeling bold, turned to Zake and, without a word, leaned in and kissed him. It was a quick, impulsive act, but it sent a clear message. She pulled back, her heart racing, and looked at Adrian, who stood there, stunned.
Adrian's face turned red with anger. "You can't be serious! You're just playing games!" he shouted, his voice rising.
"I'm not playing games, Adrian. I've moved on. You need to accept that," she replied firmly, her heart pounding.
Adrian shook his head in disbelief. "You'll regret this," he spat before turning on his heel and storming away.
As soon as he was out of sight, Anastasia turned back to Zake, who was still frozen in shock. "Wow," he finally managed to say, his eyes wide. "That was... unexpected."
Anastasia chuckled nervously, her heart still racing. "Yeah, well, he's my ex. He cheated on me thirteen years ago, and I thought I was over it, but seeing him again... it just brought everything back."
Zake nodded, his expression softening. "I get it. That must have been tough for you."
"It was," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "But I'm done with him. I deserve better."
"You do," Zake agreed, a teasing smile creeping back onto his face. "And if you ever want to kiss me again, you just need to ask. No need to rush into it."
Anastasia laughed, the tension easing between them. "You're ridiculous."
"Maybe, but I'm also right," he replied, winking at her.
They both sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sun continuing to rise, casting a warm glow over the park. Anastasia felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Thanks for being here," she said softly, looking at Zake. "I didn't expect to have to deal with Adrian today."
"Anytime," he replied, his tone sincere. "I'm glad I could help, even if it was just by being a distraction."
Anastasia smiled, feeling a connection growing between them. "You're more than just a distraction, Zake."
He raised an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. "Oh really? What am I then?"
"You're... someone I can talk to," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "And someone who makes me laugh."
"Good to know," he said, leaning back against the bench, a satisfied look on his face. "I aim to please."
As they continued to talk, the sun climbed higher in the sky, and the park began to fill with the sounds of morning life. Birds chirped, and the distant laughter of children echoed in the air. For the first time in a long while, Anastasia felt a sense of peace.
Maybe, just maybe, she was ready to move on from her past and embrace whatever was blossoming between her and Zake.
After the unexpected encounter with Adrian, Zake and Anastasia found themselves walking side by side down the park path. The sun was now fully risen, casting a warm glow over everything. Zake couldn't help but tease her about the kiss.
"Wow, I didn't know I had that kind of power," he said, a playful smirk on his face. "I think I'll start calling you 'Kiss-and-Tell Anastasia.' What do you think?"
Anastasia rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "Very funny, Zake. Just don't get used to it."
"Oh, come on! It's a great nickname! It has a nice ring to it," he insisted, nudging her playfully with his elbow. "Besides, it's not every day a guy gets kissed out of nowhere."
"Well, you did kind of ask for it," she shot back, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"True, true. But I didn't think you'd actually do it! You're full of surprises, Kiss-and-Tell," he teased, winking at her.
Anastasia couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, okay, just stop with the nickname already!"
As they approached a cozy café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, making Anastasia's stomach growl. "How about we grab some coffee? I could use a pick-me-up after all that drama," Zake suggested.
"Sounds good," she replied, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence.
As they entered the café, the bell above the door jingled, and they were immediately greeted by the sight of her friends—Irene and Veilah—sitting at a table, deep in conversation. The moment they spotted Anastasia and Zake, their eyes widened, and they jumped up, rushing toward them.
"Anastasia! What happened? We saw you with that guy!" Irene exclaimed, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
"Yeah, what's the story here? Did you finally find a boyfriend?" Veilah chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Anastasia felt her cheeks heat up again. "It's not like that!" she protested, but her friends were already in full teasing mode.
"Not like that? You just kissed him!" Irene laughed, nudging her playfully.
Zake, enjoying the attention, leaned in closer to Anastasia. "I mean, I wouldn't mind if it happened again," he said with a wink, causing Anastasia to groan in embarrassment.
Veilah suddenly paused, her eyes narrowing as she remembered something. "Wait a minute! You're the guy who flicked her yesterday!" she exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at Zake.
Zake's eyes widened. "Uh-oh," he muttered, realizing where this was headed.
Before he could react, Veilah kicked his foot lightly. "What's wrong with you? Flicking her like that? Rude!" she scolded.
"Ow! What was that for?" Zake yelped, hopping on one foot.
Irene crossed her arms, giving Zake a stern look. "Seriously, dude. You need to show some manners. Flicking her head? Not cool."
Zake raised his hands in defense. "I was just being playful! I didn't mean any harm!"
Just then, Zake's two friends, Dominique and Charlie, entered the café. They took one look at the scene unfolding and rushed over, misunderstanding the situation entirely.
"Hey! What's going on here? Are you okay, Zake?" Dominique asked, concern etched on his face.
"Yeah, what's with the kicking? Are you guys bullying him?" Charlie added, glaring at Irene and Veilah.
Anastasia and Zake exchanged exasperated glances, unable to contain their laughter. "No, no! It's not like that!" Zake shouted, trying to calm everyone down.
"Yeah, we're just having a friendly discussion," Anastasia added, stifling a giggle.
The group finally settled down, and Zake and Anastasia stood in the middle, trying to mediate. "Okay, everyone, let's just sit down and drink some coffee," Zake suggested, hoping to diffuse the tension.
They all found a table, and as they sat down, the teasing continued, but it was more lighthearted now. Zake and Anastasia tried their best to stop the bickering, but it was like trying to stop a freight train.
An hour passed, and the noise of laughter and playful banter filled the café. Zake and Anastasia, exhausted from the chaos, had both dozed off at the table, their heads resting against each other.
Irene, Veilah, Dominique, and Charlie finally noticed the two sleeping figures. "Look at them! They're out cold!" Veilah exclaimed, stifling a laugh.
"Maybe they're just tired from all the drama," Dominique suggested, shaking his head.
"Or maybe they're just really comfortable with each other," Irene added, a teasing grin on her face.
Veilah leaned over and gently shook Anastasia's shoulder. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wake up!" she said, her voice playful.
Anastasia stirred, blinking her eyes open. She looked around, confused. "What happened?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.
Dominique nudged Zake awake. "Hey, Prince Charming, time to rise and shine!" he said, chuckling.
Zake groaned, rubbing his eyes. "What? Did I miss something?"
As they both looked around, they noticed the group was quiet, all eyes on them. "Why is everyone staring?" Anastasia asked, her confusion deepening.
"Because you two were just sleeping through all the fun!" Irene said, trying to suppress her laughter.
"Yeah, we were just arguing about nonsense," Veilah added, shaking her head. "And you guys missed it all."
Zake and Anastasia exchanged glances, both still a bit dazed. "What were you arguing about?" Zake asked, genuinely curious.
"Just the usual—who's the best superhero, who makes the best coffee, and whether pineapple belongs on pizza," Dominique replied, shrugging.
"Classic debates," Anastasia said, finally starting to wake up. "And you guys were fighting over that?"
"Hey, it's serious business!" Charlie defended, crossing his arms. "You can't just dismiss the pineapple debate."
As the group continued to banter, they began to introduce themselves properly.
"I'm Irene, the self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. I can tell you the best coffee in town, but I can't make it to save my life," she said with a wink.
"Veilah here, the queen of sarcasm and the one who kicks people for fun," she added, grinning.
"Dominique, the guy who knows way too much about superheroes and can quote every movie line," he said, puffing out his chest.
"And I'm Charlie, the guy who just wants to keep the peace and eat pizza," he said, raising his hand as if he were in class.
Zake chuckled, "And I'm Zake, the guy who flicks heads and gets kicked for it."
"And I'm Anastasia, the girl who just wants to enjoy her coffee without all this drama," she said, shaking her head with a smile.
As they all shared their introductions, laughter filled the café, and the tension from earlier melted away. They realized that being friends with each other wasn't so bad after all.
As the clock struck 11:00 p.m., they all agreed it was time to head home. "What a day," Anastasia said, feeling a sense of warmth in her heart.
"Yeah, and I think we should do this again," Zake suggested, a grin on his face.
"Definitely," Irene agreed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
As they left the café, the night air was cool and refreshing, and Anastasia felt grateful for the unexpected turn her day had taken. Maybe this was the start of something new, not just with Zake, but with a whole new group of friends.