I stood at the corner, took a deep breath and tucked in my school shirt. I had so many words planned in my head. I knew exactly what I was going to say. I had to pour my heart out to melt her heart and weaken her knees. I was prepared to seize the opportunity.

I looked, as the angel walked down the street, approaching where I lurked. Good gracious!

She had long, slender legs that perfected her movement. To say that she was beautiful would’ve been an insult! She had Pearl Thusi’s face and smile. She flicked her hair to the other side, exposing her pretty and flawless face. I started to panic. I wasn’t going to make her mine; the girl was certainly out of my league. I needed something to calm me down. I remembered, and I fished my phone and played ‘Who says by Selena Gomez’. I felt my fluttering heart start to beat normal.

The goddess was only a few feet away from me. This was it!

I took in some mint and smelled my breath on my hand. A shadow passed me. I looked at her back. When I lifted my feet to rush and talk to her, gravity pulled me back to the ground. My feet were heavy! I pulled my right leg with both of my hands, still, attempting unsuccessfully. What was happening?

I fought the long fight that I only read about in the stories. It took me minutes to find myself walking freely. I spit at the ground and followed my angel. I was mad and that didn’t last long when I reminded myself of what I was going to do, if I had any guts.

I was three feet away from her. She had a headset on, which made things more difficult for me. I stretched my hand to touch her, but the atmosphere’s lighting chocked my hand. I groaned and muttered some curses under my breath. I was so scared to touch her, and ask her to spare her time for me. I was so stressed. What if she rejects me? What if I stutter? What if I make a fool of myself? I face-palmed myself and looked at the diva as she was drifting away.

I was so useless!

Courage plucked in and I scooted towards her. I was surprised she never looked behind her. That was abnormal! I am sure she heard my thuds when I was near her. Was she playing hard to get? Was her pride that high? I guess I’ll never know. She stood at the corner which was near her neighbour. An old man got out of the house. He noticed what I was doing, or else he wasn’t going to laugh his lungs out at me and point me to her that much. The old man repeated his actions; he pointed with his walking stick and bashed me to go to her. Was it my lucky day or the day I was prepared to die?

My hand fought all the forces and touched her shoulder. Did I blush! My face was burning and it wasn’t going to get any redder. She turned and looked deeper in my eyes. I froze. I just froze! I looked at her face much closer. She had a faint tattoo of a butterfly on her left cheek. She was so small, now that she was no more than one inch from me.

“Yes?” she breathed out.

I squealed, internally. What a melody she had parked in her throat. I felt myself relaxing. Her eyes were inviting.

“Hi. I am-,” I was saying.

“I know you,” she said with a smile. I was getting a boner down there! It was embarrassing.

“Can I tell you something? I promise to be quick and straight to the point,” I said. She nodded.

“Busi, I knew we haven’t gotten to know each other for very long, and there is a bit of a general preferential difference between us, but I do really care about you. You are a very special girl. There is so much about you that I know most guys don’t see. They are all looking at you just for your body. But, honey, I am telling you, that is not what I am doing. There is so much to you than that.

“I have liked you for ages, but just never had the courage to say it to you in person. I would like to be more than ‘that other guy’ to you. I would like you to point at me saying I’m your boyfriend. You mean so much to me. I mean, just that special smile when I’m having a bad day, you know, teachers picking on me, just brightens the day and makes it bearable. So, what do you say, would you give it a go?” I finished and exhaled.

She opened and closed her mouth. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I was glad I wasn’t the one to run out of words. When she wanted to say something, her mother called her and was walking towards us. She went to her mother, as my heart shuttered, but promised to give an answer the following day.

That night I slept with new confidence and hope for the rising sun.