The following week became one of the busiest weeks of my life. Every day was filled with endless practice sessions, meetings, reports, and preparation after preparation. By the time I made it home each evening, I was too exhausted to ride to the lake and visit Isabella. I missed her far more than I had expected, and with each passing day, the feeling only grew stronger. Before I knew it, the day before the competition arrived.
Today...
I finally made time to see her. It was a beautiful full-moon night when I stepped into the familiar forest once again. Silver moonlight filtered through the towering trees, casting a gentle glow across the narrow path that led to the lake. The cool night breeze carried the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, and with every step, a quiet excitement grew inside me. It had only been a week since I had last seen Isabella, yet somehow, it felt much longer.
"Isabel?" I called.
No answer.
I looked around.
The lake reflected the moon like a giant mirror. The forest was strangely quiet.
Suddenly—
"Boo!"
I jumped so hard that I almost lost my balance.
Isabella burst into laughter behind me.
"HAHAHA! Ace, your face!"
I held my chest.
"You almost gave me a heart attack!"
She laughed even harder.
"Were you scared?"
"No."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"...Maybe a little."
She giggled again.
For a moment...
She simply stared at me.
Then she smiled.
"So... where have you been?"
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I'm sorry I couldn't visit last week."
"I've been busy preparing with my teammates every day because I was chosen to represent our university. It was an opportunity I couldn't afford to waste, and the competition meant a lot to me."
Her eyes grew wide.
"You were chosen?"
I nodded.
Before I could say another word—
She suddenly jumped forward and wrapped her arms around me.
"I'm so happy for you, Ace!"
I froze.
My heart completely stopped working.
"...I-Isabel..."
Slowly...
I wrapped my arms around her. Her body was cold, yet somehow, my heart felt warm. The embrace was gentle, soft, and comforting in a way I had never experienced before. Around us, dozens of fireflies drifted through the air like tiny stars, while the moonlight shimmered across the surface of the lake, making everything seem almost unreal. It felt as though we had stepped into a fairy tale. In that moment, I wished time would simply stop. Then, as if suddenly realizing what she was doing, Isabella's eyes widened. She quickly stepped back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"I-I..."
She covered her face.
"My goodness..."
She let out a soft, embarrassed giggle, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. That night, she was wearing a simple blue dress that swayed gently in the breeze. Beneath the silver glow of the moon, she looked almost unreal, as though the moon itself had chosen her to shine. For a moment, I simply stood there, captivated by her quiet beauty. Then I slipped a hand into my pocket and smiled. "I have something for you."
She blinked.
"For me?"
I nodded.
I carefully took out a sunflower-shaped hair clip.
Her eyes sparkled.
"You remembered..."
"I remembered."
Gently, I tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and placed the sunflower clip in her hair.
"It suits you perfectly."
She touched it carefully.
"It's beautiful."
"No."
I smiled.
"You are."
She looked into my eyes, and neither of us spoke. The world around us seemed to fall completely silent until all that remained was the gentle whisper of the wind and the distant murmur of the lake. I couldn't look away. Her eyes held mine so effortlessly that I almost forgot how to breathe. "Do you know..." I whispered softly, "...I think I finally understand why people believe in fairies." She tilted her head, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Why?" she asked. A small smile formed on my lips. "Because there's one standing right in front of me."
Her eyes met mine with a quiet gentleness as I took a small step closer. She didn't move away. Instead, she remained where she was, our gazes locked as if the rest of the world had faded into the background. The space between us felt impossibly small, and the only sound I could hear was the steady pounding of my own heartbeat echoing in my ears.
Our faces grew closer...
Closer...
Until...
She suddenly pinched my nose.
"Ow!" I yelped, rubbing it.
She burst into laughter.
"You were spacing out again, Ace."
"I was not."
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow playfully. "Then why were you staring at me like that?"
"I..."
I couldn't find the right words.
She smiled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.
"See? I caught you."
She turned around.
"Anyway... I should go."
I watched her walk away, feeling disappointed that the night was ending. She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly stopped. Then, to my surprise, she ran back toward me.
"Isabel?"
Before I could react, she stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed my cheek.
My eyes widened.
"I-"
She pulled away immediately and looked at me with a shy smile before taking a few steps backward. "Your face is so red!" she teased, trying to hide her own embarrassment. Then she cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, "Promise me you'll come back tomorrow, and don't forget the book. Good luck, Ace!" Without waiting for my answer, she turned and ran into the forest, laughing like a carefree child. I remained frozen where I stood, watching her disappear among the trees. Slowly, I lifted a hand and touched the cheek she had kissed. "I promise," I whispered with a small smile. "I'll come back." Even after she was gone, I could still feel the warmth of her kiss lingering on my skin.
A foolish smile spread across my face.
"I think..."
I let out a quiet laugh.
"...I'm completely in love with her."
The full moon shone brightly, while countless fireflies danced through the trees, making the night feel even more magical.