Episode 1: How Can I Love Someone?

[Scene: Classroom – Morning]

Elina stood in front of the class, trying to maintain order.

Elina (FC): Class, please be silent! Sir will come soon.

Mia: Bro, what’s happening?

Elina: What??

Mia: You know Hana has a boyfriend.

Elina (FC): What!? Really? Who??

Mia: Last-second seat…

Elina (FC): HEEEEE???? Eww!

Elina covered her face in disbelief.

Elina (FC): She likes him? He looks so ugly, bro! I don’t like it when he sticks his tongue out — it’s so ewww. I have no words, Mia!

Mia: I ALSO DON’T LIKE HIM… And I don’t know why she’s attracted to him.

Elina (FC): Ignore them, bro. We’re here to tease them and eat their surprises! Let’s just enjoy ourselves. Hahaha.

Mia: Hahahahaha! Hifi!

[Scene: Break Time – Schoolyard]

Elina spotted Hana with a small chocolate in her hand.

Elina (FC): Wow, he gave chocolate to Hana! Let’s go, Mia.

Mia: Go, go, go! Tease her and eat her chocolate! Hahaha.

Elina approached Hana with a mischievous smile.

Elina (FC): Hi, Hana! What did he give you?

Hana: Nothing.

Elina (FC): Don’t lie, bro! We already saw it. And you like him, and he likes you — I know.

Hana blushed, looking down shyly.

Hana: Yes… we’re in a relationship. I wanted to tell you both, but if this spreads, it could cause trouble. I want to keep it private.

Elina (FC): Okay, okay, no problem, Hana. As you wish. But… can we eat your chocolate?

Hana: Yes, sure.

Elina (FC): Thank you! Run, Mia!

Mia and Elina laughed as they ran away with the chocolate.

Mia & Elina: Hahahahaha!

[Scene: Schoolyard – After Chocolate]

Elina (FC): Mia… Hana has a boyfriend. Do you have one too?

Mia: No, Elina. If I had, I would tell you, bro. It can’t be a secret.

Elina (FC): Yeah, I know, bro.

Elina paused, lost in thought.

Elina (FC) [thinking]: Can I love somebody too, Mia? Can I have a boyfriend?

Mia: Why not??

Elina’s mind wandered as she imagined what it would feel like to like someone for the first time.

[Scene: Elina’s Home – Afternoon]

Elina’s doorbell rang. Her best friend Rui was visiting after a long time, and both were excited to catch up. Rui had been traveling to her grandma’s house without telling Elina, and she was eager to hear everything.

Rui: Hi, Elina! We’re meeting after such a long time!

Elina (FC): Yes! And without telling me, you went to your grandma’s house? HEHEHE 😏

Rui: Elina… I have a secret to tell you! Something amazing happened these past few days.

Elina (FC): What??? eyes wide, curiosity piqued

Rui: I met a boy… he lives near my grandma’s house. He’s so caring, so kind, and… I don’t know… it felt like love at first sight. blushes deeply, hiding her face behind her hair

Rui: And guess what? When I was leaving to come here, he dropped me at the bus stop… and suddenly, he grabbed my hand!

Rui: He asked me, “Will you come again to meet me?”

Rui: I… I was shocked and blushing like crazy! I didn’t know what to say, and without thinking, I just said… yes!

Elina listened carefully to every word, her heart beating a little faster. She couldn’t help but imagine herself in Rui’s place. What would it feel like to have someone suddenly grab her hand? Her cheeks warmed just thinking about it.

Rui: Then he said, “I’m waiting for that day.”

Rui: Elina… we haven’t even spoken much… but somehow, it felt like a sudden thunder in both our hearts!

Rui: But… I don’t know why I’m missing him so much already… and I even forgot to get his phone number! pouts playfully

Elina (FC): What??? 😮 Don’t worry, Rui! You can find him on Instagram. It’s easy!

Rui: Yes, you’re right… blushes, twirling her hair shyly

Rui quickly opened Instagram. Elina peeked over her shoulder, curious and excited. Her eyes widened as Rui’s phone lit up with a new message notification.

Rui: Wow, Elina! He messaged me… it feels like destiny! 😳✨

Elina (FC): I’m so happy for you, bro! ❤️

But deep inside, Elina felt something strange… a little flutter in her chest that she didn’t fully understand. She looked down, biting her lip, feeling her heartbeat speed up. Could it be… that she also wanted someone to hold her hand suddenly, just like Rui described?

Elina’s mind wandered. She imagined a boy smiling at her, asking her to meet him again, just like Rui had experienced. Her cheeks flushed pink. She could almost feel the warmth of that moment, the excitement, the tiny shock that made her heart skip a beat.

She hugged herself, trying to shake the feeling off, but it lingered. The thought of having someone special, someone who could make her heart flutter and make her blush, felt… exciting, comforting, and terrifying all at once.

Elina (FC) [thinking]: Maybe… maybe I’m ready too. Ready to feel something new. Ready to care about someone. To laugh with them, tease them, and maybe even… hold their hand.

Elina smiled softly to herself. She didn’t know when it would happen, or who it would be, but the spark of curiosity and hope was already growing inside her. Her heart felt light, her thoughts busy with possibilities, and a quiet excitement settled in her chest.

For the first time, Elina realized… love might not be just a story she reads in books. It could be something she could feel herself. And maybe… she wanted to feel it soon.

>

[Scene: Elina’s Street – Evening]

Elina walked to the 24×7 store to buy milk. The store owner was there, and she started having a playful argument about the prices. The owner’s son quietly watched her, and at first, she didn’t even notice him properly — just a blurry figure in her mind. But something about him made her heart skip a beat.

Even after leaving the store, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. His kind smile, the way he listened, the small things he did — they stayed in her mind all evening. When she went to sleep that night, she thought about him again. Slowly, she realized… maybe she liked him.

[Scene: Elina’s Home – Diary Time]

The next day, Elina bought a small diary. It became her secret place to write about the boy, to capture every little thing she noticed.

“I saw him again today. He helped a little girl cross the street. His smile made me feel warm inside. I hope I see him tomorrow.”

She wrote about everything: how he laughed, how he helped neighbors, the way his hair fell on his forehead, even the way he waved at a small dog. Writing made her cheeks blush, but it also made her happy. She looked forward to every visit to the store, hoping for another glimpse of him.

At night, Elina would lie in bed, thinking about him. She imagined him walking past her, smiling, or doing small things that made her heart flutter. Every thought made her cheeks pink, her heart beat faster. She knew these were just her private thoughts, her own little daydreams, and she didn’t tell anyone about them.

Elina (FC) [thinking]: Why does my heart feel so strange? But… it feels nice.

[Scene: Street – Daily Visits]

From that day, buying milk became an excuse to see him. Every day, she noticed more details about him — how he greeted the shop customers, how careful he was while handling the groceries, and even how he sometimes laughed quietly to himself. Each sight made her heart flutter a little more.

Even though she saw him often, Elina never tried to talk to him yet. She didn’t know what to say. Instead, she kept all her feelings hidden, only writing them in her diary. Her blushes, her nervous glances, her small excitement — all of it stayed private, a secret she cherished just for herself.

[Scene: Nighttime – Private Thoughts]

At night, Elina lay in bed, hugging her pillow, thinking about the boy. She imagined small, sweet things — him smiling at her, laughing beside her, or simply being near her. She blushed at every thought, feeling her heart beat fast. These daydreams were hers alone. She never told Rui, her family, or anyone else.

Writing in her diary became a daily habit. It was her private way to express her feelings without anyone knowing. She wrote about how she looked forward to seeing him, how his smile made her happy, and how even small moments made her heart flutter. She didn’t know when she would speak to him, but every day, her secret feelings grew stronger.

For the first time, Elina realized… love wasn’t just something she heard about from Rui. It was something she could feel herself, quietly, secretly, and beautifully. And maybe… she was ready to feel it fully.