a new beginning

I just turned 21 today! I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night, waiting for the clock to strike midnight so I could finally wish myself a happy birthday. But just as I was about to, my room door burst open, and my little sister rushed in, screaming, “Happy Birthday, Big Sis!” She held a cupcake in her hands with a candle on top and told me to make a wish.

At that moment, my heart swelled with happiness. I realized I had the best family in the whole wide world, and I would do anything in my power to keep them happy.

Now, it’s 7 AM, and I’m getting ready for my interview at a fashion house at 9 AM. I am a professional fabric beader, and even though I’ve applied to many places, I never liked their offers. I know my worth and would never settle for low pay because I take pride in my craft.

Walking into my boss’s office, she took one look at my designs and hired me on the spot! I was thrilled.

On my first day at work, I met a guy—he’s also a beader, but since I was hired as a supervisor, he technically works under me. He is so handsome, and for the first time in a long while, I felt something I hadn’t in years—love at first sight.

I’ve been single for two years now, ever since my last relationship, and I never really thought about dating again. But after meeting him, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Could he be the one? Do I want to be his girlfriend? Or will I just be his lover? 🤩

THE NEXT DAY

The next day at work, he needed my assistance with a design. He called out, “Miss… Miss?” twice, but I didn’t realize he was talking to me.

Eventually, he walked up to me and asked, “What’s your name?”

I stared at him, completely caught off guard. My heart started pounding, and for a moment, I was speechless. I just stood there, lost in his gaze. Then he gently tapped my arm.

“Miss, are you okay?” he asked.

Snapping out of my daze, I stammered, “I-I’m fine. Do you need anything?”

He smiled. “Yes, please. My name is Samuel. What’s your name?”

“I’m Imma,” I replied.

“Alright, Miss Imma, I need your help with a design. Please come take a look.”

I walked with him to the showroom, but honestly, I wasn’t focused on a single word he was saying. My mind was completely elsewhere—lost in the way he looked, the way he spoke. All I wanted was to kiss him, to feel his touch. I had no idea what was happening to me, but I was completely drawn to him.

He spoke for about two minutes before finally asking, “What are the names of these beads in the picture? I need to send the details to the boss.”

That was the moment I actually looked at the picture for the first time since I had been standing there. “Oh! These are rice beads,” I said, quickly explaining the sizes to be used.

“Thank you,” he said, dismissing me.

But I insisted on staying. “I’m the supervisor. I should watch and make sure you’re doing it right,” I said.

The truth was, I wasn’t really paying attention to his work at all—I was just watching him. When he finally finished, he showed me his work. In all honesty, I had no idea if it was good or not, but I smiled and said, “Yes, it looks beautiful.”

As the workday came to an end, I gathered the courage to ask him, “Would you like to go for a drink? Since we’re working together, it would be nice to get to know each other.”

To my delight, he agreed.

At the bar, we shared a few beers and talked about random things. Then, looking straight into his eyes, I asked softly, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

He was silent for a moment, then leaned in slightly and asked, “Would you like to be my girlfriend?”

I was shocked. It felt like he had just read my mind, like he somehow knew exactly what I had been thinking.

I stammered, “N-no, that’s not what I meant! I was just asking because… you’re too handsome to be single.”

He reached for my hand, holding it gently. “Do you have a boyfriend? Because I think I like you… and I know you like me too.”

I smiled and shook my head. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

His eyes lit up. “Good. That means you’re my girlfriend now.”

I couldn’t even describe how happy I was in that moment. I had already fallen for him, and now, everything felt so real.

Then, just like that, we shared our first kiss.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept replaying the moment in my head—the way he looked at me, the way he asked me to be his girlfriend, the way he kissed me.

It was the beginning of something beautiful.

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