I was all set and ready to go back to school.
My dad dropped my brother, Camron, and me off. After settling in, I waited for my friend Mary, and together we headed to class. We had only two lectures that day it was still the beginning of the semester, and not everyone had resumed yet...After our last class, I checked my phone and saw a message from Jovi. She said she was on her way to my school. I smiled to myself, replying, "Wow, awwn okay, bby." I was excited I hadn't seen her in a while. Mary and I stopped by the school café to buy some water. She said she was tired and wanted to go home.
"Let's go to my place," she suggested.
But I shook my head. "Jovi's coming to see me. I'll wait for her here." She smiled, said goodbye, and we promised to see each other tomorrow. After she left, I sat in the hall opposite the school field, waiting. The breeze was calm, the sky beginning to dim one of those evenings that felt too peaceful to be real...A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again. "I'm at the school gate."
I stood up quickly and made my way there.
When I saw her, my heart softened. "Jovi!" I called, and she smiled, saying my name, Elaria, before pulling me into a warm hug.
Then I noticed another girl beside her.
"Who's she?" I asked, smiling politely.
"Oh, that's Kimmy," Jovi said. "My friend from lesson. She came with me."
I nodded, still smiling but deep down, I wished she'd come alone. I've always been the jealous type, especially with people I'm close to. But as we walked and talked, Jovi's attention was mostly on me. She made me laugh, like always. And just like that, the jealousy faded, replaced with that familiar comfort I only felt around her.
We walked together and found a spot under a big tree opposite the hall. The wind carried bits of laughter and chatter from nearby students, but all I could hear clearly was Jovi's voice. I sat first, then Jovi joined me. Moments later, she sent me a funny text even though we were sitting right beside each other. That was so her always playful, always extra. As we were talking, her phone rang. She picked it up and said, "Babe, I went to see my friend in her school," and then laughed softly. I raised my brow and teased,
"Ouuh, you've got a boyfriend now?"
She grinned. "Yeah, but it's nothing serious. I'm just after his money."
Kimmy, who had been scrolling through her phone, chuckled. "Classy Jovi."
We all laughed, and for a moment everything felt light. Then Jovi sighed and said she was hungry. I took her to my school café, and she bought small rolls and orange juice for the three of us her, Kimmy, and me.
On our way back to where we had been sitting, Kimmy's phone rang. It was her mom, telling her to come home. She frowned a little and said, "I've got to go."
"So soon?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"Yeah, Mom's waiting," she said.
We hugged her goodbye, and as she walked away, I felt a small wave of relief. It wasn't that I didn't like Kimmy she was sweet but I wanted time alone with Jovi. It had been almost two months since we'd last seen each other face to face, and I'd missed our energy together. Once Kimmy left, Jovi turned to me. "So, are you seeing anyone?" she asked, smirking.
I laughed. "Nope. I'm not ready for any relationship right now."
She laughed too, that loud, carefree laugh of hers that could brighten any mood. I took out my phone and started recording a video, hyping her up.
"Look at you! You've got ass, girl! You're too fine!" She laughed harder, covering her face as I kept teasing her. The air between us felt warm not just from the sunset, but from that familiar bond we shared....Soon, the sky turned orange and the evening breeze started to chill. Jovi stood up and said, "It's getting late. We should go."
We walked together to the road. When we reached her stop, she turned to me and said, "Elaria, text me when you get home, okay? Byeee!"
I smiled and waved. "Bye, Jovi."
As she left, I didn't know that this visit, this simple, ordinary day would mark the beginning of a story I'd never forget.