When I first met Rowan, he barely spoke.
He'd sit at the back of the kindergarten class, helmet strapped under his chin, eyes hidden behind the visor. Everyone thought he
was strange — I thought he was lonely.
Back then, I didn't know that the helmet once belonged to his father. Or that one day, I'd be the reason he stopped smiling.
INTRO
hey everyone
this story follows lelia and rowan- two childhood best friend who once promised to always stay together. but life had other plans.
years later,fate brings them back into each others world, changed by time, distance, and heart break.
Rowan, once a quiet boy who hid behind his helmet has grown into someone charming yet cold- a boy who learned to wear a smile the way others wear armor.
and lelia, the girl who once brought light into his world, now finds herself standing before the same boy she left behind..... only to realize the distance between runs deeper than years.
its a story about first love, broken promises, jealousy, and discovery. about how some connections never really fade - they just wait to be reignited.
so grab a cup of tea, get cozy and step into rowan and laelia's world
because sometimes, love doesn't end. it just changes shape.
CHAPTER ONE
THE BOY WITH THE HELMET
(DO NOT COPY OR REPOST)
It was lelia's first day at maple wood kindergarten and everything felt too loud. children ran around shouting, crayons rolled off tables and someone was already crying in a corner.
"could you please introduce yourself a little to the class miss?" the teacher said and the class felt silent.
" oh ... hey everyone. my name is lelia...lelia avery and I'm five years old " cute chubby lelia smiled as she waved to the class.
" hey lelia"
" hi lelia"
the children smiled.
lelia waved and smiled. her teeth clearly showing.
"it's time to find a seat lelia. you can sit anywhere you like" the teacher said and she nodded.
she scanned the room and saw some seats that were empty but she didn't like them.
"i don't like front seat" she murmured.
in a far corner in the class, there was an empty seat close to someone whose head was bent.
she glanced at the seat then nodded.
"teacher...." she called.
"yes lelia?"
"i like that one" she said
the other kids glanced at her, then whispered.
"don't seat there" a girl murmured.
"that's rowan's spot "
"he's weird " a boy added.
"he never talks "
lelia looked again. the boy didn't seem weird....just...quiet.
so she walked over anyway.
"hi " she said. setting her backpack down.
"can i seat here? "
no answer
he kept quiet. his head still on the table.
"do whatever you want " he finally muttered.
"okay!" she blinked then smiled.
"I'm lelia "
Nothing.
"what's your name? "
he glanced up briefly....the black glasses the helmet he was wearing looking at her direction.
"you talk too much'
"so you talked" lelia grinned.
he signed, clearly regretting it.
"you're noisy'
"and you're quiet' she muttered.
"that's fair'.
that made him pause. he didn't know what to do with her reply.
"what're you doing?" she asked as she peeked towards the paper on his thighs.
"who's that?"
he quickly folded it and tucked it into his pocket.
"no one. and mind your business"
"is that....your dad?" she asked looking at him.
he froze then, with a voice barely above a whisper.
"he used to wear one like this" he mumbled.
"it's his helmet"
lelia smiled and nodded.
'its nice. i think he'd like that you still wear it"
he looked at her for a second like he wasn't sure if she was teasing him or telling him the truth.
" don't you think I'm weird?"
" why would i?"
" cuz i wear an helmet to school ....."
" well, i think it's nice. my mum says people we love don't go away. they just stay differently, so it's good you're still wearing a part of your dad ". she smiled.
he didn't respond and lay his head back on the desk.
" hmmm.... i have crayons. do you want to draw with them?"
" no "
" com'on!" lelia pouted.
" go play with your friends "
" but i have no friends"
" none of my business"
" please.....pweety....please?....pweety....pweety.....pweety.....ple-"
" enough!" rowan groaned as he sat up
" here " lelia smiled as she handed him a blue crayon.
" let's color here " she smiled as she stretched a piece of paper towards him.
" just this once" he glared.
" o...okay " lelia signed.
growl!.....growl!!.....someone's stomach growled.
" r....rowan?" lelia chuckled.
" don't....don't make fun of me " he snapped
" so you were hungry..." she grinned.
" I'm not!" he glared
" tsk " she chuckled and opened her backpack. brought out two sandwich and handed one to rowan.
" eat this" she smiled
" no " he said
" com'on... just eat. you're hungry aren't you? see...bite. it's delicious " lelia smiled as she slowly ate her sandwich.
rowan took the sandwich and glanced at it.
" eaww....(eat)" lelia mouthed....her mouth full with food.
" i can't take my helmet off. i would take it off....later " he murmured and left the sandwich on the table.
"ohhh.... you poor boy " lelia mouthed pitifully as she swallowed the last bit of her sandwich.
" then, i would eat this " she attempted to take the sandwich but rowan reached for it first.
" it's mine! " he snapped.
" tsk " lelia scoffed and grabbed her water bottle to drink water
" too proud " she mumbled.
ring! ring!! ring!!!
" that's the closing bell! " lelia exclaimed and immediately grabbed her backpack.
" bye rowan " she yelled as she followed the rest children to rush out of the class.
" what kind of girl is she... " he muttered as he looked at the door and then at the seat beside him.
" she's definitely weirder than me " he tucked the sandwich into his bag and walked outer the class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
" no! remove it!"
" i don't wanna stop pulling!"
" you can't eat with your helmet on !"
" i don't care "
" remove it !"
" no "
" rowan! "
" none of your business" she could feel the glare coming from his helmet and signed frustratedly.
" you're so mean "she glared as she fell slowly on the grass
" why do you care anyway " rowan scoffed
" tsk ..... " lelia signed
" your stomach has been growling and is still growling " lelia glared as her hands flustered through the grass
" has been growling? since when have you heard my stomach growl
" since the two weeks I've been in this school? " lelia scoffed
" two weeks ? so soon i thought you were a new student"
" i am ...tsk glad you noticed " lelia frowned then scoffed
a... are you angry with me? rowan asked pinching his hands.
lelia stared at him for some time although not seeing his face because of the helmet signed and sat up
" no I'm not but "
" hmm? "
" eat the food " she glared silence
" fine " he murmured and grabbed his helmet.
" but you have to promise me one thing "
" hm? what's that ? " lelia titled her head
" don't get scared of me . if you do, i will never talk to you again " rowan said and lelia could feel an anger in his voice .
" okay " i promise " she said and nodded.
how ugly could he be that he had to make me promise ? or even wear an helmet to school? lelia wondered.
rowan slowly removed the helmet from his head
" th.....this is my face "
silence
" p....pest?!(what he calls lelia)"
"s....see!...i knew it ! . it was a must .....?"
" rowan ? " lelia suddenly called.
" d....don't talk to me " he glared.
his mouth twitching in pain as he tried putting back on his helmet
" y....you never told me ... you were this beautiful" lelia exclaimed her eyes shinning all over.
"huh" rowan questioned utterly confused
" rowan how....how are you so handsome ? lelia gawked in wide smiles as her hands found their way to his face.
" h...handsome? rowan was taken aback
" how'your face so smooth ? your nose ! your hair .... your eyes... wait! a....are your eyes grey ?!.... so beautiful! " lelia giggle's as her hands touched his eyebrows and lashes
" st... stop touching me " he snapped as he suddenly pushed lily away
lelia startled as she immediately gained her composure
" rowan?" she called
" I'm....I'm so sorry he mouthed.
" It's okay...sorry for touching your face without your permits
" th....that isn't it" he muttered. his hand passing through the back of his head.
"y...you said i was handsome....is that true?" rowan mumbled as he stared at his feet mumbling shyly.
"of course. you're very handsome...those cheeks, i wanna touch them..." lelia giggled as she stretched her hands towards rowan but he slapped it away.
"don't"
'why?" lelia pouted
"it's so cute" she mumbled and rowan blushed.
"d...don't say such things to me" he said glaring at lelia.
" but it' true "
"but i can't be c....cute!'
"huh? but why not?'
" cute are meant for girls not boys "
"but boys are cute "
" how do you know that?'
"cause my-"
"lelia?!"
they heard a voice.
"isn't that your....mom?" rowan asked as he quickly reached for his helmet.
"lelia?!!'
"ye...yeah!...it's my mum" she immediately hummed up.
"so...you're....leaving?" rowan asked.
"yeah...see you tomorrow rowan. ohhh tomorrows a Saturday. see you on Monday then" lelia giggled as she ran waving at him.
"see.....you" rowan mouthed as he stared at her moving figure
T.B.C
Brought TO YOU BY (NEXT & SHOW)
WRITTEN By : Diruto