CHAPTER 1: THE PARTY
MARYANN'S POV
Looking through the window, I saw some people at our neighbors apartment, everyone holding a glass of wine, smiling, cheering and dancing, while some
were just nodding their head.
Obviously I could not remember why their are so many people in our neighbors house.
Still feeding my eye at the crowd, "wait a minute, could this be real"?, I asked myself.
I had seen countless faces pass me by on streets, in cafés, in the pages of fashion magazines, while flickering across movie screens, but none stayed with me.
None etched themselves into my thoughts like him.
The man whose skin glowed as if he carried sunlight beneath it,
He didn't just walk into a room, he arrived.
His presence poured into a space like warm honey, slow and rich, seeping into my sence.
His skin had this unreal radiance, not the kind that came from cosmetics or artificial lights, but something alive, something
organic.
It was the kind of glow that made people turn their heads a second time, wondering if they had just caught a glimpse of something magical.
His complexion shimmered with health, kissed by the sun, but not tanned, no.
It was more than that. It was as if each cell of his skin had a story, a memory of golden mornings, of windswept afternoons, of secret smiles and whispered blessings.
He had the kind of skin that poets compared to rare pearls, and that artists tried to capture but never quite could.
It was a testament to purity and vibrance, a canvas of warmth and life.
It told a story of confidence, of well-being, of a man who loved himself in the most noble, non-arrogant way.
Then, there was his dimple. Just one.
Not the symmetrical pair that usually adorn model-perfect faces.
That single dimple had its own charm, its own presence, like a punctuation mark in a beautiful sentence.
To me it wasn't just an indentation in his cheek, it was a window into his soul.
It was how his whole face came alive when he smiled.
How his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, how his lips curved as if sculpted for joy.
That smile wasn't learned; it wasn't practiced.
It was innate. It bloomed naturally, like the sun rising over a sleepy world. Women noticed. Men admired.
Then, his attire. He didn't just wear
clothes; he wore them.
They didn't hang on him-they clung to him like they were made for his frame, tailored not just to size but to essence.
Each piece whispered class, spoke fluency in style.
When he moved, the fabric moved with him-not stiffly, but like a second skin, fluid and confident. His shoes, polished to perfection.
Still, that wasn't the most captivating thing. It was the elegance.
It radiated from him. It wasn't just in the cut of his clothes or the smoothness of his gait.
It was natural, It was real, It wasn't rehearsed, it was him.
He was not a man you can forgot.
His laugh was deep and rich, like cello strings vibrating through a quiet room.
When he spoke, his voice carried the kind of calm that made you want to listen, even if he was just talking about the weather.
His accent, smooth and global, hard to place, yet familiar in every note.
His smile was his most powerful weapon. It didn't just attract; it drew. There was something
magnetic in it, something that made my hearts flutter and my pulse rise.
Women turned their heads as he passed.
Not just because he is handsome, but because that smile made them feel beautiful, if only for a second.
It made me wonder what it would be like to be the one he smiled for, not just at.
That rare, golden quality that speaks of empathy and soul.
His brows; those brows, They weren't crafted in a salon, but nature had done its work with an artist's hand.
Strong, thick, but not overbearing. Feminine hands would have paid good money for such perfect curves, yet on him they looked completely masculine, like the bold strokes of a master painter.
He wasn't perfect. No, that would have made him unreal. He was better than perfect, he was true.
He had little quirks. A habit of running his fingers through his hair.
It was these things that made me want to know him, not just look at him.
Because the more I looked, the more there was to see.
There was a storm in him, too. Not always visible, but palpable.
I could feel it when I really looked into his eyes.
He is the man. And in a world of many faces, many voices, many hearts, he is unforgettable.
The music was so loud that no one could hear what the other is saying.
Some ended up shouting, why others try to whisper to their friends. It was a very joyous gathering, with much fun and entertainment.
The merry was still on going when he sat alone in the balcony, holding a glass of wine.
Wow!, l said, still admiring him. For some minutes now, I was lost in a thought trying to figure out who this could be.
"Henry", A voice called from behind. He immediately turned back to know who it was.
Victor who was smiling as he walked towards him.
"Man where have you been", said visitor.
"I have literally search everywhere for you", he said.
"Honestly man, you need to stop this, you are supposed to be having fun", said victor with a frown.
"Come of-it Victor", Henry said. "You and I know that this is not my thing" Henry explained.
"Hey man, not in this one", replied Victor. "Ok, just this once, their is this lady I would like you to meet", victor said.
"I hope this is not one of your match making tricks", Henry said, as he stared at Victor suspiciously.
"Cause l am not in the mood to be explaining myself to a stranger, all in the name of introduction", said Henry.
"My guy, My Gee" Victor said while trying to convince Henry.
"come on man, I am way smarter than that already", victor said, "after you told me what happened to you on that last date you went to, Victor said, still trying to adjust his tie.
"I am glad you remembered", replied Henry, "Meanwhile I need to go home, but before that, let me say hi to the lady as you requested", said Henry.
"Lead the way, said Henry. "that's my guy", victor said with all excitement.
Victor quickly led him through, with his unanimous smile.
"Maryann, Maryann", my mum called.
"Yes mum", I answered. "Maryann, where is this girl", she exclaimed.
"I am coming right away", I said realizing l have been lost in watching our neighbours on-going party.
"Oh no" I said, when I suddenly realized, that I don't even know my crush's name.
I immediately became moody, however, I still need to go and answer my mum.
I quickly jumped down from the window and immediately rushed out to answer my step mum.