CHAPTER 1. EVERYTHING CHANGED ON HIS SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY
Soft music plays.
Camera pans over a cityscape before zooming in on a gorgeous guy – think chiseled features, bright blue eyes, and flawless skin.
Guy: My skin used to be a mess – acne, dryness, the works.
[Flashback footage shows him with breakouts, picking at his skin in frustration]
Guy: But then I discovered HydraGlow.
[Cut to him applying the cream, then relaxing in nature – waterfalls, greenery…]
Guy: With its unique blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and green tea extract...
[Cut to a scientist in a lab coat explaining the ingredients]
Scientist: These powerful antioxidants soothe and nourish the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles while locking in moisture.
[Cut to animation of the ingredients penetrating skin layers]
Scientist: Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture, vitamin C boosts collagen, and green tea extract shields from environmental stressors.
[Cut back to the guy, now smiling with glowing skin]
Guy: HydraGlow transformed my skin – and my life!
[Cut to testimonials on screen –
"HydraGlow cleared my acne!",
"HydraGlow reduced my wrinkles!",
"HydraGlow evened my skin tone!"…]
Guy: But don't just take my word for it – thousands of users rave about HydraGlow!
[Cut to before-and-after photos of users with dramatic results]
Guy: Try HydraGlow tonight – wake up to glowing skin tomorrow!
[Special offer appears on screen: "Order now, get 20% off and free shipping!"]
Guy: Order in the next 10 minutes and receive a FREE travel-sized HydraGlow cream!
[Closing shot: Guy smiling, with the tagline "HydraGlow: Nature's Secret to Flawless Skin"]
___
Emily Cooper POV'
I sank deeper into the comfort of my plush couch,
snuggled under my favorite fuzzy blanket, watching my childhood friend –
the stunning Christopher Hollen –
advertise his father's latest revolutionary product on TV.
Christopher and I went way back – like, diaper-years back.
Our parents were close friends, and we practically grew up together in his extravagant mansion and my more modest home nearby.
Now, he was all grown up – working for his father's company as a sought-after model,
flaunting his chiseled features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't obsess over his commercials.
They were my guilty pleasure – I'd watch them over and over, mesmerized by his charm and good looks.
And whenever he advertised a new product, I was always the first to try it.
Partly because his dad's inventions were genuinely cool and innovative – from smart home devices to groundbreaking beauty products like the one he was advertising now, HydraGlow.
But mostly because I had the biggest crush on Christopher. Like, ever.
Why not?
He was smart, handsome, kind, and everything a girl could want.
I adored everything about him – his bright smile that lit up the room, his adorable frown when he was concentrating, his playful pouts when he didn't get his way, and the way he walked with confident swagger.
My friends even joked that I was a "Christopher addict" – and honestly, they weren't wrong.
My crush began on his 16th birthday party at his mansion – an extravagant affair with celebrities, lavish decorations, and a live band.
I remember wearing a yellow sundress, feeling nervous and out of place among the glamour.
Christopher, however, looked dashing in his tailored suit, towering over me with his 6'1" frame.
After his initial birthday party organized by his dad, we snuck to his backyard, where I had already decorated it for him as an additional celebration –
balloons, fairy lights, and his favorite food: pizza, and ice cream.
We laughed and joked around, enjoying each other's company without the noise of the party.
Then, Christopher pulled out a bottle of champagne he had sneaked from his dad's cellar – our eyes sparkled mischievously as we decided to try it.
We drunk to our fullest, our first time drinking, and that too together, alone and secretly.
The alcohol warmed our bodies, loosening our tongues as we talked about random things – favorite movies
(his: action, mine: rom-coms),
childhood memories (like our first fight over a toy car),
and even our future dreams (he wanted to take over his dad's company, I wanted to be a writer).
Hours passed, and the bottle was almost empty.
We were so drunk we didn't know what we were doing – our words slurred, bodies swayed, and balance faltered.
I remember leaning on him for support, my head on his shoulder, feeling safe and warm in his presence.
Suddenly, he turned to me – our faces inches apart.
My heart skipped beats as he mumbled something incoherent, then leaned in closer…
and our lips touched. It was a soft, gentle kiss – but it sparked fireworks in my chest.
Time froze as our lips parted, eyes staring straight into each others.
Our hearts pounding in unison, the rush of adrenaline as we fled the scene, the uncertainty of what came next.
It's funny how a single moment can change everything.
After that night, things were never the same between us.
We drifted apart, like ships passing in the night. I'd see you around, exchange pleasantries, but the ease, the comfort, the laughter – it was all gone.
I often wonder what would have happened if we hadn't run away that night. Would things have turned out differently?
Would we have confronted whatever it was that was brewing between us? Or would we have let it simmer, waiting for it to boil over?
The what-ifs haunt me to this day.
But one thing's for sure – that night was a turning point in our relationship.
And now, I'm left wondering if we'll ever find our way back to each other.
Sigh!
Now, watching him on TV, I felt that same flutter in my chest.
The commercial ended, and I grabbed my phone to order HydraGlow – my fingers flying across the screen to get my hands on that cream… and maybe, just maybe, see him again.