Isaki's frail face brightened up into a warm smile that squinted his emerald eyes as she sauntered past him, energetically waving in his direction as she passed by his desk.
Valeta Rosalie, her long dark wavy hair billowing in the winds, smooth skin as pale and spotless as smoothed marble, siren aqua blue eyes glistening with vibrance and innocence, blessed with an angelic figure and clad in a deep blue sweater with over stretched sleeves.
At the sight of her, Isaki buried his face in a book he held by hand, attempting not to reveal his crush to Ned, his best buddy a chubby guy with nerd potential who sat by him on the next desk in the class, smirking in Isaki's direction as he adjusted his spects
"Hehe! Someone's turning all red" Ned teased still smirking.
"Oh, cut it out!" Isaki replied burying his face deeper into his book. 'It's been 12 years, and I still haven't confessed', impulsively Isaki let the book drop to the desk bolting out of his seat and ramming the desk with a clenched fist, startling Ned and unknowingly causing the class to plunge into silence and glare in his direction.
On realisation of what he'd done, he smiled sheepishly at the gasping Ned and furious class awkwardly slithering back into his seat.
"What the hell dude?" Ned hissed frowning.
Isaki scratched his dark brown hair smiling wearily at Ned "My bad, jus got carried away... sorry!". Ned rolled his eyes and returned to his comic book that lay on his lap.
For twelve years Isaki has been bearing unwavering feelings for Valeta Rosalie, to him she was a radiant soul that he just couldn't get enough of, sure they'd spoken a few times but they had once been child hood pals running around cheerfully.
'I'm twenty-four and she's in the same age range... things can work' Isaki thought bursting with excitement.
Isaki turned to Ned "I'm telling her today" he announced, at last he'd test his luck and risk his heart again.
Ned grinned at Isaki "Calls for a celebration! Our usual spot, the usual time" he winked, then pulled out his phone texted something as his smile faded then he put it away.
"Sure!" Isaki cheered his eyes shimmering.
"Then it's my treat" Ned winked.
Isaki smiled in agreement nodding 'Man I can't wait to confess, much as I'm quite nervous I can pull it off.'
'Twelve years, twelve blasted years! C'mon, the hell have I been doing with my life?'
Ned had learnt of Isaki's 'thing' for Valeta about eight years ago, he made it too obvious always trying to look cool when she's passing by and fidgeting around her, not to mention his general awkwardness whenever he was speaking to her.
In the crowded class room, Isaki sat shaking his leg as he observed the circular analogue wall clock that sat above a white board, ignoring the teacher as he emphasized a critical point for the day had come.
'4:29, just one more minute...' much as his eyes were affixed on the damn thing that one minute felt like an eternity, his heart was racing so fast everything around him fell into a deep silence which was shattered by the chime of the bell, it was time.
The squealing and squeaking of chairs as well as the uproar of students blocked out the teacher's voice, with out a second to spare Isaki grabbed his blue back pack from the back of his chair and placed it on his back then squeezed out with the other students at the back of his mind he hoped against hope that she'd be there, driven by determination to turn his life around.
As Isaki straggled through the narrow hallway crowded with students and red lockers aligning the walls to the sides he thought about Where she'd choose to be today, he thought of the roof top where he'd usually find her peacefully observing the opulent city scape thus he made his way to a narrow flight of stairs at the left wing of the hallway which he begun to ascend then paused, thinking about if he failed to find her there and recalling her other favourite place.
Having a crush on someone for twelve years turns you into an active stalker, Isaki knew her from head to toe, everything that was there to learn, he mastered by heart and could recite at will.
Isaki continued to ascend up the spiral stair case where only three people could pass at a time, he steadily spiralled up the stairs, heart pounding against his chest as he put his words together but before he knew it, he stood at a slightly open door which he pushed through squinting at the bright ambience.
Once his vision cleared, there she was, standing by a fading red coated mesh barricade, a zephyr fluttering her pleated deep blue knee length skirt, sweater and luxurious long dark wavy hair.
The city beyond the mesh was busy but its stunning architecture was undeniably opulent and lavish, with sky scrapers penetrating the clouds and standing out in the azure sky set alight by the evening sun's warm glow, truly breath-taking scenery.
Isaki's heart skipped beats as he watched this angel bathed in the sun's glow 'Maybe I... should just turn back' he though starting to creep back, 'but, I can't turn back I'm too close to give up' he stopped dead in his tracks glancing over his shoulder and gritting his teeth.
'I can do this, I have to do this...' he zipped around and mastered up the courage to approach her, normally. His knees clashed as he strode towards her.
Once he was close enough to pat her, he composed himself although his knees failed him and his heart somersaulted in his chest, he inhaled deeply and poked at her shoulder.
Valeta peered over her shoulder, scrutinizing who he was and the moment she realized it was Isaki, she turned around her face radiating with that smile Isaki couldn't get enough of, locking eyes with him, Isaki lost composure.
"How are you, Isa?" Valeta's polite mellifluous voice inquired, her smile growing more radiant.
Isaki couldn't believe what he was witnessing, frozen in place, eyes wide, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat 'W-what was I-I thinking?!' he though. 'It's too late to chicken out now... I shall prevail.' He gulped hard.
"I-I-I-I-I'm f-f-f-f-f-f-fine", he stammered 'what the hell!!' talk about first impressions.
"It's alright Isa...", she thrust her hands forward, grasping those of Isaki, still smiling with her eyes sparkling. Isaki could feel her tender skin and grip, her gentle Icey fingers interlocking with his, and now his heart was beating on mars, if only she knew how worse she was making things for the poor guy.
"... I won't bite" Valeta winked, still smiling. Isaki inhaled arranging his words, again.
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I w-w-w-w-wan-t-t-t... t-t-t-to..." Isaki stammered.
"TO CONFESS!!" he added bowing his head. 'Well, here goes nothing... will she turn me down? Or will she...'
Valeta looked a bit puzzled, but damn the girl was still smiling.
"... I want to clean about something... about how I feel..." Isaki added pausing to find the right words.
Valeta giggled, turning red and her eyes shimmering.
"For twelve years---I've had..." Isaki hesitated and just then, her grip tightened.
"It's alright" Valeta assured him with her unfading smile. 'For twelve years... I've had a crush... on you'.
"... I really, honestly, genuinely, most certainly like you... a lot, Valeta Rosalie" he added averting his flushed face, his heart racing... on mars.
'My fate... is sealed!' Isaki's mind raced, trying to think up all sorts of things that he never heard what she said, but his eyes widened in astonishment because of what he though he heard.
"Wait...did you just say you've felt the same way all this time?" he asked stupefied.
Valeta nodded one hand covering up her flustered face and smile. Isaki's knees shivered until they knocked against each other.
'I-Is this... a dream?' he pondered trying rub his eyes free of sleep.
"Can I ask you a question?" she asked in a mellifluous voice, pursing her glossy red-hot lips
"S-sure" Isaki stumered, his heart pounding against his chest so hard that he drumming.
Valeta leaned in with a lascivious look in her bewitching eyes, she whispered
"Have you ever kissed before?"
Isaki was taken aback her words resounding in his mind like the lyrics of a divine melody... and he answered.
'What's taking him so long? The jerk jus decided to take the school's belle, my dearest Valeta' Ned thought adding sugar to his coffee and stirring it impatiently. As he sat in Aldore's, Isaki's favourite hang out. A small building able to host fifteen people at max its plank floor spotless with classy leather furniture upon it and a glass front wall the offered an impeccable view of the scenic city buzzing with life.
They were a few minutes to closing up the cafe, the few people inside begun to leave and yet Isaki wasn't showing up.
"Where on earth is this guy!" Ned hissed glancing at the order he made for Isaki as it tempted him. Water droplets trickling down the glass of a cold layered cocktail topped off with cream, cookie crumbs, some powder, berries and a straw to the side usually served with a chocolate bar that Ned had helped himself with a few minutes ago.
Ned sat across the drink wondering if he should savour the damn thing or wait a little longer and at that instance, he catches a glimpse of Isaki's dark hair and emerald eyes rush in through the front door, panting as though he had been in a race against time.
Ned shivered, startled by his sudden appearance. Isaki scanned the room searching for Ned and once he spotted him, Isaki rushed into the seat across Ned's own smiling in contentment.
Ned's face relaxed on learning that it was Isaki but he couldn't help but notice his smile. Ned pointed at the drink "Are you going to have that?" he inquired narrowing his eyes.
"Of course, but later... still in shock of what went down." Isaki said rubbing the back of his neck, sweat trickling down his brow.
Ned leaned in puzzled "What went down?" he asked.
Isaki smirked then replied shrugging. "Just what couples do"
Ned's face brightened in a weary smile that hid jealousy.
"No way Congrats bro!" Ned exclaimed cheerfully Isaki smiled back, proud of himself.
"But just to be clear, what went down?" he asked.
'Alost forgot he was a perv' Isaki sighed inwardly.
Isaki begun from the good parts, "I bounced to her, overflowing with charisma, when I stood by her my aura caused her to fall to her knees, I stretched out my hand to her, my body obscured by the blinding sun such that I appeared as towering as a god with halo of light radiant with majesty... and I confessed in an ancient voice that shook the earth" Isaki cooked.
"She said she felt the same way about me and before I knew it, her tender lips were pressed against mine they were as tender as a marshmallow her breathe as fragrant as rose her slithering tongue swirling in my mouth like a restless serpent... that moment is forever curved into my mind."