Chapter 3 A New Transfer Student III

As they entered the diner, they were greeted by the delicious aroma of fried food and coffee. They took a seat at a table, and Zephyrion couldn't help but steal glances at Layla as they looked over the menu.

Just as they were about to place their orders, Kate stormed into the diner, her face scrunched up in annoyance.

"Layla, I've been searching for you everywhere! Why are you hanging out with these guys?" Kate demanded, her tone sharp.

Layla's expression turned defensive as she stood up to face Kate. "What's the big deal? We're just having some fun at the arcade," she replied, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Fun? You could have texted me, you know. I've been worried sick about you," she said, her tone softening slightly.

Zephyrion couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as he watched the two girls interact. He didn't like the idea of someone else having a claim on Layla's attention.

Layla sighed and sat back down, motioning for Kate to join them. "Sorry, I guess I got caught up in the moment," she said, sounding apologetic.

Kate slid into the table next to Layla, her eyes flickering between Kai and Zephyrion.

"Why are you even hanging out with these two?" Kate's eyes were sharp as she stared at Zephyrion. "I remember telling you not to interact with Layla, but here you are, having fun with my cousin Layla."

Zephyrion was shocked. Now he understood why Kate was so possessive of Layla and why she didn't want him to interact with her. But somehow, he still felt like there was a missing puzzle piece in this whole situation.

Layla looked at Kate in annoyance. "Why did you tell him not to interact with me? It's my life, why are you always so protective about me? You know very well that no boy can hurt me."

Kate looked at Layla and said, "Wrong. No boy can hurt you physically, but our maiden's heart is a different matter."

Kai and Zephyrion almost laughed out loud when they heard Kate claiming to have a maiden's heart, but they did their best to suppress it and continued to listen.

Layla rolled her eyes. "What does that even mean, Kate? You can't dictate who I talk to and who I hang out with. Besides, Zephyrion is just a friend."

Zephyrion felt a pang of pain in his chest as he heard Layla say "Zephyrion is just a friend," but he quickly pushed it aside and focused on the tension between the two cousins. He felt a little uncomfortable with the way Kate was being so protective of Layla. Sure, they were cousins, but wasn't it a bit overboard? Zephyrion had only met Layla a few hours ago, but he could already tell that she was a strong and independent woman who could handle herself.

Kai couldn't see an end to their conflict, so he stepped in and tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, Kate. We were just having some harmless fun at the arcade. Layla's a cool girl, there's no harm in hanging out with her."

Kate sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. It's just that...Layla means a lot to me. She's like a sister, you know? I just want to protect her from getting hurt."

Layla softened a bit at Kate's words. "I understand that you care about me, Kate. But you don't have to be so overprotective all the time. I can take care of myself, you know?"

Kate smiled at Layla, "I know you can, Layla. But it's just hard for me to see you get hurt. You're like family to me and I want to make sure you're safe and happy."

Zephyrion nodded in agreement. "I understand where you're coming from, Kate. But Layla is a strong woman, she can handle herself. We're not here to hurt her, we're just here to have fun and get to know each other better."

Kai chimed in, "Yeah, Layla's cool. We're lucky to have met her."

The tension in the air dissipated as the group started chatting and laughing again. Zephyrion was relieved that the conflict was resolved and he could enjoy his meal without any further drama.

As they finished their meal, they realized that it was already noon. Being autumn, the days were shorter and it was going to be dark soon. They quickly packed their things and left the diner.

Kate spoke up and admitted, "you guys don't seem so bad. Just be aware that I won't let you life if you hurt my sister!"

Kai and Zephyrion quickly nodded their heads in agreement and said in unison while saluting, "Yes, Ma'am!"

Layla rolled her eyes at her cousin's overprotective nature, but she couldn't deny that she appreciated it. She knew that Kate only had her best interests at heart. "Come on, Kate, I can handle myself. You don't need to worry so much."

Kate huffed and crossed her arms, "I know you can handle yourself, but it's my job as your cousin to look out for you."

Layla let out a heavy sigh as Kate turned to the two boys and dismissed them with a sharp "shush shush." Kai and Zephyrion exchanged glances before saluting and waving goodbye, but before they could leave, Layla grabbed Zephyrion's shoulder.

Zephyrion froze as Layla's soft hand rested on his shoulder. She looked up at him, a warm smile on her lips, and said, "Zephyrion, I want you to take me somewhere."

Kate was about to protest, but Layla cut her off with a pleading look. "Please, Kate, it won't take long. I just want to visit an old favorite place of mine with him. I'll be back before it gets completely dark."

Kate let out a heavy sigh and nodded reluctantly, but not before giving Zephyrion a cold stare that sent a shiver down his spine.

Layla took Zephyrion's hand and pulled him away, and before Kai could wish him good luck, they were already running off to their destination. The autumn sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the town, and the leaves rustled underfoot as they made their way through the streets.

As they walked, Zephyrion couldn't help but steal glances at Layla. Her hair was shining in the light of the setting sun, and her Saphire like eyes sparkled with excitement. He felt a warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt for a long time.

After what felt like an eternity, Layla and Zephyrion finally arrived at their destination. As they approached, Zephyrion's jaw dropped in awe. Before them stood a magnificent old bridge, spanning 30 meters in length, painted a vibrant shade of crimson. Beneath the bridge, a deep and mysterious river flowed, beckoning the pair to explore its secrets.

Zephyrion couldn't help but glance over at Layla, who was beaming at the sight before them. "You know," she began, "I used to play here all the time as a child. It was always such a fun spot, filled with other kids my age."

As Layla spoke, Zephyrion found his mind drifting away, flooded with memories of his childhood - times spent playing beneath the bridge with Kai and some other kids, one of whom was a girl he had a crush on. Suddenly, Layla's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Once, when it was raining, I was walking on the bridge and it was incredibly slippery. Before I knew it, I fell into the river.

I was in complete shock since I didn't know how to swim, and the water completely disoriented me."

As she spoke, Zephyrion's mind raced back to a similar incident in his own childhood. He was on his way to buy groceries for his mother when he saw a kid he used to play with fall into the river below the bridge.

Without hesitation, Zephyrion sprang into action, diving into the water even though he couldn't swim. Somehow, he managed to reach the floundering child and drag them both to safety on a nearby rock.

He remembered vividly the child's eyes, sparkling a brilliant shade of sapphire blue, as they cried and thanked him for saving their life.

Layla didn't seem to mind Zephyrion getting lost in his memories, and continued her story. "Luckily for me," she said with a smile, "a boy I used to play with, jumped into the river and saved me. He held onto me tightly and comforted me until my Father came and brought me home."

Layla's face appeared sorrowful as she spoke, "Sadly, it was also the last day I saw the boy since my family moved away from town because of my dad's work. So, I couldn't thank him properly or tell him that I loved him." A soft smile played on her lips as she looked at Zephyrion.

"It was me, wasn't it?" Zephyrion's mind raced with a sudden realization. It all made sense now: why she had talked to him on her first day at his school, why she had gone to the arcade with him, and why she had even shared a dinner with him.

Layla beamed at him and nodded. Then, she took Zephyrion's hand and said, "Yes, it was you, Zephyrion. And now, I finally get to say what I've wanted to say for years." She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.

"Thank you for saving me, Zephyrion. And, I love you. Will you please go out with me?"

Zephyrion's heart raced as he gazed into Layla's sparkling eyes. He had always been drawn to her since childhood, but unfortunately, she moved away. Now she was back, confessing her love for him! Without hesitation, he took her hand and said, "Of course, I'll go out with you, Layla. I love you too." Layla's face broke into a smile, and she suddenly tiptoed to give Zephyrion a kiss on the lips.

Zephyrion felt a rush of warmth spread through his body as he kissed her back, the feeling of her soft lips against his sending shivers down his spine. He felt like he was on top of the world. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away, and there was just the two of them, lost in each other's embrace.

As they pulled away, Layla's cheeks flushed pink, and she grinned at him. "I can't believe this is finally happening," she said. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long."

He couldn't help but feel grateful for that fateful day, so many years ago, when he had saved her life. If it hadn't been for that, they might never have crossed paths again.

They walked hand in hand along the riverbank, talking and laughing, their hearts filled with joy and excitement for what the future held.

-Back in time

Zephyrion sat on the bridge, a bottle of alcohol clutched in his hand. He was lost in thought, reminiscing about his first kiss, which was with Layla. A smile broke across his face as he remembered the taste of her lips. "I remember it clearly," he chuckled to himself. "It tasted like frites and coffee."

But as quickly as the smile had come, it disappeared, replaced by a look of deep sadness. "That would have been the best day of my life if 'that' hadn't happened," he muttered to himself, taking a swig from the bottle. The memory of that fateful day still haunted him.