Chapter 2

"Hi there, I liked your voice",...

**

As I gazed at my laptop, I felt my heart skip a beat. A new guy had just texted me, and he liked my singing. I couldn't believe my luck. With shaky fingers, I composed my reply, trying to play it cool and not show my excitement.

"Awwn, thank you! I'd be happy to sing for you if you'd like," I typed, infusing a hint of flirtatiousness into my words.

His response was prompt, fueling my anticipation.

"Yes, please! By the way, do these parties happen often?" he asked.

The prospect of getting to know him better, of seeing his face and hearing his voice, filled me with a sense of longing. I eagerly replied, eager to continue the conversation.

"It was the first one, but I promise they'll happen more often," I wrote, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

I racked my brain, trying to remember where I had heard his name before. Trez. The name was familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then, an idea came to me - I could always ask my friend Ness.

"Hey, do you know a guy named Trez?" I messaged her.

Her reply was immediate. "Yeah, you know the guy who's always serious, always wears a face mask, tall, with green pants?"

"Oh, right! The bike guy. Thanks," I responded, a smile spreading across my face.

I could almost envision Ness's eyebrows rising in curiosity. "Why do you want to know?" she asked.

I chuckled to myself, knowing that Ness's innate curiosity would lead her to probe further. But I wasn't ready to reveal any more just yet, so I kept my answer simple.

"Just curious," I typed, with a mysterious grin.

And with that, I returned to my conversation with Trez. I couldn't explain why I was so drawn to him, but there was something about him that captivated me, and I was eager to learn more.

"What sport do you do?" he asked.

I let out a self-conscious laugh. "It's funny, the only sport I've participated in since starting here is cheering on the players. But I secretly love swimming," I replied, feeling a twinge of embarrassment for not being a part of any sports teams.

"You cheer or you sleep?" he teased.

I grinned, "That's a lot of work, you know," I replied playfully.

"Okay, I'll find you a player to cheer for," Trez declared, determined to make me a part of the sports scene.

Turning the tables, I asked, "So what about you? What sports do you play?"

"Basketball," Trez answered, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

"I knew it," I exclaimed, my intuition on point. "You have this physique, like a tall guy. And I feel like a lot of tall boys play basketball."

**

The hours slipped by as I conversed with him, and before I knew it, the day had come to an end. Our conversation flowed smoothly, never once hitting a dull patch. I felt as if I was getting to know the guy behind the words, uncovering a personality that was rich and full of depth.

I had initially pegged him as the strong, silent type, but it seemed that I had misjudged him. The more we spoke, the more I discovered about his vibrant personality. He was chatty, yet charming in a way that kept me engaged. It was refreshing to find someone who was not afraid to be themselves.

I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if we were to meet in person. Would he still be as open and expressive, or would he become more reserved, as so many people do when meeting someone in person? There was a hint of shyness about him that made me wonder if perhaps he felt more comfortable communicating through the barrier of a screen. Regardless, I found myself drawn to him and eagerly awaited the opportunity to get to know him even better.

Ness begged, "Come with me to class." I reluctantly agreed, "You know it's too far from our block, Ness. But okay fine let's go. I want to see where you sit and your classmates."

We stepped into the classroom and all eyes were upon us. I felt my shyness creeping in, but I was determined to see this through. Ness led me to her seat, and I complimented her, "Ooh, I like your handwriting." She replied with a hint of arrogance, "Well, duhhh, I'm perfect." I playfully nudged her, "Don't get ahead of yourself hhh."

As I scanned the room, I couldn't help but notice Trez. His face was illuminated by the screen of his computer, and he looked good. I wished I could go say hi, but my shyness had taken hold and I wasn't sure if I could muster up the courage.

I turned to Ness and said, "Okay babes, I have to go to class now." She smiled, "Yeah, thanks for coming."

As I reached my own class, I was greeted with a text message that made me smile, "Hey, you know it's good to say hi right?"