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Kel huffed as he climbed up the metal bars to where I was sitting. “Uh, Sunny? Isn’t it kinda late to be out here?”
I was thankful it was the middle of the night and dark outside. My face was incredibly red, no doubt. I had been planning this for at least a month at this point. “No.. It’s only two,” I said while resting my face on my knee.
I’ve known Kel since we were 7. Mari and Hero introduced us soon after they’d met. We’ve watched each other grow up for as long as I can remember, from height checks to comparing old baby photos. I’ve always been close to him.
He shrugged and sat down next to me, swinging his legs. He was always filled with so much energy. Kel sighed, “Whatever you say. I don’t really know why you wanted to come all the way out to the park though. I mean don’t get me wrong, I like looking at stars and stuff, but couldn’t we have just met at your place?”
I started fidgeting with my hands. They were cold. “Yes, but..”
“But?”
I’d one-hundred percent known that I liked Kel since last year. It was the middle of junior year when it hit me. I couldn’t stop staring at him and I didn’t understand why, but his laugh, his smile, the way that he can instantly brighten up a room just by stepping in, how he can make anyone happy, how he makes me happy... I told Basil about it and they looked at me as if I were an idiot. “You’re in love,” they said. It rang in my head for days as I started to process my own feelings for Kel.
I looked up at his face and breathed out. “This place is special to me. We first met on this playground thanks to Hero and Mari. I wanted to.. to.. spend some time here, with you.”
Kel grinned and let out a giggle, “Well, if you wanted to spend time together, then why didn’t you just say that?”
Deep breaths, Sunny. You can do this. I reached out and took Kel’s hands in mine under the starlight. They were cool from resting on metal bars and were much rougher than mine. “I want to tell you something.”
“Yeah buddy, what’s up?”
I looked up to meet his eyes and spoke, “I think I’m in love with you, Kelsey.”
“Aw man, I love you too!”
“No,” I said more firmly, squeezing his fingers. “Not as friends. I.. I have feelings. For you. Romantically.”
There was a brief moment of complete silence as we gazed at each other. His bronze eyes made me feel like a statue: frozen and unable to look away. My face felt extremely hot and I was very glad it was dark out. My mind and heart were racing for what felt like an hour before Kel broke the silence. “So what you’re saying is, you like, like like me?”
I nodded in response.
“As more than just... friends?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
He let out a nervous laugh and looked away. “Wow, I uh..” His grip on my hands tightened. “I’m sorry, I’ve just never.. Oh god, haha..”
I tried to loosen my grip and started to pull away from him. “Uh, I didn’t mean to-”
Kel realized I was retreating and pulled me back in. Our faces were so close that I could feel his breathing. My cheeks were hot and his were red as could be, highlighted by the pale moonlight. He took a shaky breath, “No, Sunny, don’t go! I.. I think that…”
I knew then that it was one of those moments they talk about in movies, a “perfect” moment. You can do this, just go for it! I took a sharp breath and leaned in, closing my eyes. I pressed my lips against his in an instant. I could feel his surprise as he adjusted to me. Kel threw his arms around me and pulled my face in closer. We clicked as if we were two magnets reuniting. His lips were so soft against mine… maybe movies are right about kissing; it truly felt like magic.
Finally, I pulled away. Kel was hesitant to let go, but relaxed his grip on me and rested his hands on top of mine on his knees. He was breathing heavily as he spoke, “Oh, Sunny… I didn’t know you- No, I didn’t know I felt that way until you, you, uh-”
I smiled and looked away, embarrassed. “I.. I love you, Kel...”
“H-Huh? Sorry, I didn’t hear-”
“I said I love you!” I cried out. “Kelsey Garcia, I’ve known you nearly my whole life, and you’ve always been my best friend, and I have feelings for you. Really strong ones, like love. And-”
“SUNNY, I LOVE YOU TOO!”
Before I could finish my thoughts he had me wrapped in a hug. He was shaking a bit, wait, was he crying?
“YOU MEAN, SO MUCH TO ME SUN! I CAN’T, EVEN TELL YOU, HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU! THIS IS, GENUINELY AMAZING!” Kel sniffled between words and was probably holding back sobbing. He was always so open about his emotions and was great at expressing how he felt. This felt like that, but it was as if his body couldn’t even contain his thoughts and feelings right now. I felt a single tear fall from my eye as I fully embraced him. It was a night I’d never forget, one that I’ll always cherish.
Kelsey Garcia, I love you. I think I always have, and I know I always will.