Both of them weren’t expeg to meet each other at the bakery. Maria asked what brought Ethan here. Ethan heard there was a local bakery around so he went to try it out. Ethan offered a chat with Maria and a walk at the park which Maria agreed to both.

  Then they went for a walk at the local park after they had finished chatting with each other. Maria got an odd feeling with Ethan. She felt something with his presend pany.

  “This… felt just like being with Noelia but better. Being with Etha better, what am I saying?!” said Maria to herself “I mean, he’s really great at talking with people, knows iing things and is fident with it.”

  “What’s the matter, Maria?” Ethan asked, looking at her.

  “Nothing.” Maria replied.

  “Say…this park feels b, I know another park that is more iing.” said Ethan

  Ethan led Maria to the park that he was talking about. When they arrived at the park, Maria was surprised that Ethan was right. The park was more iing and rger than the park they went to before. It has more lighting, small buildings like porches and gazebos, and a small river with a bridge eg it.

  “Are you enjoying the walk in this park? Ethan asked.

  “Yeah! This feels a lot better.” Maria replied.

  The pair then wao cross a bridge but the bridge was wet and slippery. The water and small puddles on the bridge were covered by dust and dirt. Maria wao cross the bridge but she also didn’t want her newly ed shoes to get dirty again, it took her hours to get squeaky . Ethan offered to carry Maria across the bridge, Maria accepted and carried by Ethan’s hands.

  “Thanks for your carrying and sorry for the trouble.” Maria apologized.

  “It’s fine, I’m gd I could help. Those shoes looked really , it would be a shame if it got dirty again after ing it.” Ethan replied.

  “Yeah, it would be a shame,” said Maria with a smile.

  After they crossed the bridge, Maria hopped off from Ethan and thanked him agaihey tiheir stroll. Maria felt fortable whehan carried her, she really enjoyed being carried by Ethan.

  “Ethan is really a strong guy.” Maria smilingly thought, slightly blushing at the fact.

  They tinued walking in the park. Maria almost slipped but Ethan mao catch her by the hand. Maria’s face became red as she saw Ethan holding her out. She snapped out of it and thahan for catg her.

  “That was close, you could’ve hurt yourself from that fall,” said Ethan.

  “Oh yeah, thanks for catg me.” Maria replied while blushing.

  “Your face is red, is everything alright? Do you wao take you home?” Ethan asked.

  “No, it's fine. Not a big of a deal… hehe.” Maria replied.

  Ethan nodded and just believed her. The two tiheir walk in the park then they saw lights begin to shine as it reached dusk. Maria’s eyes sparkled and were mesmerized by the lights.

  “See? I told you this park was better.” said Ethan.

  “Yeah, they’re really beautiful.” Maria replied.

  “Heh. After all… this park was known for their lights.” said Ethan again.

  Ethan tio show Maria the wonders ay of the park. Objects in the park were decorated with impressive details. Some were made from skilled craftsmen and artists. Ethan and Maria saw people writing or drawing on a board.

  “That looks iing! Do you want to go there?” Ethan asked.

  “Sure!” Maria answered

  The two went over to check the board out. They found loads of drawings, doodles and writings.The board was free to be publicly used, the park provided enough pencils, pens and markers.

  “What should we write, Ethan?” Maria asked, thinking on what to draw.”

  “Maybe let’s try writing our ogether as you know, a sign of a bond.” Ethan replied.

  “Yeah! That’s a great idea!” said Maria.

  Ethan and Maria wrote their names o each other. Additionally, both of them sigheir signatures below their names. Ethan added some drawings to make it more meaningful. Maria plemented on the addition which she found cute aiful.

  Both of them ughed with joy then they smiled at each other. They resumed their walk again and this time, Maria suddenly felt romantic as she had now fallen for Ethan. But she snapped back again and remembered that she just met Ethan.

  “I couldn’t just fall for someone I retly met.” she thought

  It had gotten darker and Maria wao go back to her apartmehan volunteered to apany Maria on her way home but Maria kindly deed stating that she walk herself home. Ethan insisted so Maria relutly accepted.

  While they were walking their way to Maria’s apartment, suddenly someoried to attad robbed Maria ahan. Maria screamed as the straried to grab her. Ethan puhe stranger and stood in front of Maria to protect her. The straried to fight Ethan but he outmatched the stranger. Both Ethan and the straared at each other theranger ran off.

  Ethan checked and asked if Maria was okay. Maria was unscratched and unharmed, she thahan for proteg her. Now Maria felt gd to let Ethan to apany her. She couldn’t imagine what could happen to her if she tio dee.

  Maria ahan arrived at her apartment then they bid each oodbye. They waved at each other, Maria slowly watched Ethan as he walked away. Maria got to her ft and sat down on her couch feeling exhausted. Maria smelled herself and realized that she needed a shower. She took off her clothes and began to shower.

  After she finished sh, Maria went to her room and ged into her home clothes wearing a sky blue t-shirt and gray shorts. She prepared her dinner and started eating as she was hungry. She thought about Ethan but she stopped herself. Maria finished her dinner and thought of lying down on the bed to clear her mind. Even so, she couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan even after midnight. She still couldn’t sleep as she was thinking about him.

  The m, Maria woke up feeling sleepy but she remembered that she had work. She got herself ready for work but before doing so, she went to the bakery to get some coffee for extra energy. She kept thinking about Ethan again which made her bumped into a stop sign.

  “Argh! Damn it… that hurts. Seriously, why ’t I stop thinking about him?!” Maria said out loud.

  Everyone around Maria heard and looked at her with fusion. Maria realized what she did and walked away in embarrassment. Maria arrived at the bakery and saw Sebastian. She approached the ter and ordered a coffee.

  “You look tired. Do you want to rest here for a while? You go check up on Noelia if you want to.” said Sebastian

  “No thanks, I’m just here to get a quick coffee to get some more energy after thinking about some stuff st night and I had work.” Maria replied.

  Sebastian nodded and gave Maria her coffee which she paid for. Maria tinued on her way to work. Maria sighed and hoped that at work, she would be able to get rid of the thoughts. After Maria left the bakery, Sebastia upstairs to che Noelia. He entered his little brother’s room.

  “Are you feelier?” Sebastian asked.

  “Yeah but not that much.” Noelia answered.

  “If you need anything, you call me.” said Sebastian as he left the room.

  Rosa stood in front of Noelia’s room and asked Sebastian who had ehe room before. Noelia’s dition was gettier slowly. Rosa still felt worried for her son but Sebastian reassured her that Noelia was going to be okay.