The first time Alex saw Helen, the world seemed to stop for a moment.
She was standing in the middle of the university hallway, laughing out loud, her head tilted slightly back and her eyes narrowed with amusement. Her laughter was vibrant, genuine—the kind that's contagious without even trying. Her boundless energy lit up the space, drawing glances as if the entire world revolved around her without her even noticing.
She wore a slightly faded denim jacket over a colorful blouse with abstract prints, ripped jeans that hugged her figure carelessly, and a pair of sneakers that spoke of her comfort with life. Her dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail, though a few strands had escaped and framed her face in a carefree way. She moved with natural confidence, gesturing with her hands as she spoke with her group of friends.
And Alex—tall, with light brown hair, thick glasses, and deep brown eyes—was not one to seek attention. Leaning against one of the hallway pillars, he watched her silently. Not because he had nothing else to do, but because at that moment, unintentionally and without planning it, he felt captivated by her. By her laughter. By her energy. By the way she filled the space around her just by being there.
Then, for a brief second, Helen turned her head and their eyes met. Her honey-colored eyes sparkled mischievously, as if she could see right through him. And Alex, a man of few words and many reservations, felt his heart betray his composure by beating faster.
But she only gave him a casual, almost distracted smile before turning back to her conversation.
He, on the other hand, remained there, feeling like something inside him had just changed forever.
By a twist of fate, they ended up sharing several classes in their Advertising major, and little by little, a friendship blossomed between them.
—Come on, Alex!— she told him one day, grabbing his arm and dragging him to a classmate's get-together. —You can't live your whole life buried in books.
—Studying is important,— he replied nervously, but unable to resist the way she smiled at him.
They became inseparable, like two puzzle pieces that, without even trying, fit perfectly. From the moment their paths crossed, something shifted between them. Alex, so meticulous and quiet, had found in Helen a kind of refuge—a place where he could set aside his doubts and fears. She, in turn, saw in him more than just a classmate; he was her ally, her silent confidant who, even if he didn't always show it, understood more than he let on.
Alex helped her with her assignments—not just because she asked, but because he had grown used to seeing her in action. The way her mind lit up when solving complex problems, how she immersed herself in her world of words and formulas, fascinated him. Helping her refine her ideas and correct little mistakes became a sort of game to him—one he enjoyed wholeheartedly. But what surprised him most was how she, without even knowing it, helped him grow too. Her words, though simple and direct, pushed him to step outside his comfort zone, to challenge himself, to look at the world with new eyes. Helen wasn't afraid to be bold, and she passed that courage on to him.
And as their bond grew stronger, something curious happened. Many men, drawn to her intelligence and strong character, tried to court her. They admired her in silence or dared to make her laugh with jokes that never quite landed. But Helen, so focused on Alex, didn't pay them the slightest attention. She had no interest in their advances or the furtive glances they cast her way in the hallways.
Because, deep down, Helen had already found something she hadn't expected. A connection that didn't need embellishment or grand gestures. With Alex, there was no need for conquest or pretending. What they shared was real—simple in its complexity, like a silent dance that bound them together without them even realizing.
What she felt for him wasn't just friendship.
Alex had never said anything about it, and although their gazes often locked with an intensity that hinted at something more, neither dared to name the connection between them.
The years passed quickly. The final year of university brought with it the weight of the inevitable: the future, goodbyes, and decisions that would shape the rest of their lives. For Alex, however, there was one decision he had to make before time slipped through his fingers.
It was a warm afternoon, the sunlight filtering through the leaves of a large campus tree. The distant sound of laughter and conversations floated in the air, but for him, only one moment existed: the one where Helen sat beside him on the grass, legs crossed, idly twirling a twig between her fingers.
Alex felt his heart pound. He'd spent months rehearsing these words, but now, with her in front of him, it felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. He took a deep breath, feeling the warm breeze against his skin, and finally found the courage.
—Helen, I like you,— he said, his voice tense but firm. —I've liked you for a long time… Would you be my girlfriend?
Helen looked at him in silence, her expression unreadable for a long second that felt eternal. Alex felt the world pause, his own breath growing heavier. Then suddenly, she burst into laughter—one of those life-filled laughs that always lit up a room.
He felt a blow to the chest, fearing the worst. But before fear could consume him, she playfully hit him on the shoulder with that signature gesture of hers.
—You took too long!— she scolded with a radiant smile, her honey-colored eyes gleaming with mischief. —I was waiting for you.
Alex felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over him. It was as if all the weight of the past days—his doubts, his fears—vanished in an instant, taking with them every shred of uncertainty he'd ever had. In that moment, the world seemed to pause around them.
He didn't have time to respond or even fully process what was happening. Helen, with a determination that caught him off guard, had already leaned toward him, closing the distance between them. Their eyes met, sparkling with an intensity that made his heart beat wildly, as if trying to escape his chest.
Helen leaned in closer, her lips barely brushing his. Alex could hardly react, feeling something stir inside him he hadn't known existed. Then, without further hesitation, she closed her eyes and kissed him with unmistakable tenderness.
The first touch was soft, tentative, as if they were both testing the reality of what had just happened. The warmth of her lips melted into his in a gentle connection, almost like time had stopped to let them lose themselves in that moment—no rush, no expectations. Helen, with one hand resting on his cheek, pulled him a little closer, and Alex, without thinking, responded, letting the softness of the kiss envelop him.
The kiss deepened slowly but without urgency. Alex's hands, which had initially hung awkwardly by his sides, moved on instinct—one gently touching her back, the other sliding up to her neck, as if trying to be sure this was real, that he wasn't dreaming.
And there, beneath the shade of the tree that had witnessed so many afternoons they'd shared, they sealed their story with a kiss that tasted like promises and a future that, in that moment, felt eternal.