Ep1: Sunday
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There's this girl in church.
I don't know her name, not really. We've spoken once or twice, nothing more. But for some reason, my eyes are always drawn to her. She's a mystery, and yet I can't look away—her confident walk, her pretty face, that bright smile, and her soft, sleepy voice that sounds like it just woke from a dream.
I want to talk to her. I want to know her. Maybe even become her friend.
In my head, she's a ten. Me? A shaky three, if that.
---
"Time to go, Ken!" Rick shouts from outside.
That's my cue. I throw on my coat and hurry after him. The sun is out, the breeze cool, a little chilly—perfect weather. The streets are scattered with fallen leaves, dancing in the air when cars drive by. It feels cinematic, like something you want to pause and replay over and over.
"Oh my gosh, there's so much dust," Rick mutters.
"Dust?" I scoff. "It's just a bit of wind. Stop being a baby."
We bicker lightly until one of the gates ahead swings open. Out step two girls, giggling.
I freeze.
"Ken? What's wrong? You see a ghost or something?" Rick teases.
The girls glance back, startled by his words. One of them waves—at Rick, of course. Turns out he knows them. Of course he does. Rick is practically a celebrity in our little church community.
My pulse quickens. Because walking right there, next to her friend, is her.
She looks radiant. A floral sundress sways around her knees, a straw hat tilted perfectly to the breeze.
"Hello, how are you guys?" Rick greets them casually.
They reply in unison. I manage a shy wave, nothing more.
Now we're walking together, two boys and two girls. Rick carries the conversation with his usual charm, while I keep my eyes straight ahead, responding only with the occasional nod or "That's right." The weather is my only shield.
I must look like a complete fool beside him.
---
The quieter girl—her friend, Rita, I think—breaks the silence.
"You guys sure are quiet."
But before I can even think of a reply, I glance to my side—and realize she is right there, close enough that I can see the top of her hair.
Startled, I let out a small yelp. She flinches, and I immediately bow my head, hands pressed together.
"I'm so sorry. Really, I'm so, so sorry."
"It's fine," she says softly. "Really, it's okay."
But I can't stop apologizing, words tumbling out of me like a broken faucet.
Rick sighs. "We get it, you two. Enough already."
We both fall silent. The air between us thickens with awkwardness as we keep walking.
Inside, I'm screaming. This is it, Ken. You're wasting your chance. Just say hi. Just once. What's the worst that could happen?
My breath quickens. My stomach twists. I count it down in my head.
Three…
Two…
One… 1.9… 1.8… 1.2… 1.1…
Zero.
"Hi," I blurt, voice shaky.
And before she can answer—
"We're here!" Rick announces, stepping through the church doors.
I don't know her name, not really. We've spoken once or twice, nothing more. But for some reason, my eyes are always drawn to her. She's a mystery, and yet I can't look away—her confident walk, her pretty face, that bright smile, and her soft, sleepy voice that sounds like it just woke from a dream.
I want to talk to her. I want to know her. Maybe even become her friend.
In my head, she's a ten. Me? A shaky three, if that.
---
"Time to go, Ken!" Rick shouts from outside.
That's my cue. I throw on my coat and hurry after him. The sun is out, the breeze cool, a little chilly—perfect weather. The streets are scattered with fallen leaves, dancing in the air when cars drive by. It feels cinematic, like something you want to pause and replay over and over.
"Oh my gosh, there's so much dust," Rick mutters.
"Dust?" I scoff. "It's just a bit of wind. Stop being a baby."
We bicker lightly until one of the gates ahead swings open. Out step two girls, giggling.
I freeze.
"Ken? What's wrong? You see a ghost or something?" Rick teases.
The girls glance back, startled by his words. One of them waves—at Rick, of course. Turns out he knows them. Of course he does. Rick is practically a celebrity in our little church community.
My pulse quickens. Because walking right there, next to her friend, is her.
She looks radiant. A floral sundress sways around her knees, a straw hat tilted perfectly to the breeze.
"Hello, how are you guys?" Rick greets them casually.
They reply in unison. I manage a shy wave, nothing more.
Now we're walking together, two boys and two girls. Rick carries the conversation with his usual charm, while I keep my eyes straight ahead, responding only with the occasional nod or "That's right." The weather is my only shield.
I must look like a complete fool beside him.
---
The quieter girl—her friend, Rita, I think—breaks the silence.
"You guys sure are quiet."
But before I can even think of a reply, I glance to my side—and realize she is right there, close enough that I can see the top of her hair.
Startled, I let out a small yelp. She flinches, and I immediately bow my head, hands pressed together.
"I'm so sorry. Really, I'm so, so sorry."
"It's fine," she says softly. "Really, it's okay."
But I can't stop apologizing, words tumbling out of me like a broken faucet.
Rick sighs. "We get it, you two. Enough already."
We both fall silent. The air between us thickens with awkwardness as we keep walking.
Inside, I'm screaming. This is it, Ken. You're wasting your chance. Just say hi. Just once. What's the worst that could happen?
My breath quickens. My stomach twists. I count it down in my head.
Three…
Two…
One… 1.9… 1.8… 1.2… 1.1…
Zero.
"Hi," I blurt, voice shaky.
And before she can answer—
"We're here!" Rick announces, stepping through the church doors.