A Summer in the Village

"Why do we have to go to the village, Dad?" Alex asked, frowning.

Father smiled. "It will be good for you, Alex. You can spend some time with your grandparents. It's a nice break from the busy city."

Alex was a quiet 16-year-old boy who lived in a big city. He had always preferred the fast pace of city life, the noise, and the busy streets filled with people. His life was simple and fast-moving; schools, sports, and endless things to do. But when his father told him they were going to spend the summer in the village to visit his grandparents, Alex wasn't happy at all. He had made plans for summer vacation with his friends.

But then he was forced to live for the next few weeks in a boring village.

Alex did not want to argue, so he packed his bag and went, leaving all the plans behind. It was a long drive; Alex stared out of the window, watching the city slowly fade behind them. As the city buildings turned into open fields and roads grew narrower, Alex's heart sank. "This is going to be a boring summer," he thought to himself.

When they finally arrived at his grandparents' house, Alex could already tell that the village was nothing like the city. It was small, peaceful, and quiet. His grandparents' house was a cute, cozy cottage surrounded by flowers and trees. Alex's grandmother and grandfather greeted him with a big hug. Though at first, he was not happy to come to the village, after seeing his grandparents he felt happy.

He spent the first few days wandering around the village, trying to find something to do. The peacefulness of the village only made him restless. He missed the noise of the city, his friends, and the constant rush. But then, something happened that changed everything.

One afternoon, as Alex was sitting in the garden, feeling bored and lonely, he saw her.

The girl was around his age, with long, dark hair and bright brown eyes that seemed to sparkle with energy. She was Emmeline, and she was a neighbor of Alex's grandparents, who lived with her mother and grandfather. She had a friendly, open smile that made everything around her seem brighter.

Alex was sitting near the fence, staring out at the fields, when Emmeline passed by carrying a basket of flowers. She noticed him sitting there and waved with a big grin.

"Hey! You must be Alex!" she called, her voice cheerful and friendly. "I’m Emmeline. I live just next door with my mom and grandfather."

Alex looked up, surprised. "Oh, hi, yeah, I’m Alex."

Emmeline walked over and stood in front of him, smiling. She looked at him curiously. "What’s the matter? You look bored."

Alex wasn't sure how to answer. He felt awkward, and his nervousness made it hard for him to speak. "Uh, yeah... it's just... I'm not used to the village. It's so quiet."

Emmeline laughed, and her laugh was like music to Alex’s ears. "Yeah, I guess it’s not as busy as the city. But that’s the best part! There’s a lot to do around here if you know where to look."

Her beauty and the brightness of her face were making Alex nervous and speechless, he smiled shyly. "Maybe you can show me around?"

Emmeline agreed enthusiastically. "Of course! I’d love to. Let’s go."

Emmeline smiled at Alex and took his hand. "Come on, I’ll show you around!" she said. Alex felt a little nervous, but her warm smile made him feel better. They walked down a small path through the village. Emmeline pointed to the old church, the bakery with fresh bread, and the park where children played. She talked about the animals she cared for and the flowers she grew in her garden.

As they walked, Alex started to feel something new. He liked being with her. Her voice was soft and kind, and every time she laughed, he felt happy. He had never felt this way before.

When they reached her house, Emmeline invited him inside. The house was small and cozy, with a beautiful garden. "This is where I live," she said with a smile.

Emmeline took him to her room. It was filled with books, and the smell of flowers came through the window. "I love to read," she said, showing him her books. "These are my favorites."

Alex felt shy. He didn’t read much, but he wanted to be polite. "Wow, you have so many books," he said.

Emmeline smiled. "I like to read in the afternoons. It’s fun. You should try it!"

Alex wasn’t a reader, but he wanted to spend more time with her. "I usually play games on my phone," he said, taking it out. "Do you want to try?"

Emmeline’s eyes sparkled. "I’ve never played games on the phone before! Can I try?"

She took the phone and started playing. Her fingers moved quickly on the screen. She laughed when she made a mistake, and Alex couldn’t help but smile. Watching her made him feel happy.

They spent the afternoon talking and playing games. Alex learned that Emmeline loved animals and liked to draw. They also talked about movies and music. They both liked the same kinds of songs, and Emmeline told him her favorite movies were romantic comedies.

As the day turned to evening, Alex realized something. He wasn’t bored anymore. He was happy. It was a new feeling for him. Being with Emmeline felt easy like they had known each other forever.

One evening, as the second-to-last day of his visit arrived, they were sitting by the river again. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, and the air had a cool, calming touch. Alex and Emmeline sat in silence for a few moments, both of them knowing that their time together was running out.

Alex turned to Emmeline, his heart suddenly heavy. "Tomorrow, I’m going back to the city," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper.

Emmeline’s smile faded, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the moment hung in the air between them. Alex felt his chest tighten. He didn’t want to leave. He had grown so close to Emmeline, and the thought of not seeing her for another year made him sad.

Emmeline looked at him, her eyes full of emotion. She didn’t say anything, but Alex could see that she felt the same way. There was a quiet understanding between them.

Without thinking, Alex leaned forward. His heart raced in his chest, and his hands felt a little shaky. He had never felt this kind of attraction before—this pull, this desire to be close to someone. Slowly, he kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering for a moment.

Emmeline didn’t say anything. She didn’t move, but she didn’t pull away either. She just sat there, looking at him with soft eyes. Alex pulled back slightly, his heart pounding. For a moment, there was silence between them, but it was a comfortable silence. Neither of them needed words to understand what had just happened.

Alex smiled nervously. "I… I think I like you, Emmeline."

Emmeline smiled back, her cheeks turning pink. She didn’t say anything, but her smile spoke volumes. Alex didn’t need her to say anything. He knew.

The next morning, as Alex packed his bags, he felt a strange mix of emotions. He didn’t want to leave, He had come to the village thinking it would be boring, but it had turned into something special. It had become the place where he met Emmeline, the place where he found something unexpected—happiness, and maybe even love.

The next day, it was time for Alex to go back to his city. He said goodbye to his grandparents. Emmeline came to say goodbye too.

"I’ll miss you," he said softly. "But I will come back next summer. I promise."

"I’ll miss you too," Emmeline replied, her voice filled with emotion.

Alex got in the car, and as they drove away from the village, he looked back one last time.

He saw Emmeline staring at the car without blinking her eyes, and the tears from those eyes were saying loudly

"I’ll be waiting for you."