The Kiss that Sparked it All

With a nonchalant glance, Balfour turned the speaker’s cheeks a burning shade of red as she shamefully hung her head low.

Yet, Balfour didn’t utter a word to break the awkward silence for Mara.

“Excuse me. If you’ve got nothing else, please step aside. I need to get going,” he said dismissively.

“Don’t you remember me at all? Under that old oak tree, you found me crying and gave me your handkerchief, telling me not to be sad. Have you really forgotten all about that?” her voice trembled, tears swirling in her eyes.

But Balfour remained silent, his lack of response speaking volumes.

Whispers buzzed around them, and Mara couldn’t take it any longer. She bolted from the crowd’s epicenter, seeking refuge in a quiet corner from where she could still see Balfour’s tall figure striding toward the auditorium. Just then, her sister Victoria emerged, beaming with excitement.

The teacher said they could bring family, but she didn’t expect to come out and not find Mara.

Victoria mused, bumping into Balfour.

“Hey Balfour, have you seen a girl around here who looks a bit like me?” she inquired.

Mara, huddled in her corner, keenly sensed the change in her sister’s demeanor when speaking with Balfour.

What surprised her most was Balfour’s patient reply, “I haven’t noticed anyone. This place is swarming with people. Maybe try asking over there?”

Victoria’s face flushed slightly, “Really? You didn’t see her? My little sister is quite the looker!”

“Well, I did notice one stranger girl,” Balfour admitted, recalling the girl who had boldly blocked his path earlier. As for the others, they were of no consequence to him.

Victoria pouted, craning her neck in search of Mara to no avail. “Well, she’s old enough not to wander off.”

The teachers were urging them to get ready for the rehearsal, and Victoria couldn’t afford to ditch his school duties to look for Mara.

As she turned back, Balfour was a few paces behind her. Together, they headed into the auditorium.

Mara gritted her teeth in frustration as she watched their retreating figures.

“Victoria, why must you compete with me for everything? I fell for him first!” Mara conveniently forgot the cold shoulder Balfour had given her earlier.

“He just needs to remember me, that’s all. The more we meet, the more likely he’ll remember,” she convinced herself. “Victoria, since you’ve gone this far, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

“I’m home! Dad, is Mara back? We agreed to visit my school together, but she vanished halfway through. I turned the place upside down looking for her but couldn’t find her,” Victoria called out as she entered.

Elton placed the last dish on the dining table and wiped his hands when he heard Victoria’s words.

“Nope, Mara hasn’t come back yet. Wasn’t she with you at school? She texted me earlier, saying she was in your library reading and would come home with you after your rehearsal. Why didn’t you bring her home?”

Victoria stood rooted to the spot. “I… I couldn’t find her, so I came back alone, thinking she might have got bored and snuck off first.”

She marched straight to Mara’s room, flung the door open but found it empty.

Panic set in.

“Dad…” This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“What am I supposed to say to you, Victoria? You took your sister to your school and came back alone? If she’s left behind in your school, she must be terrified. It’s getting dark now. Hurry up and go back to find her!” Elton’s voice was stern with worry.