When I returned home after that odd and unexpected meeting in the graveyard I closed myself in my bedroom and once I lay down on the bed I began playing with the pendant while I observed it even better.

"So intriguing" I told out loud. .

Always... I never stopped asking myself and wearing it every day I felt like it helped me feeling better.

And as time passed something in my mind began creating; my accident, my desire of returning to visit s/n, that mysterious guy and that necklace... inside I feared that everything was somehow connected. I wasn't sure how but I felt it was like that and while trying to think of something I kept on with my life; I started my normal life again while visiting my sibling and getting still visited but when doctors and psychologist told me I was recovering oddly quickly and very fine they dismissed me from rehab. Wow what a luck! I never liked hospitals and I would never like them moreover after such an accident.

And so stopping going in and out from hospital I could have more time for myself and that let me have more chances to go to cemetery; and indeed it worked.

Almost all days I went to the graveyard, at evening, sometimes to visit s/n other times just to stay alone and feel quiet; and I always met up with Tariq. It was difficult to ignore him at first after the meeting we had, he was too intriguing to be left alone that I had courage to start conversation.

And as time passed we started to grow fond of each other. Even though he was a mystery he was a serious guy with his head in place and also very nice, a trait that surprised me a bit since I wouldn't expect from him... But he was and time by time Tariq and me became friends; we liked each other's company wherever we were and somehow we felt connected as we shared in common the love for the night and the fact of being a night owl, something I began developing since after the accident. And with this we started to spend really so much time together that every evening I went to cemetery both for him and for my dear sibling; but sometimes he also showed up his face at night in the garden behind my house right under the window of my bedroom. Whether it was in cemetery or in my garden Tariq would always show and stay with me that in no time he became like someone I couldn't do without for even a day. I was scared to begin falling in love with him; after all what did I know about him? I knew only his name but not anything else of his life, he could be anyone. My mind so told me to listen to it but my heart told me everything else and it was difficult, if not impossible, not to surrender to my feelings. My heart was telling me that his life couldn't matter if not what he made me feel inside. He really understood me, was very nice and protective and loving in his own way and that made feel very happy or even better he gave another meaning to my life; it was really hard to explain in words how I felt with him and around him but in time I recognized I had a crush for him and it wasn't little. Thank to him I became a different person, I started to live again being cheerful and enjoying everything.

I never expected I could feel such at ease and delighted; I never was a lively person not even before the accident but there I was and it was all thanks to Tariq.

And as my life started anew, among all many other things, I went back also to school.

I was able to make up for lost time by taking also extra lessons and in a month I caught up with everyone and thanks to that I was able to reunite with my classmates. I couldn't complain about my situation and actually I never did; I was really glad I joined again my old friends and teachers and school "strangely" got fun and easier... and it got even funnier when a trip in the mountain was organized; with the teachers and other classmates I would have camped into the mountains more precisely by a lake.

So in those days I began to prepare my bag in view of the excursion out in the nature... and days passed until the night before leaving arrived.

Bags and everything else needed were packed and ready in front of the bed and I was seated by the window reading a book until when a noise distracted me; little rocks were thrown on my window and when I turned to look out I saw in the garden Tariq that was waving at me. In this way I sneaked out from my window and going down the vine I reached him.

"Ehi Tariq! How are you doing?" I greeted him.

"Fine and calm as usual... just like it seems" he smiled.

"Oh... for that.. I finished packing before going to sleep" I pointed out.

"So... a trip out in the mountain right?".

I nodded. "Yup.. we will camp by a lake".

"How much you will stay out?".

"Whole weekend" I seemed a bit down and that happened because I already imagined I would miss him a lot, but I didn't dare to tell him.

"You look a bit sad. Why? Didn't you look forward to it as you told me days ago?".

He seemed concerned, actually he really was, but I assured somehow with a smile.

"It's nothing... Don't worry".

And then silence took over us for a minute until when Tariq took my hand.

"Let's go take a walk around before you leave". And by his suggestion we wandered around aimlessly and having all the time my hand intertwined with his I felt my heart beating faster and faster and I blushed heavily.

We walked for a while in complete silence and then returned back home .

"So... This is where we greet y/n" he said once we arrived under my window.

"Y-Yeah it seems so" I stuttered still feeling my heart pounding.

"Take care and enjoy your trip" he wished me and then we greeted each other.

However, when I was about to climb the vine to return back in bedroom something took over me. If it was instinct or no I didn't know but one second later I found myself rushing back to him to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"T-Thank you".

He giggled a bit looking at me doing something cute suddenly.

"Have fun and take care. I'll wait for you" he told and then he returned my gesture.

And then we both went our own ways, he away and me to bed to sleep.

– time skip –

The trip on coach lasted a couple for hours but when we arrived we had to take a walk for another good 30 minutes because the spot where we arrived was a bit far from our camping site.

But it was all worth it. When we arrived at the lake a beautiful landscape was to be seen.

After a walk through pines we showed up on a cliff that over stood the vast lake with crystal clear water; and right before my eyes a dense pine forest expanded all over the territory to reach also the mountains with still white peaks at the left side of the lake. It was a wonderful view at day and I imagined it would have been even more incredible with the moon up high in the the starry sky; and I looked forward for that. We went down the cliff to reach a great open area inside the woods and there we unpacked and pitched the tents; after that we had free time and everyone went around who to take a stroll and who went to the lake and I joined the last group.

Once arrived at the shore I took some photos with the phone to capture some images to then show them to Tariq once I would go back home; then, as I saw a bench nearby, I went to sit and once there I remained with my thoughts.

"If Tariq was here he would like this place." I thought out loud. And I got lost in my thoughts always daydreaming about him.

It was always Tariq in my mind... Tariq, Tariq and Tariq.

"For god's sake get a hold of yourself y/n! He's not even Prince Charming yet you swoon over him as if he was one!" my conscience told me and then I slapped my face to wake up from daydreaming.

"But... he's too captivating and mysterious..." I talked out loud to myself without even realizing. "I...I love him, I fell in love with him and I can't do nothing about it".

Night came and the moon was shining bright in the clear and starry night.

It was all quiet... no noise from the tents, sign that everyone was sleeping apart from me who was awake. As I was a night owl I couldn't fall asleep and beginning to feel bored I decided to go out from the tent to return back to the shore to see how the landscape changed under the moonlight; and indeed it was as I thought: it was even more amazing that at day light.

All those myriads of stars and moon reflected on the water surface and they created such a scenery that took my breath away. It was a peaceful moment...

However, a noise of a cracked branch startled and scared me. I jumped right on instant and after turning to see what happened with the heart pounding I remained shocked.

"T-Tariq?" I was disoriented as I saw him only few meters in front of me.

"What are you doing here? How on Earth you arrived? Precisely when? Did you tail me by any chance?" I pestered him with questions non-stop.

"Wow. For now hello and nice to meet you" he smiled as he approached. Under the moonlight he was even more gorgeous than usual always wearing dark clothes and as he got nearer my cheeks went red.

"H-Hi" I stuttered. "What are you doing here?".

"I was getting bored all alone and so I thought to come to you" he confessed so easily and at his confession I blushed even more. And for a moment neither of the two talked but it was interrupted suddenly by me.

"I... I missed you too" I blurted out shamelessly and then returned quiet again for my own sake when I realized what I just told. Gosh why of all things I had to say those words?

"I would like to take a look around. Care to join me?" he invited me and I accepted and so we took a stroll on the shore.

Walking with him next to me on the pebble beach under the moonlight seemed to be a romantic moment and for that I began feeling uneasy; my heart thumped so hard I feared it might explode and I was totally red... I really was like a teenager next to the crush and indeed it was like that. Tariq was my first and biggest crush ever and in that moment I decided to stay quiet. What could I do? What could I say to break the ice and silence? I really didn't know how to behave and fearing I could do or say anything wrong that could embarrass me in front of him I stood quiet.

In this way together with him we walked a bit around the lake and when we returned at the starting point Tariq looked at me seeming concerned.

"Y/n... are you fine? You stood still for almost all time".

"I'm okay... not worry" I smiled at him.

"So you won't mind if we still go around?" he asked and I shook the head.

"No no... It's fine" I answered back and then following his steps we headed to the promontory above the lake.

We went inside the woods for a bit and once there we sat next to each other at the cliff edge.

"The view is really wonderful" Tariq pointed out and I agreed with him.

Looking at the stars I sighed with a smile and I admired them in awe.

"The stars and moon are amazing too" I added just to say something and then we quietly looked at the view. We were enchanted by the panorama that we almost forgot of the other's presence and only the touch of our hands brought us back.

We turned to see each other in the face and I got embarrassed by having touched his hand; and when we looked in each other's I felt weak inside when I stared into his. His blue -grey eyes eyes were mesmerizing and captivating and as I felt like they were piercing into my soul I blushed even more and felt nervous. Time seemed to pass slower and slower that seemed an eternity until the silence became awkward; and at that I started panicking. I wanted to do or say something but I wasn't able to think of any thing and I didn't dare to open mouth because I was scared I could do something stupid or undesired without wanting it. For that I was panicking and I waited for Tariq to do the first move to then follow him.

And as I was busy with my worries and questions of the moment he approached to my face to kiss me on the lips; he gave me only a quick peck on the lips but he left me shocked and speechless with opened eyes.

"I'm sorry.. I don't know what got into me" he tried to apologize on the second but then following my instinct I got nearer to him to kiss him back on the lips. Unbelievable! I couldn't believe but finally I was giving my first kiss ever to a guy and he was Tariq.

"T-Tariq... I.. I l-like you.." I confessed stuttering out of the blue in the grip of embarrassed. Yeah I did it! Now I had only to wait for his response and for how scared I was I closed my eyes because I didn't want to look in his eyes or better I didn't have the courage to do so.

In this way with eyes closed I couldn't see anything but I could hear; however there was utter silence... until when I felt something touching my lips and at that I opened slowly my eyes and I caught by surprise. Tariq cupped my cheeks and he was kissing me again but that time the kiss lasted longer. Inside I felt like a mess during the kiss as I felt butterflies in my stomach and my heart almost exploding and cheeks hot red; but even though there was a total chaos running through my body I didn't want that kiss to end.

Tariq was kissing me so tenderly and his soft pink lips tasting like strawberries drove me insane as he kept on kissing me and tempting me by touching lightly my lips with his. I wanted that kiss to last an eternity because I couldn't do without his sweet lips and desired too much for a long time to share my first kiss with him but we needed air... and when we parted I panted as if I ran a long distance.

I took a deep breath and still blushing madly...

"I love you Tariq" I told him and by telling him those words I wanted to say for a long period I felt like a heavy burden just left my chest.

"I love you too y/n".

We smiled at each other and then hugging each other we returned admiring the landscape.