From that day on, they began texting constantly, like two souls who'd just found each other.Then Nicol went to stay at her aunt's house for a week, while her grandparents were away on vacation.
One night, while she was there, she and Alex called each other — and somewhere between laughter and quiet words, Alex fell asleep.Nicol didn't hang up. She stayed on the call for seven whole hours, just listening to the soft rhythm of his breathing through the night.
When Alex opened his eyes in the morning, still half asleep, he murmured,"Wait… are we still on the call?"Nicol smiled, her voice gentle, "Yeah, you fell asleep while we were talking."
She started singing softly, her voice like a whisper in the early morning light.Alex laughed sleepily. "Go to sleep now.""Alright," she said, smiling — and she actually drifted off while still on the call.
That same day, they planned to meet.Nicol got ready carefully, her heart fluttering. She brushed her hair, did her makeup just right, put on her favorite pink long-sleeved top, sprayed a soft perfume, and added a touch of lip balm.
Her phone buzzed — a message from Alex: "I'm here."Her aunt called from the other room, "Just make sure you're back at the time we agreed!""Yeah, I will!" Nicol said, smiling to herself.
She hurried downstairs, her heart beating faster — but when she got outside, there was no car in sight.She texted him, "You're not here."He replied, "I think I'm on the wrong side."She laughed to herself, "Yeah, I think you are."
A few minutes later, Alex pulled up. Nicol's smile was instant, natural."Hey!" she said, her voice soft but bright."So, what's the plan?" he asked, looking at her with that same teasing grin."Well, maybe that restaurant… or the cocktail tea place," she said, her eyes shining."Alright," Alex smiled. "But I can't really drink — I'm driving.""I know, don't worry," Nicol said, laughing.
The ride was quiet for a while — the kind of silence that felt warm rather than awkward.Then suddenly, a bird pooped on Nicol's shirt."Oh my god!" she gasped.Alex looked over, startled, then burst out laughing. "Guess that means good luck!""Yeah, I feel so lucky right now," Nicol said through laughter.
When they arrived, the place was closed."Of course," she sighed, smiling despite everything. "Let's just go to the restaurant."
At the restaurant, she suggested, "Let's sit outside.""Sure," Alex said.The waitress came by with menus. "Sorry, we're out of mojitos today."Alex nodded seriously. "I'll have a mojito then."Nicol giggled, "She literally just said they don't have any!""Oh—right," Alex laughed. "Yeah, that tracks."
Then Nicol leaned closer, her eyes playful. "Wanna run away?""What?" Alex blinked."Come on!" she said, giggling — and they ran, hand in hand, until they reached a dead end."Oh no!" Nicol laughed so hard she had to stop to breathe."She's picking up the menus again!" Alex said between laughs."She looks mad!" Nicol whispered. "Let's go that way!"
They ended up in a park, the late afternoon light soft around them."Know any bars around here?" Alex asked."No, ask ChatGPT," she joked.He laughed, "Good idea."After a moment, he found one in Karviná. "Let's go there.""Alright," she said. "But I need to stop for cigarettes first."
She grabbed them quickly, and when they came out, she froze."Wait… where's the car?"Alex looked around, then laughed, "Oh no, we left it back by the restaurant.""You're kidding me!" Nicol said, laughing helplessly."Totally forgot," he said."Wow, we really are lucky today," she teased."Yeah," he said with a grin, "the luckiest."
They walked back together, talking and laughing the whole way, the air between them light and easy."I'm never going back there," Nicol said."Same," Alex smiled.
Finally, they reached the bar."I'll finally get my mojito," Alex said."And I'll have an extra dry martini," Nicol smiled.She raised her glass. "So you finally got your mojito.""Yeah, finally," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
They shared funny videos, laughing until their cheeks hurt.When a girl passed by, Nicol teased, "You totally just checked her out.""What? No, I didn't!" Alex protested."Sure you didn't," she said, laughing again.
A strange couple sat nearby, and they couldn't stop giggling about them either.As they paid, Alex whispered, "They definitely met on Badoo.""Definitely," Nicol said, smiling.
Later, they strolled through another park. Nicol saw a swing set and lit up."Swings!" she said, running ahead — and then tripped right into a hole.Alex caught her, his hands steady on her arms. "You okay?""Yeah," she said, blushing, then laughed again.
They sat on the swings for a while, gently swaying, talking about everything and nothing.Then they wandered toward a fenced area where deer stood in the fading light.It was quiet — until a sudden sound made them both jump.Nicol screamed, and Alex did too, before they both burst out laughing."I got scared!" she said between giggles."Me too!" he laughed, and for a second, their eyes met — soft and bright.
Nicol's phone rang. It was her cousin."You were supposed to be home ages ago!""I'll be there soon," Nicol said, smiling at Alex as she hung up.
"Maybe we should go," Alex said softly."In a minute," she replied. "I'm feeling that alcohol a little."He laughed. "Wanna check out the boats?""Sure," she said.
As they crossed a small bridge, a voice from a nearby radio suddenly said, "No one is allowed here after midnight."They froze — and then laughed so hard they had to lean on the railing."I forgot about that rule," Alex said."Wow, lucky us again," Nicol smiled."Yeah, we're unstoppable tonight," he said.
Back at the car, Alex groaned, "I hope I didn't get a ticket."Nicol smirked, "Actually… you did.""What?!""I'm kidding!" she laughed."Oh my god," he said, laughing too. "You really want me to walk home, huh?""Of course not," Nicol giggled.
She put on music, and they sang together the whole way back.When they reached her aunt's house, Alex said, "Want to grab a kebab? I'll get one for my dad too.""No, I'm fine," she said softly."Sure?""Yeah.""Alright then."
He stopped the car. For a moment, they just looked at each other — the world outside completely still.Nicol leaned over and hugged him, feeling his warmth linger even after she pulled away."Want a cigarette for the road?" she asked gently."No, I'm good," he said.
They said goodbye. Nicol walked back inside, locked her door, and lay on her bed, still smiling.And that was the moment she realized — she had fallen in love with him.