Although Joan was very beautiful, a bizarre sense of inferiority plagued her.
She felt that she wasn't worthy of Larry. Thus, she told herself that she would just love him from afar since he deserved better. That was her perception.
Nonetheless, fortune smiled on her, for they still made each other's acquaintance. What was more, it was on the basketball court familiar to them both.
That day, as she was apt to do, she went to the basketball court to watch him play. She sat on the sidelines, a negligible distance from him, so they were only a few meters apart.
Girls of that age were always filled with wonderful fantasies of love. To top it off, he was
the perfect Prince Charming in her eyes.
Thus, her mind wandered. If only he would look at me! Perhaps we can become friends, then maybe we'll even become a couple as the relationship progresses!
Well, the thoughts of a girl in love were inexorably straightforward and simple.
As she stared at him, a silly smile overtook her entire face.
Just when she was engrossed in her glorious fantasy, she was abruptly jolted awake. No, accurately speaking, she was knocked awake.
The ball in the basketball court accidentally shot out of the court and hit her on the head squarely.
It so happened that the culprit was none other than him, Larry.
The sudden bolt of pain had Joan clutching her head and crouching on the ground. The pain was so strong that tears almost escaped her eyes.
“Are you okay, miss?”
Upon seeing that he had hurt someone, Larry hastily sprinted over and inquired about her condition.
Is he talking to me? Stunned, a burst of delight instantly flooded Joan.
She quickly lifted her head and smilingly replied “l-l'm fine. It doesn't hurt at all.”
After saying that, she actually massaged her head.
At that, he stared at her. At the sight of her smilingly telling him that it didn't hurt despite the tears shimmering in her eyes, his heart fluttered.
It felt like he was captivated by her, but he couldn't be entirely certain. Nevertheless, the feeling he had toward the beautiful girl in front of him was one he had never experienced.
“How about I treat you to a meal as an apology?”
After saying that, he himself was taken aback because he had never voluntarily asked a girl out.
And much to his surprise, she actually declined.
“No, no, it's okay. I'm perfectly fine,” she declined without even thinking about it.
She craved having contact with him, but when it was poised to happen, fear had her taking a step back again.
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