"I don't want this day to end," I thought as I walked out of the restaurant.

We held hands and walked towards the car. I wanted to spend more time with him, but we were already on our way back to the hotel.

I felt as if time was moving faster than usual. We were halfway to the hotel, and throughout the drive, it was as quiet as an empty room.

Victor had a blank face, focused on driving. The silence in the car made me uncomfortable. Every traffic signal we crossed on our way back to the hotel made my heart restless.

For a moment, I wanted to believe that Victor might surprise me again and take a turn after the next traffic signal, but he kept driving straight towards the Royal City Bridge. The Grand Hotel was just a few miles away after crossing the bridge, and we would reach there in no time.

There was no hope left, and I thought that my blissful day was about to end. But then his phone rang. His phone was charging, so my eyes caught the name of the caller. It was Richard.

Victor looked at his phone, his blank face frowned, and he turned on the indicators and pulled over the car.

"I need to take this," he said, getting out of the car.

There was uneasiness in his demeanor that was impossible to overlook, and I felt that unease when I looked into his eyes.

He stood in front of the car, and I could see him through the front mirror.

Throughout the conversation, he would look up at the sky and then down at the ground. He didn't smile or have a relaxed expression on his face.

After five minutes of talking on the phone, he looked at me in distress. I didn't understand what he wanted to tell me, so as a sign of reassurance, I smiled at him.

He looked away and walked towards the sidewalk, quite distant from the car. I felt left out.

The sound of passing vehicles felt numb and stressful, and I needed some fresh air.

I got out of the car.

As soon as I stepped out, the cool breeze from the river hit me. It was soothing. I leaned on the front door of the car, enjoying the illuminated view of the city lights across the river. Victor was standing right in front of me, still talking on his phone.

Being in my line of sight, I felt better than before and closer to Victor.

I closed my eyes in contentment and took a deep breath of fresh air. I wasn't ready to go back to the hotel just yet. I was happy to stay a little longer with him.

When I opened my eyes to have another glimpse of him, I saw him standing exactly where he had been on the phone. The call had ended, and he stood there, staring at the river, his hands in the pockets of his well-fitted tailored pants. I faced his back and couldn't see his face.

I walked up to him and stood beside him.

He didn't notice me. He looked lost in his deep thoughts.

I assumed that the phone call had put him in a bad mood.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked him.

He looked at me and flinched. He didn't say anything, but he looked hurt, lonely, and in need of someone to listen.

"You can trust me," I said.

It wasn't enough to make him speak, but I wanted to try harder. I wanted him to confide in me.

I looked in the same direction as him and said, "Before I moved to the city with my sister, I lived on the outskirts of Royal City. I used to travel on public transport. Whenever I crossed this bridge on a bus and looked at the city lights through the window, I wondered about the people and the life in this big city."

"Life in the Royal City is not that exciting. City life is competitive and suffocating... and lonely," he said.

His bickering voice was saddening, but I was relieved that he was finally opening up to me. I didn't want the momentum to break.

"I used to think the same way when I moved to the city, but I had someone I could rely on and share my feelings with. It made me stronger to face the world," 

That's true. Bella was always there for me whenever I had a hard time.

I wanted to cheer him up.

With a smile, I looked at him and said, "Life is exciting when you share it with someone you love!"

Our eyes met, and everything around us faded. All I could see were his sparkling light brown eyes filled with compassion. I felt a spark between us.

I could hear his heart beating as I lightly caressed his left shoulder.

"Does he feel the same way I do?" I wondered, but soon the question escaped my mind.

His gentle hand pulled me closer, leaving no gap between our bodies. His soft lips met mine in an intense and gentle kiss.

The tingle in my chest was overwhelming, and it was a little hard to breathe.

He started with a kiss on my upper lip and delicately sucked on my lower lip, giving me a moment to catch my breath.

I was overwhelmed by the sudden movements of his lips, and I got carried away. Without even realizing it, I tilted my head to deepen the kiss and started moaning in pleasure.

It was my first kiss, and it felt like a beautiful and unforgettable dream.

***

Present day

As I walked along the sidewalk of Royal Bridge, lost in my memories of that special day, I found myself standing at the exact spot where Victor and I shared that unforgettable kiss.

The night scenery unfolded before me, with city lights illuminating the surroundings and casting a shimmering reflection on the river below.

A cool breeze drifted from the water, causing a shiver to run through my body, a stark reminder that summer had given way to a new season, and I was now standing here alone on the bridge.

Placing my finger on my lips, I could feel a mixture of emotions stirring within my heart.

"I can't take it anymore. I need to talk to him," I whispered, reaching for my phone and dialing Victor's number.

Ring ring.

Each ring seemed to amplify the thumping of my heartbeat, growing faster and louder with every passing moment. My throat felt dry, and a sense of hopelessness started to seep in.

"It's been a while, and he still hasn't answered. I guess the call will be disconnected soon," I thought, holding my breath, afraid that my efforts would be in vain.

My eyes were swollen and teary, unable to contain the emotions building up inside me any longer.

I was on the brink of tears.

Last ring.

The phone is answered.

"Hello, who is this?" a deep, manly voice spoke on the other end, and I felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty rushing through me.