Later that evening, as the sun began to set and soft hues of orange and pink colored the sky, Kenneth’s phone buzzed with a message notification. It was Eli, her name lighting up his screen and bringing a smile to his face. He quickly opened the chat, his fingers itching to keep the conversation flowing.

Eli: “Summer is ending soon. When are you coming back to school?”

Keneth quickly typed a response his heart still beating from the interaction they had yesterday. 

Kenny: “ Ah summer ended in 5 seconds literally. Anyways, I have 2 more weeks before school” 

Eli: “ I know right? School seems long but summer feels so short! I also have 2 more weeks before school starts.”

Kenny :” Ooh. What school do you go to?”

Eli: “ Transermian Private school”

Keneth’s heart rang in delight as he quickly typed–

Kenny: “ Hey I go there too! “

Eli: “ Really? I’ve never met you at school even though I know almost everyone!”

He didn’t miss a beat, his heart fluttering at the thought of her.

Kenneth:" Right? It’s like finding out that your favorite chocolate comes with a surprise filling. What are the odds?"

Eli: "Haha, exactly! I can’t believe we haven’t crossed paths more often. "

Kenneth: "Well, considering my talent for tripping over air, I think I would’ve remembered if you’d been around. "

Kenneth was lying. He had always noticed Eli at school, even before he talked to her in summer. He was in grade 10 and she's on grade 9. He'd often see her walking with her friends.

Eli: I remember at our school: I would settle for a sign that says “Hey, just remember, at least you tried!” At least that would be uplifting, right?

Kenneth: Well, as tragic as it sounds, I think it makes school spirit a bit more… unique?

Eli: Sometimes I find you very cute and relatable haha!

Kenneth paused, feeling a surprising warmth in Eli’s lighthearted banter. Her words radiated a kind of charm that made him look at his own self in a new light.

Kenneth: True. Definitely adds character. But speaking of character, I hear you're part of the girls' basketball team! How’s that going?

He noticed she took a little longer to respond, and a warm curiosity bubbled inside him as he waited for her reply.

Eli: It’s been fun! We’ve had our ups and downs, and yeah, the team wasn’t exactly state champions last year.

Kenneth: But you and your team are getting better, right? I’ve seen you practice sometimes. You’ve got some skills!

Eli: Aww, thanks! That means a lot! It’s not easy, but we’re working hard. And honestly, it’s just nice to play with my friends! It’s like a little escape from everything.

Kenneth could sense the passion in her words and found it incredibly captivating. The sound of her laughter lingered in his mind, and suddenly, he felt a rush of admiration for her resilience.

Kenneth: I really admire that. And I think that’s a big part of what makes a team strong—having fun while doing what you love. Do you think the guys on my team could take a hint or two from that?

Eli chuckled, the tease in his words evident even through the text.

Eli: Haha, maybe! They need it! But I’ll just say this: When it comes to teamwork, I’d take the girls' team any day. We might not be unbeatable, but we’ve got the hustle to back up our hopes!

Her confidence shone through her texts, and with each word, Kenneth found himself falling a little harder for the girl who wore that light blue dress earlier, the one whose laugh echoed in his mind.

Kenneth: If only the guys’ team had your spirit! You’re basically inspiring a movement here.

The conversation flowed seamlessly, filled with inside jokes and light-hearted banter, each text drenching them both in a growing comfort.

Eli: Inspiration is my middle name! Well, not really, but it should be. 😂

Kenneth: So, should I start calling you Eriana, the inspirational athlete?

Eli’s smiled at the nickname, the playful twist endearing her to him even more.

Eli: I like it! And it definitely has a nice ring to it.

Kenneth felt a rush of warmth at how easily they were connecting, their personalities intertwining through every message. He could sense that there was something steadily beautiful blossoming between them, igniting a spark filled with hope and laughter.

Kenneth: If you keep being this charming, you might end up being the reason I actually want to enjoy school. Just watch out; I might start showing up to those games for real!

Eli: Well then, I’ll make sure to keep you on the VIP list. You’re already a fan favorite!

Their conversation danced on, neither wanting it to end, the distance between a text and reality feeling smaller with every message exchanged. Through the glimmering screen, a connection cemented deeper, and Eli realized with a joyful twinge in her heart that she was unmistakably falling for Kenneth, one text at a time.