A week had indeed passed and my punishment was over. I’d been spending my time talking to Johan on the phone, and our conversations were completely secret because I was afraid my dad would take my phone away or that his annoying wife, Hannah, would overhear us and interfere – she’s the reason I’ve been banned from using my own car for a whole month

I finally left the mansion and headed straight for our meeting spot in an alleyway between the shopping centre and another building. Johan smiled the moment he saw me.

“Max! Mate, you look like a bird set free from its cage.”

I felt a bit embarrassed by his compliment and smiled spontaneously like an idiot as I walked up to him and hugged him without a care, as if the world around me meant nothing compared to Johan. 

“This bird has been missing his partner so much.”

“Even his partner has been missing him.”

He cupped my face in his strong hands, his thumbs tracing the line of my jaw with a gentle, soothing touch that made me close my eyes in bliss. 

“Oh my God, I hope you don’t stop.”

“Haha, I won’t stop, darling.”

He kissed me secretly and playfully pinched my cheek.

“Hey, I meant don’t stop caressing me with your fingers.”

“Come on, Max, don’t be so sensitive. It’s just a pinch between lovers.”

“Right, never mind. Sorry… So where are you planning to take me?”

He looked around and said,

“How about a bit of shopping? I’m sure you’d like to buy a present for someone special… for example!”

“Someone special?”

I wondered to myself, who could he mean?

“It’s… me!”

He replied with a soft laugh and put his arm around my shoulders.

“Is it your birthday? I didn’t realise…”

He cut me off.

“Nooo, it’s not my birthday – that’s in October… but it’s a special day.”

“What day? Johan, I don’t like complicated questions.”

He sighed and put his hand to his head in an exaggerated, dramatic gesture.

“I can’t believe you love me and don’t know anything about Valentine’s Day.”

“Valentine’s Day?”

I said, realising we were on 12 February!

“Oh my God, I’d forgotten it’s in two days’ time!”

I grabbed Johan’s hand excitedly.

“It’ll be an important day for us! We’ll spend the whole day together, just the two of us, without anyone bothering us.”

He smiled confidently and our hands intertwined.

“Absolutely, darling!!”

I took his hand and we went into the shopping centre, me excited to buy a present for Johan… It’s our first Valentine’s Day.

But what should I get him?

What I know about Johan is that he loves motorbikes, he loves metal music, and he loves ornamental fish.

Should I get him a new ornamental fish?

No, that’s silly – he deserves something better.

“What are you thinking about?”

His voice interrupted my train of thought as he spoke to me.

“Nothing, I was just thinking about what to get you.”

He smiled at me, his face radiant and gentle under the lighting of the wide aisles, as if he were an angel amongst mortals.

“Thank you for caring about me, Max,”

He said, and my face turned red with embarrassment.

“My parents never cared about me like this… You’re the best person I’ve ever met… Are you all right?”

I turned my face away, feeling embarrassed.

“Yes, I’m fine, I’m fine… Don’t worry, I think the air here is giving me a bit of a reaction.”

“Really? I can’t smell a thing… But let’s go and have some coffee over there.”

He pointed to the café behind him. I nodded in agreement and took his hand so we could go.

To be continued…