Before We Ever Said I Love You
1
Every Sunday morning, the church bells rang through our little village. Their sound carried over the fields, soft and steady, waking me before the sun rose.I always meant to be early. But somehow, I never was.
Noah(ML)
Okay ...this time I’ll be early. I swear I will.
Elio
You say that every Sunday 😑
Noah(ML)
Because I mean it every Sunday 😌
Lena
Translation: He’s late again 😂
Noah(ML)
You both have too much faith in my failure 😔
Elio
And zero faith in your punctuality🙄
By the time I reached the church at the top of the hill, I was already running.
And as always… she was already there.
Camila (FL)
You’re late again, Noah.
Noah(ML)
Fashionably late 😌
Camila (FL)
No, just late 🙄
Noah(ML)
You wound me, Camila 😪
Camila (FL)
Then be early for once 😆
Noah(ML)
If I do, will you smile like that again?
Camila (FL)
You’re impossible.
*She stood near the altar, arranging flowers, her white ribbon catching the light.
She always looked calm like she belonged in the morning itself.*
Noah(ML)
Need help with that?
Camila (FL)
You’ll mix up the flowers again 😅
Noah(ML)
That was one time!
Camila (FL)
You put lilies with the palm leaves 😶
Noah(ML)
They looked happier that way 😅
Camila (FL)
*Laughs softly* You and your strange logic.
After mass, everyone left.
But we stayed behind she to help the caretaker, me to help her.
Or at least, pretend to.
The stained-glass colors touched her hair, and for a moment,
it was hard to tell what was light and what was her.
Camila (FL)
You’ve gone quiet again.
Noah(ML)
Just thinking…
Maybe the bells sound different when you’re here.
Camila (FL)
They sound the same to me.
Noah(ML)
That’s because you are the calm.
Camila (FL)
(looks away) You and your words, Noah…
Noah(ML)
*That evening, I sat by the window and whispered her name.
Not to call her just to remember how it felt to say it.*
2
The next Sunday came, warm and bright.
This time, I promised myself no running. No excuses.
Noah(ML)
Guys, witness history. I’m early.
Lena
Who are you and what did you do to Noah 😳
Elio
Take a picture. It might never happen again 📸
Noah(ML)
You’ll regret that when I’m early every week 😤
Camila was by the altar, already arranging the flowers.
Her white ribbon swayed softly when she turned.
Camila (FL)
You’re here… early? 😮
Camila (FL)
A little. Did you forget your alarm works both ways? 😂
Noah(ML)
I just wanted to see the church before you got here.
Camila (FL)
*Quietly smiling*You’re getting better at this, you know.
Lena and Elio soon arrived laughing, teasing, filling the quiet with noise.
But even through all the chatter, I kept catching glimpses of her.
The way her hair caught the morning light.
The way her voice softened when she spoke to the kids.
Lena
Camila! Your ribbon looks so pretty today 💛
Camila (FL)
Thank you ☺️ Lena, don’t forget your choir sheet again!
Lena
Hey! That was one time 😕
Elio
And Noah forgot his Bible that same day. What a holy pair 😂
Noah(ML)
Blame love, not me 😌
Camila (FL)
Excuse me,what did you say? 😳
Noah(ML)
I said lunch. Blame lunch. I’m hungry
When the bells rang again for evening prayer,
I realized something simple.
The sound that used to call me to church
now called me to her.
Maybe love begins like that.
Quiet. Familiar. Hidden between laughter and morning light.
3
(School felt lighter whenever I saw her. Even the crowded hallways seemed quiet when she walked by.)
Camila (FL)
Ethan! You dropped this..
Noah(ML)
I…I..uh…. thanks. 😅
She leaned down and then handed me my notebook, and her ribbon swayed with the movement. I felt my face heat up..but why?
Camila (FL)
Someone told me a girl in your class likes you. 😏
Noah(ML)
Who? 😳 *omg her smile*
Camila (FL)
*shakes head, laughing* Never mind….. you’d get shy anyway.
Her laugh echoed in the hallway, and I couldn’t help smiling. She turned and walked away, leaving me staring.
Noah(ML)
*Why does everything she does feel like a story I want to be in?*
Lena
Ethan, you’re smiling again! 😄
Noah(ML)
Just… remembering something funny. 😌
Elio
Yeah, sure. Blame her, not your own nerves. 😏
Even her teasing felt gentle, like a thread pulling me closer without words. And maybe, just maybe, I didn’t want to let go this.
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