More than just a word of love

We met on a beautiful sunny day, when a group of graduating students got together to play after stressful school hours. That day, the golden sunlight streamed down like threads of silk, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the clear laughter of youth filled the spacious courtyard. Amidst the hustle and bustle and the trivial conversations of the students, we happened to stand next to each other, exchanged a few random words, and burst into laughter over something insignificant. That's all it took, but looking back, I know that moment was the beginning of something truly beautiful.

Subsequent encounters felt natural, as if we had known each other for a long time. During work sessions, extracurricular activities, or late afternoons after school, we would unexpectedly run into each other, exchanging a short question, a nod, or a smile. Everything was gentle and simple, yet strangely, that simplicity was enough to draw us closer. On some windy afternoons, we would walk our bikes under the old flame tree, watching the petals fall in silence for a long time. We didn't need many words; just looking at each other and smiling was enough to feel a rare connection. Each time, I understood that the feelings between us were more than just "affection," but not quite love either. It was a feeling that young people sometimes can't name. It was pure, sincere, and full of tenderness, like sunlight filtering through leaves, gentle yet lingering for a long time.

The final days of our school years, the coming and going of exams, each of us gradually harbored our own plans, our own paths to follow. And then, we were no longer walking the same road. Each of us chose a city to build our dreams, and that invisible geographical distance caused our messages to fade, our handwritten letters to be left unsent, and our mementos to be hidden away… Then, when we met again, we were both deeply moved, but neither spoke a word, perhaps because we had missed our chance. The journey of the future pushed us in two different directions in life. But strangely, we weren't sad; both felt happy. Happy because we had met, had walked together. Happy because when we remember, our hearts still soften like delicate flower petals in the wind, not aching, only feeling affection. Because the most precious thing isn't whether we walked together to the end, but that we had once walked side by side during such a beautiful period of our youth.

Amidst those dry, sunny days, we met, cherished each other, and loved each other in the gentlest and purest way. And now, we've gone our separate ways, but I know that in my heart, I will always keep a peaceful corner for that memory, where there was our laughter, the sunshine of a beautiful day, and a friendship that was more than just love!

Kim Oanh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202512/hon-ca-mot-chu-thuong-3240298/