17 05

Blurb Every day at exactly 17:05, he would stop by. At first, he was just the boy on the bicycle. Then he became the reason Angela’s heart raced every afternoon. What begins with shy smiles and stolen conversations slowly turns into something neither of them fully understands — a secret connection balanced somewhere between friendship, first love, and heartbreak. But some relationships are never simple. Especially when feelings grow stronger than the rules meant to keep them apart. ─── Chapter One The Meeting I was sixteen years old when I first saw him. I stood against the wall in our front yard like I always did after school, watching cars pass through the neighborhood while the late afternoon sun slowly dipped lower in the sky. That was when he rode past on his bicycle. I had never seen him before. He glanced at me and smiled. The next day, he passed by again. This time, butterflies filled my stomach before I could stop them. I wanted to ask his name, but shyness glued the words to the back of my throat. For days, seeing him ride past became the highlight of my afternoons. Then one afternoon, I finally gathered enough courage to call out to him. “Hey! What’s your name?” He stopped his bicycle and walked toward me with an amused grin. “Out of all the things you could ask,” he said, “you ask my name?” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Yes.” He smiled. “Vince.” Before I could think of anything else to say, he climbed back onto his bicycle and rode away. I didn’t see him for two days after that. By the second afternoon, I had already started wondering if I would ever see him again. Then, just as I stopped looking out for him, he appeared at the gate and stopped directly in front of me. My heart skipped. “Miss me?” he asked. I completely lost the ability to speak. “What?” he teased with a crooked smile. “Cat got your tongue?” “Hi,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. He leaned casually against the bicycle. “So, you know my name. What’s yours?” “Angela.” I didn’t usually talk to boys. Actually, this was a first. ─── Chapter Two Realization After that, seeing Vince became part of my daily routine. Every afternoon at exactly 17:05, he would stop by to ask how my day had been before continuing on his way. One afternoon, he arrived with a friend. The boy looked vaguely familiar, but I ignored the feeling. “Tomorrow, I’m coming for a cooldrink,” Vince joked before riding off again. By then, more than a month had passed, and I still had no idea what he actually wanted from me. Me. The shy girl with barely any friends. The girl who usually kept to herself. And somehow, despite all of that, I had developed the biggest crush on him. The following afternoon, I could barely focus in class. The moment school ended, I rushed home, finished my homework, did my chores, and waited impatiently for 17:05. Right on time, Vince arrived. “Hi, baby girl,” he greeted with an easy smile. I blinked in surprise. The nickname was new. My heart fluttered. “Hi,” I replied shyly. His friend climbed out beside him. “Oh, and this is Marco,” Vince said. “N-Nice to meet you.” I hesitated awkwardly. “I don’t actually have cooldrink,” I admitted. “But I can make coffee?” Vince laughed softly. “Water’s fine.” I hurried inside and returned with a glass of water. Marco raised an eyebrow. “Nothing for me?” “You didn’t ask,” I replied before I could stop myself. The boys burst out laughing. Still, my attention kept drifting back to Vince. I couldn’t stop wondering what any of this meant. ─── Chapter Three Confessions I barely slept that night. The warmth of Vince’s hugs and the lingering scent of his cologne replayed endlessly in my mind. By morning, I was exhausted. But underneath the tiredness was something else. Excitement. Nervousness. Hope. I needed to know what was happening between us. The flirting. The hugs. The way he looked at me. Surely it had to mean something. At school, my friends noticed my unusually good mood almost immediately. “You seem happy today,” one of them said suspiciously. I smiled casually. “It’s just a nice day.” The truth was, Vince had become my secret. And I wasn’t ready to share him with anyone. That afternoon, he arrived again with Marco beside him in the car. The moment Vince stepped out, he wrapped me in a tight hug. “Did you have a good day?” he asked softly. “Actually,” I admitted, smiling against his chest, “I had a great day.” From the corner of my eye, I noticed Marco waiting impatiently inside the car. “I can’t stay long today,” Vince said. Disappointment crossed my face before I could hide it. “Baby girl,” he laughed quietly, “don’t look at me like that. Marco needs to be home early.” For weeks, one question had been sitting heavily in the back of my mind. Finally, I asked it. “Why is Marco always with you?” Only then did I realize we were still standing there holding each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And honestly... It felt natural. Comfortable. Safe. Vince looked at me for a moment before replying quietly. “Don’t worry about that.” Then he slowly let go. Before I could stop myself, the next question slipped out. “What is this between us?” The moment the words left my mouth, panic rushed through me. I turned away immediately, too nervous to face his reaction. “Look at me,” Vince said gently. “No.” “What do you want it to be?” His question caught me completely off guard. Because the truth was... I didn’t know. My mother would never allow me to date while I was still in school. Her rules were strict, and she never bent them. She already knew Vince stopped by every day. But if she discovered we were more than friends, she would never allow me to see him again. “I don’t know,” I admitted quietly. From the car, Marco called impatiently. “Vince! You said we wouldn’t be long!” Annoyed, both of us glanced toward him. For a moment, Vince looked like he wanted to say something else. Instead, he pulled me into one last quick hug. “Bye, baby girl.” And once again, he left me hanging between confusion and hope. ─── Chapter Four Is It Over? For the next few days, Vince disappeared completely. At first, I told myself not to overthink it. Maybe he was busy. Maybe work had kept him late. But deep down, I couldn’t stop wondering if I had ruined everything by asking what we were. At school, I threw myself into my work, desperate to keep my mind occupied. I focused harder during lessons, finished assignments early, and avoided daydreaming whenever I could. At least, I tried to. Because at night, when everything became quiet, thoughts of Vince returned all over again. His hugs. His smile. The way he called me baby girl. I barely slept. Why did I have to ask that question? Why couldn’t I have just left things the way they were? Somewhere along the way, Vince had taken over every empty corner of my mind. And that terrified me. I already knew my mother would never approve. Her rules were clear: no boyfriends while I was still in school. And Vince was older than me. He worked. He drove. He lived in a world completely different from mine. If my mother knew how attached I was becoming to him, she would lose her mind. Still, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t switch my feelings off. If anything, they only grew stronger. Maybe, if I proved I could still focus on school and keep my grades up, my mother would eventually understand. But who was I kidding? Who said Vince even wanted a real relationship with me? He never answered my question. Maybe that was my answer. Maybe this was never meant to be. ─── Chapter Five Emotions A few more days passed, and eventually, I stopped expecting Vince to show up. That afternoon, I sat quietly on the porch with my head resting against my knees, barely paying attention to the traffic passing outside. Then suddenly, someone touched my shoulder. A familiar scent surrounded me. “Baby girl... are you okay?” My heart recognized his voice instantly. Relief rushed through me so quickly that I almost forgot I was upset. “Yes,” I replied too quickly. “I’m fine.” But annoyance still lingered beneath the surface. “What?” Vince asked with a grin, clearly noticing my mood. “Nothing.” Of course, Marco was there too. “Someone’s in a bad mood,” Marco commented. “Oh, shut it,” I snapped. Then I turned back to Vince. “Where were you?” The question came out harsher than I intended. Instead of getting defensive, Vince laughed softly. “Ever heard of overtime?” Embarrassment immediately replaced my irritation. “Oh.” Chuckling under his breath, Vince pulled me into a hug. This time, Marco stayed inside the car. I looked up at Vince suspiciously. “Do you have to leave early again?” “No.” Relief settled inside me. “So,” he asked softly, “how have you been?” “Fine,” I lied. “Liar.” Confused, I looked up at him. “You can admit you missed me,” he teased. “Because I missed you.” The words caught me completely off guard. Slowly, a smile spread across my face. “Okay,” I admitted quietly. “I missed you.” Vince smiled before gently resting his forehead against mine. And for a while, we stopped worrying about labels, questions, and complications. We simply enjoyed being together. Eventually, Marco climbed out of the car and walked over to us. He attempted to pull me into a hug, but I quickly stepped away. Vince immediately shot him a warning look. The tension between them lasted only a second before Vince turned back to me. “Bye, baby girl.” And once again, I was left feeling more confused than before. ─── Chapter Six Clarity The following afternoon, Vince arrived looking frustrated. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “This car is driving me insane,” he muttered. “It broke down again.” We hugged like usual before Marco suddenly announced that he was going home to fetch tools. As he walked off, I realized something. I had no idea where Vince actually lived. Trying to sound casual, I glanced at him. “So... how far does Marco have to walk?” “Not far,” Vince replied. “Just down the road.” The realization surprised me. He lived only a few minutes away. Now that we were finally alone, everything felt different somehow. The hugs lingered longer. The silence felt heavier. The way he looked at me carried emotions neither of us had fully admitted yet. I looked up at him. “So what’s the deal with Marco?” Vince laughed softly. “You finally have me alone, and you want to talk about Marco?” Instantly, guilt crept in. He shook his head with a smile. “Marco’s just a longtime friend. I helped him get a job, and we staye close to each other. So we travel together. That’s all.” To my surprise, relief washed through me. Vince pulled me closer. “And stop letting him get to you so much.” Smiling, I went inside to make coffee. That was when I discovered we liked our coffee exactly the same way. For some reason, that tiny detail made me ridiculously happy. Later, while Vince worked on the car, I sat nearby watching him. Every now and then, he glanced over and smiled. At one point, he leaned toward me as if he were about to kiss me. I froze. But I didn’t pull away. Butterflies exploded inside my stomach. Vince noticed my reaction and smirked before returning to the car. Not long afterward, he finished repairing it. “Can I wash my hands?” he asked. “Of course.” I led him inside and waited quietly while he washed the grease from his hands. When he finished, I handed him a towel. But this time, neither of us let go immediately. Our eyes locked. The air suddenly felt heavy. “Do you want to dry my hands for me?” he asked softly. Before I could answer, he leaned down and kissed me. Everything inside me froze. Then, just as suddenly, he stepped back with a quiet laugh and walked out of the bathroom, leaving me completely stunned. A few moments later, I followed him outside, pretending nothing had happened. But my lips still tingled. Without thinking, I touched them gently. Vince noticed and smiled. “Bye, baby girl. See you tomorrow.” And once again, he left me speechless. ─── Chapter Seven Friends Over the next few weeks, Vince continued stopping by every day with Marco. Even after all that time, we still hadn’t officially defined what we were. But things between us had changed. Whenever Marco wasn’t paying attention, Vince would steal secret kisses from me. At first, I found it strange that he only kissed me when Marco wasn’t looking. Eventually, though, I convinced myself it was simply his way of keeping things private. One weekend, I attended a friend’s confirmation party. Later that afternoon, her boyfriend fetched us so we could spend time at his house. The moment we walked inside, I froze. Marco sat on the couch staring back at me with equal surprise. “What are you doing here?” I asked. My friend looked between us curiously. “Wait... you know each other?” “Kinda.” As it turned out, Marco was her boyfriend’s cousin. Typical. For some reason, Marco seemed almost pleased to have the opportunity to speak to me without Vince around. The moment we found ourselves alone, he leaned closer. “You know Vince is just playing you, right?” I folded my arms. “So what if he is?” I snapped. “It’s not like we’re serious.” Marco didn’t hesitate. “You should be with someone like me instead.” I burst out laughing. “You are definitely not my type.” His expression darkened slightly. “I’m serious. Vince is going to hurt you.” Rolling my eyes, I walked away before he could continue. For the rest of the afternoon, I avoided him completely. The next day at school, my friends immediately started questioning me after hearing Marco mention Vince. “Who is he?” “Are you dating him?” “Why are you being so secretive?” I shrugged casually. “He’s just some guy.” But deep down, I knew that wasn’t true anymore. Vince had become far more than just some guy. He had become my secret. ─── Chapter Eight Risk The next afternoon, Vince and Marco stopped by again. At first, I said nothing about what Marco had told me at the party. Instead, I focused on Vince, who seemed especially playful and flirtatious that day. The way he looked at me made me feel wanted. Special. And judging by Marco’s irritated expression, it bothered him too. Eventually, Marco climbed out of the car and walked home without a word. The moment he disappeared down the road, I told Vince everything Marco had said. To my surprise, Vince simply laughed. “Don’t worry about Marco,” he said before pulling me into his arms. As he held me close, he leaned down and whispered softly against my ear. A shiver ran down my spine. I had never experienced anything like this before. And honestly... I liked it far more than I should have. A few days later, I finally asked the question that had been haunting me for weeks. “How do you really feel about me?” Vince looked genuinely surprised. “Isn’t it obvious that I like you?” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “But what are we?” I asked quietly. He shrugged slightly. “That’s for you to decide. I’ll go with whatever you want.” His answer only complicated things further. Because deep down, I already knew what I wanted. The problem was, I also knew I probably couldn’t have it. “Give me a few days,” I said softly. “Then I’ll let you know.” “No problem, baby girl.” After that conversation, I didn’t see him for several days. At first, I assumed he was simply giving me space to think. And honestly, the distance helped. It gave me time to sort through my feelings. Then one afternoon, I saw him walking past with another girl. Shock froze me in place. When Vince greeted me casually, all I managed was a small wave. The moment they disappeared from sight, jealousy twisted painfully inside my chest. But how could I feel jealous over someone who wasn’t even mine? Suddenly, Marco’s words replayed in my head. Vince is just playing you. Maybe Marco had been right all along. But even then... I couldn’t bring myself to care. Because no matter how confusing things were, I loved the way I felt whenever I was with Vince. Later that night, after staring at my phone for almost an hour, I finally sent him a message. If you’re still interested, I have an answer. But he never replied. And with every passing minute, my heart sank a little further. That night, I fell asleep trapped in uncertainty. But one thing had become painfully clear. I was about to take a risk. ─── Chapter Nine Yours The next afternoon, Vince finally came back. The smug smile on his face instantly made my stomach flip. As he stepped out of the car, he somehow looked even more attractive than usual. Trying to avoid my grandmother’s curious attention, I walked toward the quieter side of the yard. Without hesitation, Vince followed me. His eyes never left mine. Pull yourself together, I told myself. It wasn’t the first time I had seen him. But somehow, this time felt different. Because deep down, I knew something was about to change. Surprisingly, Vince didn’t hug me immediately. Instead, he simply stood there staring at me. And I knew exactly what he wanted. But nerves stole my voice. Finally, he broke the silence. “Why did you send that message?” Instead of answering, the question that had been bothering me escaped first. “Who was the girl?” Vince smiled slightly. “Nobody.” I wasn’t sure whether to believe him. Desperate to escape the conversation, I turned away. “Do you want coffee?” He laughed softly. “What’s with the message, baby girl?” My nerves completely took over. The truth was, I didn’t even know what had come over me when I sent it. Still, one thought repeated endlessly inside my head. He came back. That had to mean something. As I tried once again to walk away, Vince suddenly caught my arm and pulled me gently back toward him. A second later, I was pressed against his chest with his arms wrapped around me. “Baby girl,” he whispered, “what is it that you want?” The intensity of the moment overwhelmed me. I couldn’t answer. And before I fully realized what was happening, Vince kissed me. Not one of the quick secret kisses he usually stole. This kiss was different. Real. Passionate. The kind of kiss that made the rest of the world disappear. When he finally pulled away, he looked directly into my eyes. “Is this what you want?” I felt completely dizzy. Vince laughed softly before pulling me close again. “Baby girl,” he whispered against my ear, “if you want me, I’m yours. All you have to do is say it.” Then he kissed me again. That afternoon, we spent hours holding each other close. And for the first time in weeks, everything finally felt right. All of Marco’s warnings faded away. Eventually, I admitted the truth. “I want you to be my boyfriend.” Nervously, I explained my mother’s rules about dating. To my surprise, Vince didn’t laugh. Instead, he nodded with understanding. “We don’t have to make it official,” he said softly. “It can just be something between us.” And honestly... I liked that. That night, I finally understood what we were. Maybe not officially boyfriend and girlfriend. But something real. Something important. For the first time in a long while, I felt Chapter ten Ours Over the next few months, Vince and I grew even closer. I learned that he had a younger brother and sister and that he was the eldest of the three. After his father left years earlier, it had become just him, his mother, and his siblings. I visited his house a few times, and surprisingly, I got along well with his younger brother. What made me happiest was discovering that Vince had already told him about me. That alone made my heart flutter. Some mornings before work, Vince would stop by just to wish me a good day at school. Those mornings quickly became my favorite part of the day. The more time we spent together, the more my mother started noticing. The way he looked at me. The way I smiled whenever he was around. The way we hugged a little too long. Thankfully, she never caught us kissing. One afternoon, she simply looked at me and said: “Remember the rules.” That was all. But it was enough. Later that week, I warned Vince. “I think my mom knows,” I admitted nervously. “We need to be more careful.” “Okay,” he replied softly. “I’ll try.” Unfortunately, a few days later, my mother saw us kiss. I hadn’t even realized she was watching. That night, she spoke firmly. “Break it off with him, or he’s not welcome here anymore.” The thought of ending things with Vince felt impossible. When I told him what had happened, he immediately apologized. “I should’ve been more careful,” he said quietly. “So... what do we do now?” Oddly enough, hearing him ask that made me feel relieved. Because it meant he didn’t want to lose me either. “We’ll just keep things quiet for a while,” I suggested. He nodded. “It’s going to be hard not seeing you every day.” Butterflies immediately filled my stomach again. For a while, our afternoon visits turned into early morning visits while I got ready for school. Sometimes he would even fetch me afterward just so we could spend a little more time together. Eventually, my mother started believing the relationship had ended, and slowly, things returned to normal. The afternoon visits came back. The morning visits became routine. And somehow, without realizing it, Vince and I became closer than ever. We were no longer just friends. But we also weren’t officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Instead, we created something that belonged only to us. There was no pressure. No expectations. Just feelings we both understood without needing to explain them. Secretly, he was mine. And I was his. ─── A Note From the Author Some people enter our lives quietly and somehow leave permanent marks behind. This story was inspired by memories, emotions, and moments that stayed with me long after they ended. Thank you for reading. ───