Chapter 1 : A Shy Encounter

The sun was setting gently, painting the sky with a warm palette of colors as Olufèmi, a reserved young man, strolled slowly through the park in front of the supermarket from which he had just emerged. He was tall, handsome, and dressed in a brown sweater, well-fitted jeans, and shoes that perfectly matched his outfit. His hair was neatly coiffed, as if he had just come from the barber's. He had always been shy, preferring the company of his books to that of people. He had more friends on social media than in real life, and when it came to social networks, he simply read posts, occasionally liked them, or observed online conversations, but he had never mustered the courage to initiate a conversation with the people he saw online. He spent most of his time in his room, but on that evening, after finishing some shopping for his mother, something was about to change.

As he wandered among the trees, he noticed a beautiful young girl sitting alone on a bench. Her hair shone like gold in the twilight, and her smile was dazzling. Olufèmi felt his heart race, but he hesitated to approach. His heart pounded, his throat was dry, and his hands were becoming sweaty. He didn't know how to approach this stranger, this vision of beauty that had captured his attention.

For a moment, Olufèmi stood there, hidden behind a tree, observing the young girl from afar. He was paralyzed by his shyness, unable to find the words to start a conversation. He played multiple scenarios in his head, but none of them seemed convincing enough to him. Olufèmi was afraid of rejection, but he was more afraid of not knowing how to start the conversation. It was clear that he had no experience, and according to the opinion of most men, approaching a girl would be a very difficult and embarrassing exercise, with most of them being rejected. He resolved to give up and go home, but before doing so, he wanted to be able to take one last look at this beautiful young lady sitting on the other side of the park. That's when something unexpected happened.

The young girl, named Olushola, looked up and met Olufèmi's gaze. She smiled shyly at him, breaking the silence of the moment. Olufèmi's world seemed to stop turning. It was as if the universe had granted him a rare favor, a chance to connect with this charming girl sitting in front of him. It was the first step toward a new connection.

Olufèmi, surprised but encouraged by this smile, took a deep breath and walked toward the bench where Olushola was sitting. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he knew he had to try. It was the first time he had tried to approach a girl. The conversation that followed was initially hesitant, but Olushola was patient and encouraging, doing her best to ease Olufèmi's nervousness.

He approached her, stopped in his tracks, and said in a trembling voice, "Um... good evening." Olushola, with the biggest and most sincere smile, nodded and responded to his greeting. She was drawing in a notebook placed on her lap. She gestured to the seat next to her and said, "There's no one there, you can sit."

Olufèmi smiled back, and gradually, the stress seemed to dissipate from his face. He had just sat down next to the beautiful young girl he had been secretly admiring just minutes ago.

- Olufèmi : How are you?

- Olushola : I'm very well, and how about you?

- Olufèmi : I'm doing well too, thank you.

He was already in the thick of it; he couldn't back down now. This beginning of the conversation wasn't what he had imagined just minutes ago, but his anxiety had almost disappeared. He no longer felt the pressure of making initial contact, but this time, his pressure was directed toward choosing the right words for the upcoming conversation.

Here he was, the type of Ayanokôji in 'Classroom of the Elite,' now having to step into the shoes of Joel in 'The Bachelor.' He took a deep breath again and gathered all the experiences he had acquired from all those anime, movies, and TV series he spent his time watching when he wasn't reading.

He looked at her and said, "It's a beautiful evening tonight, maybe because there was a gorgeous star to observe in this garden (teasingly). My name is Olufèmi. I hadn't planned on stopping to chat with you, but I must admit I couldn't help but notice you. You're very beautiful, and you make beautiful drawings too."

Olushola raised her long braids that were on the side, and still with a smiling face, replied, "Thank you, that's kind. I'm Olushola. I'm just trying to clear my mind a bit. I had some mood swings tonight, and I needed something like a punching bag."

Olufèmi, looking surprised and funny, said, "Wait a minute! Don't tell me you know how to box!?" Olushola laughed out loud before retorting, "Well no, look at how frail I am; I can't even close my fists properly."

They both burst into laughter, Olufèmi discovering this incredibly simple person, and Olushola discovering a rather teasing young man.

Olufèmi and Olushola continued to talk until the night began to set in. Slowly but surely, the ice broke, and they discovered common interests and a budding connection. It was the beginning of a new adventure for Olufèmi, an adventure that would take him far beyond his comfort zone. But he was ready to take that risk because he had found something precious and rare in Olushola, a spark that would light the way to a love he had never dared to imagine.

On that peaceful evening, in that quiet park, a shy man had taken a brave first step, while a young girl had decided to extend her hand to him. Their story was just beginning, but it was clear that something special was brewing between them.