From the girls, Oni, Nala, Masika, and Imani are in the mall. The four of them went on their own. They know the stores and they are experienced shoppers.
The girls invited Zula to join them, but Zula said that she does not need to buy anything and that she is busy moving. She didn't tell them that she was in Ron's embrace while texting her response. The fact that the two of them were naked in the bed (under the cover) was their little secret.
Tomorrow, the weather will be perfect for a day outside. It will be mostly sunny with occasional clouds, light winds and not too hot, but not cold either.
Sarah picked a few dresses for Hande and is playing with her phone in the lounge area, next to the dressing rooms, while Hande is trying out the dresses.
Sarah was surprised when she saw Hande exit the dressing room, wearing her clothes and a pout.
"How come you didn't show me any dress? Don't you like them? Or they don't fit?"
"They are too… childish." Hande responded.
Sarah's eyebrows shoot up. Childish? Hande is a nine years old girl and the dresses Sarah picked are adorable and age-appropriate. "Uhm… I'm not sure what you have on your mind. How about you pick some yourself? Or tell me what you want?"
Hande plopped on the sofa next to Sarah and gave an exaggerated sigh. "I want to look… older."
Sarah didn't understand. "Older? Why?"
"Ade said that I am too young."
Sarah's interest was piqued. "Too young… for what?"
Hande fidgeted and glanced at Sarah nervously and she felt that Sarah is using some magic powers to make her talk because the words came out against her will: "For a kiss."
Sarah paused for a second before summarizing what Hande said: "Ade said that you are too young for a kiss… Does that mean that you wanted to kiss him, and he rejected you?"
"No, no. I kissed him…" Hande blurted out and quickly added: "On the cheek!"
"And?"
"And then he kissed me on the cheek and… He said that he does not want to marry right now and that I am too young for a kiss, so we made a promise to wait three years before we kiss on the lips and that until then we will not kiss anyone else."
Sarah struggled not to laugh. How cute are those two? "I agree with Ade. He is too young to get married."
Hande looked at Sarah expectantly. "What about the kiss? Do you think that I am too young for the kiss? Do you agree that we should wait three years for the kiss on the lips?"
Sarah was unable to keep it together. Hande's earnest expression was adorable and she burst into giggles.
Hande pouted. "You are laughing at me!"
Sarah denied it. "No, no. I would not do such a thing. I just think that you are unbelievably cute. I am laughing because I am... happy."
Hande's expression told Sarah that she does not believe her.
Sarah took a deep breath to compose herself. "Listen, Hande… You can't pick an age and say when the first kiss is acceptable. Someone reaches twenty years old and they are still not ready. It's about finding that special someone… or sometimes you are simply curious how it feels, and you will kiss a random boy. What I'm trying to say is that everyone is different."
Sarah's answer pacified Hande, but she was still not happy.
"How old were you when you had your first kiss?"
Sarah wanted to say nineteen years old. After all, her first kiss which counts was with Aiden, on the dancefloor at the Orion Enterprise Christmas party… but then she remembered how that is not her first kiss with Aiden.
"Four."
Hande widened her eyes in disbelief. "What?"
Sarah nodded. "I was four years old and Aiden was seven and he kissed me on the lips."
Hande thought that her mind exploded: Sarah's first kiss was at four years old! How advanced! "Your first kiss was with Aiden?"
"Mhm…" Sarah hummed in confirmation. "It was my first and his as well."
Hande's whole face was lit up from excitement. "How did it feel?"
"I don't remember." Sarah admitted.
"But you remember the kiss."
"No. Unfortunately, I don't remember." Sarah saw that Hande is confused, and she explained: "There is a video of Aiden kissing me about seventeen years ago."
Hande was in a daze. Seventeen years ago! That is almost two lifetimes for her. And after all that time, Sarah and Aiden love each other and they are married and… Ade has no idea what he is talking about. Nine years old is not young! Nine is more than double compared to four!
Another thing struck Hande: "You are together for seventeen years?"
Sarah shook her head. "Seventeen years ago, we met for the first time. And I don't remember seeing him again until fifteen years later." Sarah smiled. "It is funny actually. In the video, it shows him kissing me and proclaiming that he has my first kiss and I have his and that I am his woman. And we both forgot about it, we were kids. But then fifteen years later, we fell in love."
Hande was holding her breath while listening to Sarah. The story is fascinating. "Can you show me that video? Of your first kiss?"
Sarah laughed. "Sure. When we get home. Let's focus now on shopping because lunchtime is getting closer and we still have nothing for you to wear."
Sarah leaned closer to Hande and asked teasingly: "Are we picking clothes with a goal for you to get your first kiss on the lips tomorrow?"
Hande blushed fiercely and she was not sure if she should deny it. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
Sarah's phone buzzed. She saw a message from Aiden, it included a photo of Ade dressed up.
Sarah showed her phone to Hande. "Look, Ade picked his outfit for tomorrow. He is extremely dashing. Do you want us to get something matching for you?"
Hande looked at the photo and she was sure that Ade is getting more handsome by the minute. "Yes, please!"
"We can ask a salesperson to help, it will be faster. Maybe we can finish in time to meet with the guys for lunch… I think a cute skater dress would go perfectly. We just need to find the right cut around the neck and color. How much of your chest you want to be exposed?" Sarah asked with a straight face.
Hande widened her eyes in shock and Sarah burst into a laugh.
"Ah, this is fun..."
Hande pouted. "You are teasing me!"
"Sorry... You are so cute that I can't help it. But don't worry. We will find you an adorable, matching outfit. Don't think about kissing or what anyone will say or think. The important thing is that you will spend a day with Ade. Do your best to relax and have fun. That is how you will create unforgettable memories..."
---
If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l .. c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.