Chapter 3- A Beautiful Thing

    Jade and Amanda started gossiping until Jade heard a ring upon her cell phone. Jade raised her eyebrows and quickly grabbed the phone. She flipped the cover and answered “Hello?”. “Jade, it’s me Chris.” She heard over the phone. “Oh my God! Chris! How did you get my number?” Jade asked with excitement and a sparkle in her eyes. “Aw!” Amanda said with a smile. “Small town, small phonebook.” Chris answered. Jade laughed in return. “So you actually searched for my number?” Jade asked with amazement. “Well, I had to find my princess again.” He replied with such sweetness. Jade felt like she was going to faint as she smiled ever so brightly. “So where do you live? I want to visit you.” Chris asked. “Oh I live on West Oak street. I’m the two story brick house in the middle. Well the third house.” Jade replied. “Oh I know where you’re talking about. I’ll come over tonight.” Chris replied. “Okay.” Jade also responded. “Okay, well, I’m coming over now so be ready to see me.” Chris said. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Jade added with a smile. Chris hung up and Jade jumped up and down on her bed in excitement. “Amanda, I think I’m in love.“ Jade said with a soft tone. Amanda smiled and nodded.
    Amanda shortly left as she passed Chris by the doorway. Amanda smiled at the boy and kept walking. Chris looked back at Amanda and rubbed his hands together to keep them warm from the cold. He knocked on the door and Jade’s mother answered. “Is Jade home?” The boy asked. Her mother nodded and escorted Chris into the house. “She’s up in her room. Upstairs, the last room to the left.” Her mother announced. “Komapsuemnida.” Chris said as he proceeded toward the stairs. “What does that mean?” Jade’s mother asked, stopping him in his tracks. “It means thank you in my language.” Chris responded with a smile. Jade’s mom smiled. “It’s Korean.” Chris added as he walked up the flight of stairs. He knocked on Jade’s door as he tried to see through the cracks. Jade opened the door and smiled at Chris. “Oh, hey.” Jade said with a smile. “Hey.” Chris responded. Jade sat down on her bed as Chris did the same. He stared and studied the girl for awhile while she did the same. “May I kiss you?” Chris asked. “Yes.” Jade replied. Chris leaned in close and wrapped his arms around the girl. He pressed his cold lips against her warm lips. Jade blushed instantly. This had been her first kiss. She put her hand on her stomach as the kiss lasted. For it gave her butterflies and made her see fireworks. When Chris let go and saw Jade’s red face, he laughed. Then Jade got a grip on reality and figured something. “Why are you doing this? You barely even know me. We just met this morning. That’s it. What’s this between us?” Jade said all curious and misunderstood. “Well, when I first laid eyes on you my heart wouldn’t stop beating and I felt like I was on top of the world. I thought to myself that I finally found the one my heart would belong to.” Chris responded. Jade understood this and had to tell him her side too. “I felt that way too, Chris. But I never thought you would like me like this.” Jade said. “Like what?” Chris said, urging Jade to say it. “Like a boyfriend treats his girlfriend.” Jade responded to the boy’s question. “Well, after I left the store, I was thinking about that. I know we only met today, but maybe we can be boyfriend and girlfriend. We both like each other very much.” Chris stated. Jade smiled and nodded. “After how crazy this is, I would love to be your girlfriend, Ki- Suh Park.” Jade responded happily. Chris smiled brightly and hugged his new soul mate.
    Jade and Chris went downstairs, hand-in-hand, to tell Jade’s mother the news. Jade found her mother on the couch, watching an episode of her favorite Soap Opera, “The Young and The Restless”. Jade and Chris stood in front of her mother. Still hand-in-hand. “Mom, me and Chris have to speak to you about something.” Jade announced. “Yes, dear?” Jade’s mother responded. “I met Chris today at Carter’s. When I went to get your grits. He found me and told me that he really does feel a connection between us and I do too. We have decided that we are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend. We just need your consent.” Jade stated. Jades mother nodded in approval. “I will let you be with this boy if this is what you really want.” Jade’s mother responded to the statement. Jade nodded and smiled. “May I ask you some questions first?” Jade’s mother asked the love struck boy. Chris nodded and sat down next to Jade’s mother. As comfortable as can be. “Yes, Mrs. Neal?” He asked with much politeness. “Oh honey, call me Miss. Marla.” Marla said with a smile. Chris smiled and nodded. “How old are you?” Marla asked. “I am 15. Born September, 15th, 1995.” He stated proudly. “Okay. Where were you born?” Marla asked with even more curiosity. “Seoul, South Korea.” He responded. “Are you legal?” She asked. “We had some trouble with the paperwork when I came here, but my mother and father sorted things out for me.” Chris responded. “When did you come to America?” She asked. “When I Was 14. Last year in February.” He responded with much honesty. “Then how do you know English so well?” She asked. “My mother and father made me study the English and Japanese language while I was living in my home country. I found English very easy to catch on to.” He responded with pride that he knew three important languages. Marla nodded in approval. “Impressive. Not many boys around here have the charm, politeness and brains that you do.” Marla told the young boy. “Well thank you, but of course, I’m not from around here.” Chris responded while laughing.
    Marla laughed and let the couple go off on their own adventure. Or just across the street to Amanda’s house. “There’s someone else I want you to meet.” Jade told her lover. Chris nodded as Jade knocked on the somewhat soft mahogany wood door. Amanda quickly answered with a huge smile and asked them to come inside. She gestured them to her room where they could have privacy from her cruel mother. Who happened to be sleeping at the time. “Chris, this my best friend Amanda. Amanda, this is my boyfriend Chris.” Jade stated proudly. Chris and Amanda shook hands with friendliness and a smile. Jade liked this. For she knew that they would get along well. Not like her and Damien got along. There was some odd reason she disliked Damien. She always stated that she just gets bad vibes from him, or the way he acts is weird to her. She or Amanda was never sure. For the rest of the night Amanda, Jade and Chris conversed about weird, funny things, until they could do no more. Chris escorted Jade home. Then he went home himself. It had been a beautiful day, for a beautiful thing.