Winners for essay writing competition(Romance)

1st Prize: Abi

20 years ago

6 years old
“Hi!”
Six year old Jonathan looked up from his worksheet. Teacher had asked him to fill it out. What was his address again?
Jonathan blinked up at the perky girl standing in front of him. She was… interesting. She smiled brightly and her eyes sparkled. He thought she looked pretty. Yuck.
“Can I sit here? Please?” She asked, remembering her manners. This boy looked nice. He hadn’t pulled her hair yet.
Johnny shrugged and Emily smiled even brighter as she sat down and started shooting out introductions and questions at Godspeed.
It was going to be a long day for Johnny.
9 years old
“What do you think love is Johnny?”
Emily looked at her best friend. He didn’t know the answer.
“I guess what parents have? I think.” Emily thought for a moment before nodding. “Do you love anyone?”
Johnny crinkled his nose in disgust. “Girls have cooties.” Emily scowled. “Well boys too!” and with that, both parties heaved a sigh of frustration and stomped away.
11 years old
Emily looked at Benjamin. His toned, muscled body glistened with a thin sheen of perspiration as he dribbled the basketball across the court, shooting and-
“Do you ever get tired of watching him?” Emily rolled her eyes at the boy beside her. “Jay. Seriously! He’s really cute. His eyes are so…”
“So normal?” Johnny cut in.
Emily glared at the offending made, replying “You know, Charlotte is standing right there.” Johnny gulped, attempting to fake indifference, as he tried sneaking a glimpse of said girl. Emily smiled in triumph.
13 years old
He didn’t see why she had to go on a date with him. He knows she’s excited because it’s Benjamin, that idiot who thinks he’s better than everyone else, which he obviously wasn’t. What Emma saw in him, he would never know. He watched as Emily and Ben walked away to the library. Ben was such a jerk; he didn’t even know where to bring girls out for dates. Emily deserved better. His angry mental rant was stopped when his phone buzzed.
“Hey Jay! Want to grab some dessert later after I finish my Geography project with Ben? You’re the best! Love, Em.
P.S. I really want ice cream.”
He smiled a little. Maybe Ben wasn’t so bad. No, wait.
Wasn’t Geography Emily’s favourite…? He was absolutely sure Ben was trying to seduce her. He’d betterfollow them.
15 years old
Was this a date? He honestly didn’t know. He felt something roll and flutter in his stomach when he held her hand. He thinks he could have caught the flu. (Denial, his subconscious screams.)
Emily looked over to Johnny. Even in the dim light of the cinema, she could still spot the flush crawling up his neck and his dilated pupils. She knew the movie wasn’t causing all this. This was the Hunger Games; he’d been waiting for it since forever. He even had a shrine for the franchise, which she found slightly disturbing.
Her fingers still intertwined with his, she bit her lip, a knowing smile gracing her features. She pecked him on the cheek. He blushed even darker and slid further into his seat, while pouring the remnants of their beverage into his mouth, before choking and spewing it back out.
Emily thought it was hysterical, the rest of the audience, not so much.
24 years old
“Will you marry me?”
Well. That was unexpected.
The couple stared blankly, awkwardly, at each other for a minute. Johnny felt especially uncomfortable. He fiddled with the velvet box that contained the diamond ring, which was still inside his pocket.
He felt kind of stupid.
Emily looked at her boyfriend expectantly, if not a little crestfallen. She knew it wasn’t traditional, but she was scared, afraid that he didn’t feel the same as her about their future, and acted on impulse.
She felt kind of stupid.
Johnny tentatively pulled out the box.
“Actually, I was going to ask you the same thing.”
Emily’s eyes widened before laughing and throwing her arms around her wonderful, stupid boyfriend. Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, changing that boyfriend status quickly to fiancé.
Johnny needless to say, nearly broke down with relief. He wondered if marrying Emily was a good idea; if it was going to be a health risk. She gave him more heart attacks than cholesterol ever could. He loves her more than anything though, and that was all that mattered. It was hard to imagine that 20 years ago the girl he had asked to marry had asked for a seat next to him and had annoyed him to the point where he had asked his teacher to change his class.
She didn’t, and he was glad of that.

2nd Prize: Reuben Wee, 15 ACS

(Independent)

Masquerade

The limousine pulled up along the sidewalk, screeching to a rather inelegant halt. The porter did not look amused at all. A tall charming figure stepped out of his ride. He donned a mask that barely covered half his face. He wore a hand-tailored suit and a silk shirt. An exquisite watch matched his style with and old Etonian tie and cufflinks. This young chap’s name was William Forsdyke. He stood at the entrance to the mayor’s masquerade party. He had been personally invited by the mayor himself and was a distinguished guest.

“Sir, the guests have gathered on the lawn at the back. You are just in time for the opening speech.” The butler slowly motioned to the great hallway and pointed to a giant door.

“Merci mon ami.” Said William in fluent French, as he strode toward the door with a quickened pace. He adjusted his tie and mask as he approached the door.

He opened the door to a garden with well dressed man and women dotting the lawn. The cool evening breeze brushed his face as he descended form the steps onto the lawn.

“Ah! You’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you Mr Forsdyke! Firstly, I would like to thank you for opening the wharf and using your ferry to bring in tourists! It certainly has helped this tiny town by a clear mile!” The mayor shook William’s hand warmly.

“Pas besoin de me remercier” Said William with a charming grin, “The pleasure’s all mine!”

The mellow sound of the orchestra echoed around the estate. William sat at his table, chatting with the local residents. Suddenly, a young and fair dame walked past William and he could not take his eyes off her. He rose to shake her hand but dropped his hors d’oeuvres on the ground.

Some of the locals chuckled but he ignored it. He desperately wanted to see her again. Edging through the crowd, he could see her heading to the other end of the lawn. He rushed after her and looked rather unkempt when he did stop her. Looking flustered he tried to shake her hand. To his amazement she did.

Her name was Claudia Chapman. “An appropriate name for a goddess I suppose”, he thought to himself. She had a delicate scent of jasmine and a very elegant frame. She had almost miraculously agreed to join him for a dance on the middle of the lawn. She had olive brown skin that felt so smooth that William did not want to let go of her. Her long dark hair tickled his nose and her voice tickled his ears.

“I feel as if je crois que nous sommes faits l’un pour l’autre.” whispered William into Claudia’s ear with his soothing voice, “I never knew there was a goddess on this island when I brought my Ferry business here.”

Claudia laughed softly; it was something that William delighted in hearing. He had just wanted to hear her laugh again. He wanted to go for a walk with her and whisper sweet nothings into her ear and hear her laugh and he would enjoy her company. It was the first time he had his heart stolen by another person.

After a few more dances, most of the people had gone home and they were the last few to leave. A red Porsche pulled up in the driveway. Claudia glanced at it reluctantly.

“I’ll have to go now il mio amore.” said Claudia, slipping a card into the pocket of his suit. “I’ll never forget you.”

“Neither will I.” sighed William reluctantly, “tu es l’amour de ma vie.” As he watched her walk away he sighed the deepest sigh in his life. 93 Joffre Avenue. That’s where this goddess resides! He almost did a little number on the lawn if only the butler was not staring at him with the most perplexed look.

Not wasting any time, he plucked a rose from the nearby hedge, ignoring the disapproving look from the butler. He then proceeded to run to the limousine.

“Driver! 93 Joffre Avenue! Step on it will you.” Said William, as the driver sped off into the night. William sat at the back of the car with the rose. He was starting to miss her already. Beads of sweat ran down his cheeks as he grew more and more anxious.

The limousine slowed down and came to a complete halt in front of a giant mansion. It was surrounded by overwhelming brick walls that seemed to be put there to prevent lovesick fools from even being able to glance upon the image of the goddess of the island. Climbing the wall, he spotted a room with an open window.

“Claudia! Claudia! Comme un fou malade d’amour je suis venu vous voir.” William called out desperately. He waited for a response. Those were the longest ten seconds of his life as he sat on the wall.

“He sits on the wall that my father put up, calling out to me. Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control.” Claudia declared it loud and clear. William was so shocked that he almost fell over.

“I will love thee until the day after forever.” promised William, handing her the rose as a proof of his love for her.

There they sat, facing each other till the magical sunrise, whispering sweet nothings to each other…

3rd prize: Joseph Han, 15 Temasek Secondary

Temporary

I never knew what romance was. It is always a hearsay thing about it being so fulfilling and happy. It always seems that people are always engulfed in an exuberating joy whenever they manage to find their dream girl. However, I am always afraid. I am always afraid of rejection despite the respectable amount of possible happiness. Whenever during valentines or any other ordinary day, a tingle of jealousy always get the better of me when I see a peppy couple go by me. Friends around are all attached. They seem so blissful while I seem pathetic. A year back, I would still be content with myself and myself, but not. I met the girl I thought would be the final piece of my life’s jigsaw.

She was one true angel. I just entered my new math class when incidentally I had to sit next to her. In the beginning it was all fine and dandy. Suddenly, over some conversations that was rather inevitable, I got her phone number and somehow, I started to feel something for her. Over months I was texting her almost daily, but I never dared to tell her anything.  I did not feel the same way as I felt towards her months ago, something in her exquisite and yet rather loud character mesmerizes me. She had a delicate smile that was somehow plastered on her face.  She had a gentle sense of humor which keeps her elegant and yet vivacious.

We started to become close friends and we did share many things with one another. I always seem to be lost in my own trail of thoughts like I was in a dream. The sense of contentment or more whenever I am talking to her is just indescribable. I never dared to think that she will ever like me, but one day, the adrenaline just bulleted to my brain. It came straight from the heart, it was too quick to process the sense of my thoughts. I wanted to confess my feelings for her. People always say that it is this defining moment that relationships start. It seems to take infinity for me to get the guts.

The text was sent, and my heart was jingling in a mixture of probable exhilaration and anxiety. I was wondering about the reaction of her amazing face and whether I would be burning with embarrassment and disappointment. The answer I received was not of both probabilities I thought it would be.

“Could u meet me at the park near my house?” this text read of my home. I did not know what to reply. My emotionally overloading heart was still palpitating but there was a sense of optimism in me about this situation, but I would not get my hopes too high. I know that some things are difficult to convey over texts.

There was a jitter in my steps as I approached the park that was rather near my house, but for any distance would I walk just to see her…  Trains of emotional thoughts pillaged my brain of its normal processes as I walked to the park, I did not know what would ever happen later. The resultant would be the extreme of both ends and I cannot seem to calm myself down.

I plopped down on a seat at the park at clammed my clammy palms together as I waited for her. I quickly turned my head when I heard the slightest of footsteps with the hopeful longing of it to be just the girl I was waiting for. In 10 minutes, it was her that caused the sounds of the footsteps that approached me. Once again I was overwhelmed by her amazing beauty. Despite her supposedly awkward situation she is in, I could see her walk with that normal spring in her steps and a slight gradient smile on her lips. Her body exudes that kind of refinement that is pleasing to the sense of the body especially the heart.

“Hi Joseph, actually… I wanted to meet you because, I feel you didn’t get how I feel all this while.” was the first words that came out of her sophisticated mouth. I feared the worst of this seemingly dismal situation. I thought that she would reject me and all would be lost. Astonishingly, everything I thought would happen never happened.

“I know u would never know how I feel, I do love you.” These words flowed out of her mouth like a fountain. It thrust deep into my heart like a two-edged sword, I was filled with mixed emotions that felt like bursting from right within me. I stared at her gleaming eyes that reflected the whole reason of why I fell in love with her. It had that charm that burns within her eyes and that passion that melts the heart.

She sat right next to me and I placed my hands around her. I figure that this is when they call that the girl is now mine, I hugged her as tightly as I ever did and I found the extreme end of the result of romance. It is the good end. I stared at her with the same blissfulness I saw in other couples. I felt as if I had everything I ever wanted to have. She was the one that completes me and gave me the happiness that no other situation would ever give me. I felt over satisfactory warmth and a smile that never leaves my face. Now, I loved every minute I spent with her and knowing that the same applies to her, it makes me fill gratified that I have her now in my arms.

I would not say I never knew what romance is now. In fact I know everything about it now. In fact, it was even more. The puzzle of my heart was complete and now I never felt the same old morose me but a new jubilant character that led a fulfilling life. These feelings were supposedly indescribable, but for me, I call it, young love and romance.