A Crush on the Most Handsome Boy

Nestor made her way to the playground where the other wynglings were playing. Alma had gone inside and had begun preparations for lunch, which meant Nestor could continue on without being stopped; she loved Miss Alma, and enjoyed talking with her, but now was not the time. Nestor was on a mission.

Her little heart pounding, she looked around once the other wynglings were in sight. They didn't have a care in the world, no notions of love or longing- just who was it in their next game of tag, and who was fastest. Nestor scanned the area.

Finally she spotted him. Her heart stopped, she felt queezy all of a sudden. Her little wings- which had just grown in, leaving her with minimal control over them- stood up rigid and began to quiver. It embarrassed her but not enough to snap her out of her trance.

It was Njabulo.

He looked so handsome with his sleek tail and his well-groomed ears, and wowowow his spotted forelegs made her own, simple green ones feel like jelly. And there he was, running along and laughing with his friends out there in the fields, not fifty feet away. His smile made her happy.

Her happiness quickly evaporated and fear took its place as he began to run in her general direction. His group of playmates had started to migrate, surely to inspect the lunch situation. Nestor looked around hurriedly, and with nowhere to hide, she just stood there, like a deer in headlights. She hoped that Njabulo wouldn't notice her and instead just keep on his merry way- at least that way she would get a good look at his gorgeous tail.

But just as he was running past, he spotted her.

He came to a stop right next to her, breathing heavily and still gazing at his playmates with an energized smile as they continued on without him. Nestor’s heart was beating faster than ever and she wondered what she should do.

“…H-hi-“

“Hey,” he panted, still grinning with adrenaline as he finally turned his head to look at her, “Do you know me?”

Of course she knew him, she thought quickly, though she would never dare to tell him- she would give herself away and he would know she had been semi-stalking him for almost a week now. “W-well,” she stammered, “I don’t really- well kind of- uh… “

He looked at her, the easy grin never leaving his face. He waited for her response.

“My name is Nestor,” she finally breathed, “I want to be a gardener one day. Wh-what’s your n-name?

“I’m Njabulo,” he said, puffing up his chest proudly, “My parents are really cool and I’d say I am too. But I stay here at the Nook. It’s rude to stare Nestor but I forgive you. I like your wings, wish I had a pair. Kinda. Do you like my ears?” He leaned in and tilted his head downwards so that his fluffy, soft ears were mere inches from Nestor’s face. She thought she was ready to die and the butterflies in her stomach threatened to fly right out.

“Th-they’re really nice, Njabulo,” she gasped, not daring or wanting to move away. He just smiled up at her.

“Well, I’m hungry,” he announced, lifting his head again and turning to leave, “Goodbye Nestor.” His tail swished and the hairs at the end gave a little flick in her direction before he bounded away, towards the kitchen where his playmates were undoubtedly pestering Miss Alma about when lunch would be ready. Nestor just watched as he disappeared from view.

She couldn’t believe it. Njabulo, spoke to her. He liked her wings. He even smiled at her. He had gotten so close. Nestor felt like she could faint at any moment. And her little wings quivered more violently than ever before. It was as she had heard, he was a bit full of himself, but that didn’t faze her- he was perfect.

And he had noticed her. She couldn’t wait to tell the other wynglings in her bunk, though she doubted any of them would understand- love was an advanced emotion at this tender age, yet Nestor felt as if she had clearly mastered such workings of the heart.

As she trotted happily off on her way, relishing every moment of her most recent memory, she began to hum. Maybe she’d have to come out to the playground more often.