It was a calm afternoon in the little town where Sumi lived. The sun had just dipped behind the tall row of palm trees, painting the sky with soft orange hues. Sumi was walking along the narrow path behind her home, carrying a small basket of fruits she had just picked. The air was still, quiet enough that she could hear the crickets singing from the bushes. Everything seemed peaceful, almost too peaceful, until one sudden voice shattered the silence.
“Sumi!”
It was Kevin’s voice—loud, unexpected, and far too close.
Sumi jumped in surprise. Her hand lost grip on the basket, and before she knew it, her foot caught on a stone lying in the dirt path. She stumbled forward, arms flailing helplessly. The world tilted, and with a small cry, she landed on the ground. Fruits from the basket rolled everywhere—mangoes bouncing into the grass, an apple thudding into a bush, and a bunch of bananas splitting apart.
For a moment, Sumi lay there, stunned. Then she turned her head and glared upward at the very culprit.
Kevin stood just a few steps away, scratching the back of his head with an awkward grin.
“Uh… sorry? I didn’t think you’d scare so easily.”
Sumi pushed herself up slowly, brushing the dirt off her skirt. “Kevin! You nearly gave me a heart attack. What were you thinking, yelling like that?”
“I wasn’t yelling,” Kevin protested, though his voice carried the guilty tone of someone who knew he was wrong. “I was just calling your name. I didn’t think you’d trip.”
“You shouted my name like a thunderclap!” she snapped, though the frustration in her voice was already softening.
Kevin bent down and began picking up the scattered fruit, placing them back into the basket one by one. His movements were clumsy, as though he was afraid she might scold him again. Sumi watched him for a moment and couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
“You’re lucky I didn’t twist my ankle,” she muttered.
“Yeah, lucky,” Kevin agreed quickly, then looked up with an almost boyish grin. “But admit it, that fall was kind of funny.”
Sumi narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “Funny? Do I look like a comedy show to you?”
Kevin chuckled nervously, realizing perhaps he had said the wrong thing. “No, no, of course not. You’re… um… graceful even when you fall.”
That line made Sumi laugh despite herself. She shook her head, hiding a smile. “Graceful? You really don’t know when to stop talking, do you?”
The tension eased between them, and for a few minutes, they simply gathered the fruit together in silence. The quiet was broken again, but this time by the soft rustling of leaves above them. A flock of birds soared overhead, their wings spreading wide against the painted sky.
Kevin placed the last banana into the basket and straightened up. “I actually came here to find you,” he admitted. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but I didn’t want to miss you before it got dark.”
Sumi tilted her head curiously. “Find me? Why?”
Kevin hesitated, his hand rubbing the back of his neck again. “Because… I wanted to invite you. There’s a small festival tonight in town. Lanterns, music, food—everything. I thought… maybe you’d like to come with me?”
Sumi blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected that. For a moment, her heart still raced from the earlier fall, but now it beat for a different reason.
“You startled me into the dirt just to ask me to a festival?” she teased.
Kevin grinned sheepishly. “Well, I figured if I embarrassed myself enough, you might feel sorry for me and say yes.”
Sumi laughed. “You’re impossible.” But then she softened. “All right. I’ll come.”
Kevin’s eyes brightened at her answer. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” Sumi said, adjusting the basket in her arms. “But only on one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You owe me a new basket of fruit. This one is bruised because of you.”
Kevin raised his hands in mock defeat. “Deal. I’ll bring you the biggest, freshest basket tomorrow.”
The two of them walked together back toward Sumi’s house, chatting lightly. Every now and then, Kevin would glance at her, as if still amused by the memory of her startled fall, though he wisely kept his laughter quiet this time.
When evening came, the town square came alive with lights. Lanterns floated gently in the air, glowing like fireflies against the darkening sky. Stalls lined the streets, offering grilled corn, sweet dumplings, and steaming bowls of noodles. The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the distant notes of a flute.
Kevin and Sumi walked side by side through the crowd. At first, Sumi felt a little self-conscious, thinking about how clumsy she must have looked earlier in the day. But when she caught Kevin sneaking a smile at her, she realized he wasn’t laughing at her—he was simply happy to be with her.
“See?” Kevin said, pointing to the lanterns. “Worth the trip, right?”
Sumi nodded, her eyes reflecting the warm glow of the lights. “Yes. Worth it.”
They wandered from stall to stall, tasting food, trying small games, and laughing together. At one booth, Kevin tried to win her a stuffed toy by tossing rings over bottles. He missed every single throw, but Sumi clapped for him anyway, amused by his determination.
“Maybe you should stick to shouting my name and making me fall,” she teased. “At least you’re good at that.”
Kevin groaned dramatically. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Not a chance,” she replied with a grin.
As the night deepened, they joined the crowd gathered near the river. Everyone held lanterns, waiting for the moment to release them into the sky. Kevin handed one to Sumi. Their fingers brushed, and Sumi felt a small jolt of warmth.
“Make a wish,” Kevin said softly.
Sumi closed her eyes. She thought about the quiet afternoon, about the startled fall, and about this moment now—standing beside someone who made her laugh, even when she was angry. She wished for more days like this, filled with light, clumsy accidents, and unexpected joy.
Together, they lifted the lantern. It rose slowly, catching the breeze, and drifted upward until it joined the hundreds of glowing stars above.
Kevin glanced at her, his smile tender. “Thank you for saying yes, even after I made you fall.”
Sumi smiled back. “Thank you for catching me tonight, even if you didn’t catch me this afternoon.”
And with that, the two of them stood side by side, watching their lantern disappear into the night sky—knowing this evening would be one neither of them would ever forget.
