Oliver raced down the quiet, sunlit road, the golden light casting long shadows across the pavement. The air was still, the world around him seemingly at peace as the sun dipped closer to the horizon. With the hill’s steep incline urging him faster, his bike picked up speed, the wind tugging at his hair.

Suddenly, as he rounded a bend, a figure appeared in his path—a girl, about his age, standing just ahead. He swerved sharply, tires skidding against the asphalt, and came to a jolting stop mere inches from her.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, heart pounding.

The girl stumbled back, her eyes wide with surprise as she caught her breath. She stared at him, startled and unsure, as if weighing whether to speak or bolt. They had never seen each other before, yet the moment hung between them, charged with unexpected tension.