The first time Leo saw Maya, she was wearing a bright yellow dress with sunflowers on it. It was the first day of kindergarten, and the classroom buzzed with the nervous energy of five-year-olds. Leo, usually a shy boy with a mop of unruly brown hair, found himself captivated. Maya, with her pigtails bouncing and a gap-toothed grin, was building a tower of blocks, her brow furrowed in concentration. Leo, emboldened by a sudden surge of courage, toddled over to her. "That's a tall tower," he mumbled, his cheeks flushing. Maya looked up, her eyes the color of warm honey, and smiled. "It's for my castle," she said, her voice like tinkling bells. "Do you want to help?" And just like that, Leo was drawn into her world. They spent the entire morning building the castle, their hands brushing as they carefully placed each block. Leo, who had always preferred playing alone, found himself laughing and chattering, his shyness melting away under Maya's sunny presence. As the school year progressed, Leo's feelings for Maya blossomed. He loved the way she always shared her crayons, the way she could make him laugh with her silly jokes, and the way she smelled like strawberries. He would watch her during story time, his heart doing a funny little flip every time she looked his way. He started doing things to impress her. He'd try to be the fastest runner during playtime, hoping she'd notice. He'd painstakingly draw pictures for her, carefully coloring each detail, hoping she'd hang them on her refrigerator. He even tried, unsuccessfully, to learn how to do a cartwheel, just because Maya could. One day, during a particularly boisterous game of tag, Leo tripped and scraped his knee. Tears welled up in his eyes, but before he could start crying, Maya was by his side. She knelt down, her face filled with concern. "Oh, Leo," she said softly, "does it hurt?" She gently examined his knee, then ran to the teacher to get a bandage. As she carefully applied the colorful bandage, she whispered, "There, all better." Leo felt a warmth spread through him, a feeling that had nothing to do with the sting of the scrape. As they grew older, their bond deepened. They became inseparable, always finding each other during recess, sharing secrets during naptime, and holding hands on their walks home. Leo's feelings for Maya grew stronger with each passing year, a constant, unwavering flame in his heart. He knew, even at such a young age, that what he felt for Maya was special. It was a love that was pure, innocent, and filled with the simple joys of childhood. And as they navigated the adventures of growing up together, Leo knew, with a certainty that warmed him from the inside out, that his love for Maya would continue to grow, just like the sunflowers on her yellow dress.