Die vogtige lug van die Two Oceans Aquarium kon jy amper voel op jou vel.

The humid air of the Two Oceans Aquarium was almost palpable on your skin.

Die lente het sy voete in Kaapstad gesit.

Spring had settled in Cape Town.

Mense het oor die akwarium se vloere geloop, opgewonde oor die wonders van die seelewe om hulle.

People wandered through the aquarium floors, excited about the wonders of the marine life surrounding them.

Francois, 'n mariene bioloog met 'n sagte hart vir die oseaan, het sy hand deur sy donker hare gesteek terwyl hy na die pinguïnuitstalling geloop het.

Francois, a marine biologist with a soft spot for the ocean, ran his hand through his dark hair as he walked toward the penguin exhibit.

Sy hart het vinniger geklop as wat hy wou erken.

His heart was beating faster than he cared to admit.

Elmarie, 'n avontuurlustige joernalis, het saam met haar beste vriend Jaco na die pinguïnuitstalling gestap.

Elmarie, an adventurous journalist, walked with her best friend Jaco to the penguin exhibit.

Sy het 'n helder glimlag op haar gesig gehad en Francois kon nie help om te verstik aan die gevoelens wat hy so lank versteek het nie.

She had a bright smile on her face, and Francois couldn't help but choke on the feelings he had kept hidden for so long.

Hy moes haar vertel hoe hy voel, voor sy weer oor 'n paar dae vertrek.

He needed to tell her how he felt before she left again in a few days.

Die pinguïns het speels rondgeswem en die jongmense om hulle het geglimlag en foto's geneem.

The penguins swam playfully around, and the young people smiled and took photos.

Francois het egter skaars die gejoel rondom hom gehoor.

Francois, however, barely heard the excitement around him.

Hy was gefokus op wat hy moes doen.

He was focused on what he had to do.

Elmarie se oë het gestraal met nuuskierigheid elke keer as sy rondkyk, maar sy het hom nie opgemerk nie.

Elmarie's eyes shone with curiosity every time she looked around, but she hadn't noticed him.

Jaco, met sy charismatiese manier van doen, het grappies gemaak en Elmarie gelag.

Jaco, with his charismatic demeanor, made jokes and Elmarie laughed.

Francois het eenkant gestaan, die dilemma van die verleentheid en die vrees van verwerping eenkant probeer sit.

Francois stood aside, trying to set aside the embarrassment and fear of rejection.

Met 'n diep asemteug het hy homself voorberei om na haar toe te stap.

With a deep breath, he prepared himself to walk up to her.

"Elmarie, mag ek ‘n oomblik van jou tyd hê?" het hy gevra, hoopvol dat sy na sy stille roep sou luister.

"Elmarie, may I have a moment of your time?" he asked, hopeful that she would listen to his silent plea.

Jaco, met 'n vinnige skuif, het gesê hy gaan na die dolfynuitstalling toe stap vir 'n paar foto's.

Jaco, with a quick move, said he was going to the dolphin exhibit to take some pictures.

Dit het Francois alleen met Elmarie gelaat.

This left Francois alone with Elmarie.

Dit was nou of nooit.

It was now or never.

"Weet jy, ek het iets op die hart.

"You know, I have something on my heart.

Ek wil graag hê jy moet weet..." het hy begin, onseker van waar om te eindig, maar hierdie woorde moes gesê word.

I want you to know..." he began, unsure of where to end, but these words needed to be said.

"Ek het gevoelens vir jou." Hy het skaam weggekruip in sy eie oë, bang om haar reaksie te sien.

"I have feelings for you." He shyly looked away, afraid to see her reaction.

Elmarie stop en kyk hom rustig aan.

Elmarie stopped and looked at him calmly.

Haar verduideliking was kalm, haar woorde sag, "Francois, ek waardeer eerlikheid baie hoog.

Her response was calm, her words gentle, "Francois, I value honesty very much.

Ek stel baie waarde aan ons vriendskap.

I cherish our friendship greatly.

Ek het eerlik gesê nie geweet jy voel so nie.

I honestly didn't know you felt this way.

Gee my asseblief tyd om hieroor te dink."

Please give me time to think about this."

Francois het 'n kalm oor homself gevoel.

Francois felt a sense of calm wash over him.

Hy het nou gesê wat in sy hart was, en alhoewel haar antwoord tyd sou vereis, was hy trots op homself omdat hy homself soveel blootgestel het.

He had spoken the words from his heart, and although her answer required time, he was proud of himself for being so vulnerable.

Toe Jaco terugkom, het hulle weer by hom aangesluit, maar Francois het geweet hy het gegroei.

When Jaco returned, they joined him again, but Francois knew he had grown.

Hy het geleer dat moed nie die afwesigheid van vrees is nie, maar eerder die bepaling om aan te hou voortbeweeg ten spyte daarvan.

He had learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the resolve to keep moving forward despite it.

Hy was nou gereed om die lewe met meer openhartigheid en vryheid te leef.

He was now ready to live life with more openness and freedom.