Onder die helder son van 'n Kaapse lente, het Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin gesing met kleure.

Under the bright sun of a Kaapse spring, Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin sang with colors.

Jaco en Anja het 'n kombers op die sagte gras uitgesprei, omring deur die geure van vars blomme.

Jaco and Anja spread a blanket on the soft grass, surrounded by the scents of fresh flowers.

Die lug was soet en gevul met die lied van voëls wat in die bome gesing het.

The air was sweet and filled with the song of birds singing in the trees.

Jaco se hande was effens bewerig toe hy die mandjie met kos oopmaak.

Jaco's hands were slightly shaky as he opened the basket of food.

Dit was sy kans om 'n eerste indruk te maak.

This was his chance to make a first impression.

Hy het probeer om kalm te bly, al het sy maag gevul met skoenlappers.

He tried to stay calm, even though his stomach was filled with butterflies.

Anja, met haar sprankelende oë, het sy hart vinniger laat klop.

Anja, with her sparkling eyes, made his heart beat faster.

"Hoe gereeld kom jy hierheen?

"How often do you come here?"

" vra Anja terwyl sy 'n bottel ystee uithaal.

Anja asked as she pulled out a bottle of iced tea.

"Baie gereeld," lieg Jaco skaars hoorbaar.

"Very often," Jaco barely lied audibly.

Hy wou nie snaaks klink nie, al was Kirstenbosch nie sy gewone plek nie.

He didn't want to sound funny, even though Kirstenbosch wasn't his usual place.

Hy wou net hê die dag moes perfek wees.

He just wanted the day to be perfect.

Skielik, terwyl hulle sit en lag oor 'n storie, vlieg 'n bye deur die blomme en steek Jaco op die arm.

Suddenly, while they were sitting and laughing about a story, a bee flew through the flowers and stung Jaco on the arm.

Daar was 'n oomblik van stilte voordat hy die skerp pyn gevoel het.

There was a moment of silence before he felt the sharp pain.

Hy het ongemerk probeer bly, maar 'n warm gloed het vinnig oor sy vel versprei.

He tried to remain unnoticed, but a warm glow quickly spread across his skin.

"Is jy reg?

"Are you okay?"

" vra Anja, haar stem vol bekommernis.

Anja asked, her voice full of concern.

Sy het die klein rooi merk op sy arm gesien.

She had seen the small red mark on his arm.

"Dis niks," sê Jaco vinnig, 'n bietjie te hard.

"It's nothing," Jaco said quickly, a bit too loudly.

Hy kon die druk voel om nie 'n toneel te maak nie.

He could feel the pressure not to make a scene.

Maar die jeuk het erger geword en hy kon die suur smaak van paniek in sy keel proe.

But the itch got worse, and he could taste the sour tang of panic in his throat.

"Jaco, jy lyk nie goed nie," sê Anja ferm.

"Jaco, you don't look well," Anja said firmly.

Die rooi uitslag het oor sy nek begin beweeg.

The red rash had started to spread across his neck.

Jaco het gevoel hoe sy kop begin draai.

Jaco felt his head begin to spin.

Hierdie is nie goed nie.

This was not good.

"'n Allergiese reaksie," fluister hy, uiteindelik sy trots prysgegee.

"An allergic reaction," he whispered, finally giving up his pride.

"Ek.

"I...

ek het dalk hulp nodig.

I might need help."

"Anja het vinnig opgetree.

Anja acted quickly.

In haar sak het sy 'n antihistamien pilletjie gehad vir noodgevalle.

In her bag, she had an antihistamine pill for emergencies.

Sy het vinnig geweet wat om te doen, en binne 'n paar minute het die verwarring in Jaco se kop begin opklaar.

She quickly knew what to do, and within a few minutes, the confusion in Jaco's head began to clear.

"Dankie," sê hy, sy stem stadig maar sterker.

"Thank you," he said, his voice slow but stronger.

Die skaamte het nog in sy gedagtes bly hang, maar die groter deel van hom was vol dankbaarheid.

The embarrassment still lingered in his thoughts, but the larger part of him was filled with gratitude.

"Dis niks," glimlag sy.

"It's nothing," she smiled.

Haar oë was sagter, meer verstaanbaar.

Her eyes were softer, more understanding.

"Ek weet hoe belangrik dit is om iemand te hê wat omgee.

"I know how important it is to have someone who cares."

"Hulle het in stilte gesit, maar dit was 'n gemaklike stilte, een vol begrip en nuwe gevoelens.

They sat in silence, but it was a comfortable silence, one full of understanding and new feelings.

Jaco het gevoel hoe die vrees van sy verlede se skaamte vervaag.

Jaco felt the fear from his past embarrassment fade away.

Hy was hier, nou, en Anja was langs hom, 'n bondgenoot eerder as 'n oordeelveller.

He was here, now, and Anja was beside him, an ally rather than a judge.

Die son het begin sak oor die Tuine, en met die laaste strale het hulle saam opgestaan, die kombers gevou en die mandjie ingepak.

The sun began to set over the Gardens, and with the last rays, they stood up together, folded the blanket, and packed the basket.

Terwyl hulle stadiger hand aan hand beweeg het, was daar 'n gevoel van iets nuuts en waardevol wat blom, net soos die pragtige blomme om hulle.

As they moved slowly hand in hand, there was a sense of something new and valuable blooming, just like the beautiful flowers around them.