14/02/2024
๐ป๐ธ๐๐ด๐๐ฐ๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ฟ
By: Irish Valenzuela
As I grew up, love was a concept tainted by the painful memories of my parents' infidelity. The betrayals I witnessed etched scars on my heart, turning love into a bitter taste that lingered in the air. The very idea of love stunk, a foul odor that permeated my thoughts.
"Why do people say love makes the world a better place?" I often questioned, my gaze fixed on the shattered remnants of my once-beloved family. Love, as I saw it, wasn't a force for good; instead, it was a destructive storm, tearing through the foundations of trust and happiness.
Haunted by this disillusionment, my teenage years became a rebellion against the conventional notions of love. I sought refuge in the temporary highs of hookups and uncommitted relationships, a carousel of changing faces almost every month. It was a deliberate choice, an escape from the suffocating chains of love that had strangled my family.
The path I walked was a lonely one, a journey of self-preservation where emotions were kept at arm's length. It was easier this way, avoiding the entanglement of deep emotions that could lead to heartbreak. The scars on my soul acted as a shield, protecting me from the vulnerability of trusting someone with my heart.
Yet, in the midst of this self-imposed exile from love, life had its own plans. Unexpectedly, you entered the scene.
I was busy playing with my phone outside a convenience store when you came - dressed in a soft pink shirt covered with denim jumpers. Your hands were busy fiddling with the shoulder straps of your backpack. With a saccharine smile, you ventured into the convenience store, leaving me captivated by the effortless grace you carried. I can't help but to stare at you buying chips and bottled drinks inside. Watching you is better than those blockbuster movies I've watched before.
Finally, you came out after almost thirty minutes of waiting. You saw me intently watching you. A hint of fear passed your gray orbs but you tried to let out a smile for me. Your smile, a bewitching spell, worked its way through the walls I had carefully constructed around my heart.
And as our eyes met, a spark ignited between us, bridging the gap between two worlds.
As the days passed, I found myself drawn to you, unable to resist the gravitational pull of your presence. One day, as we both lingered near the convenience store, I mustered the courage to strike up a conversation.
"Hey," I said, trying to sound casual despite the fluttering in my chest.
You turned to face me, your eyes holding a mixture of curiosity and a hint of the fear I had noticed before. "Hi," you replied, that enchanting smile playing on your lips again.
I took a deep breath, breaking free from the chains of my past. "I've been watching you for a while now," I confessed, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks.
Your eyebrows raised in surprise, but there was a glint of amusement in your eyes. "Stalker much?" you teased, a playful smirk dancing on your lips.
I chuckled nervously. "No, not really. It's just that your smile... it's like magic. It makes everything better."
You blushed, a soft hue spreading across your cheeks. "Well, thank you. I guess I didn't realize I had an audience."
We continued chatting, the conversation flowing effortlessly as if we had known each other for ages. Your laughter became the melody I craved, replacing the cacophony of my past. We shared stories โ mine, a tale of broken love and skepticism, and yours, a narrative woven with rainbows, butterflies, and genuine affection. As you spoke, I couldn't help but marvel at the resilience of your spirit, a stark contrast to the cynicism that had engulfed mine.
"I never thought I'd find someone who could make me question everything I believed," I confessed, my eyes locked with yours.
You smiled, a tender reassurance. "Love isn't about the storms; it's about finding someone who will stand with you amidst them."
As we stood there, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us. It was a moment suspended in time, where our hearts spoke a language that needed no words. One snap and my hatred for love was gone. The anti-love religion I built inside me crumbled into ashes right after seeing your smile.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป