The rain continued to pour down in sheets, drenching everything in its path, while Alex sat in his car, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he watched the relentless downpour. He concluded that Emily would not allow him to give her a lift back to the hotel unless he forced her in, which was only possible if he left the car. But how could he, without an umbrella? He could not risk leaving the safety of the car; he had never been caught in the rain without cover before. As he pondered his next move, his eyes caught sight of her stumbling against a stray stone as she tumbled to the ground. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached for his jacket hanging on the passenger's seat, where she had been just minutes ago, and flung open the door, dashing out into the storm. His mind raced with conflicting emotions. Was it guilt that propelled him into the rain, knowing he had indirectly caused her fall? Or was it a feeling he ha
Emily sat upright, her attention drawn by the urgency in Alex's voice that pierced the air. Her eyes locked into his. "Emily," Alex began, his voice wavering slightly. "There is something I need to tell you." His hands fidgeted nervously in his lap, betraying the composure he was trying to maintain. Her heart skipped a beat, every fibre of her being attuned to the words she sensed were about to spill forth as a whirlwind of emotions, hope, and apprehension swirled within her. Could it be? Was he about to confess the same feelings she had been harbouring for him? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, one that had nothing to do with the icy coldness still clinging to her skin. The anticipation mounted, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for him to continue. "What is it, Alex?" She asked, her impatience evident in her tone. He hesitated, his gaze flickering away for a moment before
The shrill ring of alarm from Emily's phone sliced through the morning, clinging to Alex's sleep.He mumbled a blurry curse, his hand instinctively reaching out to silence it. But before his fingers reached it, a warm weight landed on his arm, effectively pinning it down. Blinking blearily, he focused on the mop of messy hair nestled against his bicep. It was Emily, still deeply asleep, her body unconsciously gravitating towards his warmth,the corner of her mouth twitching upward.A low chuckle escaped his lips as he remembered the awkwardness and memorable moments of the previous night. Two strangers—well, not entirely strangers anymore—sleeping on the same bed, backs turned against each other like shipwrecked survivors clinging to a deserted island.As he carefully peeled her hand off his arm, preparing to tiptoe out and give her some space, she mumbled something unintelligible into the pillow. Momentarily stunned, his breath hitching, he unconsciously brushed past the soft cur
The sight before Alex, as he shoved Henry's door open, brought a screech to a halt.Henry was not perched on his sofa.Instead, he sprawled on the threadbare rug, his limbs sprawling like rag dolls. His usually neatly combed brown hair stuck out in wild tufts, and his shirt hung askew.A half-empty bottle of alcohol lay precariously close to his outstretched hand.The other hand, worryingly still, rested limply on the armrest of the sofa.A cold dread slithered down Alex's spine. Henry, the ever-optimistic, shoulder-it-alone kind of guy, reduced to this? It was a sight that defied logic.Memories flickered in Alex's mind—of a younger Henry, always with a smile plastered on his face, a smile that never quite reached his eyes.Back then, when they were both just kids, his future was a looming question mark, but he never faltered or let on about the battles he fought.He did believe that making people aware of the battles he was fighting would make them perceive him as weak and a call fo
Alex drove home, his mind full of thoughts after he and Henry had left each other after they had hung out and had a body massage, as Alex had suggested to help him relax from his worries.He knew his suggestion would only work for some hours, sure that Henry would go back to being sober because the breakup was too sudden and unexpected."But how can one just decide to cut ties with their partner in just those few hours when the heart doesn't fluctuate like a swing?" He wondered."It is why I never believed in the concept called 'love.' Thinking that he was trying to make me believe in it is so funny." He chuckled, mocking him even though he knew he shouldn't be doing it.The moment when Henry was crying like a baby flashed in his mind, prompting him to burst into laughter as he hit the steering wheel repeatedly while driving. "If not because he had been there during my emotional downcast days, I would have mocked him." He muttered, his voice tinged with pity."I can't even picture my
A belief persisted that one could never truly cheat a heart enslaved by the intoxicating depths of love—at least not until that heart had foundered upon its soulmate's shores. That was the case of Alex.Alex's heart pounded relentlessly in his chest, the rhythmic thumping both persistent and painful.Despite being seated across from Isabella with his parents as they ate at their dining room table—their voices and clinks of cutlery fading into sonic wallpaper—his mind had drifted far away, craving the soothing presence of Emily. His heart still wandered aimlessly, unstable, and untethered, even though his feelings for Emily remained unconfessed and unacknowledged to her.Contrary to their initial plan and agreement, Alex and Isabella couldn't visit over the weekend. The change occurred because Alex's father had to travel out of state. As a result, they made the visit on Thursday instead.It had been three interminable days since he had last seen and talked to Emily, committing her sm
Dropping Isabella at the entrance of their house, Alex drove to Emily's house, calling her number, but it was not reachable."What could be wrong?" He wondered.Indecisive about where she could be at the moment between her school and her house, he decided to drive to her school.In the school parking lot, students bustled about, some chatting with friends while others hurriedly made their way to class. A group of students congregated near a car, laughing and sharing stories, while others lingered around.As he drove through the parking lot, his heart raced with anticipation. Despite the bustling scene, his focus was singular: finding Emily. He knew the risks of drawing attention to himself and her, but that was what he needed to see her if she was in the school.As he walked amidst the crowd, a lady's gaze locked onto him, her eyes widening in recognition or suspicion—it was impossible to tell. Time seemed to slow as their eyes met, and he braced himself for what would come next.
"What?!" Emily blinked her eyes in disbelief."Why is he asking all of a sudden?" She wondered."Do you believe in love...or perhaps have you ever believed in love before?" Alex suddenly packed the car as she kept on wondering why he was asking her."Why did you stop the car?" She was thrown into confusion by his strange actions."I had to since you told me to concentrate on the road. This is a serious conversation that requires full concentration." He explained."So?" He nudged his head."Hm?" Her eyes widened."The question. Why are you reluctant to answer?" He chuckled."It's because I don't know what to say." She curled her lips, her face wrinkled slightly."Why is it difficult for you to answer?" He curiously asked her."Because I've never thought about it before. But!" Their eyes locked with each other."I do believe in it, but it's just really hard to find someone who would love one genuinely."When he asked her what she meant by that, she clarified that most relationships and