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NOW PLAYING: sure thing— miguel
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
"This love is a sure thing."
MAY 2022
INDIA WATCHED ROME FROM A distance as he interacted with the middle-aged lady at the funnel cake stand. She failed to make out any words that were said, but she did notice the woman giggling about something and passing Rome two trays and some napkins. He turned and looked around the fairgrounds before spotting India at a nearby table and walking over. She had him running around the fair for nearly an hour taking photos and trying to win prizes before she decided she wanted to chill for a moment.
"She messed up and put chocolate drizzle instead of strawberry so she gave me the second one free." Rome said and he sat across from India. He slid the funnel cake fries with strawberry drizzle towards India and left the chocolate drizzled ones in the middle of the wooden picnic table.
India picked up one of the fries and tossed it into her mouth watching Rome for a few seconds before he finally tried one. She found him weird at times. From him not being a fan of amusement parks or fairs to him never trying funnel cake. It was weird to her but that never made her like him any less. She figured he liked the taste of the funnel cake because he continued to reach in the tray for more. Watching Rome try new foods and enjoying them acted as a form of enjoyment for India. She liked to think she was getting rid of his picky ways one food at a time.
"You're going to try new foods if you want to hang around me." India remembered her saying those words to Rome before they started dating. She stayed true to her word. She had Rome trying foods and restaurants he would never think of trying before knowing her... which happened to be a long list. She introduced him to something to eat besides fries and chicken tenders while he introduced her to what it felt like to be in a healthy relationship for more than a couple of weeks.
Their relationship would make India feel weird often. When you're used to toxicity, it takes time to unlearn the toxic ways you developed. Sometimes, she would be just as, if not more, toxic than her ex-boyfriends. Sitting at the picnic table surrounded by the usual noises that could be heard on fairgrounds, the answer to her question started to become clear. It wasn't that she knew her worth back then. She probably did, but thinking back on her previous actions, it dawned on India that she most likely, scratch that, she does have commitment issues.
She would be the first to admit that she had a habit of sabotaging her relationships. She could have probably found a decent man way before Rome but ghosted all the others when she felt like things were too good to be true. Dating Rome for this long was her way of trying to break her self-sabotaging ways.
India watched as Rome continued eating his funnel cake fries while looking around and occasionally saying something. He was a great boyfriend and his patience, understanding, and caring ways proved he would make an even better husband and father one day. Sure, his social skills could use some work, but India liked to think she talked enough for the both of them. Rome would have no problems in the social area as long as they stayed together, but would she be with him that long? Did she see herself starting a family and having a white picket fence? The thought of it was nice, but she could never see those things in her future at all. Not even with her boyfriend sitting right in front of her.
India looked away from Rome and in the direction of a photographer who had a backdrop set up to take pictures of people. The same photographer Rome said he wanted to go to before they left. She noticed a lot of couples flocking toward him and at that moment, India felt that weird feeling again and couldn't help but question herself even more.
Did she love Rome or did she love the idea of being loved by him? Was love only a feeling or did she care for him deeply? Was their love really a sure thing?
ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴇ.
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