This is how you fall in love

This is how you fall in love

♡

This love won't last.

This love will just hurt me.

This love will make me weak.

There were lots of pains and tears in the past. It scares me knowing that love can cover your sunny sky in the depths of its storm. The people that surrounded me unknowingly brought the reality of love to me.

Four letters, one word. LOVE. It sounds so endearing. You can feel its warmth. Little do you know that it can bring you to its grotesque blaze. It's like a sun orbiting your world and will eventually become enormous. The sun will merely explode and burn through each one of your feelings.

"Regan? Hello? Earth to Regan!"

I averted my gaze and let out a heavy sigh. "The flowers across the street look beautiful."

Out of the corner of my eye I can see Allure rolling her eyes at me. She knows what I'm thinking. She wants me to say it, as if that will happen.

"Do you wanna buy it or something? And if yes, para saan naman?" She said — looking at the old lady selling flowers.

I grabbed my coffee and tapped her shoulders. "I'll go ahead first."

She groaned and loudly stood up from her seat. "Why would you even ask me to grab a cup of coffee kung wala ka din namang ihahain na chismis?! I'm coming with you, valak!"

I could hear her muttering behind me, but I didn't mind.

"Can I have the white roses? Oh, and please cover it with a purple wrapper." I sighed when Allure still didn't stop talking. "I met a girl."

She stopped, brows furrowed, and unbelievably looked at me. "You must be joking. Right? You've never been fond of anyone. I'm an exception, but seriously?"

I smirked, "Why do you appear so surprised? I'm not too unattractive to never run into a girl."

"No, it's not that... Never mind, tell me everything about her. Like, EVERYTHING."

Not that? Then what?

Despite being confused by the intensity I could see in her eyes; I told her what I had seen about the girl I had met a week earlier.

"You obviously like her because if you didn't, you wouldn't be so hung up on her." She said.

"I don't know. Maybe it's because she's pretty?"

She scoffed, "Oh, come on! Ako pa talaga niloloko mo? We've been inseparable since we were kids. I know you better than you know yourself."

"I just met her last week. What you're saying is impossible." I denied.

She grasped both of my shoulders and looked me in the eye, saying, "As cliche as this may sound, but when it comes to feelings and love, there is no such thing as impossible Regan. It's scary, I know, but you can make your own choices now, and one of those is to choose a different path of love that won't end up like them. Just because the love you witnessed is not as great as what others defined doesn't mean that you won't do anything to try it."

Allure only left when she was satisfied with my story. I went to a place where beauty never fades, a park. I first met her here, and I've never forgotten it. Funny how I was astonished by her beauty and never forgot about it when I only met her last week.

My eyes glistened when I saw her looking cold. I acted like I was checking something on my phone. Someone sat beside me and giggled, "Hi. I was hoping to see you here."

I looked at her and felt something weird in my stomach. Maybe it's the coffee? "Hey, glad to see you again. Why were you hoping to see me?"

"I wanted to return this." She handed me a paper bag. My scarf and a package of heat pads were inside when I opened them. "Thank you for lending it to me. I never expected it'll be this cold."

I gave her the paper bag and smiled, "You can have it. Consider it as a gift."

"At least accept the heat pads. Please?" The sincerity in her eyes awed me. I accepted it. "For someone?" She asked, looking at the flowers between us.

I shook my head. "Nah. I just bought it for no reason. Do you like it? You can have it."

"Really?" I nodded. Her smile reached her eyes and touched the flowers. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

There was a moment of silence. I don't know how to open a topic that will turn into a long conversation for the both of us. We just stared at the kids playing and laughing.

"We —"

"How —"

She let out another giggle as we both talked at the same time. I just stared at her and smiled. "Ladies first."

"Hmm, I just wanted to know how long have you been here in Japan?" She asked.

"A month." She nodded.

"Your turn. You were going to say something."

"We really haven't introduced ourselves properly yet." I gave out my hand. "I'm Regan Ofuerte."

"I'm Clytie Mirez." We shook our hands and she smiled. A smile that reached her eyes. "You're only here for vacation?" I nodded. "Me too. This still feels like a dream. I mean, this place just looks so beautiful even if I just got here a week ago."

"Yeah, Japan really hits different from any other countries." I stood up and offered her my hand. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to some finest food around here." My heart pounded so fast when her hand landed on mine.

I toured her around the streets of Tokyo. She had different reactions tasting all the food. We also went to some shops and just like any other tourists, Cly bought a lot of things. I visited Japan a lot of times now, but it was never this fun.

"Look at your face!" She laughed so hard when we got out the photo booth. "You look cute as cat, Regan."

"I'm a dog person. I'll look cuter as a dog." I muttered.

"Look!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the person strumming his guitar. When the man started singing, she squealed, catching a few people's attention. When it went to the chorus, she started singing along. "But now that I'm not scared, This is how you fall in love."

I looked at her singing along. Her eyes sparkled so much in the night, she's happy.

My parents showed me a kind of love that only caused pain and havoc. So, growing up with all those constant fights made me realize that maybe that's what really love is. I focused on myself more and didn't entertain the idea of being with someone... because it scared me.

Allure's words echoed inside my head. I hate that she's always right and despite of being such a pain in the ass, her words always make sense.

I can choose a love that will stay, and although I cannot choose a love that won't hurt, I know that I can choose a love that will make me strong.

Cly gasped when colorful fireworks sparked in the night sky holding the flowers and pictures tight. "Wow, Japan is just so beautiful."

As the last firework sparked, that's when I realized.

Damn.

This is how you fall in love.

-
♡. sonderain

song: This is how you fall in love by Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler