Love me. Choose me.

{1} Love me

I'm a hopeless romantic-you can call it anything that comes first to your mind. Obsession, infatuation, daydreaming, or even sentimental foolishness.

One unique thing about being a hopeless romantic is that you don't give up. No matter what life throws at you; you keep believing that someday true love will conquer all.

I grew up watching classic romantic movies, k-dramas, and Disney fairytales and I believed in soulmates, love at first sight, and happy ever afters. That's what the movies told us. It had to happen as long as we believed.

                       🌺

I took a sip of the smoothie on the table, scanning my playlist for a sentimental song. The creaking door pulled my attention away from my phone, and I looked up just in time to see three guys as they walked in. They made their way to the counter, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

There was something captivating about the one in the middle, something I couldn’t quite place. His eyes were enchanting, almost as if they were calling out to me, inviting me to join them.

“Noelle, are you alright?” A familiar voice broke through my thoughts. “Noelle.”

I jolted and turned to see my BFF, Shane, sitting across from me.

“Your mind seems to be somewhere else.” He narrowed his eyes at me before glancing at the guys sitting in a nearby booth. “Let me guess: you’re staring at that guy over there because he has sparkling eyes and you like him.”

“Not really,” I replied, waving away the thought and focusing on the brown-skinned guy sitting across from me.

Shane had been my best friend for years. We grew up together and went to the same school. He was the only person I knew who could read my thoughts with such ease.

“So what’s up with you?” Shane asked, reaching over to grab my smoothie cup.

“I think I might like that guy,” I whispered, casting another glance in his direction.

“Which one of them?” Shane asked, his interest piqued as he sipped my smoothie. His gaze followed mine, then he grimaced. “No way.”

Shocked by his reaction, I stared at him. “You don’t think he’s cute enough?” I looked at him eagerly, like a kid awaiting candy. He slumped back in his seat, opening his mouth to respond.

“You can’t…” He paused, placing a hand on his stomach. “I need to use the restroom.” He stood up and hurried off.

I plugged in my headset and selected the first song on my playlist: "Hotter Than Hell" by Dua Lipa. Signaling the waitress for another smoothie, I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the rhythm when someone plopped down in the empty seat across from me. I pulled my headset down to my shoulders.

He set a smoothie cup gently on the table and flashed a bright smile my way. I nearly fainted; an icy chill ran down my spine as I blinked, ensuring I wasn't imagining it. My immediate crush was sitting right across from me, his blue eyes flecked with gray. His face looked even more striking than when he walked in with his friends.

“Hey, Noelle.” He ran his fingers through his tousled hair. “This is the smoothie you ordered.”

For a moment, I was taken aback, trying to find my voice. “Thanks. How did you know my name?” My response came out smoother than I intended.

He smirked, flashing another breathtaking smile. “I heard your friend call you that.”

That meant he must have noticed me staring.

As if he could read my thoughts, he continued, “I’ve been keeping an eye on you since I walked in with my friends. I’m Trent, a senior.”

“Nice to meet you, Trent,” I mumbled, managing a shy smile.

“If I’m correct, you’re new here,” he said, still smiling.

I fought off the flurry of emotions—flushed cheeks, racing heart, and butterflies in my stomach—by pinching my hands discreetly under the table.

“Yes.”

“You’re welcome, Noelle. Braden University is the best; I can assure you of that. If you’re not busy tomorrow, I’d love to hang out and show you around.”

“Thanks, but…” I intended to decline, but my infatuation got the better of me. “Okay, that sounds nice.”

“Can I have your number?” he asked, pulling out his phone.

I typed in my number and slid the phone back to him. “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful.”

As he walked back to his friends, the weight of my emotions crashed down on me—racing heartbeats, flushed cheeks, and fluttering butterflies.

I grabbed my smoothie and took a sip, feeling happy. Shane returned from the restroom, looking pale. He rubbed his stomach, wincing slightly. “My bad. I ate too many burritos this morning, and now I have a stomach ache.”

“Sorry, I can drop you off at your dorm. You look like the walking dead right now.” I laughed.

Shane studied me for a moment before glancing toward Trent. “Don’t tell me he came over here?”

“He did,” I said, beaming with excitement. “He’s so nice. I love his voice and…”

“Come on, girl,” Shane interjected, disappointment clear in his tone. “You can fall for anyone, even a douchebag. But a guy like Trent? No.”

My jaw dropped. “A douchebag? What’s wrong with you, Shane?”

He rolled his eyes and leaned closer. “This isn’t Cinderella get the prince charming. This is the big bad wolf situation.”

I laughed. “You mean, Trent is bad?”

“It’s not funny,” he retorted. “Have you heard about his history? He’s a playboy, a notorious one. He’ll not just break your heart; he’ll smash it—like throwing a watermelon from a skyscraper.”

I glanced over at Trent; he didn’t seem to fit Shane’s description. He wore a sweet smile as he chatted with his friends. Still, as if sensing my gaze, he looked over and winked at me.

“You can’t judge someone based on rumors,” I said firmly. “They aren’t always right.”

“Okay, okay,” Shane conceded. “Can we go now? I think I’m about to…”

I waggled a finger at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

Questions: Do you think it's right to judge someone based on what you heard about them?

Author's note

I hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter of this story. I'm testing the water with this one since I've always had it in mind to write something about my obsession. Please leave your vote and comment below. I promise to reply in due time.