Is It Really Love?

PHILIPPA

I was tired. I'd had a rough day. I'd gotten my last week's test's results and man, I should have done better. All the work was really taking its toll on my mental health. The only thing that got me through the days was waiting for the evenings when I'd go down and play. Adrian's other friends - Brian and Philip had also talked to me. Those guys were huge, especially Brian, who had to have been at least 6 feet 5 inches or so tall. Philip had this insane muscle strength, because of which the ball often went beyond the ring. He also had a lot of tattoos and a few piercings on his ears that made him look intimidating, when he really was a softie. All of them were.

Today, though, I couldn't go down to play.

"Pippa. My friend Judy is coming over today. You won't be able to go down after seven. If you wanna play, better go now." My mom had said.

After the day I'd had, I really didn't want to play, but I did want to see Adrian. I knew he was at the gym at that time, but still took my chances and texted him. I told him about the situation and let him know that I was walking around the society and if he was free, he could join me.

A few minutes later I found myself texting my sister while leaning against a car. People were walking by me and it was peaceful until I tensed as I realised that someone had walked too close to me. I looked up from my phone and my eyes found a familiar pair of dark brown eyes that twinkled as I took a startled step back.

"You scared me." I said.

"Well, it's just me. Relax. I thought we were gonna walk?" Adrian asked.

"Yeah sure." We started walking together.

"I thought you were in the gym." I stated.

"I was. I finished my workout early." He replied.

'For me?' I wondered as my heart warmed.

Suddenly something near my head caught his attention and something flickered in his eyes.

"You have a piercing on the top of your ear." He stated, rather than asked.

My hand consciously reached to touch the small diamond hoop that went through my helix piercing.

I nodded. "Yes, it's a helix. I got it done last year. Sixteenth October."

"No fucking way. My birthday falls on the exact date. I swear." He said incredulously.

My jaw dropped. Well... That's something.

"Wow. That's... pretty cool." I said.

"It is. So, what are your hobbies?" He questioned.

I paused before replying, not because I needed to think, but because I just couldn't stop staring at him. He had the most beautiful eyes, kissable lips, sharp features and a mouth watering body. Apart from his looks, he also had a charming personality that was like a magnet to my iron heart.

"I love painting, or basically anything related to art, and swimming and reading books."

"That was easy to guess. Tell me something I couldn't have guessed." He said

I thought for a second. "I used to do modelling before covid hit."

It was his turn to drop his jaw.

"Modelling? Really? Woah. You really are full of surprises. Why don't you do it anymore?" He asked.

"I don't have the time anymore. Honestly, just getting through my day one at a time is an achievement for me." I said with a sad smile.

He nodded and looked at me with something in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. Was that understanding or something else?

"What are your hobbies though?" I inquired.

"Well, I like going to the gym, playing badminton and drawing."

My eyes blew wide. "Drawing? Really? You really don't seem like the type. Guess we do have something in common."

He chuckled at my answer, and we fell into a comfortable conversation.

A while later I had to leave and we shook hands. A jolt went up my arm as our palms touched. His hands were a burning hot in comparison to mine that were freezing cold. A beat later I pulled away. Any sort of physical touch with him seemed like a dangerous thing. That was the thought on my mind as I walked back to my house.

You will meet many people in your life. Some will choose to stay for a long time, while the others are just passing by. Some create a dent in your mind, while the others poke your heart. Some will puncture your lungs, while the others will take away a piece of you. We can't decide who stays or who leaves, but we can always become the ones that people wish would stay in their lives.