What is Love?

Chapter 3: Love is More Than a Feeling

I woke up from a good sleep, ready to go to class and drink plenty of iced tea. Yeah, I know I'm weird. But iced tea's really good.

Sitting through hours of lectures, I finally got to my sociology class. Professor Lambert made sure that we were aware of the due date for the thesis. We still had a little over a month. I wasn't worried.

"I'm excited to read your thesis, Jason." He told me before I left. "I still remember your thesis at the beginning of the year. You have a brilliant mind."

"Thank you, Professor. Lambert. Have a good day."

"You too."

Drinking some cool iced tea, I walked confidently to the dining hall. I surveyed the room looking for unoccupied individuals to interview. My eyes spotted a woman reading a black-cover book.

"Hey, could I possibly interview you?"

She looked around, surprised. Then she pointed at herself. "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Uh. What's it about?"

"The question is: what is love?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I don't believe in love."

I was genuinely surprised to hear that.

"Why do you say that?"

"To answer your interview question, love is a bunch of unbalanced chemicals in the brain that make you hallucinate. There's no such thing as love, it's a made-up concept for control. Love isn't real, just like God."

This was going to be a very interesting interview. I took the liberty of sitting across from her with my notebook and pen.

"Make sure to write everything I said. I'm only speaking the truth."

"I'm writing. Is this something you always felt or have you come to that thinking recently?"

"I used to believe the lie that love was real just like I used to believe in Santa Claus. But I grew up. I'm not a child anymore."

Despite her cocky exterior, I could see that heartbreak is the real reason behind her faulty reasoning on love.

"I take it you don't believe in God?"

"Nope. I'm a free independent thinker."

"I'm a free independent thinker and a researcher. So I need a valid reason for your opinion to record for my thesis."

"Alright." She rolled her eyes. "I found out love was a lie when my fiancé cheated on me."

"I'm very sorry."

"Obviously he didn't love me. Anyway, I need to read my book."

"Of course. Thank you for your time."

There's usually two reasons why someone might not believe in love. One: they never experienced care or affection. Two: they got their heart broken.

I truly did feel sorry for her. If only she knew that God's love far exceeded man's version.

++++++++

The twins is a nickname for Gabe and Drew because of how in sync they are. The twins were asleep when I got to their room even though they asked me to come. I didn't want to wake them up, but I felt awkward watching them snuggle up.

I wanted to quietly leave, but I was stopped by a sleepy Drew.

"Sorry, we fell asleep."

"That's fine. I could come back later."

"Yeah. Thanks Jay."

I silently left, making sure to close the door quietly. On my way outside, I saw a girl drinking from a bottle of Nestea. I was immediately compelled to interview her.

"What is love?"

"Why do you always have the most weirdest questions to ask Jason?" She shook her head with an amused smile on her face.

"I can't help it, Emily. I'm just a natural born inquirer."

She jokingly pushed my shoulder. Then she placed an index finger on her chin like she always did whenever she was in deep thought.

"Your question is very vague. 'What is Love?' You might as well ask 'What is life?' There's no definite definition of what love is, it's a very abstract idea to explore."

"I know." I spoke up before she went on a tangent. "Alright, when you think of love, what comes to your mind initially? Do you believe love to be a feeling or something more?"

"I'll write you an essay answering your question. But to be brief. I believe love to be more than a feeling, it's more than a fickle, exciting emotion that fades. Or it should be."

I inwardly thanked God that she'll be writing me her thoughts. Because Emily's an English major, she enjoys writing me letters answering my questions in detail.

"I'm sure you cringe whenever people answer your question and tell you that love is romantic with kisses and hugs. Huh?" She chuckled at my face that was scrunched in disgust.

"Tell me about it, girl. Makes me wanna puke." I acted like I was retching and she laughed.

"Love is definitely more than kisses and having sex. Think about the betrayal kiss given by Judas Iscariot. In fact you can sleep with someone you don't love and be in a romantic relationship devoid of love."

"Good point. Though honestly, I don't get why anyone would choose to sleep with a stranger. Most people don't usually give their bank information to a stranger, yet they're willing to give their bodies recklessly." I said.

"Facts. People are fools, I guess. Misplaced priorities."

"Yep."

We said our goodbyes before we each went our separate way. Emily was fun to talk to; she thinks deeply.

Back in my room, I added more to my thesis paper. I want people to read it and have their eyes open to the truth of love.