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9 - Beauty of One-sided Love

Unrequited love or one-sided love both are different but can be emotionally intense and often painful experiences where one person harbors a deep affection for another who does not reciprocate those feelings or doesn't have an idea that they have to. This form of love can manifest in various ways, ranging from silent admiration to overt declarations of affection, yet it remains unreturned. 

The person experiencing one-sided love often oscillates between hope and despair, clinging to the possibility of mutual affection while grappling with the stark reality of its absence. However, unrequited love is different it starts with one person and ends with the same. The chances of one-sided love being responded to are higher than the unrequited love. But both are special in their own way and carve their own path to their destiny. 

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Bright just watched Win, painting sitting in front of him in his studio as Win was preparing for his next exhibition batch. He sat in front of Win placing his hands on the back of the chair with his chin on the back of his hand lost in thoughts. Why him? Bright still didn't believe, not Win but himself. No matter how much his heart tried to make him believe that Win actually loved him, his brain started twisting words making him confused again. They were back from the hospital and the image of Ben hurting him and then the white shirt turning red in the hospital was still haunting him. It was clear that he was getting targeted and he didn't know if being with Win was worth it or not, was he worth being with Win.

Ben's suicide news didn't help Bright's thoughts either way. He planned to ask Ben someday why didn't he like Bright. What did Bright do so wrong to him that he always... However, not that Ben was gone forever, there was no way to know. 

"Was it love at first sight for you?" asked Bright trying to start a conversation in the hope that maybe his mind would stop haunting him if Win gave him answers, at least some answers. 

Win stops his paintbrush in the air and looks at Bright tilting his head. He knows even though he had kept his feelings open in front of the actor. The actor has not responded yet and he wasn't even going to force him for that. His intention of confessing was to just let Bright know that he doesn't have to look around the world for someone, Win was right here in front of him with his arms open for him. 

"There is no such thing as first love," said Win, while continuing his painting. "The first time I saw you. It wasn't love at first sight. But after a while when time passed by, I started to notice you, of course not physically, but started to watch your pictures, little things, like your personality, your voice, well, the screen doesn't do much of justice anyway," said Wi and chuckles shaking his head with a smile and Bright cracks a smile at that too, "your hair, your eyes, your humor in your interviews. Every little detail, slowly but surely showed me, you were exactly what I needed in my life. It took me a while to realize that I was falling in love with you, and you turned out to be everything I wished for," 

"When did you realize that?" asked Bright curiously to know more. it felt good to hear that someone was falling in love with him without him being around. It felt surreal. Win smiled at him and concentrated on his painting before answering him.

"It was on Christmas..." said Win trailing his sentence and chuckling at the thought. "Now when I think of it, Christmas has been really been a very important event in my life," said Win going years back in his memory when his family found him on Christmas also it was Christmas when he realized his love for Bright for the first time, that he has fallen deep.

Years Back (Don't ask how many years, I don't want to dwell on the time frame, as it confuses sometimes,)

Feeling lonely even when you are with someone can be emotionally draining. Sometimes being alone can be better for personal growth and well-being than being in a relationship that doesn't fulfill your emotional needs. It's important to prioritize your happiness and emotional health, whether that means being alone or seeking a more fulfilling connection with others.