Chained by the old love

Lorelei Larissa's P.O.V. I am playing now in the playground here in our village. I was swinging myself when it suddenly stopped. I look at the kid who made that. I saw a cute girl with pigtails. She smiled at me, showing her teeth. Then waved at me like we were super close. “Hi. I’m Sophie,” she said. I got down from the swing and faced her. I smiled too. She looks friendly and I think we can be friends. “Hello. I’m Lorelei,” I said. After that introduction, we played together. Then, from that on, we became close friends. And it is so funny because I didn’t know that she was my neighbor. Every day, we always play. I enjoy her company so much. Same for her and me too. A certain day came, she invited me to their house. I gladly do that. I really want to see what’s inside their house. And I like to play with her there. “My parents are not here. They are at work,” she informed me and pulled me inside. I roam my eyes around their house. It’s big and so fabulous. I like the design of it. “Ahm… do you want to have a snack first or play already?” she asked. She even pointed at their kitchen. I was about to say that we should play already, but my tummy growls. We both laugh because of that. Argh! That was so embarrassing. Thankfully, she is my close friend. Or else I will be really doomed. A woman attended us, she served a snack and smiled. She looks so kind, she even told me that I am beautiful. It makes me feel good towards her. We were busy eating cupcakes when someone entered the dining room. Seems like time has stopped. I cannot help but to make a gasp. He is so handsome! Though I’m still young, I know that I felt a spark when our eyes met. I feel like I am on cloud nine. He looks snobby tho. “Brother!” Sophie called to him. He walked towards our position. As he walked, the wind was blowing in his face. It looks like he is a model walking on a rampage. My eyes shine when he stands up near me. Oh gosh. He is so fragrant! I can smell him all day long. He looks at his sister, then to me. “Who is she?” he asked. I am finding words and want to tell him my name, but my mouth doesn’t want to cooperate. I can’t mutter a word. “She is my best friend. We always play in the playground. Her name is Lorelei,” Sophie answered. I offered my hand to him. “Hi,” then I said. He accepts my hand. And, okay, chill, self. His hand is so soft. Can I just hold it forever? “Joziah,” he simply said. Then he smiled at me. That made my world stop. “Lorelei,” Sophie called. “Are you okay?” she asked. I shook my head as an answer while still staring at Joziah. He makes my heart beat faster. Yeah, I’m young, but I’m not naïve. I know that my adoration for him will last long. Joziah attended me. “What are you feeling now? Why are you not okay?” he asked worriedly. I used my free hand to pat my chest. “It’s about to burst. You made me feel like that,” I said without hesitation. Both of them stop on the track. Joziah stared straight at my soul. Then, after that, I saw a hint of a smirk on his lips. Then afterward, every day, I tended to look at him. I can’t help but to smile whenever he goes with us to the playground. He cared for us. Even when I get a wound, he treats it. He comforted me so that I would not cry when he put an antiseptic on it, which is painful. Until I reached my teenage year, we were so close to each other. “Can we see each other tomorrow?” he asked me. “Huh? Are we gonna play again? But you said that you hate playing now because you are a big boy already,” I said. “Yes, I am. Just if. I just want to tell you something tomorrow. It is important.” “Just the two of us? How about Sophie?” I asked. “She’ll be busy at her singing lesson tomorrow. She can’t come with us.” I nodded my head. “Alright. Just text me where we’ll meet.” Tomorrow came, and I can’t help but to be excited. What will he say to me? Well, the important thing is, I’ll have a solo time with him. What I always wanted. I wear my color pink tutu dress and some clips for my hair to look prettier. He says that we’ll meet at the playground. That’s why I get a little disappointed, thinking that we’ll just only play there. I even wear pretty dress, ugh. I was busy swinging myself here at the park when suddenly it stopped. And someone cover my eyes from my back with one hand. It’s big, so there’s no doubt he can cover my eyes with only one hand. With the smell, I know who he is. “Joziah,” I happily said. I heard him chuckling. Then he removed his hand from my eyes. When I faced him, my mouth gaped. In his left hand, he is holding a bouquet of flowers. “Wow,” I said, being amazed at how beautiful the flowers are. He smiled sweetly at me, then gave me the flower. “This is for you,” he said, which made my heart pump so fast. “Why are you giving me flowers?” I asked, being curious about the real reason. He scratched his nape and shyly looked at me. “I want to court you. I want to be your boyfriend.” My jaw dropped because of that. I feel like my ears are just fooling me. I didn’t prolong the time, I answered if after a month. I can see his effort and I know that his feeling for me is real. He didn’t fail to make me feel that every day. But then, I thought we would be happy next to each other. “We need to live in Germany now. We will handle the business there,” my mom explained. At first, I couldn't accept it. That’s why I run away. Joziah followed me to the park and comforted me. “I don’t want to leave. How about our relationship then? My study here?” I ranted. He made me lean on his chest and caressed my hair. “You can continue your studies there. And about our relationship, we can have a long-distance relationship.” “Don’t you want me here?” “I want to, but we cannot do anything about it. Your parents, of course, will not leave you here alone. And it is for your future too, it has a big impact on your life.” I stop and then stare at nowhere. He has a point. I just stayed there with him while he still comforts me. Fortunately, I have a boyfriend like him. I am so lucky to be his girlfriend. Then the time of our departure came. His family is with him. They sent us here to the airport. Our family really bonded well and has a close tie. I hugged him. “Don’t find another girl here, Joz. You are only mine, okay?” I spoke. He chuckled. “Yes, Baby. I am yours, so you are. If any boy approaches you there, ignore them. Okay?” I waved at him with a smile, never thought that when I came back here to the Philippines, there would be a pain in my heart. I never thought that the lucky girl I am saying, which is me, would cry a river of tears. Never expected that the man who I love so much would cause pain to me and would break my heart into pieces.