When Love Prevails

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Miss, are you alright?"

I was back to myself when I saw a waving hand in front of me. My eyes widened. He was wearing a security guard uniform. Beside him was a nurse watching me closely. I looked around and found myself laying on the bed inside of a white room. It looks like a hospital. Wait, I'm here in the hospital?! My eyes rounded. I immediately arise but the nurse tried to stop me.

"How are you feeling, Miss?" A nurse asked me.

"W-What happened?" I barely felt dizzy from my sudden movement. So I did a massage between my forehead.

"I saw you passed out outside the mall. Luckily, there's someone brought you here at the clinic." The security guard explained.

"H-Huh?" I asked innocently, don't have any idea what just happened. Who's someone? 

"You lose your senses due to exhaustion. It was obvious in your eyes," she said as she gave me a glass of water.

I sighed deeply after recalling what happened. I looked at my wristwatch after drinking my water. But what exactly happened? I touched my face and felt the trace of tears on my cheeks. This petite nurse was right. Though I feel numb right now.

"I'm okay now, thank you for the help. I'm leaving," I was about to storm out of the clinic but the nurse called me.

"Will not you wait for the guy you're with? He says he will return,"

My brows narrowed then I shook my head. I don't know what she's talking about. Whoever it was, I'm not interested. I didn't ask anybody to help me. Who is it here for me? No one.

I ran out of the mall and were about to cry. So I brush my eyes that I don't have an idea I was about to bump someone.

"I'm sorry, Miss." I heard a man's baritone voice.

I looked up to him to saw his face. Even my eyes were blurry, I still have noticed his extensively handsome face. He probably is also a cheater like most of the boys. I would have to leave when he stopped me by holding my arm. His eyebrows were furrowed. Does he want my apologies? I guess so. Psh.

"I'm sorry," so I said.

"You're Shen, right?" He pursed his lips.

I gazed at him with awe evident in my face. "How did you know me?"

"I just know you," he simply answered. "By the way, I'm Love. Nice to meet you."

He extended his hand for a handshake. I was stunned. I gulped while my brows furrowed. This scene was somewhat familiar. It was like it happened already. Is this De ja vú? But there's something wrong.

"What? W-What's your name?" I asked as I scanned him.

My eyes dropped down to his hand that was waiting for a handshake but I did ignore it. He slowly pulled it back when he noticed I'm not gonna accept it.

"I'm Love. Why?" He put his hand in his pocket instead then he smiled.

"N-Nothing."

I looked down to never see his handsome face. I just think he's seducing me with those expressive eyes. Damn. I almost forgot I was crying but stopped when I heard the word "Love" because that's what all I need and it seems like God took it literally hub. A guy named Love is right in front of me. Just wow. Did God really listen to my prayers? Just now?

I wipe my drying tears on my cheeks as I left the guy named Love. I quickly walked away but I heard the footsteps of him coming to me.

"Hey, Shen! Wait!" He called.

I'm still curious, how did he know my name? I didn't know him at all. I just met him today. Who the hell is this man? It gives me chills when I felt his palm holding my arm trying to stop me from walking away. Before he could say a word, I fired him a question.

"How did you know my damn name?"

His thick eyebrows rose as if I had surprised him."So you're a name is Shen? Really?" His thick brows were furrowed now.

"What do you mean? You called me by my real name then you'd ask that?"

"Well, uh, it was just a guess. I didn't really know your name."

Wow. Just a guess? Lots of names he could think of, then is it really exact my name? That's hella impossible! Was he a stalker?

He cleared his throat. "No, actually, I remembered Shen Yue in a Chinese drama Meteor Garden. You look like her. So I called you that name." He pressed his pinkish lips together then looks at my whole face.

Seriously? Who the hell was that? "Whatever." I almost roll my eyes.

I was about to turn my back at him once again when he asked me a question.

"By the way, why are you crying?"

"None of your business," I answered coldly.

"Are you okay?"

"What do you care?" I rolled my eyes.

"I care. I hate seeing girls crying."

"I hate boys like you. A cheater, user and womanizer." I spat.

"I am not one of them, Miss. I'm very different from them. I have a unique way to love a girl and not hurt them. That's why my name is Love." His voice is now serious as he smirked.

I want to laugh at his explanation. But I no longer spoke. Boys like him should be avoided.

"So now, you want someone to talk to? Feel free to tell me."  He smiled again.

Will you stop smiling at me?! Oh my goodness. And I don't like that gaze too.

"No. I don't want to. I'm just leaving and don't follow me anymore. I don't talk to cheaters." I smirked.

He would have stopped me but I quickly turned around and walked rapidly. My chest throbbed fast for no apparent reason. What the hell. When I got away, I slowly calmed down. I was on the side of the road. Bend over to take a deep breath. It was late int the afternoon and it was about to get dark.

Little by little, I remembered what had happened throughout the day. In the end, I only have here myself. Me and my shadow at the glimpse of darkness

From this day on, I won't trust anyone.  I've learned. The people around me will suddenly disappear when I need them. I need someone to lean on. But I am only here.  I can only help myself.

Family.  Friends.  Boyfriend– ex-boyfriend rather.  Scratch them.  I will no longer ask them to love me. I badly need love but before I seek love from others I need to love myself first.  How could they love me if I couldn't even love myself, right? I've learned.

"Shen..."

I almost jumped in shock when Love suddenly appeared by my side. Argh. Love? Does he have no other name Second name perhaps?

"What the hell! I said stop following me! Why are you so here?"  I said frustratedly.

"Because I want to, " he mumbled ignoring my frustration.

I rolled my eyes and left him. Ignoring his presence.

"And you want to stroll alone? Look Miss, you're a girl, do you want to hang out with people hanging around the corner?"

I blinked when he still had the courage to tailing me. This importunate guy! What's with him?

"I'm not strolling! I just wanted to be alone–" I can't help to answer but he stopped me.

"It's not safe to be alone, you know."  He smirked.

"It's safe. I'd rather be alone than having a lot of people with me but that's not true. People around you will just give you pain so you better distance yourself from them."

He tilted his head.  "I don't get your point here, Shen–"

"You won't coz you're not in my shoes. If people continue hurting you, you will know the advantage of being alone. And in my case, I prefer to be alone than to have fake people around me."

He nodded. It was as if he was trying to understand what I was saying.  Well, he doesn't need to agree with me. That's my perspective now. I don't need approval from anyone else.

"Yes, yes, I understand Shen," he said.  "But I just want to tell you that I'm here–"

"Cut the bull crap. I'm tired of hearing that. You will eventually leave. At first, people will say "hi "then at the end of the day, they will bid their "goodbye" that's the life cycle. And I know you are just like them. " I said matter-of-factly.

I turned around. I'm just wasting my time here. I want to waste my time but not in explaining. I thought he would let me go but he still blocked my way.

"Believe me, I'm different."  He said seriously.

I closed my mouth at the seriousness of his face. No mixed teasing. I can't read his expression.  I sighed heavily.

"You have no proof. If you're going to stay, then stay. The important thing is, I can no longer hope and believe. Coz believe me, no one really stays."  I smiled sparingly at him.

He looked up and closed his eyes firmly.  It seems difficult for him to understand what I want to convey. He swallowed hard. I saw how his adam's apple moved.

"God. Who the hell gave you that kind of ... kind of mindset?"  He said softly while squeezing the senses.

"My experiences. Don't you dare blame my experiences because I myself even experienced extreme hardship and pain. I did not blame anyone, I just trusted the wrong people. I was also happy with what I experienced, I learned somehow." I shrugged.

Now tell me dude, you can't afford to stay with a person like me.

"Fine. But I want you to feel the love, I want you to be happy."

I smiled. But that smile did not seem to reach my eyes. Maybe because I'm too sad that even a smile can't reach my eyes? Cruel.

"If you're going to give me love then leave, coz no thanks. If you're going to give me happiness then you'll make me sad as well, no thanks. Just give it to others, those who were not scarred yet. Because believe me, you can't fool me, "

"I'll fix you," he bit his lips.

I smiled. He's really handsome. But dude, I don't want them anymore.

"I've learned my lessons, dude. I'll review it over and over so I won't forget and fail again in life,"

I passed him completely.  I thanked God because he did not stop me. But I gasped as he walked with me after a while. He didn't stop me, he just walked beside me. Nice.

"I couldn't say any word. Fine. I lost to you," he said shaking his head.

"This wasn't a competition with you dude, so basically there's no–"

I was stunned when his index finger touched my lips. I almost slipped because of his sudden approach.

"Shh. Enough, baby."  He pouted. He's so close.

"I'll just let the time prove what I'm saying. I'll prove you wrong."

I did not speak. I really don't want to argue anymore. This one was really annoying. I said I don't talk to cheaters but I think I told him too much.

I think we walked for about an hour on the side of the road, there were only a few cars passing by. I was thankful because he remained quiet by my side. Sometimes I notice him glancing at me as if reading what I have on my mind. Then suddenly let out a deep sigh and shake his head.

"Love," I called.

"Yes, love?"  He turned to face me quickly. I paused. Stunned by what I called and he said. His name sounds like an endearment!  Does he not have another nickname?

"What's your nickname?"  I crossed my arms and glanced at him.

"Only Love for you, nothing else."

I glared at him.  He smiled playfully.

"Why are you here with me?"  I blinked because he was also not sensible to talk to.

"Coz you're alone,"

"I mean, you're a stranger. I don't know you, you don't know me as well. So why were you still following me?"  I raised my right hand when he was about to answer.  "Could you please ... leave me alone? I want time for myself. Yes, I have problems but I can deal with it. Alone. And your presence here was not helping." I spat.

I saw his face softened.

"I don't want to see you alone, Shen. And I am here to save you from darkness, I just don't want to see you in a mess..."

"Just leave."  I pointed my finger somewhere.  Pushing him to leave.

"You sure?"  His voice was muffled.

I didn't answer and just stare at him. After a while, he breathed and nodded.

"If that's what you want..." 

To be continued...