Iloveyouu, like you do

Until one day, my mother started to grow weak. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how—I didn’t even know how to swim, let alone dive into the ocean to gather seafood for selling. Despite everything, our lives continued, all because of her sacrifices. Then, she met a man who eventually became her husband. I was happy for her because she truly deserved it. She deserved to be happy after all the hardships she had endured. If this was the way for her to find some relief from all the exhaustion she carried, then I would gladly support her. Now, she and her husband have children of their own. I have two younger siblings, and even though life has changed, I know that my mother’s love for me has never wavered. I’m 15 years old now, and I’m enjoying life. My mom always does everything for me—she gives me everything I want and supports me in everything I do. She’s especially proud whenever she reads my poems. One night, out of nowhere, she sat me down and started talking to me as if she were saying goodbye, as if she knew she wouldn’t be around much longer. She looked at me and said, "If I ever leave this world, I hope you take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself end up like me, struggling through life. Don’t let yourself become just a servant to others. My child, I love you so much." Tears instantly fell from my eyes. I couldn’t bear to hear her talk like that. I held her hands tightly and replied, "Mom, please don’t say things like that. You know my biggest fear in life is losing you." At that moment, we hugged each other tightly and cried together, holding on to the love we shared, afraid of the day we might have to let go. And then, the day I feared the most finally came—my mom was gone. She passed away, and I was completely devastated. I didn’t know how to move forward or where to begin. The pain was unbearable, and I felt so alone. No one came to visit my mom’s wake except for Albie, my best friend. He was there for me, comforting me in my darkest moments. I’ve always been a crybaby and a little spoiled, but Albie never left my side. He became my source of strength when I felt like I had nothing left. Maybe he had feelings for me, or maybe he just truly cared, but no matter how much I pushed him away or acted cold toward him, he never stopped checking on me. He would visit me at home all the time, making sure I wasn’t alone. Even when I was at my worst, he stayed by my side, never giving up on me. Meanwhile, my stepdad did nothing but drink alcohol excessively, and over time, he also learned to chase after other women, completely neglecting any sense of responsibility toward our family. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and as the seasons changed from the fresh bloom of spring to the cold embrace of snow and eventually to the scorching heat of summer, I realized that I could no longer afford to dwell on my grief and wait for someone to save me—I had to move forward and learn to stand on my own. Despite everything, Albie remained a constant presence in my life, always willing to help me no matter what. Even though we were still young, I had already been exposed to the harsh realities of life, and unlike other children who were carefree and had the luxury of enjoying their childhood, I had no choice but to grow up fast and shoulder responsibilities far beyond my years. In order to survive, I started planting vegetables in our backyard, and Albie, being the kind and loyal friend that he was, worked alongside me, helping me cultivate and take care of the cabbage we grew. But his kindness didn’t stop there—he also assisted me in taking care of my two younger siblings, making sure that I wasn’t struggling alone. Since Albie’s parents were fishermen, he often found ways to secretly take some of the abalones they caught just so he could give them to me, knowing how much I needed the extra support. His family had a stall in the market, and since I had no proper place to sell my produce, I used a small space beside their store to display and sell my cabbages, doing my best to earn whatever little money I could. Albie, ever so thoughtful and considerate, would always stay with me, keeping me company and making sure I felt safe, especially since he knew how difficult things had become for me after my mother passed away. However, not everyone in his family was supportive of our friendship, especially his grandmother, who strongly disapproved of our closeness and made it clear that she didn’t want us to end up together. It wasn’t hard to figure out why—his family was aware that Albie had feelings for me, and because I was an orphan who came from a life of poverty, they saw me as nothing more than an unworthy girl who didn’t deserve to be part of their family. "Hmph! His grandmother is so full of herself," I thought to myself, rolling my eyes at her constant interference in our friendship. But honestly, I didn’t let it bother me too much because, deep down, I already knew that I had no intention of settling down with someone from the island anyway. "I have bigger dreams for myself," I mused, allowing a small smirk to form on my lips. "I don’t want to end up marrying someone from here. One day, I’ll leave this place and find someone from the city—someone who can give me everything I want, treat me like a princess, and take me far away from this life of hardship." With that thought in mind, I let out a small chuckle, already imagining the kind of future I wanted for myself, far from the struggles I had endured for so long. One day, as I was selling my goods beside Albie's family's market stall, his grandmother caught me in the act and, with a furious expression, shouted, "Get out of here, you child!" while brandishing a broom and chasing me away; I quickly turned and ran, my heart pounding, and as I fled, I couldn't help but shout back defiantly, "I'll become a famous poet someday, just you wait!" my voice echoing through the market as I sprinted away, breathless and determined. Meanwhile, Albie, witnessing the commotion, rushed to intervene, attempting to calm his grandmother by pleading, "Lola, please let her be. I care for her, and nothing you do can change that. No matter how much you try to keep us apart, I still want to be with her." His grandmother, her face stern and unyielding, retorted sharply, "Stop it, Albie! I have high hopes for you, so straighten up!" emphasizing her disapproval with a tone that left no room for argument. At that moment, Albie's mother, who had been observing the scene unfold, couldn't help but chuckle softly and remark, "Oh, mothers-in-law! Your grandson is in love at such a young age," her laughter lightening the otherwise tense atmosphere. Determined to console me, Albie followed my trail until we reached a secluded hill, a place we often visited, now surrounded by a sea of blooming carnation flowers that swayed gently in the breeze; there, in the midst of the vibrant blossoms, I sat with my knees drawn to my chest, tears streaming down my face as I grappled with the overwhelming emotions that had been building up inside me. Albie approached cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound on the soft earth, and without a word, he sat down beside me, placing a comforting hand on my back, his touch warm and reassuring. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, his voice filled with sincerity and urgency , "Let's leave this place together. Let's elope." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication, causing me to lift my head and look at him, my eyes wide with shock and confusion. "Why would I run away with you? What are we?" I questioned, my voice trembling as I searched his face for answers. He turned to face me fully, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race, and replied, "Haven't you noticed that I have feelings for you? I'll give you everything you want. I'll support your dreams and do everything for you because that's how much I love you." As he spoke, he reached out and gently took my hands in his, his grip firm yet tender, conveying the depth of his emotions. I felt a whirlwind of feelings—surprise, fear, excitement—all swirling within me, and despite myself, I couldn't deny the flutter in my chest, the warmth spreading through me at his confession. Playfully, I pushed him away, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I teased, "You'll do everything? You should say you'll give me the sky, the moon, and the world because that's what I see in dramas." My attempt at lightening the mood was met with a soft chuckle from him, but his eyes remained earnest as he asked, "I like you. Do you like me too?" The vulnerability in his question made my heart ache, and after a brief hesitation, I nodded in agreement, unable to find the words to express the myriad emotions coursing through me. Without warning, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, a gentle yet passionate kiss that seemed to convey all the feelings we had left unspoken. As we pulled apart, we fell into each other's arms, embracing tightly as tears streamed down our faces, crying together like two children who had found solace in each other's presence amidst the chaos of the world around them.