CHAPTER THREE — The ARGUMENT ABOUT LOVE
1264 Words
The following several days went by at a pace.
Ella attempted to return to her tasks. Her thoughts remained unsettled.
Whenever she settled down to film a video Jayden’s voice came to mind. Composed playful confidence, in its tone.
“Perhaps you ought to allow yourself to experience love rather than merely discussing it.”
She despised recalling it.
She despised that it caused her to grin.
By Friday she stopped faking being okay. Tina was the first to realize it.
“Sweetheart, what's going on with you?" Tina inquired while arranging the lights. "You’ve seemed distracted this week.”
Ella sighed with an eye roll. "It’s nothing. I’m simply exhausted.”
“Exhausted, from what? Discussing love?" Tina joked.
Ella hurled a pillow towards her. "Please don’t begin."
Tina chuckled. "Hmm I recognize that expression. Someone’s been occupying your thoughts.”
“No one, " Ella replied swiftly.
“Deceiver. Give me the truth. Who is that man?”
Ella averted her gaze. "Nobody matters. Only… the camera technician.”
Tina exclaimed. "Hold on seriously?! That handsome guy who showed up recently?!”
Ella shot her a piercing glance. "What made you certain he was okay?”
“Girl I noticed," Tina said with a smirk. "You were just acting like you didn’t care.”
Ella exhaled deeply, surrendering. "He only mentioned something irritating nothing ”
Tina bent closer. "What did he mention?”
Ella paused for a moment and whispered, "He told me to quit discussing love and begin experiencing it.”
Tina erupted in laughter. "He’s really daring! Can you believe telling The Love Coach that?”
“It’s not amusing, " said Ella, though she was also smiling.
“Well " Tina remarked while adjusting the light stand "perhaps he is correct.”
Ella scowled. "Pardon?”
Tina shrugged. "You’ve been offering advice to others for years. When did you last actually go on a date?”
Ella folded her arms. "That doesn’t matter. I don’t have to be in a relationship to instruct on love.”
“Sure, " Tina replied. "You can’t instruct swimming without having been in the water.”
Ella tossed another pillow towards her yet inwardly the remarks hurt.
She left early that night. The studio was too silent. Her mind was too noisy.
She prepared noodles settled near her window and browsed through her messages.
At that moment her phone vibrated. A message.
Unknown number:
> "Hello this is Jayden. I’m just confirming if the camera is functioning properly.”
Ella gazed at the message for some time before responding.
> "Yes, that's okay. Thank you.”
He responded a moment afterward:
“Alright. I only wished to confirm. You appeared earnest regarding your job.”
She gave a smile.
“I exist. I educate others about love, don't you recall?”
He responded immediately:
> "So you continue to think it’s a skill folks can acquire?”
She scowled.
“Certainly. Individuals simply require guidance.”
There was a pause. Then:
> ". How about you? Do you practice what you preach?"
Her hands paused. She refrained from typing for some time.
“That’s private, " she eventually answered.
He posted a laughing emoji.
> "So the answer is no.”
Ella exhaled deeply. She disliked being defeated in debates. Those concerning love.
> "You come across as someone who doesn’t trust in love in any way " she messaged.
“I’m not sure, " Jayden stated. "I’ve encountered many counterfeit ones. I prefer things that're genuine. Straightforward. Not merely words.”
She wrote quickly:
“Love isn’t false. People simply have to grasp it clearly.”
> "Perhaps they simply need to experience it rather than dissect it like a lecture, " he replied.
That irritated her.
At the same time… it prompted her reflection.
> "Perhaps one day you ought to visit and gain some knowledge from me " she penned.
> "Or perhaps you ought to pause teaching and move in with it " he responded.
She remained silent more. The dialogue concluded at that point.
However that evening she was unable to fall.
Whenever she shut her eyes his grin appeared.
🌤️ The next morning
Ella was awakened by the noise of her phone ringing. It was Tina.
“Darling! We've got an issue!" Tina exclaimed as she picked up.
“What’s going on?" Ella inquired, still groggy.
“Our camera is malfunctioning more. It’s flashing red.”
Ella sighed. "What? I assumed it had been repaired.”
“It was. It resumed once I attempted to record this morning.”
Ella pressed her hand against her forehead. "Alright, alright. I’ll get Jayden on the phone.”
Although she hesitated to acknowledge it, merely uttering his name made her heart race.
By the time Jayden got there that day she had been waiting at the studio.
“ So soon?" he asked with a grin as he entered.
“Yeah " she replied, feigning irritation. "Perhaps your initial repair wasn’t done properly.”
He grinned. ". Perhaps the camera simply wishes to look at me once more.”
She nearly. Swiftly glanced aside. "Just please fix it.”
He began working, silent, as ever. After minutes he remarked,
“You know I saw one of your videos yesterday evening.”
Her eyes grew larger. "You really did?”
“Yeah. The one titled ‘How to Tell if He Loves You.’”
“Oh " she replied, somewhat bashful. "What was your impression?”
He raised his gaze gradually. "Seriously?”
She gave a nod.
“You speak as if you've studied every book on love. You seem like someone afraid to experience it.”
Ella’s jaw dropped. "Pardon?”
Jayden grinned softly. "Don’t misunderstand me. You’re skilled at what you do.. I believe you’ve constructed a barrier so tall that even love can’t scale it.”
For a moment she was uncertain whether to shout or chuckle.
Then she murmured softly "You have no idea who I'm ”
“You’re correct, " he replied. "Yet I notice how your eyes shift whenever you mention love. Your voice is firm. Your eyes seem sorrowful.”
Ella stood still. Nobody had ever observed that previously.
He faced the camera more and spoke quietly
“I believe those who educate about love are often the individuals who require it the most.”
The room fell into silence.
Ella was at a loss, for words. The statement struck profoundly. Too profoundly.
After finishing the camera repairs he rose, dried his hands and remarked
“There. It ought to function.. Perhaps you ought to cease attempting to repair everything and allow someone to mend you for a change.”
After that he exited, leaving Ella more gazing after him her heart weighed down and her thoughts swirling.
She held back her tears. Something within her changed.
After a period she no longer wished to make a video regarding love. She desired to experience it herself.
That evening while browsing through her photos she came across a quote she had jotted down years before:
“You cannot train the heart. It naturally understands by itself.”
She gazed at it for a period, her lips quivering faintly.
Afterward she murmured quietly to herself
“Maybe… Jayden was right.”
Outside the rainfall began more.
Elsewhere in the city Jayden gazed at the sky, his thoughts, on her.
He couldn’t explain it. There was something about that woman that restored his faith in love.
Perhaps, at last they were both prepared to acquire knowledge this time.
- Writer
