Fragrance of Love

[Love can be elusive, often arriving when you least expect it. Sometimes, it's like waiting for a bus; you can't predict when it'll come, but when it does, you feel a spark that changes everything. That spark ignites a smile on your face, a glimpse into a future you never knew existed. But love isn't always sunshine and rainbows; it can be messy, confusing, and sometimes even dangerous.]

Let me share a story about a girl named Pearl. She thought she knew what love was, That is until she met someone who changed everything.

It was a rainy day, and Pearl forgot her umbrella, leaving her stranded outside her campus at 9:00 pm. As she stood there, drenched and alone, a mysterious boy approached her and silently handed her an umbrella before disappearing into the night.

"What was that?" Pearl wondered, feeling both confused and intrigued. As she boarded the bus home, she couldn't shake the image of the boy's face from her mind. His rosy lips, dark brown eyes, and soaked appearance left a lasting impression on her.

Back at home, Pearl couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious encounter. She talked to her friends about the boy, pondering over his identity and why he had given her his umbrella. Hours passed, but Pearl still couldn't get his face out of her mind. She wondered what had made him sad or afraid, unable to find answers before drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, Pearl found herself lost in thought in her classroom, daydreaming until her professor called her name. She was tasked with assisting a new student named Red around the campus. When she met him, she was stunned to see that he was the same boy from the rainy night before.

"Hello, I'm Red Shelton, just call me Sky for short," Red introduced himself as Pearl read what he wrote. He extended his arms towards her, leaving Pearl stunned by his amazing posture. She found herself spacing out again and accidentally muttered, "So, he can't talk?" to herself.

"Welcome to the College of Mass Communication, and welcome to my life for short," she smiled awkwardly and winked at him. When they finally shook hands, she felt a mild electric shock through her body, leaving both of them speechless as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Miss Cruz! Miss Cruz! Can you hear me?" Her professor's voice broke through her daydreaming, but this time it was different. The boy, Red Shelton, was handsome, with red rosy lips, dark brown eyes, and fair skin, radiating a tantalizing beauty. "He seems nice," she thought to herself.

"Assist Mr. Shelton until he is familiar with the campus," her professor instructed. Pearl nodded and smiled at Red, but his lack of emotion made her uncomfortable. "What's his problem?" she wondered, feeling totally confused.

As the lesson began, Pearl suddenly felt a strong grip on her stomach, causing her eyes to widen with alarm. A sudden burst of discomfort radiated from her private area, signaling that her time had come. She bit her lower lip anxiously, lowering her head onto the table. "Why? Why? Why?" she murmured, unaware that her professor teaching Contemporary World History had overheard her.

"Miss Cruz!" her professor called out, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Sir?" she responded, startled. "What happened during the 30 Years' War?" he asked, expecting an answer. Pearl, caught off guard and unable to concentrate due to her discomfort, couldn't respond. Her professor's frustration grew evident as Pearl struggled to stand up, hindered by the pain in her stomach. Eventually, her professor's shout of her name made everyone in the classroom jump, but thankfully, no one noticed the mark on her skirt. With Red's assistance, she managed to answer the question, albeit with difficulty.

When the class ended, Pearl's friends bombarded her with questions about what happened, but she just smiled and said nothing, deciding to stay in the classroom. Suddenly, Red dragged her out of her chair, leaving Pearl confused as he closed the door behind them. In her mind, Pearl feared that Red might do something bad to her. When she thought to scream, Red leaned closer to her, step by step, until they were eye to eye. Pearl, feeling cornered, closed her eyes and uttered, "No, stop!"

Red chuckled and quickly tied his jacket around her waist, covering the red spot behind her. Blushing with embarrassment, pearl replied, "You should've said it earlier," prompting Pearl to feel embarrassed as well. Seeing Red's paper, Pearl realized, "I couldn't speak, remember?" Red nodded, acknowledging his forgetfulness. After exchanging smiles, Pearl sat in her chair, spacing out by the window, unaware that Red had brought her a pad.

"Why did you...?" Pearl began to ask, to which Red responded by writing on her paper, "You need it, and it's okay. Go change. I already bought what you need, and don't get embarrassed. I have a mother and a sister. Let's go before our class starts."

Pearl chuckled silently as she blushed in embarrassment, realizing that she had caught feelings for Red. Trying to dismiss her emotions, she told herself, "Huh? No. No, I shouldn't. It's just dumb feelings." However, as she left the restroom and saw Red standing beside the door, they locked eyes once again, and Pearl couldn't deny the fluttering feeling in her heart.

Pearl couldn't help but look away, acting like nothing had happened. "So, thank you for what you've done," she said, mustering a smile. "I'm in the mood to give you a tour of the campus and, of course, the cafeteria." They both smiled and enjoyed each other's company, engaging in conversation while Red continued to write down his thoughts.

After their last class, Pearl wanted to thank Red, but her friends dragged her away before she could find him. On their way home, her friends chatted excitedly about their crushes, while Pearl drifted into her thoughts, smiling softly. Her friends soon noticed her absent-mindedness and teased her, suggesting she might be in love.

Hours later, when Pearl arrived home to find her grandmother already asleep, she received a text from a random friend named "Ace." The name reminded her of her favorite Wattpad story, "HEIR: Legend of the Lost Tale," and one particular line from it. This mysterious friend had been texting her every day since she was 8 years old, but she had never discovered the true identity of Ace.

The next morning, when class was canceled, Pearl received a random text saying "outside." Confused, her heart raced as she rushed to her window and saw Red standing outside, chatting with her grandmother, who thankfully knew sign language. Shocked by his unexpected presence, Pearl hurriedly freshened up, pretending to be asleep when she finally greeted Red downstairs.

Despite her embarrassment, Pearl couldn't help but imagine a fairytale-like scene, with her in a stunning gown and Red looking dashing in his attire. Her grandmother, accustomed to Pearl's daydreaming, reassured Red that she would be okay, and they both chuckled. Once Pearl snapped back to reality, she pretended as though nothing had happened.

"What are you doing here, and how did you?" were the first words that Pearl said early in the morning when Red just chuckled and wrote, "I have my ways. Let's go out?" Red smiled at her, giving Pearl a melting sensation. As a girl or a woman, it's easy to fall, especially for those butterflies' words and actions that you thought you didn't fall for. Love is mysterious; you will only realize that you fell for that person if he/she treats someone else the same way he/she treated you.

Pearl and Red enjoyed their days together playing, eating, and going to the cinema. Well, that made Pearl question herself, "Is this a date?"

Love is when you find that one person who feels like the missing piece of your puzzle. You envision a future with them because their presence brings you peace and contentment. Even if it's just a glimpse of what could be, being with them makes everything feel right. But true understanding of this love only dawns when you're truly together. Trust me, that's when it all makes sense.

Red's heart weighed heavy with the burden of his family's turmoil, yet in Pearl's company, he found solace from the chaos of his mansion. Their days together felt like a reprieve from his reality, filled with laughter, shared meals, and moments stolen at the cinema. With each passing day, Pearl's presence ignited a flicker of hope within him, a hope for a simpler, happier existence.

As they sat under the starlit sky in the park, Red couldn't help but marvel at Pearl's beauty, her laughter echoing like music in his soul. Yet beneath his smile, a torrent of emotions raged within him, knowing that his world was a far cry from the serenity of their evening together.

"Thanks for bringing me home," Pearl's words lingered in the air as they parted ways, leaving Red grappling with the silence of his empty mansion and the echoes of his parents' discord.

In the mansion, Red's facade crumbled, revealing the turmoil of a boy burdened by the sins of his family. His mother's anguish pierced his heart, her cries echoing the pain he wished he could soothe. Yet, in the shadows of their fractured home, Red found himself unable to voice the truth, unable to shatter the illusion of happiness he shared with Pearl.

"If only I could hold you in my arms," Red whispered to the empty halls, his voice carrying the weight of his unspoken confessions. "If only you knew the truth, if only you felt what I feel... If only..."

As the days passed without a glimpse of Red, Pearl's worry grew like a persistent shadow. Each step she took seemed heavier, weighed down by the uncertainty of his absence. Yet, amidst the chaos of midterm exams and whispered rumors, Pearl found solace in the unwavering support of her friends.

When the announcement of Red's transfer echoed through the classroom, Pearl's heart plummeted, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions raging within her. Was it all just wishful thinking, she wondered, a figment of her imagination spun from the threads of unspoken affection?

Lost in her thoughts, Pearl made her way home, oblivious to the silent figure trailing behind her. It wasn't until she received his message that reality collided with fantasy, sending her emotions spiraling into turmoil once more.

"I will be forever with you even though I am no longer in your arms," the words danced across her screen, each syllable a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. With trembling fingers, Pearl typed her response, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

"I thought you liked me too... Well, I guess I assumed too much," her reply echoed in her mind, a painful admission of what could have been.

(Present)

The classroom buzzed with anticipation as Miss Bella Hart wrapped up her storytelling session, leaving her students hanging on the edge of their seats.

"Miss Hart? Miss Hart?" a chorus of voices echoed through the room, eager for more.

Bella chuckled at her students' enthusiasm. "Okay, okay, children, it's almost time. Go get your lunch, we'll continue it tomorrow."

Groans filled the air, followed by playful protests. "Miss is such a killjoy," one student teased.

Bella raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Or do you want me to kill your grades?" she countered with a smirk.

The classroom erupted into laughter, the tension from the story momentarily forgotten.

As the students dispersed for lunch, Bella's phone rang, interrupting the momentary peace. She answered it, curiosity piqued by her friend's urgent tone.

At the café, Bella and her friends gathered, exchanging banter and sharing updates on their lives. The mention of past flames stirred up a mix of emotions, from anger to nostalgia.

Yet amidst the laughter and reminiscing, Bella couldn't shake the lingering ache of past heartbreaks. The wounds may have healed, but the scars remained, a constant reminder of love's unpredictable nature.

With a heavy heart, Bella bid her friends farewell, her mind drifting back to the classroom where she was left to ponder the intricacies of love and loss.

As she walked away, her gaze lingered on the vast expanse of green grass, a silent witness to the echoes of her past. "If only," she whispered to the wind, a wistful sigh escaping her lips.

the laughter echoed through the classroom, Bella's words carried a weight of truth and experience. Her advice to her students, laced with humor and sincerity, resonated with everyone present. The thought of Bella leaving for the States brought a mix of surprise and excitement among her students, who were already planning future visits and adventures.

Jake glanced up from his desk, his brows knitted in confusion. "Ma'am, why are you telling us this?"

Bella smiled softly, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and determination. "Because, my dear Jake, it's my last day here."

The classroom buzzed with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

"Huh?" chorused the students, their attention fully captured now.

Bella nodded, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Yes, I'll be staying in the States for good now."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the classroom, punctuated by a few gasps of realization.

One brave soul dared to speak up, his voice tinged with humor. "Ma'am will surely visit Red."

Bella's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "Yes, and I will surely kick his ass."

As the bell rang to signal the end of the class, Bella's students bid her farewell with hugs and well-wishes, promising to stay in touch and follow her adventures abroad. And as Bella walked out of the classroom for the last time, she carried with her the memories of laughter, friendship, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.

1 week later

Shell furrowed her brows, her eyes reflecting concern. "You're really leaving?"

Bella's gaze softened, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. "Of course, Shell. I have no one here. Well, except for all of you, but my family is all the way in the states."

Shell's voice trembled with emotion. "Can't you just... not leave?"

Bella's expression wavered, torn between determination and uncertainty. "Shell, it's already decided. ...Honestly, I'm scared... If only... Never mind."

*Love isn't just about staying; it's about sacrificing your own happiness for someone else's, even if it tears you apart.*

Shell's voice cracked slightly. "I'll miss your ridiculous quotes."

Bella managed a weak smile. "Thought you missed him."

Shell's tone softened. "Me and the others will accompany you to the airport this coming Monday."

Bella's eyes brightened. "Sure, no problem."

Shell's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Let's go out?"

Bella's curiosity piqued. "Sure, where to?"

Shell's lips curved into a playful grin. "To a world where he doesn't exist."

Bella chuckled softly. "And where might that be?"

Shell's grin widened. "Shopping."

Bella's laughter filled the room. "Much better."

*I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I was actually leaving. Staying here kept me in perpetual pain. It's a saga too intricate to unravel, one I'd rather not delve into. The more I reminisce about our blissful moments, the more they crumble into shards of regret. What I did was love him, with all my being. We shared moments of pure joy, but his actions blindsided me. I was captivated by his words, his declarations of love. But in a world where 'I love you' is uttered so casually, I found myself questioning why I remained tethered to him for so long. It's ironic how love, the most beautiful of emotions, can inflict such profound anguish. But perhaps leaving him was the only path to liberation. Or was it? I suppose we'll never truly know...*

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