Is it possible to love and be loved back? It's the question he asked as he felt her affection glow bright in his heart. The care of how he was doing or how his day was, her concern on his silence and her efforts to keep the communication alive all made him question the more.
He was not used to this.
His system was used to unappreciated and unequalled efforts. Where it was him and not her. Be it blames or efforts. Not to mention failures. He never woke to a good morning message nor slept by a good night message, let alone a “take care” word. All that could be found amongst her messages was “ok”, “sawa” and “you too” with countless “you didn’t do this or remember that”. But is it not what love offers out there.
You will sit and give a lecture on how stupid and foolish he was. But are you forgetting those romance classes where they thought us to understand those we love and create a space for them to learn to be better people? Or have you forgotten the emotional principle 101 that states that you should not question how she treats or responds to you lest you annoy her and end up making her cry? Let me then remind you of the basic need, one that you should supply if you forget all other things. You need to forget you are human and make her happy. Love what she loves and hate what she hates. She is always right and you are always wrong.
Seems you need more because up to this point I feel like you are not concentrating. Where did I lose you? I am here to pick you.
He, like many, never thought that love was true out there. After years of rejection and pretended feelings, he had resolved that he will never fall into the trap again. Little did he know that he was a free metal in a magnetic field. Or should I say he was gas near open fire?
All around him was fine. He never thought of anything too hard. But every thought of how lonely He was, made him weak. As much as he tried to assume all these things he realized his faking was not that perfect.
***
Growing up in a family of seven, Jack had little to call his. The shoes he wore were either inherited or some mix and match bought from the nearest market at not more than 50 bucks. Other than his school uniform, the closest decent cloth he had was an oversized nylon trouser with a stripped shirt. This made him one of the iconic figures which you needed no name to identify. You could obviously point him out from among other kids even without considering the fact that he was tall. He never had a luxury to be called a best friend to anyone or rather no individual could be ready to ruin his reputation by tagging himself with such a looser. He could count some as his friend just because they were close to him not knowing that they were there just to take advantage of his abilities in math and science. Sooner than later, once they get what they want or it is “out of season” and they no longer need him, he was a laughing stock among them. Seasonal love.
Each day he woke to the dream of working his way to have this or that. He had his efforts focused on this very dream. But there was this thing that never left by his side, the desire to feel loved, appreciated and accepted. But his circumstances never allowed him to.
He was never a favorite to anybody, so to say but he had people he didn’t know that cared about and loved him. To him, they were like his mums. He lived to make them proud someday. He lived to make their dreams a reality. He saw them cry over their broken families and he always would tell himself he will, someday, work his best to reignite the hope of a happy family in them. Spending days without solid food was common in his environment. He lived to work that it may not be the case in his entire life. May be someday, he will have enough to not only feed his family but also to provide to those who never had.
In all his dealings, his lacks and his providences, God blessed Jack with all that was necessary at that time.
Years went by and Jack grew to be a great boy despite all he saw happen around him.