Love is Live

Anu stood outside the building, heart racing, rehearsing her lines one more time. “Be confident,” she whispered to herself, clutching the gift tightly. “Hello, Prince. Where are you?” She quickly typed the message and sent it before she could overthink.

A few moments later, her phone buzzed.

“I am in my flat. Come upstairs, flat 11, third floor.”

Anu swallowed her nerves and made her way up. She had never been to Prince’s place before, and with each step, her anxiety grew. Finally, she reached his door and knocked lightly.

Prince opened the door with a smile. “Did I keep you waiting?”

Anu shook her head, smiling shyly. “No, not at all. Actually...” she hesitated, reaching into her bag, “I bought you a gift. Your birthday is coming up, and since you won’t be around at that time... Happy birthday in advance, Prince.”

Surprised, Prince glanced at the gift she held out. His eyes softened as he took the package. “Wow! What’s in here? Is that... a shirt?” He chuckled.

Anu blushed slightly. “Um, yes.”

Prince examined the gift, noticing the high-quality fabric and brand. “This is a lot. Why did you bring it? It’s from a celebration, right? This looks expensive. I should tell your parents not to give you so much money!”

Anu smiled, waving his concern away. “No, it’s not. Besides, it’s a gift. Try it on, and if it doesn’t fit, you can always exchange it.”

Prince shook his head firmly. “No way. I can’t replace it. It’s a gift from you.” He unfolded the shirt and slipped it on. “How do I look?”

Anu felt her heart flutter. “You look nice,” she replied softly.

Prince’s expression softened, and he looked at her thoughtfully. “No one has ever done something like this for me. Why did you?”

Anu hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. Should she tell him the truth? That she had liked him for so long but never had the courage to say it?

She took a deep breath and smiled. “Because I care for you.”

Prince looked at her with warmth in his eyes. “Thanks a lot, Anu.” He stepped closer. “Can I hug you?”

Anu’s mind raced. This is it, she thought. This is the sign Neha had talked about. Could this mean he likes me too? With a nervous smile, she nodded and allowed him to hug her. She felt warmth spread through her as they embraced.

As they pulled apart, Prince looked at her with a mischievous smile. “Anu, in the future, I’ll buy you a bridal wedding dress.”

Anu’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she almost said it – the words that had been on the tip of her tongue for so long. Prince, I like you. I’ve liked you for so long. But I could never bring myself to tell you.

Instead, she whispered, “Thank you, Prince.”

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment. Then, Prince spoke, his voice a little more serious. “Anu, I really like you.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “But... I can only be your friend. I don’t want you to waste any more time on me.”

Anu felt a pang in her chest, but she forced a smile. “It’s fine,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I don’t even think about that. We’re friends, that’s all.”

The words tasted bitter, but she swallowed them down. She glanced at her watch. “I should go now. I’m getting late.”

Prince frowned, clearly not wanting her to leave so soon. “Just wait a few more minutes. Why are you in such a hurry?”

Anu smiled softly, though her heart felt heavy. “I really have to go. Bye, Prince.”

Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the feelings she had buried for so long.

Later...

Anu sat on the park bench, staring at the ground as the cool breeze rustled the leaves around her. She was still processing her conversation with Prince, the weight of his words lingering in her mind. Lost in thought, she barely noticed when Tae approached.

“Prince called,” Tae said, sitting down beside her. “He mentioned that you came to see him.”

Anu’s heart skipped a beat. “Um,” she muttered, unsure how to respond.

Tae studied her for a moment before speaking again. “Do you have anything to tell me? If something’s bothering you, I’ll help you with it.”

Anu sighed, lowering her gaze. “Prince will never like a loser like me. No matter what I do, he’s still... a fish upon the sky for me.”

Tae furrowed his brow. “Fish upon the sky? What does that mean?”

She chuckled softly, though there was no humor in her voice. “It means he’s impossible for me. Have you ever seen anyone catch a fish in the sky or search for a star in the sea? No matter how hard I try to change, Prince will always be out of reach—just like a fish in the sky.”

Tae’s expression softened, though curiosity remained. “But why do you like Prince anyway?”

Anu paused, her heart heavy as she tried to find the right words. “He’s kind... and good-looking. Who doesn’t like him?” She forced a small smile. “You’d have to be insane not to.”

Tae raised an eyebrow. “That’s the real reason?”

Anu hesitated before giving a slight nod. “Um.”

Tae leaned back, crossing his arms as he considered her words. “From what I’ve observed, Anu... that’s not love. It’s an obsession.”

Anu looked up at him, surprised. “Obsession?”

He nodded, glancing toward a nearby flower bed. “I’ll give you a simple example. See those flowers? If you think they’re pretty, it means you’re taking an interest in them, right? But if you want to own them, that’s obsession. If you want to take care of them, water them, and let them grow, that’s love.”

He turned back to Anu. “Now, let’s say Prince is like those flowers. Can you tell me what you truly feel for him?”

Anu bit her lip, lost in thought. She tried to process Tae’s analogy, though the answer didn’t come as easily as she expected. “Well... I want to take care of him, I guess.”

Tae smiled gently, but his eyes were filled with concern. “Anu, stop lying to yourself. This isn’t love. It’s a disease.”

“A disease?” Anu scoffed, her tone defensive. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

Tae shook his head. “There is. You’re in denial.”

“No, I’m not!” she protested, feeling a wave of frustration rise within her.

“Yes, you are,” Tae said firmly, his voice calm but resolute. “Your words might say one thing, but your actions and physical reactions tell a different story.”

Anu blinked, caught off guard. “What? Are you kidding me? Why are you saying this?”

Tae leaned in slightly, his gaze steady. “If you really liked him, your heart would race whenever you’re around him. But I think you’re using your feelings for Prince to run from something else. You were going to confess to him because you’re scared—scared of what might happen if you don’t.”

Anu shook her head, not wanting to accept what Tae was implying. “That’s not true.”

Tae sighed. “Just admit it. You’ve been focused on Prince’s feelings, afraid he might hate you if you told him the truth.”

Anu’s silence spoke louder than her words. She couldn’t deny that fear had been eating away at her. The thought of Prince rejecting her was terrifying, but the thought of him resenting her was unbearable.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and dark clouds gathered overhead. Anu glanced up, grateful for the distraction. “It’s about to rain,” she said quietly. “We should head home.”

Tae studied her for a moment, understanding the conversation was over for now. “Alright,” he said softly. “Let’s go.”

As they walked together in silence, Anu couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in her chest. Tae’s words echoed in her mind. Was it true? Had she been lying to herself all along?