love ,may be

Chapter One : THE SCENT IN THE DARK

In the middle of a summer night, the cool breeze felt strangely comforting.

I looked around the train cabin. The dim lights made everything feel eerie. My family members were fast asleep, and I was the only one still awake in the chilly night.

I looked out of the window with excitement, but there was nothing beyond it except darkness. The cold wind soon forced me to shut the window.

Then, all of a sudden, a sweet aroma reached my senses.

For a moment, I wanted to know who in the world carried such a sweet, candy-like scent. When I opened my eyes and looked toward the window beside me, I saw the dark shadow of a tall man. I guessed he was searching for his seat in the darkness.

But when I turned around again, the owner of the shadow—and the scent—was gone.

At first, I thought it was only my imagination. Maybe it was because of the excitement of the train journey, or perhaps because I had read too many romance manga and novels.

I hope we reach our destination soon.

The Next Morning

After reaching the venue, the first thing I did was touch up my makeup. It took me almost an hour to look fresh after such a long journey.

For a second, I could not believe how cute I looked that day. All my effort was worth it. I wore a beautiful black dress, a noisy bracelet, and a pair of high heels. My soft curls and carefully done makeup made the entire look feel perfect.

The best part was my new lipstick. It was transfer-proof, while the gloss was smooth and shiny at the same time.

I stood in the corridor, scrolling through reels and taking pictures of the aesthetic lamp above my head. A girl in a red dress passed by me, looking stunning as she spoke to another girl.

“I’m going to dump my boyfriend,” she said, as if the decision had already been made.

Even though it was none of my business, I felt bad for the poor guy.

Because of things like this, I had almost given up hope of being in a relationship. I did not want commitment, and I was afraid of getting attached to someone who might misuse my feelings for their own purpose.

The engagement ceremony began, and the moment it started, I got bored.

My inner voice screamed, *Oh God, please add some drama and spice to this boring ring ceremony!*

I had never understood the feeling of being loved by someone other than my parents. I did not understand what it meant to become attached to someone or depend on them.

At this event, I had nothing to do except eat, click a bunch of pictures, and read my web novel in the corner of the hall. Honestly, I enjoyed my own company. No interference—just me and myself.

I looked at my phone and noticed an incoming call from an unknown number.

Thank God. Someone is finally calling me.

I stepped outside and answered the call.

And guess what? It was a salesgirl trying to sell matching couple outfits.

For free.

Why? Why did this always happen to me?

I did not want a boyfriend. I did not want a relationship. Then why did the whole world seem to revolve around dating and romance? Why did everything always have to end with someone being in love?

It hurt.

The more I tried to ignore reality, the more it seemed to appear in my life.

I had only one question for myself:

Is my life incomplete without a boy?

For the first time, I felt sad and lonely.

I still did not understand why everything seemed to be in favor of this stupidity. The whole younger generation revolved around dating and relationships.

That phone call weakened my emotions more than I expected. Having a boyfriend was such a normal thing for everyone else, but in my case, it felt like that chapter of my life did not even exist.

My eyes grew heavy. I could no longer hold back my tears.

I looked at the floor with anger and frustration. The mixture of emotions made me feel weak and fragile. I had never shown this vulnerable side of myself to anyone before.

I moved away from the hall. My surroundings were full of relatives and familiar faces, but I wanted to be alone.

Near the girls’ washroom, at the corner of the corridor, I saw a hotel staff member coming out of an unlocked room.

I quickly walked inside, closed the door, and locked it from within.