Like autumn leaves, some people have to fall first to learn how to rise. Likewise, when we fall in love, we will not be able to avoid heartbreak. When we decide to drift into the beautiful world of love, then we must also be ready to be heartbroken at the same time because love and heartbreak are one package.
People say love will make you dream and imagine a wonderful world like sweet cotton candy, you enjoy it but the sweetness will disappear. But heartbreak will teach you a valuable lesson. Maybe at first it’ll hurt so much, you’ll suffer until it feels like it ruins your world. But when you get through all that, you’re going to feel genuine happiness. In fact, we’re going to find out many things we didn’t know before.
***
Along with the cold autumn air, Alex was sheltering in his dim room. His teary eyes still have a lot of sadness in his views. Alex was holding canvases and brushes in both hands, but he had no intention of painting. He can’t even think about painting what. He’s like an artist at the lowest point where he doesn’t have any ideas.
His mind felt empty and kept locking himself in a dim room, making Alex feel more and more ready. Alex, who doesn’t know what to do, got out of his room and take a walk in the fresh air. He wanders, he just wants to keep himself away, so he doesn’t get too immersed in grief.
The painful memories of yesterday still kept coming to his mind until the fresh air in the morning also tasted bitter. Alex felt empty even he paid little attention to the people who walked past him. He walks with eyes that look hollow, and the occasional breath he exhales makes it look like someone who doesn’t have the spirit of life anymore.
His move stalled in front of a café when he saw Helena wearing a white T-shirt with a sky-blue skirt and a white sash bag. Helena also looks a little surprised, perhaps because she didn’t expect to see Alex either. Even with his condition that looks so hollow, Alex still looks handsome wearing a black T-shirt with messy hair. Maybe because Helena’s heart is so much out of her heart that she yet loves Alex so enough. Seeing Alex look like that makes her feel sad.
“We meet, want to stop by first and have tea or coffee?” said Helena ventured to invite Alex.
Helena wasn’t sure he was going to accept her request because no matter what she did, he always hated it. Indeed when she tried so hard to fix herself and chased after him, Alex never once glanced at her even he always attacked her with his piercing words. But unlike what she thought, Alex accepted her invitation. They sat together at one table in the corner. They stare at each other even though they feel awkward. A cup of Americano and vanilla latte lying on the table untouched. Helena was eager to tell something, but she didn’t know what to say. They remained silent for a while until Alex said something and broke the silence between them.
“You dress up like this, where are you going?” said Alex while noticing Helena’s makeup-wearing clothes and face.
“Maybe you don’t pay much attention to me, I’m always beautiful like this. But yes, I dress up to see someone.” Helena replied with a a slight Hubbard so she wouldn’t be intimidated by Alex the way she’s been doing.
“Meet who? Man?” asked Alex, showing slight interest.
“Yes, man. There was a friend of mine who was kind enough to introduce me to a guy.” Helena replied while being rude.
Alex paused for a moment. There were many things that crossed his mind that even made him feel unsure of himself. He's even sad about Ruby’s rejection, and he nevertheless can’t get it if he likes someone else. And now when he hears that the girl who has been chasing him is making to meet another man, . Maybe it’s because of his ego or his self-confidence that he can’t accept that someone who’s been chasing him right now is going to meet another man.
“Instead of meeting a guy you don’t know, how about you date me?” said Alex while staring at Helena.
Helena seemed a slight surprised perhaps because she never thought Alex would ask her out on a date. Alex feels a little uncomfortable because Helena doesn’t give the response he was hoping for and instead just stares at him. Whereas Alex thought Helena would smile and hug him very because he wanted to reciprocate Helena’s feelings, but in reality that didn’t happen. Alex was a little surprised by that.
“Why don’t you just shut up? Aren’t you happy? Why? Isn’t this what you’ve always wished?” said Alex, full of questions.
Helena remained silent. She also knew that all this time she always expected Alex to say this. She always survives even though Alex always hurts her and chases Alex all for words like this dream. She constantly thought the happiest day for her was when Alex asked her out for a date.
But when it happened she wasn’t happy at all, but she felt very empty. She felt nothing like what Alex was saying was just an a hollow word like a lie. And a sweet word as a lie can’t make her happy because no matter how beautiful a lie promises, it means nothing at all and only gives her a void.
“Are you serious about it or are you just struggling to run away from the pain of your broken heart?” asked Helena, trying to be sure.
“ Doesn’t it make any difference? Besides, how are you going to get what you’ve been wanting? Aren’t you happy?” said Alex.
“ No, a lie can never bring happiness. If you want to open your heart to me, I’ll just say yes with a big smile. But if this is just an escape from your broken heart, then I will never accept it. Besides, this is my heart, not a hotel, I can’t let just anyone stays and go as I please.” Helena said.
With Helena’s weight gone, her every move was hard, but she still convinced herself to leave behind. Meanwhile, Alex remained seated in his chair while smiling with one corner of his lips. There’s nothing funny to laugh about, he’s just laughing at his miserable life. He is never felt love before, even he can’t love anyone else. And when he fell in care for, the girl he l
l who always adored him and chased after him turned around to leave him and reject him. Alex laughs at his life being toyed with by fate. Then he started blaming his parents who never taught him how to respect others and love. The only thing his parents taught him was his ambition to be the perfect man, when in reality he was a man full of flaws.
***
Meanwhile, Natty and Drake were standing in front of the Game Center. They glance left and right like they’re looking for someone. Drake fanned his overheated body with the flick of his hand, while Natty looked at her watch with an annoyed and anxious face as she waited long enough.
“Come on, let’s just go in and maybe Helena has some sudden business and can’t come. After all, it’s our date. Why stick around for her?” said Drake, who was a little upset that he had been sultry by the scorching sunshine that rained down on him for an hour.
Natty also looks deeply upset, when Helena asked to show up but made her wait for an hour. Helena didn’t even text her or pick up the phone. Natty is very upset that she has high hopes for Helena because she says to start their friendship again. She thinks Helena’s going to change, but it’s the same as it used to be.