Love is something no one expects. You never know if it will last forever or be discarded over time. But when you find someone with whom the affection feels real, and you realize you're in love, it feels like both a spell and a curse. A spell, because the feeling is so incredible you feel like you could fly to the moon. A curse, because it's so intense that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down. You fall in love, and the rest becomes history.
I used to dislike talking about love. Sure, it's special, but is it the only thing that matters in this world? That was my mindset—until I met you.
Once, we were asked to give an impromptu speech, and the only topic that came to mind was: "What does love mean to you?" I laughed at myself because love felt cringeworthy. It has the power to change a person entirely, for better or worse. Still, my answer remained the same:
Love comes unexpectedly.
I have a story. Just like love, I used to hate carrots—so much so that the mere smell of them would make me gag. This wasn't an exaggeration. I loathed carrots so much that my family had to stop buying them. Then one day, my grandmother became very sick, and our diet had to change. The doctor recommended more greens, which I didn’t mind, but she also suggested carrots. It was the last thing I wanted to hear.
But I had no choice. One night, my mother cooked a dish with carrots, and they were impossible to separate from the rest of the meal. I had to eat them. To my surprise, when I took that first bite, the flavors burst in my mouth. I couldn't get over how good they actually tasted.
It was unexpected, but from that moment on, I loved carrots. I had stayed away from them for so long that I never acknowledged how good they were.
In life, love can be like that too. Love found me when I wasn’t looking for it. When I was minding my own business, you came along and offered to switch seats so I wouldn’t struggle to see over taller people.
I found you nice and wanted to be friends, but I couldn’t find you after that day. Then, I discovered our classrooms were right next to each other, and you’d say hi to me every time we passed by.
It’s common courtesy to be nice, but this was different. I’ve had people be nice to me before, even nicer, but you stood out. You actually acknowledged my presence, noticed small things about me, even habits my friends hadn’t pointed out. It felt different.
You made me feel something I hadn’t wanted to get close to—love. You made me understand what people meant when they talked about butterflies in their stomachs. I’ve had crushes before, but this one felt different. I didn’t feel the pressure to be perfect or overthink every move. With you, I could just be myself.
Now, I think I get it. Love doesn’t just come unexpectedly; it comes with a feeling you can’t resist. It’s powerful, and the best way to act around someone you love is simply to be yourself. Pretending won’t get you anywhere—the real fun, the real connection, comes naturally. And you hope that they’ll love the real you.
