[a short story for contest held by @WattpadPoetry]

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❝ It's a kind of feeling when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams ❞

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GLANCING HERSELF IN the mirrors near sidewalk. Sana felt quite annoyed and relieved at the same time. Valentine's day felt very different this year-round. At least this is what ran through the mind of Sana as she walked.

The sun seemed to softly kiss her skin which created a warmth in her heart.
And despite the lovely weather, she can't put a smile on her face even though she is not that type of person to complain, kind of felt doing so.

She wasn't a fan of this day. To her it was a nuisance and she'd much rather stay in her cozy
bedroom but, this meeting was important to her, especially if she want to stay peaceful in future.

Every Valentine's Day since she moved to Kyiv had been the same. The familiar faces of street vendors were etched with smiles as they waited for lovesick couples, teenagers to come in and splurge hundreds of hryvnia on things that wouldn't last a day. Flowers, chocolates, stuffed bears that said the words, 'l love you' on them.

A complete waste, she thought as she walked past them.
Funny how almost the entire world would be putting so much thought into something that would only last 24 hours.

Yes, it sounded as cliche as it came but she just couldn't try to like it.
Maybe it was because she had never actually been in a relationship all nineteen years of her life or because she couldn't understand how one day could dictate so much in one's life.

No one could convince her that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't as bad as she's allowed herself to believe it was.

Sana had set herself in some belief. A hard-hitting reality; no person was worth of all that effort when they'd just f*ck you over in the end.

She walked towards the entrance, gripping the door handle and gently pushing it back.

As she stepped her foot inside, Sana wasn't surprised to see the place decorated with hearts. Pink, red and whites adorned the theme of the small café.
She couldn't help but twist her face with irritation, her allergy to for this greeting card holiday couldn't be hidden.

Claiming the booth in the corner of the room, away from chatty people, she perched herself onto the chair.

"Try not to be disgusted by love, lady" A manly voice pulled her from her thoughts over to a man, a year older than her.

A chuckle escaped Sana's mouth as she thinks about what the person standing near her table said.

"Disgusted? Me?" Sana asked. Sarcasm dripped through every crevice of her words.

Caleb waved his hand through the air "Oh, please. I know how to read people's face. And right now, it's written all over your face that you hate all the things related to love"

"Hate... is a strong word. More like, I stay away or avoid all the things related to it" She bite back with a small smile.

"Whatever sails your boat. For me it's same thing" Caleb replied politely, gesturing by his hand to ask her permission to take a seat beside hers.

For a split second they both fell into a complete silence, Sana's eyes gazing outside, seeing couple's making out in their own world.
While Caleb was busy in his own strings of thought, a lot of things changed since they last met. She isn't even recognising him.

"It's not like it is contagious, you know" a familiar voice said. She turns towards the source and was pleasantly surprised, it was him again.

He wore a smile which somehow was cute, making her return it with smiling on her own.

What the hell? I never referred anyone's smile cute before She thought for a while.

"What's not contagious?" She asked confusingly. Ignoring the sudden absurd thought about his smile. Working part time in a law firm, she had learnt some decent social skills. Even if the other person is extremely handsome.

He smiled and nodded towards the couples "Love" He said simply, but at the same time it made her scoff.

"I would rather not push my luck"

"And fall in love"

"I'm sorry" She sounded as if she had an attitude but she was genuinely confused.

"You said, you're not going to push your luck and what? Fall in love?"

Sana was baffled, as to why this guy she knew from nowhere asking her questions.

"Yes" "And how's that any of your business?"

"Do I struck a nerve?" He asked amusingly.

"Listen I'm here for an important meeting and now that is cancelled via email, your behaviour isn't helping either. Please you can take your leave" She begged him to go, completely annoyed.

"Are you seriously not recognising me Sana?"

"Wha─wait? You? Caleb Finn." She questioned, relaxing onto her chair.

I am literally getting short tempered these days

She remembered, Caleb and her used to attend sculpture classes together few years back. He changed a lot in five years, but his annoying personality is still intact.

"Yes, I expected you to recognise me."

"I'm sorry, everything is so chaotic these days. I just can't recall my life back in Braha."

For next two hours, Sana found herself lost in conversation with Caleb. They spoke about everything from how she was in her final semester of college studying Law and how she loved living here alone.

Caleb told her about how he dropped out of college after one semester to focus on Painting since he didn't find joy in anything else.

"So, You don't believe in love huh?" Caleb questioned amusingly.

"I would rather not talk about it"

Pulling Sana's hand from beneath the table, Caleb stood up and muttered let's go under his breath.

The lazy wind pushes against the unmown grass like a child sending a dandelion seeds on their way. It was nearly spring noon.

Pointing to the man caressing his dog in the middle of the street, Caleb said "Care" to her.

"What?" She asked baffled. Taking a look towards the man she smiled.

"Care is the first element of love. You care about the things you love, it can be a pet or your favourite pair of sunglasses. And with care comes recognition, like the dog can feel it is her master and he truly love her."

"Wow! You are acting too philosphical Caleb. I got it but that doesn't mean i believed yet" She exclaimed mockingly.

"I have a whole day to make you realize the significance of this day"

A few minutes later. Tugging at the sleeves of her cardigan Caleb showed her a woman struggling to slide her handbag on her shoulders because she was cradling her baby.

"Sacrifice is the next one. You have to give things up if you want to be with the one you love. It can be responsibility as well but when it's true love, it doesn't feel like sacrifice or responsibilty"

His explaination earned a 'hmm' from her

Inorder to enjoy the pink cotton candy selling across the street. They started striding towards the shop. Stopping at the curb of the road before crossing the street, he signalled towards a boy helping a old man to cross the street near crosswalk.

"Respect is the third aspect, like a cornerstone of love. It makes us feel safe and to express ourselves. ...Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they're different from you or you don't agree with them. It builds the core called Trust"

Sana remembers that the reason behind her parents getting divorce, was because they never respected each other decision and choices. She felt sad that how their falling relationship affected her childhood and career. It breaks her to see how the passion between the two people she loved the most is destroying.

Agreeing to his reply, Sana encirled her fingers around his biceps and whined " I agree and now let's eat candy. C-Come on"

For next ten minutes they ate their cotton candy, savouring the sweet taste like the sweetness of this significant day. Both of them laughing at the two siblings fighting and teasing eachother next to them for ice- cream and candy.

"Happiness is key of love. They both come hand in hand, enjoying company even with yourself alone, living in peace. it makes you feel inspired and gives a brighter approach to life. You know that ' on cloud nine' feeling"

"Haha...I agree. They are so adorable"

"We should go there. See...boat ride under the bridge. It would be fun." Caleb suggested enthusiastically. Normally, he used to come at this place for gazing at the lake, a perfect place for him to sketch his painting. Today it seems a more better place to catch up with her old friend.

"Oh yes, definitely"

They rushed towards the corner. The boats were scattered over the dock like fall leaves in a pond. The colours were beautiful, random, like numerous blooming spring flowers in field.

The boats bobbed on the waves, turning a little as they settled on one particular brown coloured one. With sails that billowed in the early spring wind, the boats sailed by. It glided from the dock into the clear lake water.

Under the sky, a hue so gentle between cloud and baby-blue, they both admired the flowers, sense their aromas, in the moment enjoying the transient beauty. It was one of those spring days with a kiss of coldness that somehow heightened the warm rays of the sun. A day filled with nature-given happiness.

Breaking the serene silence Caleb concluded " Love is beauty, a truth around you. If something is beautiful, you cannot but love it. It is like fluid. It changes with time in its expression and manifestation"

With that they welcomed the almost end of day, splashing water and laughing at each other. As evening casts her dusky gown, indicating the calm stillness everywhere. For in the achievements of the day were little exhausting and soul warming, spreading a sense of happiness...

[1710 Words]

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a/n:-  Kyiv and braha are places in Ukraine hence the currency mentioned in the story is hryvnia

I hope you all liked the story

Love, akati