That Happiness

**ISLA**
All I can do was too heaved a deep sigh after our conversation. Slowly, I can already understand him. I have a hunch that he already fell in love but someone broke his heart into pieces which makes him like this. Someone makes him a monster. And I honestly, admire that someone, because Zero loves her so much. Zero won’t be like that if he doesn’t love that person. At the same time, I can also feel madness towards that someone. She’s lucky to have Zero, knowing that Zero is sweet and caring. Zero was born with his Greek god-like looks and it’s normal to gain popularity.
Women drooled over him—and it’s pretty normal. Who doesn’t? He’s rich, tall, handsome, sporty, and got bulks and packs. He almost has it all.
However, no matter how hard you try to be the person you are, when love and heartbreak strike, love then can change you. Depending on how you look at it, it can either be extremely beneficial to your life or extremely detrimental to your life. Love has an incredible effect on us, regardless of how we feel about it. Consider the first time you fell head over heels in love with someone and how that feeling felt. Consider a time when you either wanted to just focus on them or when you felt inspired to do big things with your life and reflect on that experience. As you can see, it has the potential to be both beneficial and detrimental.
I wanted to ask him who tainted his vision about love but I just held myself. I let him order food for us. When he asked me what I want, I just replied, “it’s your choice.” After that, I dive into my thoughts again. Guessing Zero’s past experiences in love.
Some sorts of love are so destructive that they will completely devastate you if you are not in a good place in your life. Someone out there will manipulate you into falling in love with them just to use you and your feelings to their advantage. And it's a nightmare. In a lot of these instances, love causes us to do foolish things. Consider the effects: you wind up detaching yourself from loved ones, you stop caring about your ambitions, your self-esteem suffers, and you begin to do things that are exclusively for the sake of the other person. It's a really low and dark place to find oneself in if you allow yourself to fall into it.
Maybe Zero put all his efforts towards that girl but the woman chooses to break his heart.
At some point in their lives, everyone falls in love with someone. It's just unfathomable for me to believe that they have never experienced love for somebody in their entire life.
And, after you've fallen in love, you'll understand how powerful it is, how this sensation can drive you insane while it's coursing through your veins and, more importantly, through your heart.
Of course, falling in love isn't always that simple. Many sacrifices, as well as tolerance and understanding, are necessary. You will have to fight with fire or a swarm of swords at times, but these things should not deter you from your goals or your objectives.
A person's life, views, beliefs, and ideals might drastically change when they fall in love.
Love will not survive forever unless you can transcend the basic differences that stand in the way of meaningful living.
You may appear to be two mismatched people, but if you work together as a team, you will be able to reap significant benefits from your efforts.
“Will you stop daydreaming, baby?” Zero’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I compose myself and sit straight as I reached for the bag of food that he handed to me.
I rolled my eyes when I met his eyes. “I’m not day—”
“I can even hear your thoughts out loud,” he said, sarcasm instantly filling his voice.
“Really?” I grinned. “What am I thinking?”
Zero arched his brow as he maneuvers his car away. “Have some bite of your food. We will still travel for twenty more minutes.”
I nodded and have a bite of the burger he bought. I sighed.
“Don’t sigh over the food,” Zero uttered, “It’s God’s grace,” he added.
I nodded and smiled. “Sorry.”
After that, my boyfriend didn’t talk to me again. Boyfriend? I almost forgot about that. Zero is my boyfriend today.
“What’s with the smile?” he asked which makes me frown slightly and glanced at him. I caught his eyes but he returns his gaze to the road.
“Smiling is a social signal that, in most cases, transmits to others our feelings of happiness and good intentions. When we're happy to see someone, our facial expression reflects this happiness or delight in their presence,” I uttered and wanted to burst into laughter but I held myself when I saw how Zero’s forehead creased.
He glanced at me before glancing back at the road. “Are you kidding me?” he asked, but his voice is soft which makes the hair of my skin arouse. “Why are you smiling?” he asked and gives a clearer question.
“Do I need a reason why I smile?” I asked, teasing him.
Zero arched his brow. “You’re an insane lady then. Because you smile for no reason.”
“I’m not insane—”
“Just continue eating your burger,” he interrupted and after that, silence filled in our atmosphere.
I AM ENJOYING my burger when Zero spoke. “My girlfriend is letting her boyfriend get hungry?” he stated which makes me frown slightly and let out a soft chuckle after.
“Sorry, baby,” I replied and waited for his reaction. It was my first time calling him ‘baby’… and I don’t know how to react when his forehead just creased and he glanced at me. I just let out a smile and grab the burger inside the bag.
“If only we met in a different situation, I could be lucky to be your boyfriend,” he suddenly uttered which makes me stare into his eyes. At this moment, I could feel that my cheeks are burning.
I arched my brow. “Really?” I mocked, diverting my real emotion at the moment.
“You’re a sweet girl—a witty one. You’re charming. Many men will drool over you. You’re still young and there are so many men out there. But for me, I don’t deserve—”
“We’re pretending, right?” I asked, arching my brow. He glanced at me for a second before he glanced back at the road.
Zero sighed. “Yeah. It’s just that I just want you to know that—”
“Love has grabbed you unexpectedly and it has left you spellbound. Compassion called you and you reacted without even realizing why.”
Zero frowned.
“You can’t teach your heart… to love someone. It will beat in an instant to the person that caught your attention. Do you experience that so-called love at first sight?” I asked as I let him take one bite of his burger.
Zero shook his head. “I don’t believe that,” he replied the moment he chews the portion of food inside his mouth.
I smiled. “Love at first sight is real, Zero—”
“Zero? Where’s that baby thing?” he interrupted.
I rolled my eyes. “I can call my boyfriend anything I want,” I replied which makes Zero let out a soft chuckle.
“No pressure, baby,” he said.
“Back to my topic—”
“My girlfriend is a love guru, huh?” he teased.
I heaved a deep sigh. “Zero…” warning filled my voice.
Zero pressed his lips but his smile wanted to come out from those perfect lips. He maneuvers his car to the left, entering the gateway of the subdivision. This place is one of the well-known subdivisions in the city.
“We can’t pretend that we’re in a relationship in front of your parents, Zero. I don’t want any misunderstanding,” I said.
Zero let out a soft chuckle. “Just act casually, baby. And it’s fine to me if you will show how much you love—”
“Excuse me. You’re just my crush, okay?”
“But crush can be developed into love. And why did you ask me for a favor then… if you don’t love me?” he asked which caught me off guard. I don’t know how to react at this moment. My brain cells won’t function well either to speak for myself.
I sighed. “Do I need to give you a reason?”
Zero shrugged his shoulder and then he turned the steering wheel to the right.
“I just admire you but when I find out about your doings—having sex with different women, indulging yourself into desires, the percentage went down.”
Zero arched his brow when I glanced at his side. “So, how many percent are left?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Heh!” I exclaimed and looked past through the window. No one dared to talk between us until the car stopped in front of a black gate. For a few seconds, it opens inward and Zero enter his car inside we saw the circular driveway. I can’t help myself not to feel amazed because of the beauty inside their mansion.
“Nervous?” Zero uttered as he stops his car in front of their house. A man approaches us and opens the door on my side. “Just act normal. No one will bite you,” he added.
I heaved a deep sigh before stepping out of his car. And I was about to turn on his side when a feminine voice called Zero's name.
When I looked in that direction, I saw Zero’s mom. “Glad you’re here sweethearts,” she uttered as she walked towards us—scratch that, to my way.
“You must be…”
“Isla, Ma’am,” I replied which makes the forehead of Zero’s mom, crease.
“Ma’am?” she let out a soft chuckle which makes me flash an awkward smile.
Zero approaches us. “Mom, you’re making her uncomfortable,” he said.
Zero’s mom glared at Zero before she turned to me and lingers her arm into mine. “Let’s go, sweetie, the food is waiting for the two of you,” she said.
When I glanced at Zero, he just nodded, gesturing that I must ride on. I just sighed and continue to walk as Zero’s mom drags me toward their kitchen.
The interior of the house of Zero's parents shouts luxuriousness. From their glimmering chandelier in their living room to the cute candle chandelier in the kitchen.
I can’t help myself not to gasped when I saw the food that was served on the table.
“What’s this, Ma? It’s not a Thanksgiving Day for you to cook too many—”
“Shut up, Zero. The food is not for you, it’s for,” she looked at me, “for this beautiful lady beside me,” she uttered. “Sit down, sweetie,” she added.
Zero rushed near me and pulled a chair for me. When our eyes met, Zero winked at me.
“Oh, son, I saw that,” his mom teased.
Zero turned to his mom. “My girlfriend is on a diet—”
“Girlfriend?” As expected, Zero's mom’s eyes widened in surprise. I turned to Zero and pinched his skin on the arm.
Zero frowned at me. “That’s hurt, huh,” he said but I just rolled my eyes.
“Remember, I’m just here,” his mom’s voice cut in.
“Ma, please, stop pestering my girl—”
“Excuse me, Zero. You seem to choose the wrong word. Anyway, sweetie,” his mom turned to my side, “don’t call me, Ma’am, okay?”
I nodded and pressed my lips, trying to overcome the embarrassment.
“But you can call me ‘mom’, you know, I wished to have a daughter but sad to say, I gave birth to a boy.”
“You should try to make one, who knows, it will be a—”
“Zero,” his mom cut the hum into Zero’s words. “You’re just my only son and you still love to make fun of and tease your mom?” Zero’s mom arched her brow. “How could you—”
“Come on, Ma. My girlfriend is watching you,” he said as he guided his mom to my side. When Zero met my eyes, I sly smirk formed on his lips, and winked at me.
At that moment, I looked away. For sure, my cheeks are burning red. Damn, Zero, I cursed inside my head.