The Gaze of Love

Jake quickly sat up as soon as he saw 'them'— Abby..

"Are you okay?" Jake heard another voice.. It was Ms Jane.. A small little girl was standing beside her holding her finger.. She was looking at Jake with her head slightly tilted; A confused small girl— Lily..

Not being able to lie, Jake completely neglected Ms Jane's question and asked..

"What are you guys doing here" his voice sounded weak..

Ms Jane took out a bottle of water from her bag and handed it over to Jake..

At first, he tried to refuse but then he just gave up as he didn't even have the energy to say no..

Ms Jane, Jake and Abby sat down on a bench, while Lily sat on Ms Jane's lap..

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital or anything?" Abby spoke..

Jake let out a sigh shaking his head..

Ms Jane was about to repeat her question and ask Jake if he was ok but Abby stopped her.. Abby knew there was no point in asking a question with an obvious answer.. They could see that he was not okay— they also knew that despite that, he would still say that's he..

They looked at the back of Jake's hand, noticing the bright red nail marks.. Abby's gaze slowly went up to his face—to his blank eyes.. Eyes of a person who is dead inside..

Death is undoubtedly not the greatest loss one can experience in life.. The real loss is when a person's heart dies inside while the body is still alive..

Just because someone is breathing doesn't mean they're actually alive.. Maybe it's just an empty soul being forced to live in a dead body..

Abby was able to understand what Jake was going through as it was something they were familiar with..

No one can understand a person unless they can relate to them in some way..

Carefully, Abby put a hand on top of his which caught him off-guard.. He definitely wasn't expecting that..

A touch that he had been craving for— for years..

To light up the mood, Abby got up with a smile, clapping her hands together..

"Ok ok ok enough with the sad atmosphere.. How about I go and buy us all some Ice creams? I mean, Ice cream can make anyone feel better! Right?"

'I really admire you, my strong angel.. Aren't you exhausted yourself? Seeing you act like this to make someone else feels better gives me strength.. I wish may you find your happiness soon too' Ms Jane thought as she looked at Abby with a smile..

On the other hand, Jake was busy staring at them— admiring them, that he didn't know when he begin to smile too..

His eyes followed as Abby walked away, to the ice cream stall and got into the short waiting line..

His stare was interrupted by the sound of Ms Jane clearing her throat..

"Your eyes are telling me that you've known them for a long time.. The way you look at them, you like them don't you?"

"N-No" he stuttered..

She chuckled..

"Have anyone told you before that you're really bad at lying?"

Jake couldn't help but look out at his feet, embarrassed..

She put a hand on Jake's shoulder..

"Usually, this is not something I would say to someone because no one knows about Abby's luck in love judging from their past relationship, better than me.. Love is something that terrifies them now.. But I can see it in your eyes.. There's just something that is convincing me to trust you.. Tell me, Jake.. What does that look mean?"

Jake sighed knowing that he can't hide his feeling no matter how hard he tries.. The eyes are indeed the windows to the soul..

"You're right.. Although I don't even know why they can't seem to remember me anymore and the time we spent together but that, was indeed the most wonderful part of my life" he sighed looking back at Abby who was still waiting in the line..

"It wouldn't be a lie to say that those memories are the sole reason that's keeping me going.. The most beautiful and the only part of my life nothing can compare.. I don't think I've ever loved someone this much, not even myself.. It's not like I never tried, it was just impossible for me"

"If you loved them so much, then why would you give up on them? Why did you stop loving them? Why did you let them go?"

He just shook his head slowly..

"I gave up for the sake of their happiness—And who said that I ever stopped loving them? That's not something you can stop yourself from.. At that time maybe I was too young to fight for what was mine.. Or maybe I just simply let them go cause I never thought that I would ever be able to give them a good future.. I just wished them happiness"

She sighed looking down at lily why who fell asleep in her lap..

"You know, I'm sure they would've had a better future with you than 'him' .." she paused and looked up at the sky..

Following her gaze, he also begins to admire the stars..

"It's all a game of fate in the end.. No one can change what is written in the stars"

"I do not agree— I can not agree to that anymore" she said making Jake's head turn in her direction..

"That's just a lame excuse we humans make to comfort ourselves.. If fate is written in the stars, then do you know that they change every single day? Each star dies and a new star takes its place and the funny part is that we don't even realize it.. Just like that, our fate changes every time we make a decision.. It has nothing to do with the stars"