Lately, I’ve been listening to a song on repeat called “Birds and Cicadas.” It tells me that some people, once missed, are gone for good. Meeting in the fifth season or reuniting in the thirteenth month is all in vain. Some feelings, once missed, last a lifetime. You can’t keep someone who wants to leave or wake up someone pretending to be asleep.
Things we once thought we’d never forget end up forgotten in the process of not forgetting. Emotions will eventually dissipate until nothing is left. But let the past be the past.
Holding onto things we don’t want to let go of may not even be worth mentioning to the other person. What truly matters is mutual exchange. Being unreasonably fixated will only cause endless trouble for oneself.
Reunion is Still Joyful, But the Outcome Never Changes
For three years, Joe pursued Lily without dating anyone else. While everyone else was changing partners frequently during their rebellious teenage years, Joe kept a clean place in his heart for Lily.
Upon finding out, Lily was surprised and, with the encouragement of friends, agreed to be with Joe. Their naive relationship was both funny and touching. Despite sitting face-to-face, they were too shy to speak and communicated through text messages.
Not long after they started dating, they broke up due to their personalities. Three years later, Joe, who had not gone to high school, returned to his hometown. Lily had always missed Joe, and they reconnected, starting a long-distance relationship. Ironically, what caused the breakup three years ago was now the realization that they couldn’t go back.
Some feelings, once missed, last a lifetime. Even if they meet again many years later, they won’t be able to return to the initial innocence. People change, and so do their attitudes towards relationships.
Joe, who has seen too much of the flashy world, may no longer appreciate Lily’s simplicity. And Lily, who is pure and simple, may be intimidated by Joe’s social circle.
Unrequited Love is a Never-Ending Longing
Since entering college, Emily has had a crush on a senior but felt too inferior to confess her feelings. She was content to silently watch over him from afar, pretending to care for him as a friend. Sometimes, she even had to help him pursue other girls.
Despite her friends’ advice to confess her feelings, Emily was too scared. She believed unrequited love was her own business and didn’t want to burden him or risk losing their friendship.
Watching the person she liked flirt and socialize with others every day was torture. Some words left unsaid may never have a chance to be spoken in this lifetime.
Some feelings, once missed, last a lifetime.
The greatest act of unrequited love is selflessness. Even if you don’t love me, I will support you. True unrequited love is a lifelong commitment. Without this dedication, it’s not genuine unrequited love.
But remember, when you choose to hide your feelings and bear them alone, that emotion has already slipped away from you. When it comes to love, you must speak up so the other person understands your feelings. It’s better to know the ending sooner rather than later.
Consider whether it’s regrettable to miss an opportunity or even more regrettable to stay silent. Not expressing your feelings guarantees no outcome, but speaking up may offer a glimmer of hope. In this new era, girls pursuing love shouldn’t be hesitant. In this vast world, meeting the right person is destined, so don’t squander the chances providence gives you.
Live in the moment, don’t easily let someone or a relationship slip away. Remember, every connection is precious and not easily obtained. That person you casually meet on the street could be someone others dream of meeting. In comparison, being so fortunate, why wouldn’t you give it your best shot?
In the end, if you’ve done all you can, even if you miss out, so what? You’ll be sad for a while, but who’s to say the next person you like won’t be even better than the current one?
Our capability lies in seizing every opportunity, cherishing those in front of us, and not letting love slip away easily. Even if the outcome isn’t ideal, at least you won’t have regrets.