The Pursuit of Love

Lara, overhearing Max’s mention of true love, was reminded of her own curse. Her primary purpose was to find her true love, but she knew that before allowing Steve to kiss her and break her curse, she had to free him from his own curse. The realization saddened her because she had no idea how to break Steve’s curse; she did not possess the power to break such enchantments. Max, still talking, noticed Lara’s distraction and gestured to Maya that they should leave her alone. As they were about to exit the room, Lara turned her eyes towards them and softly said, “Thank you.” Max and Maya turned to her, giving her one last reassuring smile before gently closing the door behind them.

As the night descended, Steve struggled to find solace on his bed, his thoughts consumed by Lara, making it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Sleep eluded him, prompting him to rise from his bed in search of a potent drink that would hopefully lull him into a drunken slumber. Making his way to the shelf, he reached for the strong alcohol, intending to drown his restlessness. However, as he grasped a glass cup, it slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor, alarming his father who swiftly grabbed a bat and hurried toward the source of the noise. Startled by the sight of his son holding another glass filled with 70% alcohol, he promptly took it from his hands, demanding an explanation for this nocturnal madness.

“Father, please give me the drink back. I need to sleep if I’m to get to school early,” pleaded Steve.

“What is troubling you, my son? Why do you feel the need to consume such excessive amounts of alcohol?” inquired Silas, his concern evident in his voice.

“Father, it’s this girl at school. I can’t sleep, and I can’t escape thoughts of her,” confessed Steve.

“Ah, so it’s a girl from school who has unsettled you. Sit down, son, and tell me about her,” Silas responded, his tone softening.

“Father, she is breathtakingly beautiful, the epitome of a true goddess. Her skin radiates like the sun, her red hair accentuating the splendor of her eyes. Those eyes are utterly captivating, and her lips are undeniably alluring. Her flawless skin and the way she carries herself in her dress emphasize the contours of her body,” Steve described, his words filled with a mixture of admiration and longing.

“Now I understand why sleep evades you. Come with me, and I will give you a sleeping tablet instead of the alcohol you desire,” Silas suggested, guiding his son away from the tempting allure of the drink.

Steve obediently followed his father to the doorway, unaware that his mother lay within, unaware and unclothed. After a few minutes, Silas returned with the medication cupped in his hands. Locking eyes with his son, he asked, “Do you genuinely love her, or is it merely a yearning for physical gratification?”

“I love her, father,” Steve affirmed, his voice filled with sincerity.

“Then pursue her,” Silas encouraged, a warm smile playing upon his lips. He entered the room, settling beside his peacefully sleeping wife. Yet, his thoughts returned to Lara’s enchanting image, fueling his own curiosity to catch a glimpse of the girl who held such sway over his son’s thoughts.

Early in the morning, Silas knew that his son had left his car at school, so he decided to give him a ride and take the opportunity to see the girl Steve had been talking about. Since Steve didn’t have his car at home, he rode with his father. Upon reaching the school, Silas asked his son if the girl who had kept him up all night was around. Steve scanned the area with his eyes and spotted Lara walking by at that very moment.

“That’s her,” said Steve, pointing towards the lady in the red gown entering the school premises.

“That’s great, son. You certainly have good taste in women,” said Silas.

Steve got out of the car and hurried to the hall before the bell rang. He was a handsome and promising young adult who had started school late in his childhood due to his father’s financial struggles. However, he was now twenty-two years old and not an object of mockery but admiration, thanks to his father’s wealth. He was respected and desired by every lady in school and in society.

Silas had made a name for himself by developing an AI android phone that could do everything for you. He was incredibly intelligent and grateful to his wife, Ellen, for supporting him despite his inability to attend college. Their relationship had begun after they had an unplanned sexual encounter when Ellen was vulnerable and grieving the loss of her father. Silas had come across her crying on the subway and had taken her to his house to comfort her. During their conversation, he discovered that her father’s death had deeply affected her because he was all she had left. Her mother had passed away a few years earlier, and now her father had succumbed to cancer. As she cried on his shoulder, the comforting touch on her back stirred desires that led to Steve’s conception.

Upon discovering her pregnancy, Ellen insisted on keeping the child, believing that the child would bring them luck. Three years after Steve was born, things started to turn around for Ellen. She was finally able to complete her education as a writer. After graduating, she and Silas got married, and she continued to support Silas in his dream of becoming a scientist.