The True Quest For Love
The Very Start
The bell rang sharply in my ears, and I rolled over in bed again, trying to avoid the alarm's wake-up call. My head hurt as I rolled, and it took even more effort to stand up. My heart still ached, and I felt weak. I had been drinking since the part of the night when the woman I had deep feelings for, and who I thought loved me, told me she never felt anything for me. We had been friends for years, and I had always thought our friendship was solid enough to lead to a perfect relationship. All my life, I had known no other woman but her.
Brena and I had been friends since college, very close. Amidst all the other girls I'd tried dating in the past, I'd never felt the same sweet feeling or happiness with them as I did with my friend. Now, she's told me she's not interested in me and thinks we should probably stop meeting. Oh, my heart stings.
My name is Henry Perry, and I'm a young businessman in my 20s. I'm the only child of my father's, and I think I'm one of his biggest problems. You're probably wondering about my mother. She left a long time ago for reasons that aren't entirely clear to me. I remember her saying that my father wasn't the man of her dreams, and she left to pursue her true love. It's a bit ironic, isn't it? The truth is, their marriage was arranged by our families as a business deal. For years now, my father has been single, working hard and putting pressure on me to find a good woman to marry, or else I'll have nothing to inherit. Personally, I want to experience true love too, I want to be with a beautiful and kind woman who I can spend the rest of my life with. But... I've never found someone who feels like the real deal.
All my life, I've disguised myself in public to avoid being recognized as the wealthy son of Mr. Perry, the owner of the wealthiest company in the country. I've done this in the hopes of finding someone who loves me for who I am, not just for my wealth, but for deep affection. It may seem crazy, but I've always tried to blend in by acting like a young man working part-time in a cafe to make ends meet. Ironically, this cafe was actually built by me, but I've kept that fact hidden from the public eye.
One day, I met Brena when she came into the cafe with her friends to get coffee. At first glance, I felt like she was the one - my main one, my lover, my affection, everything she could be to my life. She was stunningly pretty, and her smile from a distance gave me a slight, sweet pang in my heart. I knew right then that I was in trouble. I immediately informed my PA, Mr. Douglas, to do some digging and find out more about her. As it turned out, fate was on my side - we attended the same college. She was studying art, while I was pursuing a degree in history education. I thought to myself, 'Wow, I've found the perfect woman.
Okay, so I didn't want to use my wealth to get her to love me, so I continued to live my pretend life. As I got closer to her, I realized she was a genuinely good friend - trust me, she's one of a kind. Unlike some other ladies I've met so far, Brena is different. She's hardworking and has a great personality. Oh, lovely Brena.
With a mix of hope and nervousness, I didn't think she had ever considered dating any guy. In my own mind, I had convinced myself that I was the one for her. After all, we were incredibly close, and I had always thought that we shared a special connection. It felt like we were just two shy lovers, too afraid to express our true feelings. I had always assumed that our friendship was a precursor to something more. So, on the day of our graduation, I mustered up the courage to ask her out on a date that night. But, guess what? My heart was shattered into a million pieces. She told me that she had never thought of us in a romantic way. It was like a punch to the gut, and I felt like I'd been living in a dream world. I'm broken, and my heart cries out in agony. The thought of her not feeling the same way is almost too much to bear.
Why would Brena feel nothing for me? I wondered, my mind racing with thoughts of self-doubt and confusion. I thought I had lived a normal life, treating everyone with kindness and respect. I was sweet, charming, and one of the most handsome guys around - every girl seemed to want me. So, what was wrong with me? Why didn't Brena like me? I thought I was a perfect example of a gentleman, always courteous and considerate. But why did Brena not feel a thing? I asked myself all sorts of questions, trying to make sense of it all, but the more I thought about it, the more my heart ached. I was consumed by my emotions, and before I knew it, I had drunk myself into a stupor that night. Oh, the pain still lingered, and my heart hurt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces. I suddenly shouted out in frustration, throwing myself onto my bed, 'Mr. Douglas, can you please stop this stupid alarm from ringing? It's piercing my heart and making me feel even more miserable!'
Oh, right away, young master,"
Struggling to get out of bed my legs knocked against the empty bottles of alcohol that littered the floor from the previous night's binge. "Ow!" I groaned, wincing in pain as I felt the throbbing ache in my head and the stinging sensation in my legs. Just then, Mr. Douglas rushed into the room, his face scrunched up in distaste as he took in the sight and smell of the messy room.
"Young master, are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he tried to navigate through the sea of empty bottles and broken glass. I looked up at him, my eyes blurry from the hangover, and my emotions raw from the previous night's heartbreak. "Wait, Mr. Douglas," I slurred, my words tumbling out in a jumbled mess. "Why doesn't she see me? Why doesn't Brena have eyes for the best person? I mean, I'm the best man for her, aren't I? I'm the nicest, coolest, and most gentle person she could ever meet. Why doesn't she just see it? Why doesn't she like me?" I rambled on, not realizing that I was talking too much, my words pouring out in a desperate attempt to make sense of my broken heart. Mr. Douglas listened patiently, his expression a mix of concern and amusement, as I continued to vent my frustrations and emotions.
Young master," Mr. Douglas said, interrupting my lamenting. I turned to him, seeking validation, and asked, "Yeah, you agree with me, right?" My voice was laced with a mix of desperation and hope, as I yearned for someone to understand my perspective. Mr. Douglas hesitated, choosing his words carefully, before responding, "Hmm, yeah, young master, you could have been the nicest, but..." He paused, his expression a delicate balance of empathy and honesty. "I think you always just act like yourself, not to sound disrespectful, young master. You're a man with an art of pride, and it's hard to shake off the habits of a lifetime." His words were like a gentle breeze on a summer day, soft and soothing, yet carrying a hint of truth that stung. "Despite our efforts to pull off this stunt for 2 years now, acting like you're just a normal, ordinary man, and not the wealthy son of Sir Perry, you still tend to show those... features." Mr. Douglas's voice trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear: my pride and arrogance had been my downfall, and it was time for me to confront the truth.
How, Mr. Douglas?" I asked, my voice laced with defensiveness and a hint of desperation. "I've always acted like a broke man, just like we planned." Mr. Douglas raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Yeah, you did, but how would a broke man still have enough money to buy a whole bookstore just because Brena said she likes it? And isn't it true that you still drive to school in luxury cars, Sir?" His words cut deep, and I felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment. I had been so careful to keep up the act, but it seemed that Mr. Douglas had seen right through me.
"I just bought the bookstore at the back, out of sight," I explained, trying to downplay the situation. "And we don't drive the latest cars to school, you know. Does she know I bought the bookstore?" I asked, my voice rising in alarm. "Oh no, did she find out?" My mind was racing with the possibility that Brena might have discovered my true identity.
Mr. Douglas shook his head, his expression reassuring. "No, Young Master. She didn't, but that was close. What I'm trying to say is that you don't act like you're broke, you still rock the latest designers and you show off your wealth in subtle ways. But that's not the thing that's confusing Brena. You've shown her a confused state of yourself, like you're trying to be someone you're not. I guess she doesn't know what you are exactly, because you've shown her different characters. I feel like it's because she probably doesn't know who you are, your true nature, I mean." Mr. Douglas paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "What about we try a different approach? Let's take a step back, regroup, and give it another try. Maybe this time, we can show Brena the real you, without all the pretenses and facade.
