WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

data-p-id=e81b9c9f71216086ba6c4556eb0e773f,I opened the gate slowly and our new neighbor was standing in front of me.

data-p-id=1dd0d02b1ddd50bc9db45f995cbb01b1,A woman and two girls and a boy were standing in front of me.

data-p-id=b26eb9c00834a69ebbcdc5b2fd2c9eae,I greeted them and welcomed them inside .

data-p-id=c8fa383bf64ead3530d7328bc2b84cf0,One girl was around twelve years and the other was maybe 6 years old.

data-p-id=6e61d050a8e659a4b06af74a47312dad,Boy was of my age and guess what? He was 'Ryan'.

data-p-id=cd0ca21120a6c6f62a90ad2bb0699cae,I never expected to meet him again but I thought that time luck was on my side, I smiled.

data-p-id=9c8741328aed3b768685c5c5e9f883bb,My mom and the woman name Emily Williams lost in their gossips. The two girls went outside to play. Dad had still not arrived home.

data-p-id=f78d2b8db1a6c7f1f8cce5ec37d90f25,I and Ryan left for my room upstairs.

data-p-id=aba155077d89b17217c5293857e2b4b7,Ryan: so, now you see I don't lie I live very close to you.

data-p-id=0df1ea32db6239f132598d88d7772dae,He giggled.

data-p-id=c76d5637427fc5a389845d0257f27d99,Bella: so funny!

data-p-id=2fae374178a52b5468c9895b6141c9a3,I rolled my eyes showi

data-p-id=b2eee0cb4a630f9d4fd410eb3f8e8ac7,Ryan: So this is your room? hmm, but why isn't your room filled with posters of some celebrity crush like other teenagers?

data-p-id=5e3d7a533335a1ff9659afd67ab4fcb8,Bella: Everyone has there own taste, so...

data-p-id=5c3d7a7a6f0c2938b704baebee0ed31d,Ryan: But you had celebrity crush right and your room was packed with the posters right?

data-p-id=e28e3272b414db75566c9d41d6987ade,I widened my eyes and asked "How the hell did you know, did we know each other or are you a stalker? who are you? ".

data-p-id=23d75865916a9cd1d2754dc07a38a551,I felt a little bit uneasy.

data-p-id=54dc394888a29fd061fbaa4b766c29e7,Ryan: Don't worry I am not a stalker just a guess (he laughed and continued) so why you don't have those anymore?

data-p-id=bbfa86ac4ec9aee820848429ef740594,"I don't like anymore that's it, no big reason," I said while looking down the floor.

data-p-id=8c6c973b1198f1848dc9f4fcf9e9f46c,He smiled and said, " Bella you can't lie to me I know you better than anyone, we have to work to bring back the old Bella."

data-p-id=7254361d018fdb0d6013fdb3716a110c,I shouted," What do you mean you know me better than anyone? We have just met and for your kind information I am still the old Bella, you are so rude, confident and specially hella annoying!”

data-p-id=5c4b73ea670b92d02685d0cd211a4569,He smiled “ You too, you are also very cute.”

data-p-id=e7ef2c4099bb1b5fd0e697c18a0dcf7d,'He is so annoying! When did I say he is cute? Is he mad or something? And how did he know about me so much? He is creepy.’

“ Don’t over think. Your little brain cannot take this much pressure.”

“ Whatever you are, you are annoying!”

data-p-id=f3fd9240acd159d69743db022a7b0feb,"So in which school do you go?" I asked casually while he was observing my room.

data-p-id=96ff7859ac08fb2e23062e2bf8841643,"To xxxxx school " he replied while looking at my middle school picture.

‘data-p-id=6b98ccbeeaadb9a18758c498415f46fa,Thank god he didn't go to my school.’

data-p-id=76f26d4939c9e715d474f9dd0731900a,"So this year you are gonna graduate from your high school right?" he asked.

data-p-id=33327c20fbd90fa58b48be29279612c9,"yep"

data-p-id=536e8994f65286c85855b4b62b8d24a3," Bella wanna hangout tomorrow after school?" He asked me cutely.

data-p-id=36a1127f82a84af8fdc0fde90884e45c,'What does he mean?'

data-p-id=829c9fe212585f407c5a07ceea1fa058,"With me?" I asked confusingly.

data-p-id=ba9db4aabfd196b1310c4e95a1d8cf96,"Is there anyone else?" he asked sarcastically.

data-p-id=430e41ffce957fdbcd02d26d6e0b4081," No but still, y-yeah sure I will go," I said while stuttering a lot.

data-p-id=dc20cc48372e4b6a760ab4afca13d94f,I didn't know why but I felt butterflies were flying in my stomach.

data-p-id=5eb9defc1514dfeca3f6827bc5f1f62e,I was flustered and blushing hard for the unknown reason. Maybe cause it has been so long that someone had asked me out. The last time I hung out with my friends was maybe 3 or 4 years ago.

data-p-id=6a6432c17d9f764080ba7b738a4a914e,Maybe he noticed it and said " You look more beautiful while blushing." he laughed.

data-p-id=b392b4d5743a07eb35c8d865bd2f11bf,"Shut up!"

‘How could I forget that he is still a jerk? ugh stupid me!’

data-p-id=7d8c6464ae4183127b9291688829c0df,"By the way, I have one question, do we know each other?" I asked.

data-p-id=94a39b820cbbf72bcacdd834cb534a77," Maybe or maybe not." he smiled.

data-p-id=b4a434afa68c70a954cfb494947fb724,'What the hell is he crazy? ugh is this even a answer it felts like he is asking me the question. Never mind he is crazy and stupid so you have to be calm Bella and you can do this.’

data-p-id=6eff18891602f11e65e6a7c0a572198b,I stayed silent for few moments. Then again we talked with each other about various stuffs.

data-p-id=014b907054c64a775337da4a8a671d81,We talked a lot about random things and laughed. I didn’t know why did I felt a little bit happy? Maybe after a long period of time I get someone to talk and laugh.

‘How I wish this moment will stay with me forever. I never thought that this jerk could be so friendly and can make laugh this much. It was total unexpected to me. But a question always remained in my mind have I ever met him? If yes then where and when? And if not then why I always think that we have met with each other?’

data-p-id=f70663f181ddd5e0184b5030c5086762,Out of blue, he asked me a weird question "Bella, what did you think happiness is?"

data-p-id=8135c9e22ef390b54ee6263e998a399a,I became speechless "um, maybe when something good happens and you feel good?" I was confused, I didn't know if I should reply or asked him back.

data-p-id=568bc0d94049a963ad392646e85227a6,He just smiled and nodded.

data-p-id=cf236b7b081f98959beb9f4e4a11ffe0,'He is weird, what type of question is this? He is totally a weirdo!'

data-p-id=1cb218c68c2fe2d26772928ae37d21a4,Mom called us for dinner

data-p-id=15f2e040abefb37a3f36972e7bcfc65d,Time skips~

data-p-id=69b3d247e1a0a8b6e18cc822a9a43bf4,"Bye Ryan, take care.'

data-p-id=62f4d0b69632b013babe8db9af6af4f5,He smiled " Meet you tomorrow, Bell."

data-p-id=8a9789b6ebe0b7d6458de2202c7395ef,We looked at each other like two eternal lovers were separating.

data-p-id=5beb516fa7441a94e106366b31aab7ea,I laid down on my bed. After sometime Ryan texted me

data-p-id=ac68e63a5b9d8bd9b95705c9362194e1," Felt really nice to spend time with you."

data-p-id=ce3d09ca95edfcfa80dce4dcae122e66," me too."

data-p-id=316047f95797089ede964be76bdd19ce,"let's spend more time with each other."

data-p-id=ad22d55b57bc5bd648ac4754ca776eb9,"sure."

data-p-id=6c0485d337f982b90b0c6734b61cac02,"Good night bell."

data-p-id=e3c5272a76eca804407dc34587c0891d,"good night Ryan."

data-p-id=ecd813edf5bf86db0c7b3a9e6f3cb28a,I don't know why but I felt really good after so many days later.

data-p-id=efc204dadff98fc26c0632fa87228e3c,"Bella, what is happiness?"

data-p-id=320e9a54eb4704b076bd4dedba34fd47,This question started to flow in my head again and again.

data-p-id=c20fd57c4f254ffd085f96ba3f1313e7,What should be its proper answer? The whole night I was just thinking about this question but no answer. I also thought ‘ Why did he even asked those question? Is there anything which he wanted to convey through this question or he just asked me randomly?’

data-p-id=c2d92318d25866f156459418dd9ab8eb,I fell in deep sleep.

That day I had so many questions but no answer. The day when I met Ryan for the first time I had never thought he would asked me weird question frequently. His answers were also complex and weird like his questions. If I would have known that then I would have been prepared.

data-p-id=70e41d773df58738364fd067eccd9d1d,Next day after school~

data-p-id=378537b92fbbf103438553d43fe51456,He texted me~

data-p-id=6c97180363ee238cd8a1dccecacfd309," Let's meet up in cozy café, I am gonna pick you up at 5 pm."

data-p-id=20612273fe24ffe18aa25293f7ba6e47,Suddenly something happened.

data-p-id=8147d3c18a63ca87496bb9880dfb4178," Ryu, I am in a big problem."

data-p-id=dd6c1ed57d83a3c60f0c346132694c76,"What happen Bell, answer me "

data-p-id=7080df3af8bb8eac25a517402ebd7d85,seen but no answer.

data-p-id=9027bee646a39257fe6dbc317b2103fb,"Bell!"

data-p-id=f599072870567c8617973131428b4962,"Bell!"

data-p-id=c7b29839bc3492eb50f22ad8215e8872,Still no answer~

data-p-id=320209f6cfd01c0948dee7969af9b7ad,Author note~

data-p-id=70a8b6e25b7381255a4bce6cef8ed155,What do you think? What happened to Bella? Stay tuned, stay healthy.

data-p-id=ccaa59914e3afe24575359124ae69541,to be continued~