The first time Jake met Lanty, it was as if the universe had conspired to create the perfect moment. He had always enjoyed the simple pleasures of life—a good conversation, a quiet afternoon with a book, or the sense of calm that came from wandering in nature. He wasn't the kind of person to seek attention or excitement, but he was neither withdrawn nor shy. Jake was the type of guy people liked to be around—outgoing enough to enjoy a party, but thoughtful and grounded enough to find joy in solitude.
That day, he'd decided to clear his head with a walk through the countryside, something he did every now and then. The hills outside of town were his sanctuary, a place where the noise of everyday life fell away, leaving only the peaceful hum of the world around him. He followed the well-trodden path up a gentle slope, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin and the cool breeze brushing against his face.
The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, scattered with clouds that seemed to drift lazily across the horizon. The hilltops were dotted with wildflowers—delicate bursts of color that danced in the wind. It was a beautiful, timeless scene, but today, something about it felt different. It felt special.
As Jake crested the hill, he spotted someone sitting on the grass, just a little way off the path. She was alone, her attention focused on a book in her lap. Her hair—light brown, streaked with gold in the sunlight—fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and she sat with a kind of effortless grace, her posture relaxed, yet elegant. Jake paused, caught off guard by the image in front of him. There was something captivating about the way she blended into the landscape, as if she belonged there, a part of the scene itself.
He hesitated, unsure whether to approach or continue on his way, but something drew him toward her. Maybe it was the setting, or the quiet serenity of the moment, but Jake found himself stepping off the path, making his way toward the girl.
As he got closer, she looked up, her eyes meeting his with a soft, curious expression. Her face lit up with a smile, and in that instant, Jake felt his heart skip a beat.
"Hey," he said, his voice a little quieter than he'd intended.
"Hi," she replied, closing her book and setting it aside. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Jake said, glancing around at the rolling hills and the golden light of the late afternoon sun. "It really is."
She patted the grass next to her, and to Jake's surprise, he felt a surge of nervousness. He wasn't usually shy, but there was something about her—her ease, her openness—that made him suddenly aware of himself in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He sat down beside her, feeling the cool blades of grass against his palms.
"I'm Lanty," she said, turning to face him. Her eyes were a soft, hazel color, flecked with gold that seemed to catch the light.
"Jake," he replied, managing a small smile.
For the next hour, they talked, the conversation flowing as easily as the breeze that moved through the hills. They talked about the countryside, about the books they were reading, about life. There was no awkwardness, no need to impress—just two people sharing a moment in a beautiful place. Jake found himself smiling more than he had in weeks, laughing at her witty remarks, enjoying the way she seemed to view the world with such warmth and curiosity.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the hills, Jake felt a strange sense of contentment. It wasn't just that Lanty was beautiful, though she undeniably was. It was something deeper—her kindness, her easy laughter, the way she seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say. There was something about her that made him feel at ease, like he could be himself without any pretense.
By the time they parted ways, Jake was already thinking about when he might see her again. As he walked back down the hill, the sky now painted in shades of pink and orange, he couldn't help but replay their conversation in his mind. It had been perfect—almost too perfect.
At first, Jake didn't think much of it. People met all the time, shared a connection, and went their separate ways. But as the days passed, he found himself thinking about Lanty more and more. He thought about the way she had smiled at him, the way her laughter had sounded in the quiet of the countryside. He remembered the way her eyes had sparkled when she talked about her favorite books, and the way she had made him feel—like he was someone worth knowing.
What started as a simple memory soon became something more. Jake began to wonder if that moment on the hill had meant as much to her as it had to him. He found himself daydreaming about her during class, imagining what it would be like to see her again, to spend more time with her. The thought of her became a quiet, persistent presence in his mind—a warm glow that accompanied him throughout his day.
But as the days turned into weeks, those thoughts began to shift. The soft glow of admiration slowly intensified, becoming something Jake couldn't ignore. He found himself scanning the campus, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, wondering if she was thinking about him too. He replayed their conversation over and over in his mind, searching for any hint that she might have felt the same way.
Soon, what had started as a beautiful memory became something more complicated. Jake wasn't just thinking about Lanty anymore—he was consumed by her. Every detail of his life seemed to revolve around the possibility of seeing her again, of being near her. He found himself checking her social media, trying to piece together fragments of her life, imagining what it would be like if she became a part of his.
It was a slow, steady spiral, one that Jake didn't even notice at first. But by the time he realized what was happening, he was already in too deep. Lanty had become more than just a person to him—she had become an idea, a symbol of something perfect and unattainable. And with each passing day, Jake found himself falling further and further into the illusion he had created.
As he lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of something. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that whatever happened next, it would change everything.
The problem was, he had no idea how to stop himself from falling.
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Sometimes , we are all victims of love