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Is love really just about the sparks? If the thrill is no longer there, is it finally a sign to leave and move on? But we cannot blame those who view it that way, as movies and novels convince us that love is all about that. Isn’t it ironic? If most people believe that relationships are about staying through ups and downs together, then why does the spark once ignited suddenly lose its own light? Nowadays, it is not about how hard it is to find love, or if it lasts long—rather, it is viewed insignificantly because it is short-lived. That, for some, love is only for pleasure, for fun, and for the “kilig.” It is no surprise that teenage love is often seen as a feeling too light to be taken seriously. No wonder people keep on thinking that romance is dead when it really isn’t—they just make it that way. Truly, to love someone is hard. Relationships are not always about the butterflies we feel in our stomach—nor the blush we feel every time they send us a text. It is about staying even if that light dims. That flame that ignites at the very beginning, and then suddenly, it fades away. It is about choosing to stay, especially on the days when the journey gets tough and its weight feels heavier to carry. Yet, even with those pains and tears, there should always be a reason to stay. Love is not always perfect. It is not free from any kind of mess and struggles. But love? It should feel like home. No, it is home. I remember, on one random Friday evening, I read that text — exactly 8:03 PM. “Nawawala na rin kasi yung sparks e,” it said. I stared blankly at it for a while before my emotions came out. Because how can you look for love if you are just chasing after it for the sparks? Perhaps, if you didn’t know how to define love as you grew up, you would cling to what you’ve known yet never fully understood. Before, I used to view it that way too—until it came to my experience. Those nights of practicing how to argue calmly, lowering pride, and proving your love even when they feel unlovable. For me, that is how love should be. But even after what I went through, the mistreatment and the loudest disrespect I got, I still chose to believe that love is everywhere. Love talks. Love heals. And maybe, it is not my biggest heartbreak at fifteen — instead, it is a lesson for me to take. To learn and to grow.