The Modern Cycle of Love

Love has been regarded as the purest most natural and peaceful feeling between humans. Yet nowadays it became the reward of an unethical fetish, a mysterious and stressful game we play with one another. We consume all our energy and attention to get the person we love and once we get what we want we are generally disappointed to find out that the reward did not deserve the effort.

The modern cycle of love lies in the heart of a simple story…

An ordinary night. Sitting at home, watching a movie with friends. The sound of a handful popcorn being crashed in the mouth is the only allowed extraterrestrial sound. We share the same couch, but are all on a personal journey to where ever the movie takes us.

I don’t know if it is the over-emotional love scene or the heart-breaking break-up, but a friend leans over and whispers in my ear “when will you meet Girl X again?” I answer perplexed and annoyed “How would I know! Just watch the movie, we’ll talk later.” Why would a friend do this to you? Remind you the fact that has been bugging you since your last date. You let your guard down tranquilized with scenes from the unrealistic over-exposed romance movie. Some love song included in the soundtrack scratches your ears and the dilemma “Why don’t I call the Girl X right now? What is holding me back?” sneaks up to your brain like a poisonous snake, hissing away your peaceful thoughts.

Thank you friend for ruining the movie for me.

I feel like the master of communication, yet I am hopeless like a paralyzed person. I can’t do anything to ruin my chances with Girl X. My phone is peacefully waiting to command all my wishes. A phone call? You got it. Texting? Nothing can be easier and it will show you all the bullshit stuff you sent her before to grab her attention. Email? Right away. Facebook? Can you ask for something more challenging? Like a fat person craving for food, I sit on the couch in the dark shaking, trembling and sweating with the desire to get in touch. My hands are tied.

Like many friends, I have been to too many interviews on Love Street to know that it is not the joy of emotions or the act of love that gets you the girl, but how well you play and handle the whole game. Don’t let 95% of the love movies fool you. Love Actually? Give me a break. Notting Hill? Woman on Top? You really need to put those DVDs away and get the real facts. The whole love scene has evolved and changed to meet the demands of today’s universe. You have to catch up or you will be loveless.

Flirting can almost be written on a few pieces of paper with mathematical equations and a few footnotes. Dating can well be turned into a diagram made up of a few “Situation”, “Reaction” and “Outcome” boxes. Breakup has gotten even worse where both parties started asking themselves “Are we really broken up?” even if one of the parties starts dating someone else.