"LOVE IS A GAME. I'm a player." She said it with a shrug, as if it were just some uncertain opinion.
That alone made me pause, my milk tea halfway to my lips.
Zane came to mind. I wonder what he'd feel if he heard those words.
Without realizing it, I nodded to myself before letting out a deep sigh.
"Maybe for you, it is," I began, staring into space. "But for me, love is a battle. I am a soldier." And I will fight against anyone who stands in my way of winning—even if… it has to be you.
I looked her straight in the eyes and smiled.
"Some might think of love the same way you do, but others see it the way I do, too." My gaze slowly dropped from her eyes to the cup of milk tea in my hands, and my smile turned bitter. "So I hope… you never make the mistake of playing with someone who's fighting for you."Because I will be the one you'll have to face.
I leaned back against my chair, idly stirring what was left of my milk tea. I had already lost the appetite to finish it.
A player? Maybe. A traitor? Yes…
"I really thought we were exactly the same. We weren't best friends for nothing, right?" I added, my voice softer as the pain began to creep in. "We both love black and white, we listen to the same songs, we share the same playlist, and we idolize the same band. There were so many things we had in common that I never imagined there would still be things we wouldn't agree on." I paused for a moment, something catching in my throat, forcing me to swallow before continuing.
It was the weight of everything that had happened these past few weeks—the truth I discovered, the cracks I could no longer ignore.
"Turns out, aside from those things… we're not alike at all." I let out a hollow laugh. I felt her fall silent, probably waiting for what I'd say next. But I chose to stay quiet and not say anything more.
Loving is like being in a battle. When you love, you are already trapped in a fight with only two possible endings: you either go home victorious, or you walk away defeated.
You win when the person you're fighting for is also fighting for you. But you lose when you're the one being fought against.
There are different kinds of people involved in the battle of love. Each one has distinct traits.
First are the martyrs. These are the people who sacrifice too much of themselves. They are willing to give up their needs, desires, even their dreams for the person they love. They pour all their energy into the fight, even when the other person doesn't give the same effort. They stay in relationships where they are ignored, disrespected, or unloved—yet they refuse to leave, enduring all the pain.
Second are the cowards—the ones who don't fight. They are the opposite of martyrs. These are people who clearly feel something for someone, but instead of expressing it or making a move, they keep it hidden. While martyrs endure pain to keep love alive, cowards avoid pain by never fighting for love at all. Instead of sacrificing too much, they sacrifice the chance at love just to protect their hearts. They don't chase or insist; they stay quiet, go with the flow, and watch from a distance.
Third are those who fight in moderation. This is a balanced kind of love. They know how to show effort and care, but also when to stop if things become harmful. They are not like martyrs who give everything despite the pain, and not like cowards who do nothing. Instead, they express their feelings honestly without forcing or begging for love. They know their limits—giving effort without losing their identity or self-worth. In short, they love bravely but wisely.
Next are those who fight unfairly. These people may genuinely love someone, but they use manipulation or tricks to win that person's heart. Their feelings may be real, but their methods are not always clean. They fight for love by any means necessary—even dishonest ones—driven by the fear of losing the person they love.
Fifth are those who fight for the wrong person. Love is a battle, and everyone fights differently—but this kind of person chose the wrong one to fight for. No matter how hard they try—whether they fight like a martyr or cheat like someone who fights unfairly—losing is inevitable. Once you're in this kind of situation, defeat is already written.
And that's not all. There are still three kinds of people in the battle of love—the ones who cause others to fall.
There are players. They treat feelings like pieces in a game—something to move, test, and break, but never protect. They don't enter love looking for something real. What they want is the thrill, the rush, the excitement of being wanted. They join the battle not to give their hearts, but to feel alive—to prove something to themselves, to see how far they can go without getting hurt. And once the excitement fades, they walk away, leaving confusion behind, as if the feelings were never real at all.
Then there are cheaters. Similar to those who fight unfairly, but with a key difference: they don't cheat just to win love—they cheat for the thrill of being desired by someone else. For them, betrayal is excitement. It proves they are still wanted, still tempting, still powerful. They don't look for another heart because the first one failed them—they do it because attention feels intoxicating, and loyalty feels too quiet.
Lastly, there are traitors. Worse than cheaters, they betray not only love but also loyalty and friendship. They could be someone close—maybe even your best friend—who takes advantage of your trust and steals the person you love. Traitors don't just break hearts—they destroy bonds.
And so…
…in a battle where no blood is shed, but hearts are put at risk, how will you remain standing?