‘Hello, is that you, Angie?’ asked an eloquent sounding male voice.

‘Indeed it is! How have you been?’ the other person took a while to answer.

‘Not too great, to be honest. I left my job not too long ago and getting another one has been a pain in the arse’

‘Oh, has it?’ Angelica paused for a brief moment ‘Why did you leave your job, then?’

‘It just wasn’t the same after the coronavirus. Basically my workplace turned into a gulag. We could hardly talk or anything’

‘Oh no, that’s terrible. Where I work is kind of the same, to be honest’

‘Capitalism, eh?’

‘Indeed’ Angelica had a smile on her face ‘Don’t you just love it?’

‘Totally’ the man paused for a moment ‘Well, not really. I guess if you’re mega rich or an American it’s a different story’

‘I have a cousin in America and he hates it, too. In fact he keeps telling me how much of a greedy sham his company is’

‘What company does he work for?’

‘Solus Pharmaceuticals’ Angelica paused for a little while ‘They’re this American company that sells a lot of bogus pills. I heard from my cousin people have died taking them’

‘Oh dear’ there was a brief period of silence ‘Wait, what were they called again?’

‘Solus. S-O-L-U-S’

‘Oh?’ the man was silent again ‘Oh, I see now! Yes there’s some articles about people dying from their drugs. I thought you said “Soulless Pharmaceuticals”.’ Angelica burst out laughing.

‘You should tell my cousin that! He’ll die of laughter!’ the two of them were laughing for a while.

‘Well, that’s capitalism again. Prioritising profits over people’s lives’

‘Yep, that’s right!’ there was a brief  period of silence between the two of them. ‘So, umm… are you with anyone right now?’

‘No, Angie. I had a nasty break-up a few months ago’

‘Really? All I see from you are nice happy pictures and everything!’

‘I was going to say the same about you. I suppose that’s not the case?’

‘Nope’ Angelica sighed ‘If I’ve learned anything it’s that no one likes to show off all the miserable things going on in their lives. They just want to show how awesome they are’

‘Yeah, I know. I think I’ve heard a few celebrities say that, too’

‘Funny, isn’t it? By the way as I mentioned earlier I broke up with my boyfriend. I have no regrets’

‘That’s good to hear. Personally I’m a bit sad about what happened but I guess I have to move forward’

‘Yeah, that’s the best thing to do, really. Also I suggest you… ummm…’ Angelica paused for a moment ‘Derek, may I ask you something?’

‘Yes?’

‘What do you think “true love” is?’

‘True love? I don’t know, really. Is there any such thing?’

‘Yes! Search deep within yourself!’ Derek was silent for quite a while

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know. What would you say it is?’

‘Well, I’m glad you asked! To me, it’s when you love someone for who the person is. You accept who they are without conditions, you always want the best for that person and you’re there for them no matter what’ Derek gasped when he heard that.

‘That’s…;’ he then sighed ‘I never thought of things like that. I always thought it was… ummmm…’

‘All just sexual feelings? No, there is far more to it than that. Mind you I do believe you need that element for a romantic relationship’

‘The way you’re wording things, it sounds like it applies for any kind of relationship’

‘Indeed it is. Attraction’s just a piece of the puzzle. True love is like the glue that keeps relationships lasting until the day you die’

‘Yeah, that’s… very true’

‘I know’ Angelica paused for a moment, smiling ‘I was wondering, Derek’

‘Yes?’

‘How would you feel if someone loved you the way I described earlier? If someone just accepted who you are, no matter what happened?’ Derek was silent.

‘That would be wonderful. It’s almost like… like your very existence is justified just for that one person. Come to think of it, it sounds like that’s how my mum feels about me’

‘And that’s natural, Derek! My mother feels the same about me. It’s why we need love in the first place. It’s crucial to our very survival as a species’

‘You’re absolutely right’ Derek paused again ‘Hey, I was wondering, when can we see each other again? You’re working full time, right?’

‘Yes, though I have my weekends off. How about Friday afternoon? I would love to see you again!’

‘Me too’

‘I have a spare room in flat so you could stay the night there if you like. Unless you want me to come to your place?’

‘No, I’ll come and see you. It’ll be fine’

‘Are you sure? I can pay for travel costs if you’re worried about money’

‘No, I’m OK with that’

‘Good good’ there was a brief period of silence ‘So I’ll see you on Friday, then?’

‘Yeah’ the two were silent once again ‘By the way, Angie, thank you so much for calling me. I… to be honest, I was kind of miserable before you did. You are a blessing to this world’

‘Awww, thank you! You are too, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!’ Derek was silent again ‘Anything else you wanted to say?’

‘Nah, not off the top of my head. I wish I could have a new job, mind you’

‘Just keep applying for things, you’ll be fine, trust me’

‘OK, thanks. I’ll see you on Friday’

‘You too’

‘Bye’ Angelica hung up. Her face was red at this point.

‘So, who was that?’

‘Ahhhhh!’ Angelica nearly jumped off of her chair. The person turned out to be Acalea ‘Oh, it’s you’

‘Was that an old friend of yours?’

‘Well… yes’ Acalea was just smiling at her ‘It was someone I dated for only a few weeks back in my university days. He’s the first person I remember having feelings of true love for’

‘That’s wonderful, Angie!’

‘Yeah, well, I feel like I’ve got something to look forward to now’

‘You certainly have’