Written by Leanne Josh Dinglasan

Look back to centuries ago and compare it with the present. You’ll be amazed how far technology has come. In a few clicks and swipes, you can find what you are looking for. Everything has become more convenient, like how we only talk when it is convenient for you.

It is undeniable that many of us enjoyed scrolling through online shopping platforms, seeing almost anything we can think of, adding items to our likes or to our cart, and checking them out. However, not every transaction would be successful as we hope it to be. Some may get delayed or cancelled. Some items may arrive with damages, while some disappoint for it is not what we expected to receive.

Meeting people online is not so different after all. You’ll get to know different kinds of people. You enjoy their company. Eventually, you’ll like some of them as friends or even more. They take up a space in your heart. From then on, you mustered the courage to take things further. You invest time, effort, and feelings. However, life offers no guarantees. It is uncertain that your investment will bear fruit, so proceed with caution.

You really have to first read the description or the label, as we prefer to call it, because things may not really be the same as it appears to be. Some people tend to be impulsive and indecisive too. They’re just in it for the moment. Things could move in a fast pace and seem to be working out fine, but the next thing you know, everything suddenly changed. The once lively conversations and quick responses turned into dull and contrived ones. My mood lightens up the same time my phone lights up with a notification from you, but now the only thing that gleams are my eyes, with tears I am holding back.

Well, I guess that’s it then. The easier it comes, the easier it goes too, they say. I put my fragile feelings in a heart-shaped box and brought it to you. The distance between us did not matter to me, but you’ve already made up your mind. You are not interested anymore and just returned it; you left marks. What more can I do? Deep down, I knew that this is probably ephemeral, yet I still had my hopes up and took a leap of faith. I knew of momentary happiness, but that is not enough to cushion the fall. That fleeting joy still falls utterly short to be worthy of ‘five stars’. My feelings are not a mere commodity you can just take or set aside as you please.