Novel & Cerita Love Is Just A Chemical Reaction

“Because I do.” He studies me. “You actually believe in that.” “Yes.” I narrow my eyes. “Don’t you?” He looks at me with something that feels almost fond… and almost sad. “True love doesn’t exist, baby,” he says lightly, like he’s discussing the weather. “That’s just something people tell themselves because reality sounds less appealing.” I stare at him. “That’s not true.” “It absolutely is.” “Tristan, that’s a horrible thing to believe.” “It’s a realistic thing to believe.” He tilts his head slightly. “Love is chemistry. Attachment. Timing. People romanticize it because admitting it’s mostly circumstance sounds depressing.”

Damon gives me an incredulous look, “I just told you she’s my true ma-“ “I’m talking about love, not the chemistry that comes from the true mate bond,” I interrupt him. “With Sarah, the chemistry was there but the love came later. We went through a lot together and I fell in love with her. But the chemistry of the bond and the love are two different things-“

Eason groaned. “He just wants what’s best,” Nyla said. “Yeah, best for him,” Eason scowled. “You’ll learn, Nyla, that the only person my dad cares about is himself. The rest is just an act.” Suddenly Edmond’s coldness took on a new meaning: indifference. Conflicted on whether or not to believe Eason, Nyla stayed silent. “Well, let’s get started.” Ticking them off on his fingers as he spoke, Eason explained, “The basic emotions of human beings are sadness, love, happiness, fear, disgust, and anger.”

“Do you love Alexander?” Love. The word made a fire ignite in my chest. It was warm and comforting for a moment, but then it burned so hot that it singed me from the inside out. “No,” I blurted out. Liam, of course, never missed a beat. “Your face is telling a very different story than your words, Ella.” “It’s not love. It’s just… chemistry. Biology. The mate bond makes everything feel more intense than it really is.” “Mhm.”

She totally occupied her thoughts and a fiction of neural love arose in him. Love is a reaction, a dopamine reward for the brain that works most intensely in adolescence and more maturely in adulthood. In childhood, the love experienced is attachment, the child's intense filial love for those around him. "As the saying goes: love is born from sight. However, for many people not only by sight, but also by hearing, because of what they are told, because of what they hear."

"We're going to fix that, but they're terrible." "Ah, but now I love chemistry! Especially the chemistry here..." I stood up and sat on his lap, facing him, with my arms around his neck, in that way I had discovered I could stay all glued to him and feel new things that I really liked. "This chemistry between us, you know?! Look, isn't this called combustion? This heat that rises like this, this quick reaction that happens with the ignition source that generates the spark?" I gave him a little kiss, right on his earlobe and he shuddered.

“Was she just a distraction?” He hesitates. Just for a second, but it’s long enough. Something inside my chest finally settles because that hesitation tells me everything I need to know. “You didn’t leave because the bond made you weak,” I say slowly. “You left because you were.” His jaw tightens. “You’re romanticizing something that’s fundamentally biological.” “The bond?” “Yes.” “It’s not magic. It’s not destiny. It’s chemistry and neurological imprinting.” I almost smile. “Funny thing about chemistry.”

“You knew and still you fell in love with him?” “I’m seventeen. Sue me.” “Is it legally possible for your parents or teachers to file a legal case against you for that?” “What? No! That was just an expression.” “I see. It is interesting how the act of falling in love defies logic.” “Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet, Mr. Logic. Do you even know the definition of love?” “Yes, it is the process wherein neurochemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin produce increased heart rate, loss of appetite and sleep.”

There was confusion in her eyes. From what she had learned, love was nothing more than a chemical called dopamine. It was released when people were in love and made them feel sweet, refreshed, and immersed in their fantasy. It also severely lowered their IQ. They would obsess over their crush's positive attributes and overlook their shortcomings. It would eventually metabolize within three months. After that, it was not dopamine that maintained the relationship but personal effort, sense of responsibility, and attitude towards life. Reason will become the dominant factor. Without the allure of dopamine, they will be able to objectively weigh each other's pros and cons.

She must've realized she'd hit a nerve because she quickly added, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to say, when people are in love, there's this rush of dopamine. It boosts adrenaline and makes them crave, um, physical closeness." She was using her knowledge to break down love, adding, "Basically, if a guy really loves you, he'll feel that urge to be with you, physically. If he doesn't, or if he can hold back without a problem, then there's a good chance he's just not that into you." I thought back to all those years with Jace. To everyone else, we were basically a couple, but the closest we ever got was holding hands or those awkward side hugs—except for that one time we made ou