Alice dreamed of falling in love and having a successful profession as a little girl. Yet as she became older, she struggled to balance her strict upbringing, yearning for independence, and a quest for a fulfilling profession. She found someone who understood her hardships when she met Naomi, who would later become her best friend in college. Alice and Naomi talked about their love lives and academic accomplishments for countless hours.

Alice believed that after she finished her course, things would finally fall into place as she neared the end of her studies. Yet she was in for a surprise in life. After receiving her diploma, she applied to the government with great expectations of being hired. But when she saw that her name wasn't on the list of applicants, her excitement immediately turned to sadness. Alice gave up on her job goals because she felt worthless and defeated and began selling food and clothing instead.

As time passed, Alice learned that the army was hiring, so she applied. As she went to the army recruitment office, she ran into a man named Jack, who was also looking for work. They connected immediately due to their talk, exchanging phone numbers before parting ways.

Jack called Alice a week later and requested to speak with her again. When they began dating, Alice was thrilled to have discovered someone who supported and understood her. Although they came from diverse backgrounds, Alice and Jack felt a strong connection that gave them the impression that they had been friends for a long time.

Yet, their joy was fleeting. When Alice learned that a close relative had fallen ill in another city, she had to leave immediately to be by their side. Jack responded to her call and arrived to keep her company. As Alice laid her head on Jack's lap, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by his presence.

Then Jack told Alice his secret: he was an army commando. As Alice was reminded of her one rule—never date a commando—her heart fell. She was shocked that the man she had fallen in love with had concealed such an important fact. She was left feeling weak, hurt, and disappointed. "Why didn't you tell me?" Alice asked, her voice choked with emotion. "I was afraid you would leave me," Jack replied, his eyes filled with tears. "I love you so much, and I didn't want to lose you."

Alice was at a loss for words. She cared deeply about Jack, but she also understood her morals' importance to her. Over time, Alice and Jack fell asleep, each engrossed in his or her thoughts.

Alice awoke the following morning. She said, "It's another day and another life.". The moment their romance ended, she realised it. She was forced to confront the truth that, despite how much Alice loved him, he had kept such a significant aspect of his life from her. Alice tried to move on, but she could not get rid of the thought of Jack and what might have been.

Years later, Alice ran into Naomi at a local café. As they caught up on old times, Alice couldn't help but wonder what her life would have been like if she had stayed with Jack. But as she looked at Naomi, she realised true love and friendship were right before her.

Alice had sacrificed her relationship with Jack for the sake of her principles. Still, in doing so, she had gained something much more valuable: a friend who had been with her through thick and thin.

Alice realised that her search for love and success had blinded her to the beauty of her relationships. She had been so focused on achieving her goals that she had overlooked the people who had always been there for her.

Alice hugged Naomi and expressed her gratitude for being such a wonderful friend while crying. She realised at that point that she had true love in the shape of her friendship with Naomi and that she didn't require a romantic partnership to feel content.

Alice continued to treasure her friendship with Naomi while building a prosperous business. Despite the sadness of her relationship with Jack, she had gained essential knowledge: true love and sacrifice go hand in hand. Giving up one item can help you find something much more valuable.

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz