Forever with You (Under Editing And Revision)

Chapter 1: That "Cute" Girl

James' Point of View

HER WORDS left me speechless. Seeing her smile as if I didn't hurt her feelings was unbelievable. Well, I wasn't expecting na iiyak siya pagkatapos kong i-reject. Na-imagine kong mawawalan siya ng pag-asa at basta maglalakad o tatakbo papalayo.

Pero wala sa alin sa mga 'yon ang nangyari.

Her eyes, voice, and smile, I could tell by them that her hopes did not die. She was still hoping. Katulad nang sabihin niyang may gusto siya sa akin, hindi ko tuloy alam ang dapat kong gawin. Wala sa intensiyon kong saktan siya. Naisip ko lang na parang mas okay na magsabi ako ng totoo sa kanya right away. Ngayon? Nalilito na ako.

I was about to say something, pero nakalayo na siya sa akin. Gusto kong malaman kung ano'ng nagustuhan niya sa akin. Ewan ko lang, pero Bigla akong naging interesado.

Then, my eyes landed on what was in my hand. Oo nga pala! She gave me a letter that I assumed was a love letter. Mukhang nasa loob nito ang sagot na hinahanap ko.

Sa bahay ko na binasa ang laman ng letter.

Dear James,

I've been wanting to say these words to you, pero wala akong lakas ng loob na gawin 'yon. That's why I just wrote a letter for you.

I had a crush on you.

Mula pa noong Grade 1 pa ako, crush na kita. I never knew how it happened and started, pero sure akong crush talaga kita. Nagtagal 'yon nang ilang taon. Then, I just found myself one day, hindi na pala kita crush.

Because I already like you.

Gusto kita. Gustong-gusto kita. Watching you smile and laugh from afar has always been enough for me. For me, wanting you is enough. But I am still hoping that you would notice and like me too. I know parang malabong mangyari 'yon dahil sa 'yo, wala lang ako. But I am now willing to take risks.

Ini-imagine ko pa lang mag-confess, para na akong hihimatayin. Pero para sa 'yo, gagawin ko.

James, I like you. I really do. And I really hope these feelings will be reciprocated.

Love,
Stephanie

I felt something strange while reading it. It was the kind of feeling that I never felt before. Hindi ko naman 'yon pinansin. Matapos magbasa, I didn't move and stared at it. Kinailangan kong gawin 'yon para ma-process ang lahat.

"James, kakain na -"

My eyes widened in surprise as I stood up. Para akong nakahinga nang maluwag matapos kong makita ang mom ko na nakatayo sa aking pinto. Sobrang lalim ng iniisip ko kaya hindi ko napansing nakatayo na pala siya roon o 'di kaya'y naramdaman man lang ang kanyang presensya.

I tried to smile. "Susunod na po ako, mom. Magpapahinga lang po ako sandali."

"Are you okay, James?" I nodded my head. Her eyes landed on the letter I was holding. Agad ko namang itinago 'yon sa likod ko. "What's that?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing, mom." I smiled again. "Mauna na po kayo roon. Promise po, susunod ako."

Nanliit ang kanyang mga mata sandali. "Sinabi mo 'yan, ha? Alam mo namang hindi kami mag-i-start kumain hangga't wala pa ang isa man sa atin."