Shadows of Serendipity - Hambebe AU

Chapter 56

- Serena's POV -

Where did it all even started?

"Claire said that you don't eat breakfast before you go to school. Let's change that. I brought you a meal."

A kind of genuine care that I never experienced before with any one of my former suitors.

"You really do love ice cream. I guess I should treat you one everytime we walk together."

The way she notices the small and simple things that I love.

"Okay, fine."

The way she agrees with any of my terms or ridiculous decisions despite being against it at first.

"Here, let me do that for you."

Those gentle gesture of hers that I've never witnessed her do to her friends.

"I told you before that I bake, right? Ayaw mo ba?"

The way she actually fulfills her word kahit na hindi ko pa ipaalala sa kaniya na gusto kong mangyari.

Everything... Everything she does are all for my sake.

Why did it have to take this long for me to notice?

Never in my damn life did I expect na Gaille would develop any romantic feelings for me. I've always hold onto the fact na it was our mutual decision to not fall for each other, so I was certain that I would never have to face this kind of situation.

Yet, somehow, here we are...

"My last rule: Don't fall for each other."

Ang tanga-tanga mo, Serena.

Of course, at some point, there's a possibility that she'd fall, gaya na nga ng paalala sa'kin ni Kio.

That fact that I even forced her so many times to fulfill my romantic fantasies. Ilang beses ko na bang na-invalidate ang feelings ni Gaille because of my selfishness? That I even kept pushing her through someone she's already over with just to think na I'm still helping her with our deal.

Our deal... It's all because of what I want and not really mutually with what Gaille wants.

What did she even desired so much in the first place? Was she just too kind to decline completely kaya ba she was willing to help kahit na ako lang talaga mas magbe-benefit sa'min?

Tangina. Napaka-tanga. Napaka-selfish ng desisyon mo, Serena.

Gaille... I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for not considering your feelings... for forcing you into something that you never wanted. For gatekeeping you... everything.

- Back to 3rd person perspective -

"I'm sorry..."

Serena heard a chuckle, a low and bitter one, from beside me.

"Right... Of course that's what you'd say."

"Did I let my thoughts out loud?"

"G-gaille... Teka, what I mean was—"

"You don't have to, Serena." She cut me off before I even had the time to explain myself. "I've expected this... It's not like... It's not like I'm really hoping to be liked back, right? I mean, I know it from the start, considering the fact that you're straight and... yeah."