Take A Chance With Me

11: a new journey

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MAVEN

The world around us faded away, and all that existed was the soft hum of nature and the warmth of each other's presence.

In that moment, it felt as if time itself had paused to give us the space to breathe, to cherish the love we had finally acknowledged.

As I held Cress close, the worries and doubts that had once clouded my heart dissipated like morning mist.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally pulled away from each other, our eyes locked in a gaze that held unspoken promises.

"Shall we head back?” Cress asked, her voice soft yet playful. “I can't let my Lola think I'm lost in the garden forever.”

"Sure” I replied, feeling a surge of happiness. “But let's make a pact first.” I held up my pinky again, and with a knowing smile, she intertwined her own with mine. “No matter what happens, we'll always be honest with each other. Okay?”

"Deal” She said, sealing our promise with a gentle squeeze of my hand and the sincerity of the moment.

I intertwined my pinky with hers, sealing our promise, our hearts beating in unison under the whispering leaves above us.

As we sat together in the garden, I realized how important this moment was for both of us. It was a shift—a beautiful transition from friends to something more profound.

Our laughter echoed softly around us, and the air felt charged with new beginnings. As we walked back, our fingers entwined, the sunlight danced through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the ground.

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As the days , weeks and months of my courtship passed, I invited Cress to my family's home for dinner, a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling within me.

I knew my parents would be thrilled, especially after they heard about our newfound relationship.

I could already imagine my mom's proud smile and my dada's teasing comments.

That evening, as Cress and I entered the house, the warmth of home enveloped us.

The aroma of a delicious meal wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of my siblings arguing over the best movie to watch.

“Maven! You're home!” My mom, Aya, exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she caught sight of us.

She hurried over, embracing me tightly. “And you brought Analein! How wonderful!”

“Hi, Tita!” Cress greeted, a hint of shyness creeping into her voice as my mom pulled her into a welcoming hug.

“We've been waiting for you two” My dad, Maui, added with a playful smirk. “So, I guess this means you finally decided to stop being ‘torpe’ and admit you like each other?”

The teasing laughter of my siblings filled the room, and I felt my cheeks heat up. “Dito na naman tayo” I mumbled, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress a smile.

“You know, Ate” Aiden chimed in, “It's about time you figured it out. You were so in denial before! We thought you'd never make a move!”

“Yeah! I mean, how long did we have to watch you two be all cute and not say anything?” Mavrex, added, winking at Cress.

“Whatever” I shot back, my heart racing with a mix of embarrassment and happiness. The playful banter only made me appreciate the moment more.