My tears started to flow when I looked at his eyes.

Nagsasabi ba talaga siya ng totoo? Na gusto niya ako kahit na ganito ang pagmumukha ko?

He smiled again and pinched my cheeks. "You're not ugly, Lia. You're beautiful. Please don't be too harsh on yourself."

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanya kahit na bumaba na ang kamay niya sa kamay ko. I think...I'm speechless...dahil hindi ko na talaga alam ang sasabihin pagkatapos ng mga narinig ko mula sa kanya. But I want to scream because this is so overwhelming. This day was like a rollercoaster ride, I had felt so many emotions that quickly interchanged with each other.

I felt his hand gently squeezing mine. "I understand that you have trust issues, so I won't force you to accept my feelings. Pero sana ay hayaan mong iparamdam ko sayo 'to." He said while looking into my eyes.

"K-Kal." I muttered but I don't know what to add. I feel so happy that I'm scared na baka mamaya hindi na.

He closed his eyes for a bit and when he opened it ay halos matupok na ako sa titig niya.

"Please...don't close your heart to people who want to love you. Please let me in."

There were so many thoughts running inside my mind but my tongue can't seem to find the right words, so I just found myself nodding to him.

"I'll prove to you how much I want to be part of you. So please...huwag mo na akong iiwasan. Please answer my calls, please read my messages, please...look at me."

My mouth parted because never have I thought that someone like him would beg a person like me to look at him...and to let him be part of me.

It's bewildering.

But is it a sin to allow myself to feel happy? Kahit na...ngayon lang?

I shook my head when the demon and angel inside me finally agreed with each other.

I want to be happy. I want to be with him. If this is some kind of a game, then I am willing to gamble now.

Because I like him too...I like him so much...that I can't keep it anymore to myself. 'Di bale nang masaktan sa huli.

"Alright," I gave him a small smile and looked at him in the eyes. "Prove it then."

For a split second, I thought I saw his eyes flickered kung kaya't napakurap ako. He suddenly tilted his head and unconsciously did the same...which made the distance between the two of us narrower.

"Thank you," he whispered and what he did next sent chills and electricity all over my body.

He kissed me.

Slowly, his lips moved on top of me. I have no experience in kissing but when I remembered what I read in novels ay sinubukan ko nalang na gayahin ang ginagawa niya.

We were both catching our breath when we stopped. He chuckled and looked at me like a puppy.

"Gagalingan ko sa panliligaw," he whispered before delving for another kiss.

I was in a bad mood that night but Kaleb showed up and made my night special, probably one of the best in my life. I was so happy that my heart ache because of its intensity and I looked like a fool as I kept on smiling kahit no'ng umuwi na siya't mag-isa nalang akong natira.

Kaleb didn't lie though because after that night, he started his so-called 'panliligaw'. Every morning, sa tuwing papasok ako, magugulat nalang ako na naghihintay siya sa labas ng apartment para sabay na kaming pumasok. Ihahatid niya ako sa classroom at kung wala pa ang prof ay saglit na tatambay para makipag-usap. Sumasabay din siya sa amin tuwing lunchbreak and anytime he's free.

It was all awkward at first because I am not used to having a man close to me, pero dahil inaraw-araw niya ang pagsama sa amin ay onti-onti na rin akong nasasanay sa presensya niya. And sometimes, when he's not around, I can't believe na hinahanap ko siya.

I appreciate his efforts so much dahil alam kong busy siyang tao dulot ng mga responsibilidad niya. But just like what he said, ginagalingan nga niya ang 'panliligaw' kuno niya.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pag ngiti nang makita ang isang bouquet na naman ng rosas na nakapatong sa desk ko pagpasok ko sa room. He will not be around today dahil may ganap sa team nila at maaga pa silang umalis, pero heto, may pasurpresa pa rin siya sa akin.

"Sana all may manliligaw na sikat tapos basketball player pa," Shine commented and shrieked. "Grabe, ghorl! You're living that wattpad life! Sana ako rin!"

Hilaw na ngisi lang ang naiganti ko sa kanya dahil nahihiya na naman ako.

When Kal started the courtship ay halos mabugbog ang buong katawan ko sa kakakurot ng mga kaibigan, at simula rin no'ng araw na 'yun ay panay ang pang-aasar ng mga kaklase ko sa tuwing hinahatid at sinusundo niya ako. And the shipping...got worse.

Halos sa tuwing magchicheck ako ng social media accounts ay ang pangalan ng ship namin ang palagi kong nababasa. At hindi lang 'yun...kasi dahil palagi niya ako sinasama sa mga IG stories niya ay nakakagawa na ang mga shippers ng compilation ng 'moments' kuno namin. Some even say na kami na raw at perfect couple kami, at wala akong magawa kundi makaramdam ng hiya sa tuwing makikita at mababasa ko ang mga gano'n.

"Lumalayag na ang KaLia! Ang galing ko talagang gumawa ng ship name! Kaya president ako eh!" Tasha boasted at kinuha pa talaga ang phone niya para kunan ng picture ang rosas at i-post sa fan account kuno niya.

Hindi ko tuloy alam minsan kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi sa pagiging supportive nila sa 'love team' kuno namin.

"Ikaw na talaga ang pinagpala sa lahat, Lia! Pahingi naman ng grasya d'yan." Dani added bago tumabi sa akin.

I just laughed at them before getting my phone para makapag message kay Kal. Nagulat naman ako no'ng makitang tumatawag na siya agad pagkatapos kong isend 'yung message.

"Hello."

"Hello. Did you like it?" His raspy voice greeted me.

"Y-Yes. Ang ganda." Ngumiti ako kahit na hindi naman niya makikita.

"Is it okay if you turn on the camera for a while? I just want to see you this morning...hindi kasi kita nakita kanina."

I wanted to smile after he said that but I couldn't dahil nakaabang ang tatlo sa akin. Sa sobrang abang nila ay parang matatawa na ako.

"Okay."

I pursed my lips to keep myself from smiling bago ko binuksan ang camera at tinutok sa mukha ko.

"Tangina! Ang landi mo na! Respeto naman bro!"

Natawa nalang ako nang marinig sa background ang boses ni Jae. And when his camera opened ay pakiramdam ko umikot na naman ang tiyan ko.

He's really so good looking. But don't get me wrong, kasi hindi naman 'yun ang nagustuhan ko talaga sa kanya. Because it's in the way he treats people with respect and care that I fell for him.

"Ang ganda mo," he said and smiled. Hindi ko na tuloy napigilan ang ngiti ko kung kaya't panay na naman ang hampas ng tatlo.

"Landi mo na!" Tasha shrieked.

Natawa naman ako at muling hinarap ang phone. "Landi mo na raw!" I said to him while laughing.

"I don't mind getting called that way...basta ba sayo." He smirked and I lost again.

"Sige na nga...mamaya na ulit." Pagsuko ko dahil baka wala na naman akong ibang gumawa kundi ang ngumiti.

"Okay. See you later, babe." He winked and ended the call after that. Hindi na tuloy ako nakapagreklamo sa pagtawag niya sa akin ng gano'n.

Mabuti nalang ay hindi narinig ng tatlo ang tawag niya sa akin dahil paniguradong bugbog na naman ang beywang ko kung narinig nila iyon.

Dahil sa nangyari no'ng umaga ay buong araw akong nakangiti. Kahit no'ng kumakain ako nang mag-isa sa canteen ay halos 'di ko mapigilan ang pag ngisi.

"Iba talaga kapag in love...nagmumukha ng tanga kakangisi."

I was surprised when Jae sat in front of me.

"Ang sama mo!" I hissed and he just laughed.

"Ipagpatuloy mo lang 'yan, bagay sayo." He smiled.

When he said that ay bigla naman akong may naisip kaya muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Bakit wala kang lovelife? Mukha namang maraming nagkakagusto sayo ah." Sa classroom pa nga lang namin ang dami dami na, paano kaya kung isama pa ang mga tumitili sa kanya tuwing game nila?!

Ngumisi naman siya. "Interesado ka?"

I immediately rolled my eyes because of his answer. "Puro ka talaga kalokohan, seryoso nga!"

Natawa naman siya at tumingin ng bahagya sa akin bago tumingin sa malayo. "One sided eh."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. One sided? Ano 'yun?

"Hindi ka gusto ng crush mo?" Lito kong tanong na mas lalo niyang ikinatawa.

"Crush? Wow. Ano tayo highschool?" He paused after, only to see me glaring at him. "Well, parang tama ka naman. Parang gano'n nga."

Napasinghap naman ako. Si Jae? Hindi talaga siya gusto ng crush niya? Sigurado ba siya? Parang 'di naman kapani-paniwala 'yun ah.

"Sino ba 'yun? Choosy siguro kaya hindi ka gusto." I tried to laugh para naman huwag siyang malungkot.

"Well, ang ganda kasi eh tsaka iba ang gusto. Sakit bro, pero okay lang 'yun. Basta masaya siya, okay na 'yun." He smiled and laughed pero ewan ko...mukhang hindi naman siya masaya kaya iniba ko nalang ang usapan namin.

Kung sino man ang crush niyang 'yun, sana makita niya na okay naman si Jae. He's handsome and has a good body, medyo maloko at nakakainis pero mukhang maaasahan naman, magaling pang magbasketball, at balita ko matalino pa siya! Hindi na lugi 'yun!

We were eating while talking when someone cleared his throat behind us and when I turned my back ay agad akong napangiti.

"Kal, bro! Ang isturbo mo naman!"

Kal just raised his brow to Jae at pagkatapos ay tumabi na sa akin. "Are you already done?" He asked and looked at my plate.

Tumango naman ako. "Hindi ko na maubos eh."

Ngumiti naman siya. "Cute. Sige, ako na ang uubos."

Bigla namang umakto na nasusuka si Jae sa harapan namin. "Taena, ano 'to? Kadiri naman. Aalis na nga ako."

Sabay kaming natawa ni Kal sa kanya at mukhang tinotoo nga niya ang pandidiri niya dahil umalis nga talaga siya.

"Don't mind him." Kal whispered and started eating.

Nakangiwi naman akong pinagmasdan siyang inuubos ang pagkain ko. He was always like that whenever we eat together, kahit pa sa tuwing kasama namin mga kaibigan ko, hindi man lang siya nandidiring kinakain ang pagkain ko.

At ngayon...pinagtitinginan na naman kami ng mga tao sa canteen. Paano kasi...masyado siyang agaw-pansin.

Napailing nalang ako at natawa naman siya dahil sa reaksyon ko.

Hinatid niya ako sa susunod kong klase pagkatapos naming kumain at no'ng dumating na ang dismissal ay hinintay niya ako sa may gate 4 dahil may pupuntahan daw kami.

I thought were just going to eat ice cream katulad ng palagi naming ginagawa bago umuwi, but I was wrong.

Dahil imbes na sa ice cream shop ay sa isang coffee shop niya ako dinala. Ngunit pagpasok namin ay agad akong nagtaka dahil walang tao, but he just smiled at me at hinila ako paakyat ng second floor.

Namilog naman ang mata ko no'ng makarating kami sa taas at makita kung ano ang mayroon doon.

There's a romantic dinner set-up. May nakakalat na candles at rose petals sa sahig, at may nakaupong malaking teddy bear sa upuan.

It was so beautiful.

My tears started to well when I looked at him, at nakangiti naman siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Okay lang ba?" He asked.

Nakangiti akong tumango kahit tumutulo na ang luha ko. I am just so happy because all my life, I've never been surprised this way. And Kal...everything he does surprises me.

"Thank you," I sincerely said and leaned closer to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"I am glad that I made you happy." He whispered and squeezed my hand before leading me to the table.

No'ng malapitan ang malaking teddy bear ay agad ko iyong niyakap. "Kanino 'to?" Nakangiti kong tanong.

"Yours." He smirked. "Our child."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko at pakiramdam ko ay namula ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Ang weird niya rin talaga minsan!

"O-Okay."

I smirked when an idea came into my mind.

Louella. It's her name.

When I turned to Kal ay nakita kong nakangiti siya habang pinagmamasdan ako and that smile never fails to make my day better.

We had a great dinner and when we went home ay magkahawak ang kamay naming dalawa habang nakapasan naman sa kanya ang malaking teddy bear.

It was such a serene moment kahit na ang ingay-ingay ng paligid. Because we were holding hands, we could feel each other's warmth, and deep inside me...I know that we're both happy.

Suddenly, there's an urge inside me. For the first time, I felt like my heart and mind were besties. They were both wanting the same thing, na parang kung hindi ko 'yun maibibigay sa kanila ay magkakaroon ng problema.

I sighed because excitement suddenly filled my being.

We were in front of the stop light when I couldn't take it anymore. I squeezed Kal's hand and just as expected, he looked at me.

I flashed him the sweetest smile I could ever give and looked at him with all sincerity and affection.

This man. I am in love with him.

"Sinasagot na kita, Kal."