**MAXIE's POV**

After that incident, Ian and I decided to just forget about it. Wala namang nabago sa relasyon namin. Bumubisita pa din sya sa bahay at nag di-date pa din kami sa Library. From time to time ay lumalabas din kami at pumapasyal.

"Maxie, How are you and Brent?" tanong nang isang classmate ko.

"We're fine. Hindi naman kami nag aaway" sagot ko naman habang binubuklat ang libro ko.

"You two are a great couple. I heard from one of my friends that Ian got a high grade this time" usal naman ni Janel na tumigil pa sa pag susulat.

"Maxie, be honest with us. Have you done 'that' thing with your boyfriend already?" tanong naman ni Mary.

I was startled when I heard that at agad akong kinabahan "Why?" simpleng tanong ko at agad akong napayuko.

"He can't even take his gaze away from you! I was worried that you might melt because of his burning gaze" natatawang usal nya kaya nagtawanan din ang iba ko pang classmates.

"Alright, don't talk like this. Look at Maxie, you made her shy with your words" Iniba na ni Jessa ang topic and I was thankful for that.

I thought they found it out by any chance.

"Shanell! May nag hahanap sayo" tawag naman sa akin ni Class Mayor kaya agad kong iniayos ang gamit ko at pumunta ako sa labas nang classroom namin.

I was shocked to see him.

I didn't expect na lalapitan nya ako at lalong hindi ko inaasahan na pupuntahan nya ako dito sa Classroom namin.

"Maxie...I want to talk with you alone" nahihiyang usal nya. I could refuse him but it will be rude to do it in front of so many people.

And I can't just keep on running away from him anyway.

"Alright" pag payag ko sa kanya and I sighed heavily.

Nauuna syang maglakad kaya sinundan ko lang sya.

This guy is Alexander Hernandez. Kilala ko sya dahil nag lagay sya nang picture nya sa unang letter na inilagay nya sa locker ko. And nakikita ko din sila paminsan minsan ni Ian na magkasama.

"I think you know me already. I did give you a letter after all. Anyway, I'll still introduce my self. I'm Mike Alexander Hernandez. Xander na lang for short" pakilala nya and his cheeks turned red.

I didn't bother to answer him pero sumama pa din ako sa kanya at pumunta kami sa isang man made forest. Medyo malayo ito but I think this is the best place for us to talk dahil wala masyadong tao dito.

I'm not afraid of him since alam ko kung anong pag uusapan namin. He did mention it on his first letter.

Pagkababa ko sa car nya ay agad din syang sumunod sa akin and he kneeled in front of me.

**BRENT's POV**

I was looking for my Darling for the whole day pero hindi ko sya mahanap. When I went to the College of Education para sunduin sya, her classmates told me na wala sya duon at hindi din sya pumasok sa ibang subjects nya.

That's totally weird since hindi naman sya mahilig mag skip nang class.

What's more shocking was when they told me na pinuntuhan sya ni Xander kanina at sabay silang umalis.

What are they doing?

I trust Maxie so much and I trust my best friend, Xander too that's why I decided to stop over thinking.

"I'm gonna visit my Mom" bulong ko nang naalala ko ito. Tinawagan kasi ako ni Mommy kanina and she wants me to go home.

I silently packed my things at ibinalik ko na ang mga librong hiniram ko bago ako umalis sa library.

I did try to wait for my Darling in the library kahit alam kong kanina pa ang uwian nya.

Nag chat lang ako sa Group chat namin nang teammates ko at nag paalam lang ako sa kanila na hindi ako makaka-attend nang practice namin ngayon then nagmadali na akong umuwi sa family house namin.

"Mom! I'm home" sigaw ko kaagad pagkapasok ko sa bahay.

"It's good that you're here. I though hindi ka uuwi dito" sinalubong ako ni Mommy and she was even smiling at me.

"Na-late lang ako since nag punta pa ako sa library" paliwanag ko naman ang I hugged my Mom.

Recently, my parents were treating me so well again.

I'm craving for their attention dahil for the past few years, lagi nila akong binabalewala, ikinukumpara sa iba at pinapagalitan dahil mababa ang mga grades ko.

I just want them to love me.

"Let's eat first. Come on Brent, Bumisita ang pinsan mo ngayon" masayang usal ni Mommy at nauna na syang pumunta sa dining room.

Bahagya akong napatigil sa pag sunod kay Mommy nang Marinig ko ito.

I hate my Cousin, Ghelo Jherole Sanchez for the reason that I think my Mom loves him more than me.

I'm jealous.

In the past, I couldn't even get the attention and affection of my parents while he easily overshadowed me and get it for his self.

Binilisan ko ang pag sunod kay Mommy and I saw Ghelo sitting and eating already.

"Why are you here? I don't want you in here!" Inis na usal ko kaagad and I pointed a finger at him "Mom, can you push him out of our house?" Tinitigan ko nang masama si Ghelo at narinig ko namang tumawa si Mommy.

"Why are you even mad at him? Sit down Brent" utos ni Mommy kaya agad akong umupo and I kicked Ghelo's feet under the table.

"I'm just here to congratulate you. I heard that you got a high grades" Tumigil pa sa pagkain si Ghelo and I frowned at him.

"I don't want you congratulate me" I said as a matter of fact. Is he mocking me kasi mas mataas pa din ang grades nya kaysa sa akin?

"Brent, will you shut that mouth of yours?" Mom glared at me at muli nyang nginitian si Ghelo "Yes, he's finally doing fine in his studies" paliwanag naman ni Mommy.

"He deserves it. I heard that he's been studying hard with the student from the College of education" Ngumiti naman si Ghelo at ipinag patuloy nya ang pagkain nya. "They look pretty close. And I even heard a rumor that they are dating"

I glared at him.

I knew it! He's up to no good!

My Mom suddenly stopped eating at tinitigan nya ako.

"Is it true?" tanong nya and from the looks of it, if I didn't give her a satisfying answer she will start to investigate my relation with Maxie. There's no point in lying about it since malalaman nya din naman ito.

"Yes. I'm dating her" sagot ko at agad akong napaiwas nang tingin.

"Is she good enough to enter in our family?" my Mom was tapping her finger on the table and I can tell that she's feeling highly displeased.

"She's smart and she helped me a lot. I like her too" sagot ko at tinitigan ko si Mommy.

She's not satisfied with my answer and I know she will demand that I should break up with Maxie.

"She's popular and everyone looks up to her" I lied. I don't want my parents to be disappointed at me and I don't want to break up with Maxie either "Her family owns a business in a foreign country. Her father is a businessman as well as his brother"

I just told her whatever I can think of. I described my girlfriend so freaking well and it doesn't even reflect her true status.

Tumango naman si Mommy and afterwards she smiled at me.

"Oh, well then I want to meet her soon" usal ni Mommy.