Chapter Seven

Friends To Lovers

Nakatingin lang sa akin si Elias after I have just confessed my feelings to him. At mukha pa siyang nagulat sa pag-amin ko lang ngayon. I bit my lower lip. I feel like my cheeks already turned red now. I may look like a human tomato in front of him dahil sa pamumula ng mukha ko sa kahihiyan. I felt a little embarrassed, too. But it's the truth. I really do like him.

"Are you sure?" At tinanong pa niya ako.

Nahihiya naman akong unti-unting tumango sa kaniya. And I think he looked like a little doubtful. So I had to say more to him. "I really do like you, Elias... I'm always comfortable around you. You know the real me, and you're my best friend, too..." I said.

How nice it would be if we could become from friends to lovers...

Until I saw him slowly nodding his head at me as well. My lips parted...

"Elias..."

"I like you too, Aletheia." He said it clearly.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. And I suddenly became emotional. My tears fell next. I saw Elias' eyes widening when he saw me crying in front of him. Pinunasan ko naman ang luha ko.

"Aletheia... Why are you crying?" He looked a little alarmed by my reaction.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay ngumiti rin ako. "It's nothing... It's just that, I did not a hundred percent expect you to feel the same way about me..." I honestly told him. I also had my own doubts about us. Kasi paano pala kung close lang talaga kami ni Elias sa isa't isa pero talagang pagkakaibigan lang din ang gusto niya sa relasyon namin.

I didn't want my heart to get broken but still I risked our friendship by confessing to him about my feelings. Sumugal ako kasi ganito ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya...

That's why I just bravely told him about my feelings.

Elias shook his head in front of me. "Why would you think that?" He sighed. "You know, thank you for telling me about your feelings... To be honest, I wanted to tell you as well about my feelings, too..." aniya.

Bahagya naman nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa pag-amin din niya sa akin ngayon. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

"But I was hesitant... I was hesitating because I don't think I'm enough for you..." He said.

Agad naman ako na umiling sa kaniya sa sinabi niya. "Bakit mo 'yan naisip?" I shook my head. "You are more than enough for me, Elias Alexander." I honestly told him.

Tumingin naman siya sa akin. "You see... You're a Rozovsky, Aletheia. You're Aletheia Hartmere Rozovsky. And I'm just no one..." He said.

At hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Lumapit pa ako sa kaniya. We're actually in the library right now doing research for our college major subject. When I thought of finally confessing to him. Nasa gitna kami ng mga matataas na bookshelves at kami lang ang nandito ngayon. I stood in front of him. While he even hang his head low. He looked like he really believed what he just said now. Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. And then I reached for his hand and I held it.

"You are also Elias Alexander Ybañez. You are my best friend. And the person that I trust the most. And I want to be with you, Elias. Isn't that enough?" Nangungusap ang mga mata kong nakatingin sa kaniya.

Unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa akin. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine." And then I hugged him close to me. Napapikit din ako sa yakap namin at lalo nang yakapin niya rin ako pabalik.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa likod ng ulo ko nang mas yakapin niya pa ako. "I promise to work harder from now on, Aletheia... I'll work hard for you..." He said.

Napangiti naman ako sa loob ng yakap niya. "I will do the same for us, Elias." I said and I hugged him more. And a little bit tightly pero hindi naman siya nagreklamo sa yakap ko at tinanggap lang niya ito.

I didn't tell my family yet about us. Especially my Dad because I was still thinking na baka maulit lang 'yong dati kay Max...

Although Elias is different from Maximilian.

Pero kilala ko si Daddy at hindi pa rin siya magpapaawat. He will definitely have Elias investigated, too... Kahit wala naman talagang mali o masama kay Elias. Maybe I'll just tell my family about him later on...

He looked at me when he might have noticed that I must be watching him too much already. I just smiled at him immediately when he caught me looking. He's just too handsome and I like watching his gorgeous face.

While he looked a little awkward with my gaze. Napangiti na lang ako sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay niyaya na rin niya akong bumalik na sa lecture room namin. We're at the university and still doing research. Kaya galing kami muli sa library.

And then Elias gently took my hand and held it as we're heading out of the library.

We were holding hands. And it feels nice. I can't help it but to smile in my satisfaction with our relationship right now. Nakakatuwa lang din kasi talaga.

"We will graduate together soon..." I said as I smiled happily to him.

He smiled at me, too. And his gentle hold on my hand tightened a bit. "May I know your plans after graduation?" He asked me.

"Hmm..." Napaisip naman ako. "My Dad has businesses, so maybe I would help with our family's business so that I could also earn my own money after graduating. Pero pwede rin naman ako magtrabaho sa iba, although Daddy said that I don't really have to work... Pero s'yempre ay gusto ko rin naman maging independent." I smiled at him after saying it.

Ngumiti rin siya sa akin pagkatapos makinig sa mga sinabi ko.

"How about you? Will you proceed to medical school and be a doctor as well just like your Dad?" I asked him, too.

"Is that what you want? For me to become a doctor?" Tanong naman niya sa akin.

I shook my head right away. "No. You decide on that. And no matter what you choose, I will support you." I said and I smiled at him.

He smiled as well at what I said. Pagkatapos ay bahagya naman siyang umiling. "If I'll proceed with Medical School, I'm sure my Dad would support me. That's what he wants for me, anyway. And I can't just continue to ask for help from Gerald's Dad. I'm already thankful that they supported my college. But I can also work." He said.

"While taking medical school? Wouldn't it be hard kung nagtatrabaho ka rin? Elias, you can just ask for your Dad's help. I'm sure he will help you if you also want to be a doctor. Iyan din ba ang gusto mo?" I asked him.

Tumingin lang naman siya sa akin. And then he let out a sigh a bit. "We'll see to that. I'll also talk to my Dad." sabi niya pagkatapos.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya.

I hope all our plans for the future would go accordingly. Like what I just told Elias now that I can work and start earning for myself and my future, too. Kahit pa ayaw ni Daddy. I can't just depend on my family all my life. Kahit pa alam ko na nag-aalala at mahal lang naman ako ni Daddy as his only daughter. Pero kailangan ko rin tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa somehow. I can't stay his princess forever...

And then if Elias would enter medical school I would also support him as his girlfriend. At ngayon pa lang I'm also already doing my research about med school. Gusto ko rin kasi na may alam din ako sa papasukin ng boyfriend ko. So that I could cheer on him better.

I know that it would not be all easy for us... But I didn't want to think any negative thoughts. I just want to think that things will work out our way just fine.