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Audrey's POV

And the thing that scares me most happened this day, a sunny Monday with a bit of chill in the air at school.

Xander started to avoid me. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko ba itong ikatuwa or malungkot ako ng sobra. I know this is an advantage for me since this will help me in letting go of him. Pero, kahit na alam kong hindi kami pwedeng maging lovers, we can still be friends, right? Ganun na lang ba yun? Xander will trade our friendship for Marielle? Sasayangin niya yung 11 years naming friendship? Why..? 

"Hindi ko alam eh, all I know is one moment we're the best of friends then the next day parang multo na lang ako sa kanya." I said. Jared stared at me with his beautiful brown eyes.

"Uh," Jared offered his handkerchief. "I'm sorry, wala akong masasabing advice eh.."

"Okay lang yun. Just listening is enough." I took his handkerchief and wiped my tears. Then, suddenly.. para bang sinasaksak ako ng 10000000 times sa puso when Xander and Marielle came out from the school, hooked with each others' arms. And sweet.

Mas lalo pang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I stared at them, and Xander glanced at me pero mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin. He just passed by me, and naglakad sila ni Marielle papunta sa.. hindi ko alam.

"You know, just don't stare." Jared said. "Kung hindi mo kaya, 'wag ka nang tumingin pa." and he suddenly grabbed my hand at niyakap ako. I was caught off guard, hindi ko ine-expect eh. I can barely breathe. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Bakit ba? Ugh, he just surprised me, that's all.

"Jared.." I muttered.

Binitawan niya na ako. "I'm sorry, pero sabi ko kasi 'wag ka nang tumingin pa."
Tumingin ako sa paa ko. "I'm sorry."

He sighed. "Okay lang. Hm? Wala kang sundo?"

I nodded. "Sabay nga sana kami ni Xander eh.. pero ayun."
"Edi, ako na lang ang maghahatid sa'yo."

I smiled. "Thank you Jared ah. For everything."
He smiled back and said, "Okay lang. We're friends diba? At saka.. sana ganyan ka lang, just keep on smiling."

THUD. THUD. Ang lakas ng tunog, nakakabingi. Huh? What was that? 
"Halika na?" he asked me.

"Ahh.. okay. S-sige." 

Naunang lumalakad si Jared at sa likuran niya ako. His hands are in his pockets and I just stared at his back while walking. THUD. THUD. Eto na naman. Ang lakas-lakas. Yung parang kakatakbo ko lang sa bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Audrey," Jared said. "You know, if you'll fall for me.. I'll catch you."

I blushed. "Ikaw talaga, nagbibiro ka pa." 

He turned to face me, and flashed his best smile, yung nakakatunaw. "Ahaha, ang slow mo talaga. Audrey, listen to me. I'll just say this once." he took my hand and placed it over his chest. Nagulat naman ako, and.. ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"W-what..?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Audrey Michelle B. Tan, I LOVE YOU. Not as a friend, but love as in 'love'."

That was.. a bit straight to the point. Grabe, nagbibiro ba 'to or something? Sa itsura niya kasi, walang ka-expression expression. Yung tipong, parang nagbasa lang ng script, kumbaga.

"Okay..?"

He sighed. "Ang slow mo talaga. Xander's right. Pero, Audrey.. hindi ako katulad niya, hindi ako torpe."
"Okay, nagjo-joke ka lang talaga, diba?"

Jared suddenly touched my shoulders. Tapos he leaned so close to me, very very close that our foreheads touch already. He looked at me with those brown eyes, and whispered slowly, "I love you, Audrey."

So.. seryoso talaga siya? What? Ahhh, no, no. "Jared, I'm sorry pero.. I don't feel the same way."
He chuckled and let me go. "Alam ko, pero.. sana someday, you'll fall for me. I'm willing to wait."

I nodded. And, naalala ko si Xander. Bakit ba hindi ko siya makalimutan? Sana talaga, si Jared na lang ang minahal ko. At least.. hindi ako masasaktan nang ganito.