Jisoo was already crying.
"Kainis ka akala ko mag-isa lang akong nahuhulog."
Taehyung held her hand. "Will you forgive me?"
"Promise me no more pretending."
"I swear this time, it's real. It has always been real Jisoo. I felt that when I first saw you properly. Sa jeep, yung araw na nasiraan ako ng kotse kaya kinailangan kong mag-commute. Of course I noticed you every now and then. Marami kaming nakakapansin sa'yo. But in my mind, the girl was Jennie so I failed to recognize you."
Wala ng pakialam si Jisoo kahit nakatingin na yung driver sa kanila. Lumakas ang pag-iyak niya. "You told me my hair tasted bad!"
"It did but I don't mind. Pwede ko namang iiwas ang mukha ko at ibaling sa kabila. Nababasa lang talaga yung manggas ng uniform ko so I had to speak up."
"Nakatingin ka talaga sa'kin?"
Taehyung nodded. "It was the first time I saw you without anything covering your hair. Hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan mo nun but I know your face really well."
"Ang arte mo that time."
"I know, I'm sorry again. My day started pretty bad. Nalasahan ko pa yung conditioner na ginamit mo. I had to brush my teeth a couple of times to get rid of the taste."
Natawa si Jisoo. "Sorry kasi hinayaan ko lang din liparin ng hangin yung buhok ko. Good mood lang talaga ako kasi wala na akong pakialam kay Suho."
Taehyung groaned. "Bakit ka umiiyak nang makita kitang kasama niya?" It was the first time he felt jealous and protective of her.
"He told me about Jinyoung."
"You can't trust the guy."
"Alam ko... alam ko na yan ngayon. Kinausap ka ba niya?"
"He told me you see him as more than just a friend. Said you love him but you're afraid to admit it to yourself. Hindi ako naniwala."
Jinyoung didn't stop his manipulation and tried to brainwash Taehyung. "I told him the truth. Na nagpapanggap lang tayo para linlangin si Jennie. Pero nang sinabi kong nahuhulog na ako sa'yo, nagalit siya at binantaan ako. He said I don't deserve to be with you."
Taehyung recalled what happened. "He was acting strange. Pinupokpok niya yung ulo niya. He got hysterical and agressive. He punched me. I did not hurt him because he's still your friend after all. Sinabihan ko lang na 'wag na siyang lumapit sa'yo. Paulit-ulit niyang sinabi na masasayang daw yung pinaghirapan niya."
Jinyoung's obsessed. Jisoo should tell her family about him.
"After that, I prepared to surprise you. Binayaran ko yung TF ng artistang kakanta. Pero hindi ko alam na ayaw mo pala ng ganun. Dapat nakinig ako kay Jennie but I know I have to tell you the truth."
"I got scared. Paano nangyari yun? Pwede bang magbago ang feelings ng ganun-ganun na lang?"
"Walang nagbago kasi wala namang dapat baguhin. The girl I had a crush for months is the same girl I fell in love with. I never felt anything for Jennie. I got to a point when I thought maybe I was just only holding on to the memory. It wasn't the same when I'm with you. We get along really well but that's it. There's nothing more."
Taehyung tried, pero wala talaga. Sa isip niya si Jennie yung babae pero parang ibang tao ito. Wala siyang maramdaman tuwing magkasama o magka-usap sila.
"After talking and spending time with you, I knew Jimin was right. Hindi malabong mahulog ako sa'yo at nangyari nga yung sinabi niya. I realized it first when you told me about Suho. Pagkatapos ng gabing iyon, mahigpit na ang kapit mo sa sistema ko. Pinagpatuloy ko yung deal kasi iniisip ko pa kung paano ko sasabihin sa'yo."
Taehyung doesn't care about the freaking deal anymore. Si Jisoo na yung nagugustuhan niya.
"I hate to admit this but I don't know how. First time ko and I needed help so I told Jennie. Ours was off the moment I made a new deal with Jennie. Sabi niya kasi we need to trigger your realization first. Kailangan mong makita na nagkakamabutihan na kami. I agreed but I can't wait that long. After seeing you with Suho and talking to Jinyoung, I was determined to make my move."
The timing he chose was wrong. Jisoo and Jinyoung had a confrontation. She hates public surprises and was confused.
Kahit sino naman maguguluhan.
"This was bound to happen Jisoo. I was gonna end up here. The first time you made me laugh, I knew I'm going to fail pretending."
Everything around them was temporarily shut down. They can only see, hear and feel each other.
"I love you. Please be my girlfriend."
"Akala ko ba hinding-hindi ka magkakagusto sa'kin."
He grunted. "I know, I wasn't planning to but it happened." Taehyung teased Jisoo.
"Promise you'd call me Marelods."
"I promise."
"Can you give me half of your chicken skin all the time?"
"Kahit ibigay ko pa sa'yo lahat, I won't mind."
"Would you buy me notebooks kahit ipangdidisplay ko lang?"
"All shapes and sizes."
"Hindi ko pa nababasa yung letter mo so I still can't decide if I want to receive more in the future."
"I can't guarantee that it's good but I promise to write you more."
Jisoo smiled. "Lastly, let's do our first kiss in the jeepney."
Taehyung grinned. "Oh that's been running on my mind since I saw you panting earlier."
Jisoo leaned closer. "Wait," Taehyung interrupted.
"What?"
"Can I make a single request?"
"Ano?"
There was an evil smile on his face. "Can you cut your hair short? I want to see it again."
Sinapak siya ni Jisoo sa balikat. "No way! Hirap na hirap kaya akong pahabain 'to ulit."
Hinalikan siya ni Taehyung sa pisngi. "I'm kidding, love. Either way, you always look cute."
"Cute lang?"
Taehyung raise a brow. "Why do I have a feeling you want to hear me say the word sexy?"
Nagtaas-baba si Jisoo ng kilay. "Bakit, hindi ba?"
