Unnoticed Glances (TS #1)

Prologue

"Shit!" I immediately got out of the car after hitting someone on a motorcycle.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry if I hit you. It's just that... why were you driving so fast? I didn't see you at all. I'm really sorry."

I don't know why, but I was feeling nervous for no reason.

"I'm okay, miss. Don't worry, I won't press charges," he said.

I froze in place. That voice sounded familiar. And I wasn't wrong—he took off his helmet and...

"R-Rafa?" I blurted out, making him look surprised.

"Azy?" he replied.

Damn, he still looks so handsome. What the hell is this guy drinking to still look that good?

'Azy, stop it. You've been over him for a long time.'

"It's just you. I thought it was someone else," I said, thankful I didn't stutter like earlier.

"Next time, if you want to die, don't use me as your method, okay? I might end up in jail because of you!" I said, grinning. This guy, really.

"Okay, I'll be careful next time," he said, then winked.

Shit! My heart is going crazy again.

"Edi wow," I said with an eye roll. "You know what? Just leave, okay? I'm going to be late, and you're blocking the way. And if I get late, I swear I'll curse you!"

I quickly got back into the car and drove off.

Why is he even here in Manila? Wasn't he supposed to still be in the US? I thought once he finished med school, he did his residency there too.

Tsk... Why am I even thinking about that jerk?

I'll just call the girls.

While driving, I called our group chat.

"Hey mga mhiema!" Devy greeted.

"Hoy gaga, where are you? We've been here for ages!" Gel said, obviously irritated.

"I'm almost there! I accidentally hit someone earlier because of my stupidity. Good thing he didn't die. Hahahaha!"

After that, we ended the call since I was already close.

When I arrived at the coffee shop where we agreed to meet, Devy immediately smacked me.

"You're always late, bruha. Now the other one's sulking. Go fix it!" she said.

I quickly ran to Gel and started begging.

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again. I hit someone dumb earlier, or I would've been here sooner."**

"Who?" Gel asked, making me go silent and roll my eyes.

"Let me guess," Devy jumped in.

*Damn it's so hard to hide things from this girl, she knows everything!'

"Who?" I asked, pretending not to know where this was going.

"Your baby, right? HAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed.

I swear, if she weren't my friend, I would've slapped her.

"I just remembered, the last time you hit someone, your reaction wasn't like this. Now you're acting weird. Instinct tells me... it's Rafa, isn't it?" she added, raising her brows.

"Rafa?" Gel repeated.

I was about to answer when Devy jumped in again.

"Obviously! Look at her, she's speechless. HAHAHAHA!"

This bitch, I swear.

"I swear to God! I'll call you know who just to shut you up!" I said while laughing.

She threw a tissue at me.

"So what happened? How'd you hit him?" Gel asked.

"The stoplight was red, and when it turned green, he suddenly appeared in front of me on a motorcycle. That's it."

I kept telling them the whole story until Devy cut in again.

"You're pretending not to care, but deep inside you totally do..." she teased.

WTF?! Why would I care about him?! Never. Over my dead body.

"Do you still love him?" Gel suddenly asked.

I was caught off guard. What?? Love him? Never. Tsk.

I was about to answer but—of course—Devy beat me to it again.

"Of course she does. Look—she hasn't had a boyfriend since they broke up! She wants to grow old alone. HAHAHAHA!"

Damn this girl, where did her mom even find her? Her attitude's crazy.

"Fuck you." I rolled my eyes at her and answered Gel's question.

"No! Yuck! I don't even know why I dated him. I guess we were just young back then, didn't know better. Hahaha..."

My laugh was obviously fake, and they noticed.

"What if you meet him again, and he tells you the reason why he did what he did... and says he still loves you—would you take him back?"

I was speechless. I really thought about what she said.

'Do I still love him or not'

Even I was confused.

I liked him before.

I loved him.

I did everything for him.

But now?

I don't know if I still can.

With everything I went through...

With the way he left me...

Can I still love him like before?

'Of course not.'

I looked at the two and laughed.

"HAHAHAHA you guys are crazy! What kind of questions are these?!"

Gel came closer and said,

"If you still love him, we'll support you no matter what. But this time, please listen to him if he asks for another chance—if he wants to explain why he left you. Just... listen, okay?"

I nodded in response.

Can I really listen to all his explanations?

Maybe yes...

But that doesn't erase the pain he caused.

The way I fell so hard...

How I failed to make it to my third year of college...

How much I suffered...

Maybe I can...

But not now.

I hope that, by the time I find myself again—and if I can love him once more—there will be no more leaving.

Because I don't want to hope and be hurt again.