Not Your Typical Love Story

Chapter 3: A Glimpse Of The Past (Part 1)

Flashback

Tania's POV

10 years ago, I was just a kid at the age of 11. I spent most of my time studying and never really had many friends. But all that changed when Cole came into my life. His family had just moved to our town from the UK and it was rare for us to see foreigners around here.

He was already 16 years old when I graduated as a valedictorian. Coincidentally, we both ended up going to the same high school. I was starting my first year while he was still in 8th grade. You might be wondering why he was still in 8th grade. Well, he was a bit of a troublemaker during his teenage years, so that explained it.

Even though I had seen Cole around our neighborhood before, I never really got to know him. We always bumped into each other during our PE classes, and for some reason, he kept teasing me about my height. I mean, yeah, I'm short, but who was he to make fun of me like that? Are we even close?

As I reminisce about the past, I remembered how cute Cole looked with his favorite bandana on. However, I couldn't stand it when he teased me about my height. I finally decided to confront him about it and to my surprise, he just laughed and said it was because I was cute. He then introduced himself confidently, and I was forced to rethink my initial opinion of him.

To my surprise, Cole and I started to get along really well. As time went by, we became inseparable. I helped him with his studies, and he always had my back when bullies came around. It was a strange irony, but that's how we rolled. Sometimes, Mr. and Mrs. Morris would even invite me over for dinner to show their gratitude for being there for Cole. It was during those times that I got to meet Jayden, who was around 18 years old at the time. Although we weren't really close, our families got to know each other too.

When I was 14 years old, my mother found out that my father was cheating on her, and everything fell apart. It was a heartbreaking moment for us, especially for my mother. My father was kicked out of the house, and we were left to pick up the pieces of our shattered family.

My mother took on the burden of raising us on her own, and it was tough. There were moments when we felt lost and alone, but Cole was always there to lift our spirits. He would come over and crack jokes, make us laugh and forget about our troubles. He even convinced his parents to lend us a hand during those difficult times.

As time passed, I watched Cole grow into an admirable man. By the time I turned 15, he was already 19 years old, and I was in awe of the person he had become. I found out that he had taken up Education in college, and I couldn't believe it. I had never seen him so passionate about anything before. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and excitement, and I knew that he was on the path to success.

I remember a time when Cole invited me out for lunch. It was a first for me since I had never been asked out before. I was a bit nervous and didn't know what to do or wear. I sought my mother's advice and asked her what to do. She looked at me with a knowing smile and said,

"Why are you even asking? Just be yourself and wear what you usually wear. I know Cole won't mind."

I took her advice and went with the flow, feeling relieved that I didn't have to stress over it.

As soon as I finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door and it was Cole. To my surprise, he had brought gifts for my family, which melted my heart. We headed to the restaurant together and found a table. Cole ordered my favorite dish, Lomi, and we waited for it to arrive. While we were waiting, I couldn't help but ask him a funny question.

"Hey, it's kind of funny that you asked me out-out of the blue, I'm barely 16. Is this really a legit date?"

Cole giggled and replied,

"Advance mo talaga mag-isip. Technically, this a date but you can call it a friendly date if it bothers you. Actually, I don't mind about the age. Di ka naman halata na 15 kasi ang matured na ng looks mo eh, well, excluding the height."

Cole couldn't help but grin as Tania rolled her eyes in mock irritation. But his amusement soon turned to sincerity as he thanked her for being such a significant presence in his life.

"Tania, I just want to say thank you. Despite being younger than me, you always seem to act so mature, like we're on the same level. You've helped me in so many ways, especially in figuring out who I want to be in life. There were times when things got really tough, but you were always there to support me. I couldn't have become the person I am today without you."

As Tania realized the gravity of his words, she replied softly,

"You know, Cole? I should be the one thanking you. You've done so much for me and my family. We've always been there for each other, and I'm grateful to have you in my life."

That moment marked the beginning of what some might call "puppy love." As time passed, their friendship grew into something deeper, and they soon realized they had developed feelings for each other.

A few months has passed

My 16th birthday was fast approaching, and I was eagerly anticipating spending it with him. But Cole had been busy with his duties at a student camp, and we hadn't seen each other in a week. He promised that we would make up for the lost time on my birthday.

The night before my special day arrived, and I found myself unable to sleep due to my excitement. My phone rang, startling me. I glanced at the caller ID, but the number was unfamiliar.

"Hello? Sino po sila?"

I asked hesitantly.