A Collision of Hearts and Heroes

PROLOGUE

Clarissa's POV

Missed Opportunity

I have lost count of how many times people said I am "too much." Too picky, too demanding, or too impossible to impress. But should I be apologizing for knowing what I want? I do not settle for halfhearted effort, for hollow words, or love as a compromise. So, how did this end up being my fault? Why are they making it seem like setting the bar higher was a mistake?

I belong to those women who liked but never pursued. Sa simula ay magkakandarapa sila sa akin—gagawin ang lahat para maipanalo ako—ngunit habang tumatagal ay biglang susuko na sila. They claim to be interested in me and fully committed, yet in the end, they leave.

I built those walls for myself to protect my heart. So, is it really too much to simply want to guard your peace? Wala naman akong nakikitang mali sa pamamaraan ko. Because I believe that women should never question their worth just because a man couldn't fulfill the way they wanted to be treated and loved. Kung hindi nila kayang gawin 'yan, then I don't see any reason not to dump them.

These men. They usually go for women who are easy to win over, and I'm not one of them. If they think I'm too much, then good. It even felt like the universe did me a favor by making them walk away. I know exactly what I'm worth, and if they can't match my pace, the door stays wide open for stupid boys.

Katulad ng nangyari sa akin ngayon. My head is already throbbing, trying desperately to explain to Geo why I want him to stop pursuing me without coming off as rude. He had been chasing after me for nearly a month now. Sinabi ko naman noong una na huwag na siyang magpatuloy dahil masasayang lang 'yong energy namin pareho. Now, this is the—I don't know how many times already— that I explained my point of wanting him to stop.

Nakipag-kita siya sa akin para pag-usapan 'yon ulit—na hindi ko na sana gusto pang mangyari dahil tapos naman na akong magpaliwanag sa kanya. But to prevent being disrespectful, I showed up. We're at starbucks right now, yet I didn't even enjoy the food and the coffee I ordered. Mukha kasing na-offend ko siya.

"I wish I had listened to my friends," he said with a hint of irritation in his tone. "Tama nga silang maarte ka nang wala sa lugar. Nag-enjoy ka ba sa ganito, ha? Nag-enjoy ka bang ginagawa mo kaming tanga?"

Napamaang ako, naguguluhan. "What? I don't get it. Maarte naman talaga ako, but..." I slightly furrowed my brows. "Why are you mad?"

"You always claimed to have high standards, but in reality, you were just toying with our feelings—because that's where you found your pleasure. Natutuwa kang hinahabol habol ka!" Mariin niyang sambit.

I pressed my lips together tightly, containing myself from bursting into laughter. Potek! Nababaliw na naman siya.

"But if you think I would pursue you just like how you imagined someone would be. Sorry to say this, but I won't raise hell just to climb your walls. To remind you, your standards are unrealistic, and no one would pursue you solely based on that."

After Geo struck me with that, I glanced downward. I pressed my lips together tightly once again to compose myself. I refrained from uttering any inappropriate words for the moment. Masakit akong magsalita kapag nauubos ang pasensya kaya huwag niya sana akong subukan ngayon.

"Masakit ba na hindi ka makapagsalita? Well, that's the fact, Clarieth Sancha," he scoffed in a tone full of mockery. "You're delusional." May diin ang pagkakasabi niya.

That's it! 'Yon lang ang hinihintay ko. And what's wrong with being delulu ba?

Tumayo siya at binitbit ang kanyang Macchiato. He was about to walk past me when I talked. I couldn't just let him leave with my ego being stepped on. He just attacked the wrong girl.