To Girls You've Ever Loved | ✔️

Chapter 13

Dahlia Meadows

I held my cheeks, as it burnt reddish. It was unbelievable but I had to admit it happened. The way he caressed me, and the way he wrapped his jacket to cover me up.
It's something I had experienced before.
But this time, with a new feeling.

It finally was another day. It's another hell of a day. It was my time to go to Hamptons' campus again. I went up and the eyes that looked viciously laughing at me became eyes that were full of sympathy. I looked at the people surrounding me and saw Julian amidst the crowd looking at me as I've done something. He was looking with much fear and anger.

"Dahlia!" as January shouted and the crowd scattered to go back to their rooms. "Why.." as I turn my voice to a soft whisper. "Did they suddenly become quiet?" I was in disbelief that their cruelty against me was done. "No idea." Of course. January had no idea because she was not involved with any of this offense.

Dallas passed by us and didn't greet January and I. It was unusual, even though we weren't friends he'd greet me.
Today was an unusual day for him. Did something happen?

The call that my mom told me about didn't come any sooner. I didn't have any single idea on who would actually call me. I looked at him as his distance became far from me. "Dallas!" a voice came unexpectedly from me. I didn't wanna say anything but my guts forced me to make the first move to him. Dallas stopped and looked at me. "Can we talk later?" as I hesitated, then continued. "At the rooftop."
I didn't know what I was gonna talk about with him. I just felt safe when we were together. I felt — some kind of comfort and security. I was happy when I was with him yesterday.
I wanted to be friends with him.
Maybe more than friends.

More than friends, you say? Why am I blurting out some nonsense? I hurriedly asked Katherine something just to wake myself up, so I chatted her:

Me: Katherine.. How do you say if ako, inlove ako? It's so hard to believe though. I don't know if these are signs of just an enjoyment I feel with him or these are signs that I'm developing something for him. I.. I just don't know what I could be blurting out alam mo yun. Ang hirap.

TR: Katherine.. How do you say I'm in love? It's so hard to believe though. I don't know if these are signs of just an enjoyment I feel with him or these are signs that I'm developing something for him. I.. I just don't know what I could be blurting out, you know. It's hard.

Kat: Now inaamin mo na nga, gusto mo siya. Edi go for it!

TR: Now you are confessing it, that you like him. Then go for it!

I looked at the message. I didn't know how it felt to be in love after my last relationship which was two years ago. My relationship was just pure betrayal and lies that were hidden from me. For short, I got lied to by my bestfriend and she betrayed me as she chose to love my boyfriend, so she didn't choose me at all.

I was not even considerate of myself when it came to relationships. I knew I had to effort, there were no rules for me that the men always had to give out materialistic things to me at least for me. In this modern world, it's always considered that simplest yet best effort of a man was understood just as the bare minimum. Everyone wanted that, and I didn't. I preferred the part where I could love the man freely just on my own without those materialistic things defining a relationship.

Betrayal hurt the most when it came from your bestest friend, or the ones you trust. It's like a hell of a painkiller.

I stood there in shock and mumbled in my thoughts Ah, so this is it. I've fallen. I didn't want to not give in any more chances, and I had to give it a go. I tried looking for him, but I knew he was at the rooftop. Just as I told him. I went to the rooftop, this time with no hesitation I had to confess these lingering feelings I've had for him. "Dallas?" as I held my hands together at the back. He looked at me as he was holding a book, it was my favorite book too. "You read that too?" as I immediately put on a smile and sat just beside him. "I do." We became quiet for a long time, till I had to spit out what I had to say.

"Dallas, I think I like you." I stood up in front of him, and had a persuasive look on my face. "Pardon?" He looked at me as if he was in shock at what he just heard. "I said I like you!" I looked at him, he was in disbelief. "You don't. Why would you blurt that out out of a sudden?"

"Why do you keep denying everything I say? I told you before you were nice, you also denied it. Now, I'm confessing my feelings. Are you denying it too?" I told him with a serious tone. I was disappointed. He could've at least appreciated my feelings and rejected me. Having my feelings denied by words hurts more than having my feelings rejected. I looked at him, disappointedly. "I guess you rejected me Dallas." I walked out and slammed the rooftop door. I was mad, disappointed, and every word I could describe this hatred I felt towards him. There were a lot of words to describe his arrogance. I know I am wrong for being mad, but my feelings were instantly denied. I was already fine knowing I could have been rejected by hearing I don't like you, we don't match together or even more but You don't was ridiculous.

As I fell for Dallas.
I just now realized this is how far I've fallen for a guy.