Girlfriend? For Hire! [BL]

SIDE STORY 4

Jacob's Point of View

I remember the first time I laid eyes on her, sitting a few rows ahead in our college classroom. Her smile was like a ray of sunshine, and her laughter filled the air with a melody that instantly captivated me. Her name was Fiona, and little did I know that she would become my first love, and also the source of my deepest heartbreak.

We were part of a close-knit group of friends during our first year of college, including Yuan, Hans, Aiden, and Wyatt. We spent countless hours together, sharing laughter, dreams, and the ups and downs of college life. But unbeknownst to them, my heart belonged to Fiona.

One fateful day, as we gathered in the campus courtyard, asaksihan ko ang isang eksenang gumuho sa mundo ko. I saw Fiona and Yuan sharing an intimate moment, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. My heart sank, dahil hindi pa ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na ipagtapat ang nararamdaman ko kay Fiona, at ngayon naman I had to bear witness to my unrequited love being realized by someone else.

It was a painful blow, but I couldn't fault them. They had no idea of the love I held in my heart for Fiona, as I had kept my feelings hidden beneath a veil of friendship. I retreated into the shadows, nursing my broken heart in silence.

Years passed, and graduation day arrived. Ito ay isang mapait na sandali habang kami ay nagpaalam sa aming mga taon ng kolehiyo at nagsimula sa susunod na kabanata ng aming buhay. And in the midst of this milestone, Fiona sought me out, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

"Jacob, I need to tell you something," she confessed, her eyes filled with regret. "I liked you all along, but I didn't know how to express it. Will you go out with me?"

My heart ached as her words reached my ears. How could I believe her now, after years of nursing my heartache? I couldn't bear to expose myself to more pain, so I closed myself off, rejecting her advances without giving her a chance to explain further.

Time passed, and life led us down different paths. Fate, however, had other plans in store. Natagpuan namin ang aming mga sarili na nagtutulungan sa parehong kumpanya, muling nagku-krus ng landas. Ginawa ko ang lahat para iwasan siya, pinangangalagaan ang sugatan kong puso mula sa karagdagang kaguluhan.

But Fiona was persistent. She refused to let our past define our present. One evening, during a company event, she seized an opportunity when she found me alone in a room. As she locked the door, her eyes filled with determination, I felt a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

"Anong kailangan mo?" Tanong ko.

"Bakit mo ako iniiwasan? Dahil ba 'to sa pagtatapat ko sa'yo noon?"

"After seeing you with Yuan, you confessed to me. What do you think I would feel? Mahal na kita noon pa!"

She began to speak, her voice laced with sincerity and remorse. "Jacob, I need you to listen to me. What you saw back in college, it wasn't what it seemed. Yuan kissed me unexpectedly, and I was just as shocked as you were. I never had any intention of hurting you."

My heart wavered, torn between holding onto the pain of the past and opening myself up to the possibility of forgiveness. Habang ibinahagi ni Fiona ang kanyang panig ng kuwento, naramdaman ko ang sinseridad sa kanyang mga salita, ang tunay na panghihinayang sa pananakit na naidulot niya.

In that moment, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Perhaps it was time to let go of the bitterness and give love a second chance. Slowly, I began to peel away the walls I had built around my heart, allowing Fiona to enter once more.

Months went by, and our interactions grew from cautious conversations to genuine friendship. Binuo namin ang tiwala na nasira, na nagpapahintulot sa isang mas malakas na bono na lumitaw. Fiona's patience and unwavering commitment to understanding me touched my heart in ways I never thought possible.