Hey You

Prologue

Nella held Jane's arm trying to catch up to her after Jane tried to break up with her.

"You can't keep running away from the people that love you, Jane. Nandito naman ako. Di'ba ginusto mo rin naman toh? You know it's not one-sided. Alam kong mahal mo din ako," her eyes filled with tears while she stared at the only person she has ever fallen deep in love with.

"It was just a senior thing," Jane replied. She avoided Nella's stare.

"What do you mean? What 'senior thing'?" Nella asked confused.

Jane let her shoulders drop. "Come on, Nella. You're a freaking nerd. You spend most of your time reading. Gamitin mo naman yung utak mo."

Nella frowned.

"You were just part of a checklist—something I wanted to do before we graduate and move on with our lives. I wanted to do it all, and I've done it all—except hook up with a girl. It just happened na ikaw yung napili ko. I figured you were an easy target. Someone like you, yung invisible sa school, mabilis kayong kumagat the moment someone notices you. When someone pays attention to you, na-i-inlove kayo kaagad. That was part of the bet. Not only do I have to hook up with you, but I also need to make you fall in love with me. I figured you would easily fall for me, and I was right. I made you feel like a somebody when you were just a nobody, and it worked. But that was just it. You're cool and all, and I had fun hanging out with you, pero hanggang dito na lang yun," Jane claimed.

Nella refused to believe Jane's confession. "Hindi totoo yan."

Jane sighed with frustration. "Don't you get it? We're so different. Iba yung mundo ko sa mundo mo. Dun pa lang, I'm surprised na di ka man lang nag-taka why I even started talking to you."

Nella shook her head in denial. "Hindi ganyan yung Jane na nakilala at minahal ko at minahal din ako. Hindi ganyan ang pagkakakilala ko sayo. You're far from what you're trying to portray yourself to be ngayon. I got to know the real you, Jane. Hindi totoo lahat ng sinasabi mo ngayon dahil hindi ka ganyan."

Jane let out a little chuckle even though her eyes were filled with tears. "Ang gullible mo talaga noh? For a nerd like you, ang dali mong lokohin. Let this be a lesson for you, Nella. Kelangan hindi ka lang book smart. Use your brain sa lahat ng bagay hindi lang sa school. Not everything you see, hear, and/or feel is real. The eyes can be deceived, the ears can be deceived, and most of all, the heart is the stupidest organ in our body dahil yan ang pinakamadaling lokohin. Harap-harapan ka ng niloloko, hindi mo pa rin gets. I played you, Nella. I made you think that I'm in love with you. Well news flash: that's far from the truth. We can't be together."

Nella swallowed, her eyes were locked with Jane's. "Why?"

Jane shook her head and faced Nella. She stared at her with a fierce look in her eyes. "'Why?' Because I'm not in love with you, Nella. I was never in love with you, and I will never fall in love with you."