Reaching You

ocho

MAVEN

I had always known that the Grand Ball would be a night to remember, but nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind of emotions that swept through me when Ali kissed me. It had been a fleeting moment, lost amidst the chaos of twinkling lights and swirling gowns, yet it burned bright in my memory, a secret ember that refused to fade. I could still feel the warmth of her lips against mine, a sensation so electric that it left me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself—and about her.

The next day, I found myself sitting in my room, replaying that kiss over and over, tangled in a web of doubt. My friend Maloi's words echoed in my mind, "You have to tell her how you feel, Maven. What's the worst that could happen?" 

The worst that could happen was that Ali could reject me and I could lose everything—the friendship we had built over almost a year, the easy laughter, the shared dreams. But then again, what if the kiss wasn't just a mistake? What if it meant something, at least to her? Maybe, just maybe, my feelings weren't so misplaced.

Deciding I had to take a leap, I took a deep breath and made my way to Ali's office. The halls of our school felt different, charged with potential and uncertainty, as if the very air acknowledged the shift in my feelings. My heart raced, a wild drumbeat urging me to hurry, yet every step felt heavy with the weight of anticipation. I could already envision her bright smile, the way her hazel eyes sparkled with mischief, and I longed to see her face light up with recognition when I told her the truth.

As I reached for the doorknob, a sudden pang of hesitation made me pause. What if she laughed? What if she brushed off the kiss as a whim, something to forget? I shook my head, trying to clear the doubts, and stepped inside.

My legs felt frozen, as if cemented to the ground. I wanted to retreat, to hide from the world and the uncomfortable reality of unrequited love. I turned to leave quietly, but of course, she noticed me. 

"Maven!" she called out, her voice sweet and startled. The smile on her face faltered into confusion as she took in my expression. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, lost between the longing to rush into her arms and the fear of being exposed.

"Hey, I was just... um, looking for you," I managed, my voice barely a whisper. I forced a smile, but it felt strained.

"Do you need something?" she asked, her gaze fixing on me with that familiar warmth. Somehow, it sent a shiver down my spine, reminding me of why I had come here.

You. I want you, Alianna Quenzi.

And in that moment, with uncertainty swirling around us like a storm, I realized that sometimes, you have to brave the storm to find your truth. "Can we talk?" I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could contemplate their weight. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she nodded.

I took a deep breath "What happened at the ball," I started, my heart hammering like a wild thing. "I can't stop thinking about it, Ali. What do you—" 

"Babe!" a familiar voice came through her office. 

Dali-dali naman niyang binuksan ang locker at itinulak ako sa loob. Akala ko sasaraduhan na niya nang bigla rin siyang pumasok sa loob, ipinagsisikan kami sa locker. 

"What are we doing?" takang pabulong ko. Our bodies are so close even our faces, kaya hindi ako makatingin dito dahil isang lingon ko lang ay pwede ko na siya mahalikan.

"Hiding obviously?" Nararamdaman ko ang paghinga niya dahil sa lapit namin sa isa't isa. I also can feel my pants growing.

Oh come on! not now!!