Knock Again, Professor [GL• #1]

Chapter 39

"Baby, why didn't you tell me, you surprised..." rinig kong sabi ni Sam, as soon as nakalabas kami mula sa conference room. I just smiled at her.

"I know you won't accept it, kaya inilihim ko sa'yo, it's also the reason why I'm super busy lately to the point na hindi kita natatawagan, I'm sorry baby I keep it from you." I gently said at lumapit sa kaniya para yakapin siya, she hugged me back.

"I was worried about you, and I miss you so much." malumanay niyang sabi kaya mas hinigpitan ko rin ang pagkakayakap sa kaniya.

"That will be the last time that I will make you worry, hindi ko na uulitin baby." I assured her.

We're in the middle of our moment when someone cleared his throat behind us. Lumayo ako kay Sam at tiningnan kung sino iyon, it was kuya Hilantho pala. Nakatingin siya sa amin ni Sam at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "Sorry for interrupting the moment," he said and smirked.

"Why do you look so familiar? Have we met before?" biglang tanong ni Sam sa kaniya, which made me confused at nagpabalik balik ang tingin sa kanila.

"Have we?" Hilantho said with sarcasm.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "That's why I'm asking you, sir."

"Wait, maybe you just saw Kuya Hilantho in a magazine," I said to them with a smile.

"No, I think we really met before somewhere," Kuya Hilantho interrupted her.

"Yeah, we met in California. We attended the same university when we were in senior high school. I was the nerdy guy who always gave you those poems in front of your locker, but you always ignored me. I later found out that you were my cousin's girlfriend, so I didn't bother you anymore," he explained, leaving me speechless.

"What a revelation, Kuya Hilantho," I said, glaring at my cousin.

"Hey, I didn't know, okay?" my cousin defended himself, raising his hands in mock surrender. "She caught my eye way back then, and who would have thought you and she would have a deeper connection?"

I crossed my arms, my glare intensifying. "It's just a coincidence and a matter of timing," he added, but I wasn't buying it.

"So, you really had no idea?" I pressed, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration.

My cousin sighed. "I swear, I didn't. We were just kids back then. I never even  imagined  myself would be giving her poems and all that. It's like something out of a cheesy romance novel." Hilantho stopped and chuckled softly, shaking his head. "But somehow, it felt pretty real to me. I poured my heart into those poems. But I guess fate had other plans."

"Because she was destined to be with me." sabi ko at ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

"Those poems... I still remember some of them," Sam said quietly, surprising us all. "I didn't know they were from you, Hilantho. I thought they were anonymous."

"Anonymous?" Hilantho looked genuinely surprised. "I signed every one of them."

"Ah, so itinago mo pa talaga?" medyo irita kong tanong kay Sam.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Oh, please baby don't be mad. I wasn't interested at all, I just kept it for no reason okay?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Well, it's a small world, isn't it? Who knew we'd all end up here, unraveling this old mystery?"

Hilantho smiled warmly. "Life has a funny way of bringing people together."

Sam looked thoughtful. "Maybe it is."

"And," my cousin said, clapping his hands together, "whatever happens, let's make sure we don't let the past complicate things. Bata pa naman tayo noon, I wasn't that serious at all." he said pero mukhang taliwas naman iyon sa nakikita ko sa mga mata niya.