Love Mo Ba Ako o Joke Lang?

CHAPTER 6 - Pangako nga ba o Pagsubok?

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Sophia’s POV

Ang daming nangyari sa nakaraang araw. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong gagawin ko. Yes, sinabi ni Liam na seryoso siya, pero bakit parang mas lalo akong natatakot ngayon?

"Bes, isip ka na naman nang isip!" Ayla exclaimed habang kumakain kami ng lunch. "Ang dami mo nang sinasayang na brain cells para lang sa kanya. Ano ba talaga ang plano mo?"

"Eh kasi..." I trailed off, stirring my iced tea aimlessly. "Hindi ko pa rin alam kung dapat ko siyang paniwalaan. Ayoko nang masaktan, Ayla."

"Then paano kung totoo siya? Gusto mo ba siyang pakawalan dahil sa takot mo?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Minsan, bes, kailangan mong mag-risk. Hindi lahat ng bagay sigurado."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Ayla always had a way of making things sound so simple, but living it out felt impossible.

Later that afternoon, I found myself wandering around the campus. And as if fate was playing tricks on me, nakita ko si Liam sa bench sa garden area, looking down at his phone. He looked... worried.

“Liam?” I called out.

Agad siyang tumingin sa akin, and for a second, parang gumaan ang mukha niya nang makita ako. "Hey, Sophia. Nandito ka pala."

Tumayo siya at nilapitan ako, dala ang isang maliit na paper bag. "I was about to look for you, pero buti nakita na kita."

"Why? Ano 'yan?" tanong ko, pointing to the bag.

He handed it to me, smiling sheepishly. “Nothing fancy, just some snacks. I figured you might need it habang nag-aaral.”

Napatitig lang ako sa kanya. Simple gesture lang, pero bakit parang ang laking bagay nito? "Thanks," I said softly.

“Can we talk?” tanong niya, his tone serious this time. “I feel like may gusto ka pang itanong na hindi mo masabi.”

Tumigil ako saglit, unsure kung dapat ko bang itanong ang bumabagabag sa isip ko. Pero he looked so sincere, na parang hinihintay niya akong magsalita.

“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Liam, paano ko malalaman na hindi mo ako niloloko? I mean, paano kung bigla mo na lang akong iwan after all this?”

His expression softened. "Sophia, I understand where you’re coming from. Pero gusto kong malaman mo na hindi ako nandito para makipaglaro. If I wanted to joke around, I wouldn’t go through all this effort just to make you feel safe.”

“Effort?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You think buying me snacks is enough?”

He chuckled softly. “No, but it’s a start. Gusto kong makita mo na seryoso ako, kahit sa maliliit na bagay. Kaya, please... give me a chance. I’ll prove it to you.”
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Liam’s POV

Hindi madali ang pagkuha ng tiwala ni Sophia. But I didn’t expect it to be easy either. Kung tutuusin, it’s what I deserve after being so inconsistent with her before.

“Liam, I’m scared,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Takot akong magkamali. Takot akong masaktan.”

I stepped closer, looking into her eyes. “Then let me show you na hindi kita sasaktan. Alam kong hindi ko mabubura ang mga doubts mo overnight, pero kung bibigyan mo ako ng chance, hindi kita bibiguin.”

Tahimik lang siya, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. But instead of pushing her, I decided to step back.

“I’ll wait, Sophia,” I said, giving her a small smile. “Kahit gaano katagal.”
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Sophia’s POV

As I watched Liam walk away, a part of me felt relieved, but another part of me felt... guilty. He seemed so sincere, and yet, I couldn’t let go of my fears.

“Paano kung tama siya?” I whispered to myself. “Paano kung ito na talaga ang pagkakataon ko para maging masaya?”

But what if he’s wrong? What if this is just another game I’ll lose?

In the end, there was only one thing I knew for sure: I needed time, and if Liam was willing to wait, maybe... just maybe, I could take a leap of faith.
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Sophia’s POV

The next few days were a blur. Ang dami kong iniisip, pero hindi ko pa rin kayang magdesisyon. Liam was giving me space, and honestly, iyon ang nakakalito. Hindi siya nangungulit, pero nararamdaman ko pa rin ang presence niya kahit wala siya sa paligid.

One afternoon, habang nagre-review ako sa library, biglang may lumapit sa akin na librarian. She handed me a small note.

“Miss Sophia, someone asked me to give this to you,” sabi niya, with a small smile.

Napakunot ang noo ko habang binabasa ang sulat:

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"Meet me sa rooftop after class. Gusto lang kitang makausap. –Liam"

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Napatingin ako sa note. Ano na naman kaya ito?

Pagdating ko sa rooftop, nakita ko si Liam na nakatayo sa gilid, nakatingin sa sunset. There was something calming about the way he looked, pero hindi ko maiwasang kabahan.

“Hey,” I greeted softly.

He turned to me and smiled. “You came. Akala ko hindi ka pupunta.”

I shrugged. “Ano bang gusto mong pag-usapan?”

Tumawa siya, a bit nervously. “Ang direct mo talaga, Sophia.”

“Eh ano pa ba ang gusto mong gawin ko? Ikot-ikot dito habang naghihintay sa ‘to-the-point’ mong sagot?” I replied, crossing my arms.

Napakamot siya ng ulo. “Fair point. Okay, here goes…”

Huminga siya nang malalim bago magsalita. “Sophia, gusto ko lang sanang linawin na hindi kita minamadali. Alam kong marami kang doubts, and I understand that. But I also want to be honest with you. I like you—a lot. And I don’t want to let this chance go without fighting for it.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. His words were straightforward and sincere, pero parang ang hirap pa ring paniwalaan.

“Liam, hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ang gusto ko,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “Ayokong mag-desisyon na hindi ko pa sigurado. Ayokong masaktan... or masaktan ka.”

He stepped closer, just enough para maramdaman ko ang presensya niya. “Sophia, I’m not asking for a yes right now. Gusto ko lang malaman mo na nandito ako. I’m here for you, kahit gaano katagal. Kahit masaktan ako sa paghihintay, okay lang. Worth it ka.”

Those words hit me hard. Worth it daw ako? Parang ang hirap paniwalaan.

“Paano kung hindi ko kayang ibigay ang gusto mo?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Then I’ll respect that,” he said, his tone firm but gentle. “Pero hindi ko susukuan ang chance na makuha ang tiwala mo. Kahit maliit na porsyento lang, Sophia. I’ll wait.”

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Liam’s POV

Habang kausap ko si Sophia, ramdam ko ang bigat ng puso niya. Hindi madali para sa kanya, at alam kong ako rin ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagdadalawang-isip ngayon. Pero sa kabila ng lahat, hindi ko kayang sumuko.

“Sige,” she said finally, looking away. “Let’s take it slow. Pero Liam, huwag mo akong paasahin kung wala ka ring balak tuparin ang mga sinasabi mo.”

Napangiti ako kahit seryoso ang tono niya. “Hindi kita paaasahin, Sophia. Pangako ‘yan.”

“Pangako, ha?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Pangako,” I repeated, putting my hand over my chest. “Scout’s honor.”

Napailing siya, pero nakita ko ang unti-unting ngiti sa labi niya. It wasn’t much, pero para sa akin, it was enough.

For now.