You Again, Professor [GL• #2]

CHAPTER 36.2

Isabelle Lavina Valencia Lopez POV
[Her back story]

"Here are some freshly picked flowers for my beautiful, smart, and hardworking future wife," North said with a warm smile on her face. She sat down beside me and handed me the freshly picked flowers. 

A bright smile immediately spread across my lips as I accepted them. "Thank you, love, pero saan mo naman nakuha ang mga 'to? And what kind of flowers are these?" I asked, my curiosity piqued while admiring the delicate blooms.

Napakamot siya sa ulo. "Sa tabi lang nung ilog," she replied with a gentle smile. "These are actually rare flowers. They're called scorpion grasses, but most people know them as forget-me-nots."  panimula niya.

Umarko ang kilay ko dahil sa kakaibang pangalan nung mga bulaklak. "Huh? Why are they called forget-me-nots?" I asked, my fingers grazing the delicate petals, curiosity growing as I admired their beauty. 

North chuckled softly and leaned back, as if preparing to share a story. "Actually, may legend story sa bulaklak na 'yan," she began.

"Interesting, hmm..." lumapit din ako ng upo sa tabi niya at sumandal sa kaniyang balikat.

"They say noong unang panahon daw, a knight and his lover were walking by a river, and the knight noticed these tiny blue flowers growing by the edge... huminto siya at kumuha, pero hindi niya napansin madulas pala sa tabi noong ilog, and he fell into the water. The current was strong, and as he was swept away, he tossed the flowers to his love and shouted, Forget me not! It was his final plea for her to remember him forever. Kaya simula noon, these flowers have symbolized eternal love, loyalty, and remembrance..." malumanay niyang paliwanag sa akin.

I stared at the flowers in my hand, their vibrant blue petals suddenly carrying a deeper meaning. "That's such a beautiful story... but also so tragic," I whispered, my voice laced with awe and a hint of sadness as the tale settled in my chest, naapektuhan ako sa kwento niya.

"Oo nga, " she replied, her gaze soft but thoughtful. "Pero, at least di ba, in some other version of that story—in another universe—the lover giving these flowers doesn’t have to die." There was a faint smile on her lips, but I could sense something deeper in her words, as though she was quietly referring to herself. 

The thought lingered in my mind as I looked at her, while holding those tiny, delicate blooms—so fragile yet so full of meaning. It felt like the flowers themselves carried not just a legend, but the quiet hopes and dreams of people like her, who believed in love strong enough to defy even the saddest of endings. 

"Of course, mahal..." mahinang sagot ko.

Kumuha siya ng pizza at itinapat iyon sa bibig ko. "Kaya kumain na tayo—sayang naman ang picnic natin kung hindi tayo kakain."

I smiled at her before taking a bite of the pizza she was feeding me. I set the flowers she gave me down beside me before speaking. "I'm genuinely happy right now!" I wrapped my arms around her neck, careful not to hug her too tightly—I didn’t want to accidentally choke her.

"Hmm? Me too,"

"Thank you for making my birthday so special, mahal," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. 

She paused mid-bite and looked at me with a soft smile. "Mahal, you know how much I love you, kaya kahit ano gagawin ko to make you happy," marahan niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko.

"Kaya nga, I'm so thankful for everything. Sobrang lucky ko, kasi I have you in my life,"

Hinarap niya ako sa kaniya. "Pero ang totoo niyan kasi, I actually feel a little shy because this is all I could give you—a simple nature trip and picnic—" I quickly cut her off before she could say more.