Hook: The Novel (English)

Chapter 24: The First Steps Toward Us

FORD'S P.O.V.

After that heart-melting confession, we decided to grab lunch together—and the whole time, I felt like a giddy high schooler having lunch with her ultimate crush. I couldn't stop smiling. My stomach was full of butterflies, my cheeks were sore from grinning, and every time our eyes met, I felt like I was about to combust.

I was so conscious—in the best way possible. His gaze lingered on me like I was the only person in the room, and every time he smiled, my heart flipped. My knees? Pure jelly. My flirting skills? Gone. Vanished.

Where did my confidence go? Seriously, someone find it.

But can you blame me? I was on a date with the campus cold heartthrob—the captain of the Blue Eagles, a straight-A academic weapon, everyone's dream guy of Ateneo—and he confessed to me.

I was living in my own Wattpad fantasy, and it felt too surreal to be true.

Now we were inside his car, and he had insisted on taking me home. Of course I agreed. I mean, have you seen fare lately? Plus, let's be real—I don't think he'd let me commute alone even if I tried.

The car ride was quiet, but in the most comfortable, dreamy kind of way. No awkwardness. Just soft music, the occasional glance, and a thousand unspoken feelings floating in the air.

And then it happened.

I felt warmth slowly creep over my hand. I glanced down and—oh my God. He was holding my hand. Fingers lacing through mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

My brain short-circuited. My heart? Racing. My soul? Ascending.

I tried to act calm, cool, and unfazed.

But inside, I was full-on screaming.

So this is what it feels like to hold hands while driving?

I wasn't ready. I didn't expect it. But I was loving every second of it. This little gesture? Really drove me insane.

As I glanced at him, I noticed how red his face had gotten—especially his ears. So he was blushing too. Flustered, even. But he was clearly trying to keep it together and play it cool.

He's so cute when he's like this. His reaction made me chuckle softly.

"Are you blushing?" I asked, unable to resist teasing him. He was just too adorable without even trying.

He shot me a quick glance, then immediately looked away and focused on the road ahead. He scoffed, but the blush on his face only deepened.
"Of course not," he muttered.

He denied it, but his face and body language betrayed him completely. I smirked.

"Oh? Are you flustered by your own gesture, huh? Mr. Anti-Romantic—or should I say, Mr. Romantic now?"

"You're crazy," he said, shaking his head.

We caught each other's gaze for a brief moment—and then we both burst out laughing. The kind of laugh that bubbles up without force, full of warmth and happiness. It was easy. Natural. Perfect.

For a moment, we settled into a comfortable silence. I glanced down at our intertwined hands, still resting between us, and a thought came to mind. I smiled sheepishly and looked over at him.

"Are you sure about this whole courtship thing?" I asked, my voice playful but edged with something more sincere. "I mean, I don't mind being in a relationship with you. In fact, I like the idea. We can be boyfriends right now, you know..." I added with a teasing wiggle of my eyebrows.

It sounded playful, but I meant every word.

He told me after the confession that he wanted to take things slow. He said he didn't want to rush into anything just because emotions were high. He wanted to pursue me, to court me properly. Like I was someone worth waiting for. Worth the effort.