FAKING IT (JhoBea)

Bonfire (I)

B E A

From: Jho

Beh, san ka? Akala ko kakain muna tayo bago mag bonfire?

I smiled. It was an hour before the bonfire and I was busy running around the campus.

I realized that I have been in love with Jhoana for quite a while now and I can no longer contain it.

I'm planning on giving her little surprises during the bonfire because it would be the last event we will have before school ends.

I placed a sunflower in the gym with a note saying she should follow the arrows. I placed some sticky notes with arrows drawn in them in places inconspicuous enough so that no one other than Jhoana would notice it.

The notes would then lead her to the other side of the campus where she would find mock coupons that I personally made, saying that I will buy her a free Terra Sweet Corn fries from Potato Corner, her favorite.

From there she would find more sticky notes leading to a small clump of bushes where I strategically placed a bag with sweatshirt inside it. She had been badgering me for a long time to buy her that kind and I kept putting it off because I had other things to do.

Then another set of arrows would lead her back to the gym where she would find me waiting with her favorite book in my hand.

I had been dodging her calls and texts because I wanted to surprise her before we go to the bonfire together.

I texted her before setting up the last clues, telling her that she should go to the gym and I'll meet her there na lang.

I waited for her in the gym, hidden. I wanted to see her reaction when she sees my gifts.

Minutes later, I saw her wandering around the gym.

"Bea," She called. "Let's go na. Gutom na ako."

She then saw the sunflower I laid out for her and her face split into a huge smile. She walked towards it and picked it up. She was giggling while reading the note and my heart melted again.

"Jho?" Someone called.

She turned towards the person walking towards her and I did the same.

"Ate Ly! Ba't ka nandito?"

"I forgot my kneepads." Ate Aly stopped in front of Jho. "Ikaw?"

"Im-meet ko dapat si Bea dito eh, kaso pinagti-tripan niya na naman ako." She showed the note to Ate Aly and she smiled.

"Baliw talaga yun," Jhoana added.

Ate Aly's smile faltered a bit.

"Jho.." She started. "Can I give you some unsolicited advise?"

"Sure," She said. "Bakit ganyan expression mo?"

"Minsan, di mo mapipigilang ma-in love sa mga taong hindi mo pwedeng mahalin.." She trailed off.

"Wow, san naman galing yun?" Jho laughingly said.

"At kahit anong deny o supress ang gawin mo, di ka mananalo." Ate Ly continued.

"Kaya nga eh, bakit mo pa lalabanan?" Jho commented, still chuckling.

"May reason kung bakit hindi mo sila dapat mahalin," Ate Ly now spoke softer. "Kasi once na mahalin mo sila, at malaman mong mahal ka rin nila, nothing will ever be the same."

Jhoana fell silent.

"Hindi na kayo makakabalik sa dati." Ate Aly smiled sadly. "Trust me, I would know."