Last Shot at Love

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MAKI LOPEZ

"Well, it will only be a happy beginning if you'll start it with me."

"W-what?" I heard her, loud and clear for that matter pero hindi ko maiwasang isipin na niloloko lang ako ng panrinig ko.

"I-i k-know its a lot to take in. I tried, all those four years to forget you. I tried dating other people pero hindi ko alam kung anong pinakain mo sa akin at hindi kita malimutan. Even after you became a taboo sa conversation namin, I can't find myself forgetting you. I was mad at you, but not for a long time. I longed for you. I waited for the day to see you again but I also dreaded it. I honest did not want to go back here since alam kong magkikita tayo sa kasal nina Alex pero at the same time, deep down, I knew when Alex pleaded me to go back, I cannot say no. I'll help you make the other girls understand what happen. I'll try to talk to them to get your friendship back together. But I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me anymore. I know I caused you a lot of pain as well-----" 

"You're rambling, again." I cut her. I smiled at her and cried, but this time with happy tears.

"I'm sorry. I just missed you so much. Can we? You know, start new? I'll understand if you want to be just friends with me right now. I'll rather take it kesa naman wala ka sa buhay ko----"

"No. I can't be friends with you." I said.

"No?" She said in a low voice. 

"No, I can't be just friends with you. I want us to be more than friends, okay? But we'll take it slow. " I said in a calm tone. Hindi ko kayang maging kaibigan si Julian. I think I love her too much para lang maging kaibigan ko siya.

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"Really, Maki?! Go slow?! Are you kidding me?! Nahuli mo na sa lambat yung isda, itinapon mo ulit sa dagat? What are you thinking?!" Alex breathe out exaggeratedly. Ipinaypay nito ang mga kamay na para bang naiinitan pero nasa air conditioned room naman ito. She barge in my office when I texted her the following morning what happened. 

Julian and I spent the whole afternoon catching up. We talk about the last four years that we were not there for each other. We talked about our achievements, pains and struggles with no bitterness, we just talked it all out.

"Alex, hindi ko itinapon pabalik sa dagat. Inilagay ko lang sa aquarium. Besides, we need this. We are starting a new relationship and we need to slow it down para maiwasan naming masaktan ang isa't-isa in the future. She's okay with it and agreed." I explained. I was about to continue when my phone buzzed in my table.

Julian Ross: Hi Katrina! Just checking in. How are you? Would you like to go on a date with me?

Julian Ross: I mean, is that okay? I mean I know we're talking it slow. Naisip ko lang na kahit friendly date lang? Or pre-date? Bago tayo actually magdate ng totoo?

Julian Ross: I'm rambling, am I not? Oh my God, I should stop talking now.