Love Me (Completed)

Chapter 1 - Hope

It's not really a secret that I like Sebastian since high school. I don't know if he's just oblivious or he doesn't care. Halos gusto ko na nga isigaw sa mukha niya na gusto ko siya. Either way, the conclusion is: he doesn't like me.

That's it. No other explanation to why I haven't told him I like him. I'm just too scared to ruin what we have now.

And Viktoria Marie Gochingco is not scared of anything. I was raised strong and I always held my chin up high.

"Iniisip mo nanaman ba pinsan ko?"

I look at Flynne. Gusto kong matawa because years ago, inis pa ako sa kanya pero ngayon magkasama kami and she seems to be giving me love advices as her love life is so successful.

Hindi ako sumagot. That was a question that I don't need to answer.

"My cousin doesn't deserve you." Ngumiwi siya.

"Nakakalimutan mo bang pinsan mo siya?"

"Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo. Halata naman na gusto ka rin niya pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi siya gumagawa ng move." She said nonchalantly while picking at her fries.

"And you know that because?"

"Sinong hindi magkakagusto sayo?"

"That's not a really valid argument." Sumimangot ako. I can't just tell him to like me because I'm Viktoria and everyone likes me. If I did that the possibility that he might like me can turn to zero real fast.

"I just know. We grew up together and he's my cousin. Alam mo ba kinukulit pa rin ako ng mga blockmates ko na ipakilala kita."

Natawa ako. Palagi nalang niya sinasabi 'yan sa akin sa tuwing magkikita kami.

"Pero seryoso ako. Alam mo naman mga lalaki na nagiging torpe sa harapan ng gusto nilang babae so one can hope."

Hope. How I hate that word. I already turned my attention to someone else. God, I even tried flirting with some guys I met in the university! But that tiny little hope lingered especially when Sebastian tries to tease me. If I didn't know better I would say he liked to flirt with me but he is like that to everyone. And that's what got me hating Flynne in the first place because I thought he liked her.

"And here he comes." She jerked her chin behind me.

Tumayo siya kasabay ng paglapit ni Sebastian at ni Liam. Tumaas ang kilay niya kay Liam at kumunot naman ang noo ng isa.

These two! Parang last time lang na nagkahiwalay sila parang hindi na magbabalikan pero ngayon hindi mapaghiwalay.

I take in his look. His hair still slightly wet from playing basketball, his slightly tan skin because of well, all the basketball playing in an open court. Not to mention the thick brows that I really like in a guy.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. Done checking me out?

Umalis na sila Liam at si Flynne after some minutes.

Umupo si Sebastian sa kaninang pwesto ni Flynne at kumain sa natirang fries.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. Napatigil siya bigla sa pagkain ng fries. "Tell me sainyo 'to."

Natawa ako pero tumango ako. Inabot ko pa sa kanya ang juice ko.

I watched him eat and after he is done tsaka ako tumayo. "Tara? Gusto ko nang umuwi."

"Aga pa. May gagawin ka ba? Tambay ka muna."

Hindi ko alam kung papayag ba ako. Since may apartment siya sa tapat ng university, palagi siyang nagyayayang tumambay. And it's always just the two of us. Paminsan lang rin pumupunta si Flynne dahil palagi niyang kasama si Liam.

Though sanay na rin ako and no one in our friends judge us because that's what we are. Since college started dahil siya lang naman talaga ang maaasahan ko since we both end up studying in the same university palagi kaming magkasama and it's been like that for almost 4 years now.

To the point that I don't really feel weird being inside that apartment with only the two of us because I know him. And almost every time na nandoon ako we just watch movies or sometimes I just read my books or doing homeworks together.

May stash nga ako ng mga libro sa apartment niya. As much as I like clothes and shoes, I also like reading books. So yes pinayagan niya akong magiwan ng libro.

"Tara." Hindi niya hinintay ang sagot ko at inakbayan nalang ako palabas.

"Hindi naman ako pumayag. Busy kaya ako." I said while walking the distance.

"Doon ka na maging busy. Namimiss ka na ng mga libro mo." He wiggled his brows. "I can hear them whispering at night."

Tumawa lang ako at siniko siya. "Nakakabaliw ata talaga ang engineering noh?"

"You have to endure me for a year more."

"Months." I corrected. "I'm graduating."

"We'll see about that."

As usual the malinis pa rin ang apartment niya aside from uniforms and t-shirt na nakasabit at papers na nagkalat sa table.

I scanned the papers and frowned as I read it.

"I can bet you this apartment that you didn't understand a thing you just read."

He appeared behind me and saw me holding the papers. "Wag kang masyadong mayabang. Magulat ka bukas wala ka nang uwian."

"Oh?" Tumaas ang kilay niya as if sensing the challenge.

"What is even this? Why do you even like math?"

He just smirked and snatched the paper away from me. "I like solving problems. It's not that complicated."

Then he went to pour himself a glass of water.

"I kept thinking bakit kayo magpinsan ni Flynne. She's the complete opposite of you."

Sobrang humble ng babaeng 'yun compared to her cousin na alam na gwapo siya at proud pa.

"Thank you." He said as he strides toward where I stand. "But you are like me. So should I start calling you cuz?"

"Excuse me. Saan tayo nagkaparehas? I'm different. Alam kong maganda ako but I don't use it as an advantage whereas you, no comment."

"Aminin mo my looks got us a better seat in that movie you wanted to watch last week."

Fine. That I admit. Originally wala nang magandang pwesto na natira pero nagawa niyang makipagpalit ng seat. Though I have no idea how he did that.

"Nakapagthank you na ba ako?" It is my turn to grin.

Mabilis siyang humakbang paatras at nakipagsukatan ng tingin. "No."

"Buti pinaalala mo sa akin. I almost forgot."

Lumapit ako sa kanya habang umiiling siya. "Don't. Wag mo nang subukan."

I crossed the distance, grabbed his face and pressed my lips into his face.

"Thank you!"

I made sure that my lips was wet before I pressed it into his left cheek. I made a really exaggerated sound of the smack.

If there is one thing he hates, I'd say this is. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang reaksyon nung unang beses ko siyang hinalikan sa pisngi. Nagpaulan siya ng mura habang pinupunasan ang mukha niya. Since then pag gusto siyang inisin, ito ang ginagawa ko. He hates it but he would still let me do it, for my benefit or what, hindi ako sigurado.

He shot death glares at me and wiped his face using the back of his hand. "Next time hahalikan na talaga kita."

I stuck my tongue out.

"I'm not kidding, Viktoria. You try."

Oh I hope not.