Ready to Fall

Chapter 11 Why can't it be?

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Why can't it be?

Why can't it be the two of us?

Why can't we be lovers? Only friends.

You came along at a wrong place,

At a wrong time,

Or was it me?

-'Why Can't It Be?' by Rannie Raymundo-

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One week and two days before that cold and empty night…

She was never early.

.

If there is one thing Miki Sakura is known for it is that she has never arrived early in class. She was always late, if not on-the-dot.

But that day, the fifteenth of February, she made history. She was not only early for class, but she was the earliest.

It was not like she woke up and realized she has to do something about her tardiness. It was not that at all. There was hardly even a need for her to drag herself from sleep since she was practically awake the whole night. She was just lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking.

She was thinking of so many things that she was having a hard time keeping up with herself.

In her own words, she was confused.

Who would not be? Who would have thought a few hours of Valentine's Day can cause such a predicament?

Is it possible to like two guys at the same time? She asked herself frustrated. I thought I already concluded that I'm in love with Daniel. But how come…?

She suddenly covered her lips with her hands when it came back to her. The memory of yesterday was so vivid it felt like it was happening over and over.

She was scared. Not with Tetsuya, but with herself.

She may be naïve, but she knew how she reacted. If it was not for the sudden distraction, she would have responded.

She did not want to. She knew she did not want to.

It was instinct, she tells herself without conviction. It was instinct, right? But what if it wasn't? Did I really want to? Did I want to kiss him back?

Tetsuya apologized. He said he did not mean to startle her.

"It just happened," she remembered his exact words. "I guess I could not deny it anymore. I like you, Miki."

He shook his head attempting to erase his last statement, "No. I'm in love with you. I'm not sure when it happened, but I know I am."

He stopped her when she opened her mouth to say something, "I'm not asking you to give me a reply. You don't have to. Not now. But I'm hoping you would think about it. I do want to know if I have a space in your heart, but I want you to think about it first before you give me any answer."

She could only sigh as she pulled herself back to the present.

I'm in love with you, his words repeating in her head. I want to know if I have a space in your heart.

"Ugh!" she shook her head vigorously hoping to rid off her thoughts.

.

He could feel the tightening in his chest, but he knew it was not because he has been neglecting his medicines. It was caused by a certain brunette who has been sighing the whole morning as he watched her just sit on her desk.