High School Popular

Chapter 32

All the Ways I Loved You.

                      

                      

Froilan POV

The first time I saw her, I hit her in the face. With a basketball.

A solid shot, too—di ko naman sinasadya. I just wanted to impress the team, show off a little. Akala ko walang tatamaan. But fate had other plans. Tumama sa mukha niya.

And when she looked up—galit, nagngingitngit—akala ko talaga bubuntalin niya ako.

Right then, I thought, "Damn. Who is this girl?"

I thought she's just like others... trying hard, feeling hard to get. Pero may kakaiba sa kanya. Hindi siya natakot sa akin, hindi siya nagpapaapekto kahit na star player ako. She called me names, rolled her eyes, and stormed off. That's when I knew... she's different.

Next time we saw each other? Sa cafeteria. Nagbangga ang landas namin. Literally and figuratively. She said something smart, I said something worse. We fought, we argued, we clashed.

Pero kahit na we were always at each other's throats, I couldn't stop looking at her.

I watched her laugh with her friends. The way her eyes sparkled when she was excited. The way she bit her lip when she was annoyed. The way she stood up for herself. Kahit pa minsan gusto ko siyang pagalitan sa kakasabat, I admired her.

When she joined the pageant with me, I couldn't believe it. I saw her walk that stage, and damn, she owned it. The crowd screamed for her, but my heart went quiet. That night, all I saw was her. She wasn't just beautiful... she was powerful. Radiant. Real.

And when people thought we were dating? I didn't correct them. I didn't want to. Not because of the fame, but because for once, I didn't mind being associated with someone.

Someone like her.

But it wasn't until I saw her cry—real, gut-wrenching tears—that I understood how deep I was in.

When she found out about the secrets, her past, and the danger she was in... I couldn't leave her side. I didn't know what I was doing, pero ang alam ko lang that I had to protect her. Kahit pa hindi ako laging tama, kahit pa minsan hindi ko alam ang sasabihin, gusto ko lang na nandiyan ako para sa kanya.

I got jealous. Of Tayler. Of Conor. Of every guy that got to stand close to her, even for a second. I tried to hide it, but she knew. She always did.

Then came the falls. I was happy just driving beside her. Watching her laugh. Touching her hand, pretending I wasn't holding on too tight.

But when I lost her—when they took her—I lost my mind. I fought for her, even when I knew I couldn't win. I got beaten, tortured, broken. Pero sa bawat sipa, bawat suntok, bawat sugat... pangalan lang niya ang nasa isip ko.

And then... I saw her fight back.

Bricelle wasn't the girl I needed to protect. She was the girl who protected me.

She held my hand in the hospital. She looked at me, even when I was full of bruises and guilt. She stayed.

But now... she's gone.

She had to leave. Italy. For safety, for peace, for her family. And I wasn't part of that world. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

I watched her disappear behind those gates. I smiled. I didn't cry.

Because loving her means letting her go when it's what she needs.

And if she comes back...

I'll be here.

Always.