Love Me Instead

LMI# 24: THE OUTCOME

Love Me Instead

Chapter 24: The Outcome

Grayson

BUMUSINA AKO sa tapat ng gate nila Elise at hinintay siyang makalabas ng bahay nila. Napasandal ako at napapikit habang pilit na inaalala ang nangyari kagabi.

Elise just confessed. It felt surreal and I can't seem to believe it just happened.

"Good morning!"

Agad na napamulat ang mata ko nang masigla siyang bumati bago pumasok sa kotse ko.

"Good morning," I replied while smiling at her. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Tumango siya at tumatawa habang isinusuot ang seatbelt. Pinaandar ko ang kotse papuntang University at ipinark ang kotse nang makarating kami.

I opened the door for her and held her hands. We made our way to the entrance and people are obviously gawking at us. Maybe because Elise was with Henry just a few days ago and now she's walking beside me. Pretty much everything.

"I'll see you before lunch." Tipid ko siyang nginitian bago binitawan ang kamay niya nang maihatid ko siya sa tapat ng Architecture building.

Nang tuluyan siyang makapasok ay nakayuko akong naglakad pabalik. Ramdam ko ang titig ng mga estudyante sa building na iyon pero binalewala ko ang mga iyon.

"Oof!" Napatigil ako nang may makabungguan akong babae sa daan.

Tumama ang mukha niya sa dibdib ko kaya nabitawan niya ang hawak niya. Nahulog ang dala-dala nitong mga envelope at papel kaya tinulungan ko siyang pulutin ang mga iyon.

"I'm sorry," bigkas ko habang inaabot ang mga iyon sa kanya.

"I... It's fine."

Nang tingnan ko ang mukha niya ay naiwan sa ere ang mga kamay ko lalo na nang tumayo na siya at mabilis na naglakad paalis.

Nilingon ko siya hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang makapasok sa Archi building.

She didn't even let me speak to her for long. And that just proves to me how Red firmly decided to avoid me for good.

And what's good about that? I mean... I care for her and I treat her as a real friend. And I don't want to lose someone who have a place in my heart. Can we just... remain to be the same like we already were before?

I sighed and went to my first class. Maybe I should just focus on what I have right now. I should probably do that.

"I'M EATING lunch with the most intriguing power couple of the year, people. Take that!" natutuwang pahayag ni Ben habang nginingitian ang mga taong nakatingin sa pwesto namin.

"Stop it, Ben," saway ko at nailing na lang. "Pagpasensiyahan mo na lang 'yan, Elise."

She chuckled and shook her head. "It's alright. He's actually funny and I like him."

"Woah. You hear that, Gray? She likes me! You should be threatened."

I just chuckled and smiled at Elise.

"I'm gonna wash my hands, I'll be right back." Nginitian ko lang si Elise at pinanood siyang maglakad paalis.

"So..." Ben faked a cough and placed her arms on the table. "...was it worth it?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

Uminom ako ng tubig at itinabi ang tray nang maubos ko ang laman nito. Tila alanganin akong napatingin kay Ben nang matagal niyang pinagmasdan ang mukha ko, inaalam ang tunay na reaksiyon ko.