Book two of Jonaxx' 24 Signs of Summer.

"From Afar" is a story written by Jonaxx brought to you by Republika ng TM.

Ilang beses ba nating tinanong ang sarili natin kung mapapansin ba tayo ng mga taong mahal natin? Ilang beses ka ba magtatanong sa buong buhay mo? At ano sa tingin mo ang magiging sagot? "Mapapansin kaya ako? Ang pag-ibig ko? Ang katauhan ko? Mapapansin Kaya?" Paano kung hindi? Paano kung oo? Magkaiba ba ang gagawin mong desisyon o pareho lang? Mag-iiba ba ang pananaw mo o magpapatuloy ka lang sa kung anong alam mong constant? Umaatikabong fame laban sa umaatikabong pag-ibig.

Elevators. Airplanes. Palaman ng Sandwich. Yung feeling na papunta ka pa lang at excited ka pa lang sa pupuntahan mo. Yung feeling na palapit pa lang yung birthday mo. Yung feeling na palapit pa ang isa pang espesyal na araw. Yung feeling na ilang oras na lang ay pasko na. Yung feeling na tatlong araw na lang simula na ulit ng pasukan. Yung feeling na nasa gitna ka pa lang at di ka pa nakakarating. Yung feeling na malapit na pero hindi pa. Yun ang laging gusto ko. Yung nasa gitna pa lang. Yung nasa gitna ka ng dalawang bagay. Gitna ng isang building. Gitna ng langit at lupa. Gitna ng dalawang matatabang tinapay. Gitna ng byahe papuntang disneyland. Mas gusto ko yung feeling tuwing nagbabyahe kesa doon sa nakarating ka na. Mas gusto ko yung feeling na may inaantay ka kesa doon sa nandyan na. I always like the things in between. "You only like things in between, Coreen. You only like the chase... You only want me chasing after you. You don't want to decide... Pero pakiusap naman, magdesisyon ka na, kasi tao rin naman ako, nasasaktan. And you? I don't think nararamdaman mo yung sakit na nararamdaman ko... You are just too heartless."

It was wrong to be near her. No. He shouldn't be near her. Nilalabanan ni Brandon ang kanyang sarili dahil useless ang attraction na nararamdaman niya. For him, it was all just a game. For him it's pretend-love every night and the show is over every morning. Kaya illegal ang makaramdam ng constant attraction para sa isang babaeng hindi niya naman gaanong kilala. But when Aurora Veronica wore that freaking corporate uniform, the walls he tried to build so hard came crashing down. Come on, Brandon, who are you kidding? The girl looked innocent but she's damn hot with those killer heels. It probably won't hurt that much. After all, it's just a game. It's just a game. Yes, it's just a game. Just one night. One night. It only takes one night to believe all the lies.

Ang pag-ibig ay parang nagsusugal. Pag sigurado kang mahal mo ang tao, ibibigay mo ang lahat. Ang problema dito ay di mo alam kung may maibabalik paba sayo o wala. Maswerte ang nakakakuha ng higit pa sa inaasahan, pero luhaan ang mga sumugal at natalo. Pero ganun paman, tulad ng sugal, kahit walang kasiguraduhan, marami paring umiibig, marami paring sumusugal. Dahil... Baka Sakali... Baka Sakali...

Maria Georgianne Marfori loved Noah Elizalde more than anything in this world. Ganon din halos lahat ng mga babaeng kilala niya. Yes, he's probably that hot and adorable. Kaya naman ay maaga niyang natutunan ang pag mamahal ng walang pag aalinlangan at takot. Kailanman ay hindi niya naisip na darating ang araw na susuko siya at mapapagod. Never. Noah will end up with her no matter what. But is it really right to love him intensely at a very young age? Her family didn't believe in love. They think it's pure sentiment. They think purely loving someone with your heart was wrong. Binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng puso at utak. Puso, para maramdaman ang sentimento. Utak, para mapag isipan kung dapat bang tanggapin ang sentimento ng puso. We have to identify who's the better judge. But then again, do we always have that chance to judge? Paano kung ipaglaban mo man iyon ay wala ka parin namang halaga? How are you going to fight for your heart when you know from the very beginning you will lose? That you are Worthless? Why do we all want this? To love what does not love us. To leave those who want to stay. To push away those who want to stay close. To treasure what is worthless.