Torpe (tor-pe / Filipino)
1. (adj.) - the characteristic of being painfully shy and awkward
2. (n.) a man who is hesitant and fearful of confessing his romantic feelings for a woman
This is the exact word to describe Gabriel. Gabriel prefers to stay in his world of words until bubbly, gregarious Pauline comes and brings him out of his shell...and transforms him into the second kind of "torpe".
For years, Gab has tried to tell his closest girl friend his feelings, every time ending in him clamming up. However, a life-changing event pushes a brand new timeline on Gab. What if he just has a year and a half to confess?