CHAPTER I

"LIEAHH MAAHH ONE AND ONLY BABY!"

Malayo pa lang, alam ko na kung sino ang sumigaw ng pangalan ko.

I irritately turn my head towards Zayn and there, I saw him running like a kid.

"What!?" I shouted at him.

"Eto naman masyadong mainit ulo, halika palamigin natin."

Zayn then hugged me noong makalapit na s'ya sa akin.

Although, medyo bata-bata ugali n'ya, naging dahilan ito upang mas mahalin ko pa s'ya.

This is what I love about him, he's too childish, clingy and at the same time, over-protected.

He can still manage our relationship just like a responsible man you watched on movies.

Zayn is my first boyfriend, and hopefully to be my last. We just met on f******k, we chatted and nag-kamalapitan kami.

After 6 months of him courting me, sinagot ko na rin s'ya, why? Simple, because he deserves it.

"Tulala ka na naman, kain ka na nga muna. Nangangayayat ka na."

Nagulat ako sa pagsulpot n'ya sa harapan ko. I didn't even realize that I am daydreaming.

"Hey love, what's the problem?" he asked.

"Nothing, stress lang siguro ako dahil nagkasunod-sunod projects and thesis namin."

It's true, sunod-sunod mga projects na pinapagawa sa amin which caused me to loss my appetite.

"Here, tignan mo 'yang ulam mo, minurder mo na HAHA."

He exchange his food to mine. Funny how my food looks like a dog food now without me realizing.

"Love, what if I die?"

Suddenly, he asked me an unexpected question.

"Ano pinagsasabi mo? Manahimik ka nga d'yan." I laughed and threw my spoon to his head.

"What if lang naman, para kahit wala na ako dito, at least alam ko kung paano ka magreact ‘di ba?"

He got a point there but still, it's a stupid question to asked.

"Hindi ko alam kung saang planeta mo nakuha ang tanong na 'yan pero kung sakali man, tatawanan kita."

I threw my fork to his face then leave, it's just awkward to ask your partner about die thing regardless of its reason.

Buong araw hindi ko s'ya kinausap. I just focused on my acads, and kung break time naman, I went to places na hindi n'ya alam.

---

Six o'clock in the morning and yet I'm still sleepy. Tinatamad ako bumangon or kahit imulat man lang mata ko. But I have no choice, I need to go to school.

Oh by the way, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Lieah De Castro, 18 years old and currently studying at Bonevista College University, I took bachelor of science in secondary education major in math because nothing, I just have no choice, I just think this is the easiest course I can take based na din sa intelligent capacity and hilig na rin.

While I was walking sa hallway ng aming building, nakasalubong ko si Zayn. Once my eyes landed on his face, a weird expression came out from my face, why? Because I expected yesterday na suyuin n'ya ako kahit sa text or call man lang, but wala man lang ako natanggap.

Zayn stopped in front of me na naging dahilan din para huminto ako. He scaredly smiled at me and knowing him, strategy n'ya lang 'to para patawarin ko agad.

So I snobbed him, manigas ka d'yan.

"Hey baby, I'm sorry." he grabbed my hand and pinaharap sa kan'ya.

Tinitigan ko s'ya sa kan'yang mata and there, I found the sincerity and love.

"I'm sorry if I asked you a damn stupid question, I promise I will not do it again."

Funny how we fight in this kind of nonsense topic, but I just know that I love him, and he loves me.

Sino ba naman ako para mag-matigas pa d'ba? So I just let it slide. Nangako naman na s'ya na hindi n'ya na uulitin, and I trust him.

At isa pa, hinihintay ko lang naman talaga s'yang mag-sorry eh, ayaw kong tumagal ang away na ito.

"Zayn, pwede mo ba ako samahan mag-shopping later? Birthday kasi ni Jeasel bukas and wala pa ako regalo." I asked before entering our room.

"Okay, what time ba? I'll pick you up na lang."

"About 6pm na lang siguro." i replied.

"Okay, I'm ready for our date." he jokingly said

"Sira ka, hindi date 'yon."

I tried to make my tone angry to hide my reddish cheeks right now but this lips are just too hard-headed, hindi mapigilang ngumiti.

"Yiee kinikilig s'ya." pang-aasar n'yang sabi.

"Alis ka na nga." then I entered the room.

The day went well kahit medyo hirap intindihin ibang lessons kaso buong araw, occupied ang isipan ko.

"Hi Mom! Nandito na ako." I shouted to my mom after ko pumasok ng bahay. I know na she's in the kitchen naman pag ganitong oras eh.

By the way, my dad died when I was just 1 year old, said my mom due to brain cancer daw. It's kinda sad na hindi ko man lang s'ya nakita sa personal or kahit memories lang together with him.

Humilata ako sa kama at pumikit.

"Haassyts, what a day?" I tiredly sighed and sleep kahit sandali lang.

Nagising ako ng 5:45 in the afternoon and I'm so late, hindi pa ako nakaka-shower or kahit toothbrush man lang.

Kaya't nagmadali ako sa pag-aayos and 6:03 na nang ako'y matapos.

-Beep Beep--

"Lieah anak, Zayn's here." My mom shouted.

"Yes Ma, coming."

As I walk out the house, I saw a fine man in blue plain shirt and a cargo pants. He looks like a model wih his outfit and he's hot like a hell.

"Hi babe."

As soon as I get closer to him, he took his hand on my back and kiss me on the cheeks.

Of course, babae din ako, kinikig, that's why I can't hide my red face to him.

"Ganda ng outfit natin ah, bibili lang tayo ng gift eh." I jokingly said.

"Hindi ka sure." he then laughed.

He guided me as we entered in his car.

"Since pupunta din naman tayo ng mall, why not date na din tayo, right?" he suggesed to me before n'ya paandarin ang sasakyan.

It's good suggestion din and wala naman na ako masyado gagawin so I agreed.

After a long ride, finally nandito na din kami.

We first went to a jewelry shop to buy a gift.

I can't choose on what should I choose since wala naman akong alam dito.

And so I asked Zayn on what he thinks the most beautiful one.

"Zayn, what color do you think Jeasel suits in this necklace?" I showed him the two necklaces I chose awhile ago.

"I think the blue one ang bagay sa kan'ya"

"Hmm, okay I will buy the blue one." I said to the lady beside us.

When I look back to Zayn, I saw him on the corner of the room and he looks like he's looking at something, "Jacob, what are you doing there?"

Nilingon n'ya ako and then hurriedly came back to me.

"Uhh n-nothing nothing."

Although I was quite doubt sa mga actions n'ya, binalewala ko na lang.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked me while we are walking out from the jewelry shop.

"Let's eat muna siguro, I'm hungry and tired na din. Kanina pa tayo palakad lakad eh." I suggested and he agreed.

Nagpunta kami sa malapit na restaurant dito and Zayn insisted na s'ya na oorder. Habang wala s'ya, I took the chance to go to the comfort room to redo my make-up.

But while I was walking toward the comfort room, may nakasalubong akong tao na hindi ko in-expect na mamemeet ko dito.

"Lieah!?"

"W-wayne!!" Utal kong sabi.

Due to shock, I wasn't able to recover fast and I didn't realize that he was hugging me.

"Lieah, ikaw ba talaga 'yan?" he excitedly said.

"Y-yeah, h-hi."

I didn't expect na I will see him here but I am more surprise to the fact na parang walang nangyari from the past between us.

As far as I remember, magkaaway kami before he left the country.

"How are you? C'mon samahan mo muna ako, let's eat. My treat." he suggested.

I hold my bag tight.

"U-uhm I-i'm with my boyfriend kasi, and w-we have a date. Maybe next time na lang, pwede?" I force to smile at him even tho medyo kinakabahan ako.

Suddenly, his excited face and bright smile morphed into an emotionless expression.

"Ah, right. It's been three years na din, I'm sorry." He then step back and left.

Wayne was my childhood friend, he's my buddy ever since and we both have the same passion, dreams, and talents. Our parents always ship us kahit bata pa kami noon and they want us to be together.

However, my feelings for him was not that deep whilst him, on the other hand, confessed his feelings to me that he loves me, not just as a friend but as a girl.

We're 15 years old that time, and I don't know what to do.

Should I love him back? Should I allow him to court me? Pero paano naman ako?

Kahit nagdadalawang isip ako kung paano ko sasabibin sa kan'ya na hindi pa ako ready, I wasn't able to.

That day, tinakbuhan ko s'ya. I didn't talk to him for almost 6 months.

And isang araw, bigla na lang s'yang nawala. Wala na 'yung nangungulit sa akin kada umaga. Wala na 'yung kasabay kong pumapasok sa school.

Nabalitaan ko na lang na nagpunta s'yang ibang bansa to continue his study.

Since then, I became quiet. I did not tried na makihalubilo sa iba, in other word, I became introvert.

Not until Zayn came into the story, he made me feel like I'm the only princess in his life. Pinaramdan n'ya sa akin kung gaano ako kaspecial sa kan'ya.

And kahit nakita n'ya na ako in my worst state, hindi n'ya pa din ako iniwan, he stayed by my side.

"Hey, where did you go?" he asked after I sat down on my chair.

"Sa comfort room lang, medyo naiihi kasi ako kanina." I replied.

I know it's a lie but I can't tell the truth. Kilala ni Zayn si Wayne, and he knows our relationship before. Knowing Zayn, he gets jealous easily kahit kanino, including Wayne.

"Let's eat na."

We started eating, no talking at all, and it became awkward all of a sudden.

"Is there any problem, Baby? Parang hindi ka mapakali eh."

"N-nothing, pagod lang siguro."

Afterall, I'm tired na din talaga. I just want to go home.

"You want to go home na?" he asked with a sad expression on his face.

As much as I want to stay with Zayn, I can't still focused dahil sa nangyari kanina. It affects me so much kasi kahit papano, my childhood friend just came back.

I nod to him as a sign of agreeing.

While on our way to go home, he held my hands and look at me.

"If you have problem, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you, okay?" He then kissed my hand.

"Hmm okay baby."

I went out the car but before I totally land my feet the ground, he pulled me back and kiss me on the lips.

I am shocked of course, who wouldn't? This is just the second time we kissed, first was the time na sinagot ko s'ya.

I felt buterflies on my stomach, and I feel like everything moves now in a slow motion.

He pulled us apart and look at me in the eyes.

"I love you, Lieah. And I will never get tired of loving you." He then kissed me on my forehead.

"I love you too, Zayn." I smiled to him and kiss him on the lips for the second time.

Before I left, he pulled out a tiny blue box and opened it.

It's necklace, a beautiful necklace.

"You love it?"

Tears then stared flooding down my cheeks. I never expect him to be this sweet.

"I love it, thank you."

I hugged him tightly as a sign of appreciation and loved.

"Happy Monthsary Baby."

"It's not our month---"

~zing, zing, zing~

A sound of alarm coming from my phone saying that it's our monthsary today.

I didn't notice na ganun pala kami katagal sa mall to the point na umabot na kami ng alas dose, exact date of our monthsary.

"Silly, happy monthsary Baby." I pinched his nose.

"A-aray aray, masakit uy." then we both laughed.

It's such a long tiring day, so many unexpected situation happened. But I temporarily forget about it because of Zayn.

How lucky I am to have him?

I was supposed to close my eyes when a sound of vibration interrupted me.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko and I was surprised to see who it was.

"Hey Lily, it's me, your Jj."

Napabangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga at binasang muli and message.

The only person who called me Lily was my childhood friend, Wayne. And I am the only one who always called him by the nickname JJ.

We boh gave each other nickname as our eanderment when we we're just a kid.

I don't know what to do? Should I reply? Should I call him? Should I ignore it?

Tumayo ako at nagpalakad-lakad muna sa bawat sulok ng aking kwarto.

It's been almost 10 minutes when I received another text message.

"I miss you."

Three words, just three words that makes my eyes teary.

Oh god, I missed my childhood friend so much. It's been a long time since we've talked, and as much as I want to talk to him, I can't, I'm too shy.

"I think you're asleep na. Goodnight, don't let the bedbug bites you."

He is still the Wayne I knew, lagi n'yang sinsabi sa akin 'yan before kami matulog.

Pero ayaw ko pa na mapalapit sa kan'ya ulit hindi dahil galit pa din ako sa kan'ya, kundi dahil nag-aalala ako kay Zayn, he might get hurt, seloso s'ya.

And so I just ignored it and sleep.

It's been almost 3:00 am in the morning and yet, I'm stil awake.

Paiba-iba ako ng pwesto sa higaan, hindi ako makahanap ng komportableng posisyon. At ayaw akong patulugin ng mga iniisip ko.

No matter how I want to ignore it, the more I get to think of it.

~Ring•Ring•Ring~

Huh? May tumatawag sa akin ng ganitong oras? Who the hell is this?

I grab my phone and check to see who's calling me.

It's an unknown number.

I answered it despite the doubt I felt when I saw the number.

"L-lieah, is this you?" an old woman's voice came out the phone.

Biglang naging mabigat ang paghinga ko and hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"U-uhm y-yeah, w-who is this?" I asked.

"L-lieah, s-si Zayn...."