NOPI Chapter 30: If this isn't love, then was is it?

Chapter 30

Sephine's POV

Pagkagising ko palang kaninang umaga, napansin kong nakangiti akong natutulog at agad na tinignan ang phone ko para lang makita ang call logs kong puros 'Charles' ang nakalagay.

Sa last call, bago ako nakatulog, siya ang pumatay ibig sabihin alam niyang natulugan ko siya. I was so embarrassed I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Pero after sending my apologies to Charles, what he replied was really enough to wake me up from my dazed state.

'Charles: I'm glad that I'm the last person you talked and thought of before you slept. Good morning. Don't forget to eat breakfast, okay?'

Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit wala pa siyang naging girlfriend sa lagay niyang 'yan. Even a simple text can make your heart beat so fast you might want to consult your doctor.

Yesterday was so fun I forgot all about the preparations I should have done.

May performance mayaya na gagawin lahat ng sophomores eh at hindi ko pwede ipahiya ang sarili ko. After all, my big brother's going to be there.

So after taking a shower, putting on so clothes and doing my disguise, I started to practice. Charles was texting me before but later then decided to let me focus instead and reminded me to text him if I was finished practicing. If he isn't sweet, then what in the world is he?

Pagkatapos ng ilang dancing and singing practices ay lumabas ako para pumunta sa Music Room. Nang makarating ako sa music room ay agad akong napahinto sa pagbukas ng pinto dahil nakarinig ako ng naguusap na mga tao.

Hmm. Akala ko ba naman wala nang pumupunta dito. May bagong music room sa Dean's Building eh.

"Charles, how could you? Don't you know that you're humiliating me? How could you do this to me? Wala ba talaga tayong pinagsamahan? Hindi mo ba talaga maramdaman na mahal na mahal kita?" I stood rooted at the door the moment I heard Stella's voice

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako natigilan. Dahil ba kasing boses niya si Shane o dahil si Charles ang kausap niya?

What are they talking about?

Is it serious?

Should I leave?

Last text sa akin ni Charles ay magpra-practice rin daw siya. Dito ba siya nagpra-practice kanina? Or kasabay niya si Stella?

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang makaramdam ako ng sakit dahil sa iniisip ko.

That's funny. Why does it hurt so much just thinking about Charles with someone else which is not me?

Did I really fell so hard to be this selfish?

"Stella, you do know that I don't feel the same way you do. I only thought of you as a friend" sagot ni Charles gamit ang napakalamig niyang mga boses

I shivered at his coldness.

Kahit nasa labas ako ng silid ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang malamig niyang presensya.

Hindi naman siya ganito kapag kasama't kinakausap niya ako eh.

"Charles, can't you just give me a chance?" napakagat ako ng labi ko nang marinig ko 'yung kaba at sakit na nararamdaman ni Stella

Her voice was hoarse and was obviously trembling, para bang pinipigilan niyang umiyak.

"Stella, we're 20. We're still young, yes, but also old enough to know what we should and shouldn't do. Stop disrespecting yourself. And stop making me reject you all over again"

"No! I've been loving you for years, Charles and you clearly knew and you stayed oblivious about all of it! Our parents are close and our families' businesses are on the same industry... we're at the same wavelength, we're obviously meant for each other! How.. how could you be this cold to me? Don't you feel anything at all? Just.. maybe.. can't you just tell me if you like me? Even if it's.. it's just a bit?"

Dumaan na ang ilang minuto pero hindi ko pa rin naririnig ang sagot ni Charles kay Stella. Ibig sabihin ba'y oo? Silence means yes, right? Pinagiisipan niya ba talaga ng mabuti ang isasagot niya?

Aalis na sana ako dahil hindi ko na kayang marinig pa ang pinaguusapan nila pero agad din akong napahinto sa sinabi niya.

"I've never been in love in my whole life, and now I have. I'm sorry, Stella. But it's not you. And I can't let go of her now that she's within my reach" my heart skipped a beat.

Silence enveloped the room.

The silence was both torturous and painful.

"Hah.. I knew it. It's Sephine, isn't it?" pagkarinig ko palang nang tinanong ni Stella ay agad akong pinagpawisan sa noo't napahawak sa dibdib ko

"You were cold, distant, and aloof and was only an extrovert and active when you were with your friends. Nagpapalabas ka lagi ng aura mong nagsasabing keep a distance and don't try to invade my space at meron kang rule na dapat 1 meter ang layo ng mga babae sayo. Even the Falcon cousins and I follow that rule. But everything's different now. You actually made an exception" - Stella

"Ngumingiti ka na at tumatawa kahit wala ang barkada mo. Ginagawa mo ang mga bagay na hindi mo naman talaga ginagawa. And of course, you're always present at school now. Unlike those days when you felt like you wanted to cut, you'd cut. You've changed, Charles" - Stella

Nagpigil ako ng luha ko sa lahat ng narinig ko.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa lakas ng nararamdaman ni Stella sa puntong alam niya ang lahat ng 'to o dahil sa laki ng pinagbago ni Charles simula ng makilala niya ako.

"You've only known Sephine for months! Just how on earth did you fell for her and not me, Charles? I've been good, smart and beautiful enough to be on the same wavelength as you! I stopped bullying and stayed at the top always. I'm also the Campus Beauty. Charles, just what do I lack? What do I need for you to love me?"

Pumikit na ako't huminga ng malalim bago ko iminulat ulit ang mga mata ko.

Tumalikod na ako't naglakad na paalis.

This really isn't a conversation that I'm supposed to hear.

*

Charles' POV

Stella Aquino.

Honor student.

Student Council Officer.

The Campus Beauty.

The only daughter of the owner of Aquino Conglomerate.

Beautiful. Smart. Talented. Rich. And whatever compliment it is, she'll surely fit it.

I've known all about what she felt ever since I was 17. I was grateful for the attention but I hated her back then. She was a school bully together with Annallie and her friends. When she met me, she fell in love at first sight and began to try and take my attention. She got my attention alright, she was a sad girl with a lot of stories behind her attitude and behavior at school. I didn't felt anything about her but pity.

So I tried to put some sense into her and tried to make her turn into a new leaf because her parents and my parents are friends. Years passed and yes, she turned into a new leaf. I recognized her as someone who's in the same circle as me but still, I didn't feel anything about her.

In love, when it's just you whose fallen, with no one there to catch you fall, you just might have to give up half way or else, you will get hurt.

After all, you just can't force someone you love to love you back.

"I'm sorry, but I love Sephine. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, months or year.. it doesn't measure anything. I feel contented whenever she's near me, satisfied whenever we touch and peaceful whenever I see her happy. We're still young, yes, we've recently met, yes.."

"But making me let go of all of my guard and showing the real me by making me feel all sorts of emotions.."

"If this isn't love, then was is it?"

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Author's Note: Hi guys! If you liked the revised version of the book, be sure to raise your voices and give me your feedback. And if you saw some mistakes here and there, please do tell me. Feedback is important for further improvement and growth. Please do vote and comment! Thanks for reading guys! Have a blessed day! XOXO~