Chapter 10: Confession and Quarrel

Miya had always been the type to push her feelings aside, pretending they didn't exist. But lately, it had become impossible to ignore the emotions swirling inside her every time she saw Ginah. The warmth of her presence, the way her laughter rang like a melody, the way her eyes sparkled when she was excited about something—it was all consuming.

At first, Miya convinced herself it was just nostalgia, a lingering attachment from their high school days. But as time went on, she realized it was more than that. It was love, raw and undeniable.

Ginah, on the other hand, had noticed the shift in Miya's behavior. The lingering glances, the way Miya's hand would hover just a second longer when they touched, the subtle nervousness in her voice—it was obvious something had changed. And Ginah, being the straightforward person she was, decided to confront her about it.

"Miya, what's going on? You've been acting really strange lately," Ginah asked one evening as they sat together in a café. Her tone was light, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.

Miya took a deep breath, feeling her heart hammer against her ribs. It was now or never. "Ginah, I have feelings for you," she confessed. "I know it may seem sudden, but I couldn't help the way I feel."

Ginah blinked, momentarily stunned. She had feelings for Miya too, but the confession caught her off guard. "Why now?" she asked cautiously. "Why did you reject me in high school, but now you're suddenly interested?"

Miya's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I was young and stupid back then," she admitted. "I didn't know what I wanted. But now, I realize that I've had feelings for you all along."

Ginah narrowed her eyes. "Is it because you got dumped by your boyfriend?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "Are you just trying to use me as a rebound?"

Miya's heart sank. "No, Ginah, it's not like that," she said earnestly. "I swear, my feelings for you are real."

But Ginah wasn't convinced. A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. "You never cared about my feelings before," she said coldly. "Why should I believe you now?"

Miya opened her mouth to explain, but Ginah had already stood up, grabbing her bag.

"Forget it, Miya," she snapped. "I'm not going to be some consolation prize just because things didn't work out for you elsewhere."

With that, Ginah stormed out, leaving Miya sitting there, stunned and heartbroken.

---

A Week of Silence

Miya tried everything to talk to Ginah, but she was met with avoidance at every turn. She sent messages that were left unread, called only to be met with voicemail, and even showed up at places Ginah frequented, only to watch her walk away without a word.

Desperate, Miya decided to visit Ginah's home. It was a bold move, but she couldn't stand the thought of leaving things as they were.

Standing in front of Ginah's house, Miya knocked hesitantly. Instead of Ginah, her aunt answered the door.

"Oh, it's you," the older woman said, eyeing Miya suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to Ginah," Miya said, her voice pleading. "I just need a few minutes."

The aunt sighed. "She doesn't want to see you, Miya. Maybe you should respect that."

Miya's shoulders slumped, but she nodded. "I understand. But please, just tell her that I won't give up. I meant every word I said."

As Miya turned to leave, she felt a lump in her throat. Had she ruined everything?

---

The Accident

A few days later, Miya was walking back to her car after another unsuccessful attempt to see Ginah. She was lost in thought, so distracted that she didn't notice the approaching vehicle.

The blare of a horn made her snap her head up just in time to see the car swerving toward her. She jumped back, but not quickly enough—the side mirror clipped her arm, sending her sprawling onto the pavement.

For a moment, everything was a blur. Then she heard hurried footsteps and a familiar voice filled with panic.

"Miya!"

Looking up, she saw Ginah running toward her, eyes wide with fear.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" Ginah knelt beside her, checking for injuries.

"I—I think so," Miya stammered, still shaken.

Without hesitation, Ginah helped her up and guided her inside the house. She sat Miya down on the couch, her hands trembling as she grabbed a first-aid kit.

"You scared me," Ginah admitted, dabbing a cotton ball against Miya's scraped elbow. "You could've been seriously hurt."

Miya let out a small laugh, despite the pain. "So, you do still care."

Ginah hesitated but didn't deny it.

"Ginah," Miya said softly, taking her hand before she could pull away. "I'm really sorry for everything. I know I hurt you in the past, and I don't expect you to forgive me so easily. But please, believe me when I say my feelings for you are real."

Ginah looked down, her expression unreadable. "Why didn't you just tell me back then?" she whispered.

Miya sighed. "Because I was scared. When we were in high school, I thought rejecting you was the right thing to do—I didn't want to distract you from your future. And then I met my boyfriend in university, but the truth is... I never stopped thinking about you."

Ginah's eyes widened in surprise.

Miya continued, voice barely above a whisper. "I thought dating someone else would help me move on, but it only made me realize how much I cared for you. And when I lost him, I finally had to face the truth—I had loved you all along."

Silence filled the room. Then, Ginah sighed, squeezing Miya's hand gently.

"Miya..." she murmured. "I don't know if I can just forget how much it hurt when you rejected me. But... hearing this now, I can't deny that I still have feelings for you too."

Miya's breath hitched. "Really?"

Ginah smiled for the first time in days. "Yes. But if we do this... I need time. I need to be sure you won't run away again."

Miya nodded eagerly. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."

Ginah gazed at her, then finally leaned in, resting her forehead against Miya's. "Okay. Then let's take it slow."

Miya closed her eyes, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had a second chance, and she wasn't going to waste it.

For the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful.

And Ginah, despite everything, felt the same.

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