Chapter 5

JOSHUA POV

As I walk in the mini rizal's park here in Tuguegarao, I see many lovers kissing and hugging. There are also fighting or quarreling. I hesitate to look at them. I feel like I'm ashamed of what they are doing. I think they are very showy. They will do such things here in a public place. How do you think they feel as they do that? I asked.

It's so funny. I am now a college student but still I'm acting like an innocent one about love or romance. My mom said that love is like a strong storm. It comes automatically even if you don't want to. You will hear the roar of your heart like thunder, your eyes twinkle like lightning, you will feel the outpouring of intense happiness that you cannot control but also cannot avoid the flood of tears in your eyes when you are hurt. So when feel this, you are ready to face the impact. Even it destroys your life, even your heart is broken or even it has swept away your mind, you are still ready to rise again to fix what was damaged, change what was destroyed and returned what was swept away. When you overcome this, you become more stable and ready to face the beauty of tomorrow, and the warmth of love. I was scared to experience this until I stepped into my second year in college.

While i am sitting here under the tree. A beautiful girl came and seat beside me. He's not looking at me. Her attention was only focused on the book he was reading. My heart beat so fast. What's happening to me. The heart is pounding. Suddenly I was stuck in my seat and could not speak. Her smell is good even she is not using perfume. I watched her as she read. Shee was like an angel who descended from heaven to remove my innocence about love. First time I stare at a woman, even the feeling of intensified heartbeat upon seeing her. She is simply beautiful. She doesn't have make up or even lip balm on her lips. Her long hair was just loose. She looked so innocent and I seemed to feel a strange feeling as I watched her. I want to love and take care of her and I will never hurt her.

Suddenly her phone rang. She quickly picked it up and answered. "Hello brother. I'm still here in school. I'm going out now, "she said as she put the book in her bag. I did not hear the voice of the person she was talking to. But I knew she will someone. I just realized that I was following her until she got out of the gate. I saw her talking to a man and they got into the car. Maybe that man is her older brother. I kept watching their departing car until they disappeared from my sight. The next morning, I waited for her at the gate of the school. I really went early, just to see her again. I hoped to see her again because she was no longer erased from my mind. She was in my dream last night. After 1 hour of waiting I saw the popular car park outside the gate. I saw her come down and in a hurry. I followed him until we reached the education department and she entered room 102.

"Miss Angelica Dela Cruz, why only now?" I heard the voice of her Professor.

I'm sorry sir, there was an emergency at home earlier." she replied. I searched for her name on facebook and instagram. I want to make a friend request but I can't. So I just enjoy stalking her. I always looking for her on the school campus, accompanied her while walking sometimes, even ordering food at the school canteen, finding a books in the library, and queuing at the registrar without her knowing. I love feeling close to him. Until one day, I thought a way for her to notice me. I saw her coming here on the gym so I quickly got up to greet her. My intention was to greet her but when i see her smile my world stopped. I bumped into her and dropped the book she was carrying. She immediately picked up her book and apologized to me and leave immediately without looking at me. I thought she would get angry when I bumped into her but she still apologized. I felt guilty.

"Perfect woman," I said.

She is the woman I want to be with for life. I will wait for the right opportunity to make her feel the beauty of life with me.

I just look at her from afar. She is always happy when she is with his friends. But you can see the sadness in her eyes when my cousin is just with her. I wondered why. She was always with my cousin Mary Grace but there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. Her grief is contagious. I wanted to approach them but something holding me back. I want to tell my cousin to just avoid her because she was always sad every time they were together. I asked this once to Mary Grace. But she replied, "She is not happy with her life. His parents and brothers are too strict. She was already choking on the strictness of his family. She only tells me what she really feel. She wanted to be free but she was afraid to disobey his family. He was very kind and obedient," Mary Grace explained with sadness in her eyes.

I want to get into Angelica's life. I will try to find a way to change her life. I want her to be happy and destiny agrees with me.

She accepted my friend request on facebook. She finally noticed me too. She looks different when I am talking to her. Her face blushes when our eyes meet. I can hear her heartbeat when we get close to each other. This is my chance to tell her how I feel. She let me in to her life. She wanted to avoid me but I didn't let her succeed. I feel like she also likes me but she's just scared. I tried to let go of how she really felt and I succeeded. We are happy to let each other know how much we love each other. Even secretly we are still able to have time for each other. I gave color into her life. I put joy in her eyes. I feel sad every time she leaves. I miss her always. If only I could, I would like to shout to the whole world that she is my girlfriend. I could prove to her family that I loved her dearly, but she didn't want me to do. I understood her. What matters to me is that I know she loves me and I love her too.

Maybe the time will come when I will be with her that we will no longer have to hide. We no longer have to lie.

It's Saturday when Angelica and I agreed to review together in my apartment. I waited for her in the parking lot of our school. All his family knew was that she would review with Mary Grace at the library.

We both lay on the bed and sometimes my naughtiness attacked her. My toe pinches her foot, until our feet are already fighting. We're both just funny. He also covers my nose and eyes and then kisses my lips when I about to respond to her kiss she suddenly separates and laughs. Until we chase each other in my room.

Now, I have to take her to school because her brother will pick her up there.

A week later, Angelica and I had good final exam results. We celebrated in my apartment. Just the two of us. We were so happy because we didn't have to hide our sweetness and love to each other inside my apartment.

I cooked our food while she washed my clothes. After she did her laundry, I also finished cooking. I helped her hang up my clothes so we could eat now. I love this feeling of we're doing different things together. We went to the kitchen while hugging each other. We sat at the dining table with her by my side and ate together. After we ate we watched a movie marathon. She lay on my lap while I am playing her fingers on her hand. We talked a lot. We have a lot of dreams and promises to each other. We open up our likes and dislike to know each other better.

When the opportunity arises I take her to my apartment and of course I exercise extreme restraint because we can be tempted and do what should not be done. I respect her because I love her so much. I appreciate what I know is important to her as well. So when we were in the apartment, I was contented with the kisses and embraces that we share. I am happy with his tenderness wherein she don't have fear and apprehension.

ANGELICA POV

Mary Grace and I enrolled summer class together. She is upset because I don't text and call her anymore, I don't even tell her a stories and we don't be together in our vacant times. So I gave in to her today.

Joshua is not here today because he went home to their barrio yesterday. His mother sent him home because she needs a companion to their house. Whether he wants to take a summer class, he can't because only those who have a behind subjects in the College of Engineering were permited to enrol a summer class . He is in his fifth year and will graduate, while Mary Grace ang I were still in 3rd year level.

"Best, are you and Joshua have a relationship? Mary Grace asked. "What are you saying best friend? Did you see your cousin courted me?" I asked.

tell me anymore. "He said. "Admit it to me bhes. I'm upset with you. I caught you once so don't keep it a secret and one more thing, I know my cousin likes you from then until now." he says. "What? How did you know he really liked me? I asked. "He always asks about you, then I always catch him looking at you whether you are near or far. Then you know when it was my birthday, I borrowed his cp and his wall paper you. I was surprised so I searched for photos on his cp. I also saw the picture of our sched from the 1st year until now. I don't know where he got that. He was stealing my files without me being aware of it. " said Grace. I laughed at Mary Grace's story. "That's why he knows my schedule. That man is really crazy." I said. "Then how can you explain what I saw that you got into his car and left here in school?" Grace asked.

"I'm sorry bhes. I was just scared that someone else in my family might find out about my relationship with Joshua. You know my situation, right?" I said.

"I know, that's why I understand you. Do you know that the day Joshua drive you home is my own decision? I asked Joshua to convey you here in Tuguegarao to give you a chance to tell your feelings with each other," Grace said.

"Did you really mean it?" "Why do you say that i'm just ride with him because he will also go here in Tuguegarao? I asked.

I know you bhes, I know you don't like it when I say, I will asked Joshua to convey you," she said.

"At that time, he confessed his feelings to me and ofcourse I rejected him but he didn't give up. He surprised me in school at the same day. He made a way for me to confess too. He told me everything. From the first moment of year we are until now. Even his plan for me to notice him and also he kneeled down to get my Yes." I told her.

"Did he really kneel down? Ohh...I'm thrilled." said Mary Grace as she shuddered.

"Yes, I'm also cried. But when I say, Yes, he cried too." I said.

"My cousin really loves you so much. That's why when I saw you together to get a permit at the same time, I wasn't surprised because I could see in your eyes the sparkle of a lover. That's why I left you when we were going to the library to give you privacy because that's the only time I've seen the radiance in your eyes. " she said.

I really have nothing to hide from my best friend. She already knew me from head to toe.