Umuulan sa labas, pero sa loob ng library basement, ang tanging naririnig ni Maya ay ang tibok ng sarili niyang puso.
Leo was leaning in too close. He was dabbing a cotton ball with antiseptic on a small cut on Maya’s cheek—a souvenir from a fight she had earlier to protect his name. His scent, a mix of cherry blossoms and laundry soap, was everywhere.
"Maya-san, be careful next time," bulong ni Leo. His eyes were soft, focused solely on her face. Inayos niya ang isang hibla ng asul na buhok ni Maya, his fingers lingering on her skin a second too long. "Ayokong nasasaktan ka. It hurts me, too."
Maya swallowed hard. "Bakit ba ang bait mo, Leo? You don't have to do this. Deal lang naman 'to, 'di ba?"
Leo stopped. He looked at her, his expression confused, innocent, yet so intense it was suffocating. He slowly placed his hand over Maya’s heart, feeling the frantic rhythm against her chest.
"I know it's a deal," Leo whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "But... when I'm with you, my heart feels like it's running a marathon. Pakiramdam ko, gusto kitang itago sa lahat para ako lang ang nakakakita sa'yo."
Maya’s breath hitched. Is this it? Is he finally saying it?
But then, Leo smiled—that pure, heartbreakingly kind smile.
"Kaya siguro kita naging 'Best Friend,' 'no?" he chuckled softly, oblivious to the way Maya’s world just crumbled. "I've never had a friend like you, Maya-san. You're the most important person in my life. I hope we stay like this forever. Just you and me. Best friends."
Maya looked at him—at his soft pink sweater, his kind eyes, and the genuine affection in his gaze. He wasn't lying. He really thought this—this insanity between them—was just friendship.
"Best friends," ulit ni Maya, her voice cracking. "Yeah. Gunggong ka talaga, Leo."
She wanted to scream. She wanted to kiss him. But instead, she just sat there in the silence, falling deeper in love with a boy who was too kind to realize he had already stolen her heart.
YOU ARE READING
The President's Favorite Violation
RomanceMaya is a transferee with blue hair, too many piercings, and a record that says "Danger." Leo is the half-Japanese Student Council President with a heart too soft for his own good and a bento box for every occasion. They made a deal: He fixes her gr...
