Stolen Glances

Chapter 19

[Jace's POV]

The morning of our graduation felt unreal, like everything I had been holding back for years was finally demanding to be heard. Tahimik akong nakatayo sa harap ng salamin, inaayos ang toga ko, pero ang totoo hindi 'yon ang iniisip ko.

Today wasn't just about ending a chapter. Today, I was going to tell Navy the truth I've been carrying since the first day I saw her.

"This is a perfect timing, Jace," I whispered to myself, clenching my hands.

Ilang beses ko nang inisip kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya, kung anong tamang salita, kung anong tamang oras. But nothing ever felt enough. Still, I knew one thing-I didn't want to graduate with regrets.

Pagdating ko sa venue, maingay, masaya, puno ng proud parents at excited graduates. But in the middle of all that noise, hinahanap ng mga mata ko si Navy.

And when I saw her standing gracefully in her toga, smiling like she owned the moment, I felt my heart tighten.

She looked different... not just beautiful, but powerful. Parang hindi lang siya graduate ngayon, parang she was stepping into a bigger world.

I remembered all the stories about her modeling career, the interviews, the way people admired her. And yet, to me, she was still the girl I quietly fell in love with.

When her name was called, I clapped harder than anyone else. "That's her," I murmured, my chest filled with pride. Hindi ko man nasabi sa kanya, but every achievement she had felt like something I celebrated in silence.

Then came her speech. Navy stood at the podium, confident and glowing.

Four years ago, I was just someone trying to survive college… trying to understand where life was taking me.”she said.

She continued speaking,“Maraming beses akong nagduda sa sarili ko. There were nights I thought I wasn’t enough, days I wanted to stop. But somehow… I kept going.” she smiled faintly.

She took another breath. “But success is not just about being seen. It’s about becoming.

About learning who you are even when everything around you changes.” she looked at the crowd again.

“So today, I stand here not just as a graduate… but as someone still learning, still growing, still becoming.” she added

Her voice was steady, her words heartfelt. Habang nagsasalita siya, mas lalo kong nare-realize kung gaano ko siya hinahangaan. Not just for her beauty, but for her strength and dreams.

When she finished, the applause felt loud, overwhelming, almost unreal. Navy bowed slightly and stepped down from the stage, my heart still racing.

After the ceremony, everyone rushed to take photos. Laughter filled the air, cameras clicking nonstop. I stood at a distance, holding the bouquet I bought earlier.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko, not because I was unsure of my feelings, but because I didn't know if I was ready for her answer.

"Go na, Jace ang importane masabi mo sa kanya ang nararamdaman mo," I told myself.

"Ngayon na o hindi na." I took a deep breath and walked toward her.

She was with her family, smiling brightly. When she saw me, her eyes lit up in surprise.

"Jace..." she said softly when I'm stepping closer.

I almost didn't make it," I says.

"To what?" She ask softly.

I doesn't answer right away.

Then I pulls out a bouquet of flowers and handed her the bouquet. "Congratulations, Navy," I said, trying to steady my voice.

Thank you..." She replied, smiling a little. "Hindi mo naman kailangan pang mag-effort eh" dagdag niya.

"Yeah," I interrupted gently. I took a breath for a while and looked at her.

"I wanted to tell you something today." Panimula ko.

I looked straight at me. "Navy, I loved you in silence, where words were afraid to breathe. You were the ache I learned to live with, the light I never reached but always followed. Even in my becoming, you remained my almost, my always, my unspoken prayer that still lingers between goodbye and forever."

"I've loved you for years," I continued. "Kahit nung nagsisimula ka pa lang, kahit nung unti-unti kang nakikilala ng mundo... I was always here. Quietly watching you, quietly loving you." Kinakabahan na sabi ko.

She's speechless. I walked closer to her."Hindi ko hinihingi lahat. Gusto ko lang malaman mo." I said softly:

"I love you Celeste." And I gently hug her, tight, warm and real.

Nakatigtig lang siya sakin then slowly, she lift my hands and return the hug.

I pulls away and see hope. She shake her head gently. "Jace..." She whisper. "Sorry."

His expression changes. I knew it, alam kuna to but I'm not just ready to hear this from her.

"I'm really grateful you told me this," she said. "And I appreciate you... more than you know." She paused, searching for the right words. But I'm not ready to enter a relationship right now at wala pa iyan sa isip ko," she continue.

Parang may biglang tumahimik sa paligid ko. But I forced myself to listen. "I want to focus on my career first," she continued. "There's so much I want to achieve as a model. I'm just starting, and I don't want to lose that momentum."

I nodded slowly, kahit masakit. "I understand," I said, offering a small smile. "You've always been meant for something big, Navy." Totoo naman. Even if I wasn't part of that future right now, I still wanted her to reach it.

As we stood there, the distance between us felt differentnbut not broken.

"Thank you for being honest," I added. She smiled softly.

"Thank you for being brave." And as I walked away, I realized something-maybe love isn't always about being chosen.

Sometimes, it's about choosing to respect someone's dreams, even if it means letting them go... for now.

______________________________________

The drive to the hotel felt quieter than I expected. Tahimik lang ako sa backseat habang nakatingin sa bintana, watching the city lights blur into soft streaks of gold.

My family was talking, laughing, replaying moments from the ceremonynbut I was still stuck in that moment with Navy. Her voice, her answered and her honesty.

“Anak, okay ka lang?” my mom asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I gave her a small smile. “Yeah, mom. Just tired.” Hindi ko kayang sabihin agad sa kanila. Not tonight. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

Pagdating namin sa hotel, bumungad agad ang warm lights and elegant decorations.

My relatives were already there, waiting, cheering the moment I stepped in.

“Congratulations, Jace!” sabay-sabay nilang sigaw. Napangiti ako, this time more genuine. Maybe this was what I needed—a reminder that today wasn’t just about what I lost, but also about what I gained.

My dad pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m proud of you,” he said firmly.

Ramdam ko ang sincerity sa boses niya. “Thank you, Dad,” I replied, holding onto that moment a little longer than usual. Sometimes, simple words like that were enough to steady me.

We gathered around a long table filled with food....my favorites, carefully chosen by Mom.

“Kain na tayo!” one of my titas announced excitedly. Laughter echoed as everyone started sharing stories, teasing me about childhood memories, and joking about my future.

“Graduate ka na, ha. So, what’s next?” my cousin asked, nudging me playfully. I shrugged lightly.

“We’ll see. One step at a time.” But deep inside, I knew I wanted to build something of my own—something that would make me worthy of the dreams I carried.

At one point, my little niece tugged at my sleeve. “Kuya Jace, picture tayo!” she said with a big smile.

I laughed and crouched beside her. “Of course.” The camera flashed, capturing a version of me that looked happy and maybe, in that moment, I truly was.

After dinner, someone turned on the music. Biglang naging mas lively ang atmosphere. My titos started dancing, my cousins followed, and soon the whole room was filled with laughter and playful energy.

“Jace! Ikaw naman!” they called.

I raised my hands in surrender, laughing. “Sige na nga!” I joined them, letting myself get pulled into the moment.

For a while, nawala sa isip ko ang sakit. I just moved, laughed, and lived in the present.

My mom watched from the side, smiling softly. Lumapit ako sa kanya pagkatapos.

“Thank you for everything, mom,” I said quietly. She held my hand. “You deserve this, anak. Lahat ng hirap mo, worth it.”

Later that night, we had a toast. My dad stood up, holding his glass. “To Jace...who worked hard, stayed strong, and made us all proud.”

Everyone raised their glasses. “Cheers!” Sabay-sabay kaming uminom, the moment sealing itself into memory.

I looked around the room, my family, my relatives, everyone who supported me. And for the first time that day, I felt full. Hindi man naging perpekto ang araw ko, but it was real. It was mine.

Still, in the quiet corners of my mind, Navy lingered. Her smile, her dreams, her words.

“I’m not ready.” Masakit, oo. But I respected her more because of it. She knew what she wanted and I couldn’t take that away from her.

Standing by the balcony later that night, I let the cool air hit my face.

“Maybe someday,” I whispered to myself. Hindi ko alam kung para sa amin pa ba ‘yon but I knew I wasn’t closing my heart completely.

I turned back inside, hearing my family call my name again.

“Jace! Picture ulit!” I smiled and walked toward them. Because even with everything that happened, this night reminded me that life doesn’t stop just because one part of your heart hurts.

Minsan, tuloy lang… habang dala mo pa rin ang lahat ng natutunan mo along the way.