Two Faces of Love

Chapter 5: Fall

“Hi Alyson.”

I was already seated on my chair and waiting for Mai and Jai when Alex arrived and greeted me as he sat on his chair behind me.

“Hey. You’re early today?”

“Oh yeah. You as well.”

“You’re not with your friends?”

“Oh, they’re outside. They will arrive soon.”

“Ah okay.”

Then there was a full silence inside the room. It’s getting a little awkward ha? The last time Alex and I talked was when I busted and friend zoned him. After that, we seldom talk or even see each other. I was thinking maybe he is mad at me or something but he is a nice person after all and he never really avoided me totally. I feel so guilty when is just so nice to me.

“Ah, Miss Li can I ask you a question? If you don’t mind.”

“About what?

“Ahm, is it true that Tristan is courting you?”

I might have choked if I have something in my mouth. Fortunately, I’m not eating or chewing anything. Of course, I wouldn’t be shocked f even his friends already know about the rumors too. After all, they are his friend.

“Of course not! That’s not true at all! He was just being nice to me, that’s all. The truth is, even I am in owe because after all, he is just good at bullying and making fun of me.” I don’t even know why I’m explaining all these to Alex.

“Hey, Tristan is nice. He may be moody sometimes though.”

He is indeed Tristan’s friend after all.

“So, is not really not true?”

“Why did you ask by the way?”

“Nothing. It would be funny if it’s true, I just thought that.”

“Funny?”

“Because if it’s true, I’d like to think that you busted me because you do like Tristan from the very beginning. I mean I wouldn’t mind at all though. I’d be rooting for both of you if it happens.”

Should I be touched by his kindness? I just ignored him and did not answer. But then he was like unstoppable.

“Anyway Alyson, we’re friends, right?” he suddenly offered his hand as if wanting for a handshake. I looked at it for about half a second and then handshake with him.

“Friends.”

Just in time when Mai and Jai came, as well as Tristan and his friends so I immediately removed my hand from Alex’s.

“Hey, hey, hey! What was that? What did we just saw?” Mai asked excitedly.

“Nothing. Alex and I are just talking.”

“Defensive much, Aly?”

“It's true. We were just talking about back when she dumped me. I asked her if we can still be friends.”

“Oohhh.” The rest exclaiming.

“Our best friend is just so beautiful. Not only one but two guys are getting head over heels for you!”

“Watch your mouth, Jai.” I stopped her from talking to much but she just laughed off and is loving teasing me.

“Two?” Mart suddenly asked.

“No! She did not say anything! You can all seat down, our teacher is arriving soon.” I ended the talk specially about that specific topic because I don’t want to go and share any further details about it. It’s just so awkward to talk about. But while seated, I whispered at Jai for the last time.

“You know you’re just so loud, as always.”

“But I’m stating facts.” She defended herself.

“Even though!”

“Dear, if I know, you’re feeling as if you’re so pretty yourself.”

“Whatever.” Then our teacher arrived.

After our class, I immediately went to the Publication room. Kuya Art is not around since he said that he has some important errands to do so I’m kind of alone today. After opening the room, I sat on my desk and opened the computer on the desk and started editing articles. Good thing I have only few articles to revise since the rest are already done by our other members and kuya Art himself. So, when I was done and had nothing to do anymore, and since its still early to go home, I decided to open my social media account and scroll. But then, I got bored so I left it on line and opened another tab. I remember I was watching a Korean drama a few days ago and I haven’t finished the last episode I was watching so I decided to continue watching it there. I am just an avid fan of Asian dramas particularly Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese. And so here I am, on the episode where the story is getting all hyped up. I was so hooked watching and fangirling when suddenly, my chat box popped up. I looked at who messaged and their I saw Tristan’s name. What is it that he wants this time?

Tristan: Hey.

Me: Hey.

Tristan: Where are you?

Me: Somewhere. Why?

Tristan: nothing.

Me: crazy.

He just seen my reply. I guess he has nothing to do. I closed the chat box and continued watching the drama, I was again, so focused on the scene, specially that the girl is about to confess her feelings to the guy she had a crush. But then Tristan messaged again so I had to pause the drama for the second time.

Tristan: Hey.

Me: What?

Tristan: what are you doing?

Me: I’m busy, what do you want?

I waited for him to answer but then he did not. What is his problem? I continued to watch the drama again. There she is, already told the guy that she likes him! And of course, the guy was taken aback and shocked so the girl waited for the guy to speak. The guy opened his mouth and was about to talk when my chat box popped out again! This is starting to irritate me! I have to pause the drama again!

Tristan: Hey.

Me: What?! I said I’m busy! Wat is your problem?! If you want to say something then just say it!

He just seen my message again. He is just so annoying! Is he playing with me? He really had nothing else to do today that he is disturbing me. I took a deep breath and continued my drama, again. I was so kilig because the guy already said that she liked her as well and that he has been waiting to hear her confess ever since! And then they suddenly looked at each other so intensely and was about to kiss! The guy’s face moved closer and closer to the girl! Almost there, almost, almost—

Tristan: Hey.

I almost shouted when Tristan messaged again and my drama had to put on pause again.

Me: For Pete’s sake Tristan! I am not in the mood to play with you! If you have nothing to do then look for someone else you can play with!

I waited for his reply again. I have to make sure I won’t get interrupted again and again because this is just pissing me off! He is pissing me off! Five minutes passed and his chat box still says ‘typing’. What is he even writing? Novel?!

Me: Go ahead, make it slower and I’ll log out.

Still no answer. I waited for another five minutes and still nothing so I was really about to log out but then when I was about to click the log out button, his message arrived, finally.

Tristan: I just want to tell you that I got jealous back there. You and Alex are friends while I can’t even be one for you. He got to hold your hands but still, I was able to kiss you. I still got a point. But I don’t know why this is happening all too fast. And somehow, I find it weird because this is the first time, I ever get so selfish over someone that’s not even mine. I know we’re very opposite but I don’t know why I got so hooked with you.

My jaw dropped the moment I read his message. I haven’t processed al of it yet and another message arrived.

Tristan: I’m an introvert person and I don’t share to anyone what exactly I’m feeling. Not even to the people I’m close with. It’s even harder for me to compose this kind of messages to you. I’m not really sure of what I really feel or what to do but,

Suspense? I waited for the continuation of his message the arrived just few seconds.

Tristan: I like you. No wait, let me rephrase that. I think I’m in love with you. I am in love with you, Alyson.

I am not sure what happened next. My hands just automatically went through the log out button and clicked it immediately. But what he sent me kept replaying in my head, especially the very last part.

Is this for real? I pinched my cheeks just to make sure.

“Ouch!” I guess it is indeed real.

The next day, I was walking at the corridor inside the campus. I just went to the PR and submitted my papers then went my way immediately to our room. Still in owe of what Tristan had sent me yesterday, I still can’t believe that the Tristan Johnsohn will one day confess to me, an ordinary girl and tell me that he likes me. Much more confess about his feelings online!

I keep walking and walking when I suddenly bumped into someone.

“I’m so sorry! I’m sorry!” I apologized immediately.

“Alyson?” I looked at who it was and there is Alex right in front of me.

“Alex.”

“Sorry, we always bump into each other at the corridor ha?”

“Haha, yeah. Such a timing. I’m sorry again I was not looking at the way.”

“Seems like you’re in deep thoughts.”

Maybe he noticed my wrinkled and serious face. We walked straight and went into the room together. We saw our friends already there inside. I noticed there’s someone missing?

“You’re not with—”

“Oh Tristan? Cho Nikko said he will be absent today because he has fever.”

“Ah, really?”

“It’s a pity. Did you know that when Tristan gets sick, he gets so scared like a little kid?”

“Well, he is indeed like a scared child. It’s called phobia dude.” John interrupted.

“Phobia?”

“Long story Aly. But can I just ask?” it’s Mart.

“What?”

“Are you worried about him?” he smiled as if he is teasing me.

“Of course not! Not at all! I was just curious.”

“Ah, just curious bro.” John then sarcastically joked and then Alex agreed.

While the class is ongoing, I still can’t help but look at Tristan’s seat beside me. Is he really okay? Wait, why am I thinking about him? Why do I care? It’s good that he is absent, no one’s going to annoy me today for one whole day. No one’s going to disturb me.

Dismissal. Mai and Jai already went home because they have some things to do, they said. Those two literally forget about me when they have dates with their boyfriends. I was already outside the campus waiting for the jeepney that arrived just few minutes so I was able to ride immediately. When we were already at the public market at our place, I went of the jeepney. I was walking on the sidewalk when I suddenly stopped at a fruit stand.

“Are you going to buy miss? These are newly picked.” Said the seller to me.

“Oh no, I’m just looking.”

“Mama! My head hurts!” said the child who was walking with his mom beside me.

“Oh no son, I guess you have slight fever. Let’s go home now.” Said the mom as he touched the forehead of his son and then walked away. I suddenly remembered one particular person again. It’s just annoying how he keeps popping on my mind no matter how much I try to distract myself. And then I suddenly thought of buying fruits from the fruit stand in front of me.

“How much is it?”

After buying the fruits, I rode on a jeepney again. I don’t know why I’m feeling uneasy. Not until I’ll be able to visit that annoying guy who keeps bothering my mind. It took me about 15 minutes when I arrived at their place. There was a little walking distance, about five minutes or so and then there I saw their mansion. I was not able to see this when I first came here because it was night time, but looking at it now seems so surreal. Their mansion is just so huge and unrealistic! It was like one of those you see on dramas! Took me a while before I decided to ring the bell on their gate and after a few minutes, a guard came out from the guardhouse just beside the main gate.

“Who are they?” he asked.

“Oh ahm, I am Tristan’s classmate.”

“Oh, okay wait,” he gets his walkie talkie from his pocket and then after a while, he already let me in.

I was accompanied and passed by their garden that is just so wide! Just wow! I can even do bicycle here! When we arrived at the main door, the guard rang the doorbell and said I just have to wait for the maid and went back to his guardhouse. When the door opened, Uncle Nikko smilingly welcomed me.

“Uncle!”

“Welcome back to the mansion, miss Aly! It’s nice to see you here again.”

“Uncle, I told you to stop talking to me so formally. You can just call me Aly!” He just ignored my rant and invited me to go inside the house. If I was amazed by the outside of the mansion, it was even jaw dropping on the inside! Almost everything is in color white and you can really say that all the displays, from vases to indoor plants, are all expensive and huge! There are fresh flowers as well that’s refreshing in the eyes. Why did I not even notice all these when I first came here? I was busy looking at the house when Uncle Nikko asked me.

“Why did suddenly come, by the way, Miss?”

“Ah, I noticed that Tristan was absent at school today. I asked Alex and he said he is sick so I thought maybe I could at least pay a visit?”

“Sir Tristan will be very happy to see you. Come, I’ll take you to his room.”

We walked and went up on the second floor of the mansion. Even the stairs look so expensive! We take our turn on the right aisle and then there appeared a very familiar door. Uncle immediately knocked on the door.

“Sir Tristan, you have a visitor.” And then Tristan answered rom inside.

“Who?”

“You’ll be very glad to know who.”

Uncle Nikko gave me a signal to already go in so I opened the door and went inside.

“What are you doing here?!”

Tristan seems so shocked to see me. He was lying on his bed all covered with blanket.

“Why do you look like you have seen a ghost? It’s just me.” Then I put the fruits I’m carrying to the nearest table. “I came here to visit you. Don’t you like that?”

“Why would you even visit me? And how did you know?”

I looked at him and went near his bed. He looks so pale and his voice is indeed weak. He is obviously sick. He noticed that I was looking at him.

“What?!”

I sat on the edge of his bed while still looking at him.

“You know what? I don’t even know myself why and what am I doing here. When Alex said that you are sick, I don’t know why I have been feeling uneasy the whole day. During dismissal, I’m already on my way home but then I stopped by a fruit stand near our place and a sick child with his mother. And then I remember you. Are you touched?” I just love teasing him today.

“What?” he is starting to get pissed by me though.

“Who would have thought a monster could also get sick?”

“Did you come here to make fun of me?” I laughed at him. He frowned even more. So I just controlled myself and just looked around his room.

“Your room looks so nice. I did not notice it the last time.”

I stood up and went on the shelf beside his bed. He had a study table near and there are a lot of picture frames displayed. I took one frame and looked at a picture of him in a soccer uniform. “Oh wow, I didn’t know you’re sporty.” I put back the frame and get another one. A picture of him with a woman carrying him. “Is she your mom? She’s so pretty! Like a beauty queen!”

“What the heck are you even doing?”

I ignored him and went straight to where I put the fruits I bought. I took a small knife on his table and started peeling the mango and put it on a small plate and then head back to his bedside.

“Here, have some mango.”

“I don’t eat that.”

“Ah okay.”

I picked the sliced mango using a fork and then offered it to him. He was taken a back.

“Are you deaf? Or you did not understand what I said? I said I don’t eat mango.”

“Don’t be such a baby! I asked Uncle Nikko and you’re not even allergic to mango! If you don’t eat this, I’m going to punch you.” I adjusted his pillow for him to be able to seat, and so he had no choice but t followed me and eat the mango. I suddenly laughed a little.

“Why are you even pushing me—” he was not able to finish what he is saying because I feed him again another spoon of mango.

“You know what, Tristan? You’re somewhat funny.”

“What?”

I smiled again and continued, “I find it funny but I’m not sure why. Can I just say that I was so shocked with your messages last time? I mean, who would have thought? Tristan Johnsohn would fall in love over an ordinary girl, particularly me?”

“F-forget it.” I noticed that he was blushing so I laughed even more.

“While I was on my way here, I asked myself why do I even have to come and visit you? So what if you’re sick? You’re rich. You can have your own private doctor to monitor you. But then I kept asking myself even more, why am I getting worried? Until my own feet lead me here. And then when I entered your room, seeing your curled up in bed and covered in blanket, I think I know now why I have to come.”

“What are you trying to say?”

I looked at him again, “I just thought that you’re a nice person Tristan. That kind who’s tough on the outside but then soft on the inside.”

“I’m not.” Now his face is getting shy.

“It’s funny because, for the past years, seeing your from afar at the university, my impression of you had always been like a bad person.” I laughed again but then continued, ”and then I remember what they say, to never judge a book by its cover.”

“So?”

“So? What I’m trying to say, that your good looking face was never a waste after all!”

“What?!”

“Nothing, nothing.” I fed him again another spoon of mango. “But is it true?”

“The what?”

“What you said on chat?”

“I said I was joking.”

“Joking?! Those kinds of lines are a joke for you?! Do you want to get punched?”

“Why? Would you even care if I say that it’s true?”

“Yes.”

He was shocked and coughed suddenly. I gave him a glass of water while gently rubbing his back. Even I was shocked from my answer.

“W-what do you mean yes?”

“Remember when you told me that,” I paused for a while, hesitating to say it but then I just did, ”when you kissed me. And you said, you like ma and you want me to be only yours.. and so, my answer is yes.”

“So, you’re saying that it’s okay with you?”

I just nodded. I feel like I am already blushing as well.

“You mean it’s okay for you to be my girlfriend?”

“But that’s not what you said!”

“But that’s what I’m trying to say.”

“But yes, my answer is still yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“No.”

“Is this even a joke?!” He is starting to get pissed again.

“I mean, I don’t know! But I feel like you’re someone I should take good care of.”

“Huh! So, you don’t want to be my girlfriend but a babysitter?!” I laughed at his joke. So he knows how to make people laugh now?

“Why not? I’m qualified right?” I joked as well.

“So, you’re literally saying that—” he did not finish his words because I’m not even sure myself why the next thing I did was kiss him.

“W-what was that for?” his face got even so red. He is literally blushing right now!

“That is for you, being such a bully. What I mean was, can you at least stop acting so tough because it’s not going to work on me now.” I saw him smiling so wide. His face is still red, but I’m not sure if it’s still because of the kiss or because of his fever. But what’s something I’m more unsure, is that I am feeling as if I am in cloud nine right now.