And I Love You Still

CHAPTER 2: Almost Over You

Ever since Lucille saw Zareb kissing someone else, she had been avoiding him..Avery wondered why she no longer asked about his brother, but she just brushed it off. She said her crush on him had already passed—that she already had a new one.

But it seemed as though fate was teasing her, because no matter how much she tried to avoid Zareb, he kept appearing everywhere like a mushroom sprouting out of nowhere. Just like that day. He was in their house again.

She knew he worked part-time with her father in their repair shop, but still, it startled her to see him there.

“Call Zareb now, Lucille, so we can eat. Tell him to have lunch here since he’s already around,”

her mother said as she set the table in the kitchen.

Lucille was in the living room, playing Mobile Legends. She couldn’t stop mid-game or she’d lose and get scolded by her teammates. Still, she obeyed while keeping the phone in her hands, eyes glued to the battle.

She was so focused that she bumped into something hard—and her phone flew out of her grasp.

“You’re holding your phone again. Not even looking where you’re going,” came a familiar voice.

Lucille felt dizzy and instinctively held onto the person’s arm for balance. But the moment she caught a whiff of his scent—the mix of clean sweat and fabric from his worn shirt—she grew even dizzier.

Her eyes shut tightly.

“Are you okay, honey?”he asked softly, worry lacing his tone.

Lucille froze, like cold water had been poured over her. She recognized that voice. She shoved him away.

“Mama’s calling you. Lunch’s ready,” she said curtly before turning her back on him.

She picked up her phone, wiped the screen with the hem of her shirt—unaware that the motion revealed a sliver of her midriff. The boy standing before her swallowed hard.

Lucille turned away.

DURING lunch, she secretly stole glances at Zareb across the table, eating slowly, pretending not to care while her whole body listened to his every move.

Zareb practically lived in their house now. After school, he often stayed to help at their shop, sometimes going home close to midnight.

He paused mid-bite, sensing her gaze. He looked at her and smiled.

Oh my God. Her heart did a somersault. That smile—it could kill. She wanted to melt right there under his eyes.

Hmp. You already have Xyrene, she reminded herself, blinking fast when he even winked at her.

“Mama, my groupmates are coming over later. We’re finishing our school project,”

she said, forcing calm into her tone.

“That’s good. Better you stay here than wander who-knows-where. Times are dangerous now. You’re teenagers,” her mother said.

'Mama never runs out of sermons,” Lucille muttered.

“Let her be. Just let your friends in when they come,” her father cut in, his usual peacekeeping voice between mother and daughter.

WHEN Lucille’s classmates arrived, she brought them to the garden. They thought her mother’s towering bonsai bougainvilleas made a perfect backdrop for their video.

On their way in, they passed by the workshop where Zareb was working. His face was dark—eyes glued to Lucille’s hand resting on Jayden’s arm. She ignored him.

“Jayden and Lucille, make your scene look believable. The viewers need to feel your chemistry,” their cameraman Liam instructed.

In the scene, Lucille sat while Jayden wrapped his arms around her from behind. Their eyes met—supposed to be a tender, emotional shot.

But they had to reshoot it several times. It wasn’t working. Lucille couldn’t focus. How could she, when every time she turned her head, she caught Zareb watching them?

“Let’s take a break. Maybe we’re just tired. We’ll do better later,” she suggested, and everyone agreed.

“Wait here. I’ll grab snacks from inside.”

“I’ll come with you,” Jayden offered.

“No, it’s okay. Mama probably prepared something already,” she smiled and went to the kitchen alone.

“Can’t you make a scene that doesn’t require that guy’s arms wrapped around you?”

Lucille froze, startled.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” she turned to find Zareb standing at the doorway, eyes locked on her.

“I didn’t know I had an audience. Why do you always appear out of nowhere? You’re not funny anymore.”

She picked up the tray of sandwiches and juice her mother had prepared.

Zareb stepped forward, taking the tray from her hands. Their fingers brushed—and she felt a jolt, as though she’d been burned.

“I’ll take this,” he said.

Lucille let him, though her knees felt weak, trembling.

“That guy seemed to enjoy hugging you. Better finish that project quickly before he gets any ideas.”

He walked away, leaving her speechless.

So domineering, that boy.

When she returned, Zareb was gone.

“Lucille, you didn’t tell me Zareb lives here! Can you introduce me? I’ve had a crush on him since seventh grade,” Mariz said, nudging her.

Lucille forced a smile.

"Don’t bother, Mariz. You’ll just waste your time. Didn’t you know he’s with Xyrene now?”

Jayden cut in.

Lucille’s eyes widened.

“How do you know that, Jayden?”

“I always see them together at the library. The guy even glares at me whenever he catches me talking to Xyrene. Once, she and I were just chatting and he looked ready to kill me with those eyes.”

Lucille’s body went weak. So that’s why Zareb was so hostile toward Jayden. That explained the looks.

When they finally wrapped up filming, Liam promised to handle the editing and send the video for review on Monday.

Lucille walked her friends out.

But when she reached the gate, she stopped.

Zareb was there—arms crossed, leaning against the post.

She ignored him and kept walking toward the wooden gate of their fence. But before she could reach it, he blocked her path—his arm shooting out to stop her.

Lucille merely cast him a glance and tried to duck under his arm to get inside. Her eyes widened when his hand suddenly caught her by the waist. She wanted to snap at him, to tell him to take them off her, but her body froze instead. When she didn’t move, he pulled her even closer.

“Did you really see me and Xyrene kissing on campus?”

She turned to face him then. Up close, she realized just how tall he was for someone who was only nineteen. At five-foot-four, she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes.

Zareb’s brows were furrowed.

Lucille shook her head and tried to pry off his arm from her waist. “What’s your problem? Let go of me.”

“You’re used to being held, aren’t you?” he said in a low, taunting voice. “You even seem to enjoy it when that Jayden touches you.”

His breath fanned against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

“If you’re angry at Jayden because you think he and Xyrene have something going on, then get rid of that jealousy, Zareb,” she retorted. “I’m sure of myself—I know Jayden would never trade me for your girlfriend.”

“Oh?” His tone dripped with sarcasm. He finally released her. “So you really think I’m jealous of that guy?”

“Isn’t that the case, Zareb?”

A mocking smile curved his lips. “Looks like your taste has changed, Lucille Blair Miguel. You’ve really grown up. You used to spend all your time trying to get my attention- shouting to the world that you had a crush on me. What happened?”

His eyes roamed over her slowly, deliberately.

“Take a good look at yourself in the mirror sometime. You’ve left nothing to the imagination,” he said scornfully, his gaze lingering on her bare legs revealed by the white miniskirt. Her red top hung loosely, but it was cropped just enough that whenever she raised her arms, her midriff showed. With her fair skin and faint blush that came naturally, it wasn’t hard to imagine why boys couldn’t help but stare.

Lucille was well aware of her looks. At fifteen, though her body wasn’t fully developed yet, she already drew attention. People often told her she could easily be a model someday.

“No wonder that guy enjoys touching you,” Zareb muttered. “You give him every reason to.”

“What is your problem?” she snapped. “Even my clothes are your business now? Don’t tell me you’ve never seen your sister dress like this. Tell her your nonsense instead of me!”

She stomped past him, but he caught her arm. She tugged hard, yet his grip was unyielding.

He exhaled sharply, his voice softer now. “You’re like a sister to me, Lucille Blair. I protect you the same way I protect Avery.”

She stood there, back turned to him, staring at the ground.

“I’m grateful to your parents,” he continued quietly. “They gave me a chance to work here even though I’m no expert with machines. Your father, uncle George is patient—he teaches me a lot.”

He let out a small laugh, a touch of humility in it.

“I just don’t want your parents to regret trusting me. I like what I do here. Your father even said he’d help me through college and cover the rest of my expenses.”

Lucille turned to him, her expression softening. She knew Zareb was smart enough to earn a scholarship, but college was expensive—especially for someone in his position. Even in the dim light, she could still make out his eyes. They were like a deer’s—gentle yet intense. And when he spoke, they seemed to narrow with emotion.

“Then why not accept it?” she asked softly. “My dad and mom are serious about helping you. They really care about your family. My father and Uncle Joseph are best friends. I’m sure he won’t be disappointed in you.”

Zareb’s hold on her arm loosened.

“If only it were that simple, Lucille,” he said after a pause. “I want to reach my dreams on my own terms—to give a good life someday to the woman I love most.”

Lucille was sure he was looking straight at her when he said it, even through the darkness. She quickly averted her gaze.

“So that’s what you were arguing about with Xyrene the day I saw you behind St. Francis building?” she asked.

“You don’t understand, Lucille.”

“I think I do. You wouldn’t have this problem if you just accepted my father’s offer. I doubt that proud girlfriend of yours would mind you working here. You’ve earned every peso you make.”

She turned her back on him and headed inside the house, her face clouded with hurt. She didn’t even notice her mother’s questioning eyes as she passed by the living room, where the older woman was absorbed in a Korean drama.

Once inside her room, Lucille slammed the door shut.

Why did Zareb have to keep hurting her? She had promised herself she would stop caring, stop hoping he’d ever look her way— he already has Xyrene with him. But it still burned, hearing him talk about a future that didn’t include her.

She had dreamed of a future with him.

Now, she could only grab her pillows and strike them again and again, trying to beat the ache out of her chest.