CHAPTER 20:INTENTIONS IN THE DARK
623 Words
The cool night air of Agoo washed away the tension of the afternoon.
Everyone was asleep. The house was quiet.
I couldn’t sleep.
I stepped onto the back porch, arms on the railing, staring at the stars.
My mind was full—summer class blueprint, engineering units to clear,
the past life trying to claw its way back.
“Hindi ka rin makatulog?”
I turned.
Reuben stood there in a grey hoodie, hands in pockets.
Kitchen light caught his profile. Sharp. Calm.
“Masyadong maraming iniisip,” I admitted softly.
“Iniisip ko ‘yung mga majors na kailangan kong i-retake ngayong summer.
I can’t afford to lose my momentum, Reuben.
Kailangan kong maayos ang academic standing ko bago matapos ang susunod na taon.”
He walked beside me.
He didn’t look at the sky. He looked at me.
“Alam ko. At alam kong kakayanin mo ‘yon dahil ikaw ang Queen of Engineering.
But... what about after that, Malia?”
I blinked. “Anong after that?”
Reuben took a breath. Pulled his hands from his pockets.
Turned fully toward me. Closed the distance.
The playful library partner was gone.
In his place was a man with absolute gravity.
“Iniisip mo ang mga subjects mo, ang scholarship mo, at ang panggugulo ng Mark na ‘yon,” he murmured low.
“Pero naisip mo ba kung ano ang standing ko sa buhay mo?
O kung anong plano ko pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito?”
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Reuben...”
“Nakita mo kung paano ako humarap sa mga magulang mo.
Nakita mo kung paano ko hinarang si Mark,” he said, eyes locked on mine.
“Ginawa ko ‘yon hindi lang dahil partner tayo sa library.
Ginawa ko ‘yon dahil gusto ko. Dahil seryoso ako sa’yo.”
The world went quiet.
“I am completely, undeniably falling for you, Malia,” he confessed.
Raw. Honest. Steady.
“At hindi ko ito sinasabi para bigyan ka ng panibagong iisipin habang inaayos mo ang mga bagsak mong subjects.
Sinasabi ko ito dahil gusto kong malaman mo ang intensyon ko.
I want to formally court you. Gusto kong manligaw, Ms. Engineer.”
I stared at him, throat tight.
In my past life, romance was a transaction.
Here was Reuben, laying down his heart without asking for anything.
I breathed deep.
“Reuben,” I started, soft but firm.
“Alam mo kung gaano kahalaga sa akin ang makabawi ngayong taon.
My focus is entirely on clearing my curriculum and rebuilding my future.
Hinding-hindi ko hahayaan ang sarili ko na madistract ulit.”
He nodded, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
But I wasn’t done.
I stepped closer, smiling small and challenging.
“Pero kung seryoso ka talaga sa mga sinasabi mo... patunayan mo.
Hindi ako madaling makuha, Mr. Accountant.
Marami ka pang kailangang i-audit sa pagkatao ko,
at marami ka pang haharaping puyatan kasama ko sa library bago mo makuha ang oo ko.
Ang tanong... hanggang kailan mo kayang maghintay?”
Reuben’s eyes widened.
Then his jaw relaxed.
A slow, devastating grin appeared.
The competitive spirit of the top Accountancy student ignited.
“Hanggang kailan?” he repeated, chuckling low.
“Kesehodang umabot tayo ng graduation,
o maghintay ako hanggang sa makuha mo ang lisensya mo bilang Engineer...
hinding-hindi ako mapapagod, Malia.
Sanay ako sa mahahabang balance sheets,
kaya kayang-kaya kong maghintay kahit gaano katagal
para sa pinakamahalagang investment ng buhay ko.”
I laughed soft and real.
Chest swelling with dangerous happiness.
Under the stars, the boundaries were drawn.
The challenge was accepted.
Reuben wasn’t just my protector anymore.
He was the man willing to walk through fire
to prove he belonged in my rewritten destiny.
- Writer
