A Childhood Relationship Chapter I: THE BEGINNING AND DISTANCE

Chapter 12

CHAPTER XII: OUR FEELINGS

He fetched me from the hospital and we took a bus back to his house. He just stayed silent without looking at me so I asked him if there is something wrong. There, he spoke to me about how I shouldn't change my outlook and get mad at his parents since everything is his fault. Surely, he's been thinking about all the things he did back in middle school so I asked him when his relationship with his parents began to have a strain on it to eventually turn sour. Slowly, he told me about some of the things he did back in middle school and it wouldn't be surprising if I felt shocked when I heard the story from him and not just from the rumors I heard in the past.

Apparently, it started when he began stealing from stores at the start of middle school and his parents were always called for it since he is still a juvenile. With his status as a minor and his grandfather who is the mayor of the city, he was able to escape any charges upon his name. From that, his parents started to look at him with disgust as he constantly shamed the family name by consistently shoplifting. I didn't know that he shoplifted so this came as a surprise to me, but I did my best to remain calm and composed. Eventually, he even went as far as to go gambling, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarette at the red light district with dropouts. All of these were found out by his parents and they had to bow several times to police officers by lowering their pride. A few months after learning of what he has been doing, his parents together with his grandfather made it so that he'll be banned from entering such establishments in the red light district of the city. Due to this, he used his skills in martial arts to pick fights with youths at the city. Since he is really skillful and strong, he almost always left the scenes unscathed aside from his fists. Seeming that all these aren't enough to make himself forget about me, he decided to pick up girls one after another. Since he is gifted with good looks, he was able to bring a lot of them to hotels and even at his house whenever his parents are away. To complement that, he even started brawling with people his age at the neighborhood which left bad impressions from our neighbors. Actually, there wasn't a time in middle school that he didn't do anything wrong now that I heard everything from him. Afterwards, I told him that I know everything now and that his parents really have a valid reason to hate him.

At this point, our conversation stopped as we reached his house while we walked after dislodging from the bus earlier. He went to the kitchen to prepare lunch while me on the other hand proceeded to watch television. I pondered about everything I heard from him, about his life in middle school which I am not aware of. It felt like I was with him during those times as I saw the sad look on his face which told me he regretted all of those. Then again, if not for this problem, his relationship with his parents wouldn't turn this way. Right now, I'm aware of his family situation and how I'm indirectly the cause of it so I thought about how I'll try to help him regain his parent's trust. After all, I also know about how much he wanted to reconcile with his parents with the way he talked. Even though he didn't tell it to me, I could feel his remorse. Soon, I thought about how I was actually too stuck with my thinking that I didn't realize he is already calling me for lunch.

As soon as I heard and noticed him, the television program showed a recap of the time when the television crew went to our town. With that, I told him to eat ahead of me as I'll watch the show to see how I looked. Soon, I saw the footage with us at the house and I felt really embarrassed about how I look and the way I talked. He also watched as he told me we'll eat together. There, I saw how toned his body is even at the television and how the edited footage showed hearts flowing out from his body and I couldn't help but smirk at it. Then, I even saw how I was saved by him when I accidentally fell on the pool. I thought it already ended when they showed additional footage and talked about how they gave the go signal to show it since they confirmed that I am already safe.

I had a hard time grasping what is happening at the television since it looked dark. The ambience is already a bit different before I saw how he hurriedly plunged into the pool to carry me to the ground. Since the camera crew as well as the host cannot do anything to help, they decided to call for an ambulance and I heard what they were telling on their phones. There, I saw how the cake he was talking about was lying on the ground and how he is desperately trying to save me. I could see how much he tried to resuscitate me and kept on talking about how I should wake up already. Even though it was me who was unconscious, I couldn't help but feel really affected by the sight of what I saw. Tears are already falling from his eyes but I wouldn't wake up. It really touched my heart that I even cried myself as he did so much just to save me. I really owe my life to him for his immediate response the moment he saw me. Then, the me from the television suddenly spew out a lot of water and started coughing. Eventually, I heard a faint and hoarse voice asking him why no one truly loves me; about why my two ex-boyfriends dated and dumped me for petty reasons. There, I saw him hug me and tell me how he is there and that no matter what happens he'll continue to love me only. There, I saw how I smiled and tears fell from my eyes before I passed out again and he lightly embraced me as the ambulance arrived to take me and he went inside as well.

Honestly, I didn't know about this as I do not have any recollection of it. Also, it didn't help when he didn't tell that to me so I asked him as for the reason why he stayed silent regarding what I told him at that time. He told me how telling that to me has no point at all since he is aware of the fact that I can never like him. At that moment, I thought about how it's not only my body he is after and that it was my entirety. There, I told him how he is an i***t for thinking like that just because I kept telling him how I don't like him; that he saved my life which is a fact and almost everyone in the country knows about it. I even told him about how with this scene, he more or less proved himself to his parents that he can change. He smiled at me when I told him this and I saw how it showed his real feelings.

Soon, we started eating lunch and I went back to my room afterwards. When I checked my cell phone, it is already full of messages which number in thousands which surprised me. I don't even know how to start with those numbers. Although, before I could check them, my phone rang and saw that it is my mother. There, she asked me the usual stuff regarding my safety and my health. There, I told her about the results of the medical examination from early morning and that everything is normal. She felt relieved hearing it from me that she told me how much she got worried yet she couldn't even go to see me. I told my mother that it is okay and that I understand since they're at a far away place. When she finally calmed down, she told me how she and all her acquaintances saw the scene from the television program just now. She bombarded me with a lot of questions and told me about how a lot of people are talking about it now. I couldn't believe what she was saying, but apparently our scene right from the start till the very end garnered millions of views on video streaming sites not only locally but as well as internationally, talking about how it is true love. She even told me to check the social networking sites as the two of us fill the news feeds and that it is almost as if it will never end. We ended our conversation and since I was intrigue with what my mother said, I checked the internet using my phone.

There, I saw how much we are being talked about and that the primary video garnered close to one hundred million views and counting, that is actually almost the entire population of our country. The people on the comments section are talking about how he seemed like a real-life knight with a beautiful princess who unfashionably drowned in the pool instead of a sleeping one. All of them are talking about how it was a happy ending and what not and that they are really happy for us. Some are even talking about how I should just accept his heartfelt feelings for me so that we'll be together and live a life full of happiness. I couldn't believe what I saw, but there is no denying that all of these happened and that is just in a span of two days. It's also surprising as the people who commented are even talking about how the two of us should enter the entertainment industry to become a professional actor and actress with our good looks coupled with our newfound popularity. Personally, I'm overwhelmed with everything I read and it's just a fraction of what is actually present. Due to this, I stopped browsing and turned off my internet connection as I might actually be influenced with what they're talking about.

I went outside my bedroom to talk to him regarding what I saw from the internet and how it is quite a problem for the two of us. However, when I checked the living room, he is there watching the news and it is showing the current talk of the town which is us. Seeing this, I didn't know what to tell him when he looked at me and he laughed. I felt that he was teasing me so I went and tried to hit him as much as I can yet he kept on laughing to the point that I realized that my punches didn't have much force in them. He told me about what he just saw on the television and how the two of us are now famous. With that, I told him about we're also on the internet and that everything is a mess, but he told me otherwise. I asked him why that is the case and he told me that it was at least able to make me have my revenge with my two ex-boyfriends. Seeming that he made sense, I stopped nagging and sat on the other side of the sofa to watch the television with him. For some reason, seeing myself there seemed really weird but fun at the same time, it's a once in a lifetime chance after all. Although, for now I need to think about how our relationship will turn out to be since our schoolmates may have already found out about us. Before I was able to tell him about my thoughts, he told me that we should at least pretend to be going out whenever we are outside. Since this came out of the blue, I asked him for the rationale of him thinking this and he told me that I'd look bad if we did the opposite and stay the same. He looked serious so I told him that I need to think about it first. He nodded in affirmation for my thoughts on the matter and that i still need to consider the idea. However, the biggest thought in my head at the moment is how I'm able to act natural and calm around him at this point in time when I clearly told myself that I don't and will never like him.

Eventually, it was already dinner time and he began preparing dinner like usual. On the other hand, I'm at my usual place at the living room watching television as if it is the only thing I could do. As the video was broadcasted again, I heard what he told me regarding how he loves me no matter what. Since he is the one who saved my life, I thought about how the only way I could ever repay him is to do what he wanted the most, for me to love him. Thus, I told him about how we need to change his idea regarding our false going out with each other to fool the people around us. I told him that we should go out for real rather than just to pretend as what he planned in the first place. He stopped what he is doing and it felt like something that happened a few months ago. But, this time, he looked and smiled at me before he told me that he really appreciates my thought. With that, I thought about how everything would set itself straight again and I'll be able to repay my debt. Then, he told me that if I'll try to love him just because he saved my life, he wouldn't want it. I felt shocked since he was right on the spot with what I was thinking and I couldn't help but feel like a mischievous kid trying to act smart. He then told me that he doesn't want something like a favor being the cause for our going out with each other as it is rather unfair not only for him, but also for me.

I remained speechless after contemplating about my rude words which possibly hurt him even though he didn't show it. However, I know that I pretty much belittled his heartfelt feelings for me. Since this was the case, I immediately apologized to him and he told me that it's okay as long as I'm already aware of it and I understood the situation. Really, I thought he would accept like normal, but this time it's different. I don't know if he is restraining himself or he's slowly changing into the ideal person that I like. Regardless, I just ate dinner with him after he finished cooking and preparing. Then, in that instance, he told me that he loves me to the point that I became flustered and I almost choked what I was eating. He panicked at first but I managed to gulp it after he helped me with water. This is actually the first for me, usually I wouldn't think much about his declaration of love, but this time it's different. It seems like his words from he saved me from drowning is still having an effect on my emotions. Perhaps it wasn't only him who changed, I too changed without my noticing.

I don't know what to do in order to hide my embarrassed face until the telephone rang and it saved me. He immediately answered it after seeing that I wouldn't move from where I'm sitting. Apparently, it is his mother that he stood straight as if he is talking in front of her. I don't know what they're talking about, but I know that it is something good as I could see the bright look in his eyes. He looked really happy that I became curious as to what it is. Then, he kept on thanking her and talked about how he'll do his best to live up to her expectations. He then hang up the phone and went back to the dining table. There, I asked him what he talked about with his mother. He told me that my parents wanted to extend their thanks to him for saving me. After all, it's not impossible for them not to see it now that it's all over the media and the internet. Eventually, I asked him why he thanked his mother and talked about living up to her expectations. Actually, his mother handed the phone to his father and told him how he is an outstanding person and that he is proud to be his father for not thinking twice which saved my life in that moment of emergency where time is of the essence. Also, his father told him that he's expecting him to graduate and enter a prestigious university which was the first time he talked to him regarding his future. I felt relieved since with what his father told him, him being disowned is no longer a possibility. However, something is missing with what he told me and I asked if his father apologized to him accusing and hitting him. He shook his head in negation and so I told him that his father should at least apologize, but he stopped me and told me that it's okay. He told me that his father talking to him with a normal father-son talk is enough for him. His eyes although a little bit sad, upon closer inspection are really happy. He suffered a lot but at the very least things are moving again with him and his parents. Although I don't know what exactly he is feeling now, I know that he is really glad that he reconciled with his parents which is what he is hoping for all this time. When I finished eating my food, it was there that I realized that I had been talking with him for quite a long time as if it is the normal thing between us.

I thanked him for the meal and walked upstairs to my room. At that moment, I thought how there really is something wrong with me. It appears like I'm starting to fall in love with him, but I don't want to admit it. After all, admitting it to him would render everything I told him in the past useless. I know his dark side and I hate it and he knows it too, but it's as if it doesn't matter to me anymore. It's not because he saved my life that I wanted to return the favor, but because he saved my life that I realized just how much he cherishes me. He never changed his dark habits and so he is aware that I'll never like him, yet he still did everything for me. I'd understand it if he eliminated his dark habit that he really wanted me to like him, but he didn't which means he wanted me to love him for who he is and not what I wanted him to be. However, this is exactly the reason why I don't want him to know my feelings, my feelings that started to change and adapt to him. He was once my little childhood friend, but now it's different between us, we're slowly maturing in a good way. Perhaps, a day will come when I will finally accept his feelings for me wholeheartedly and we can become happy together, the way our parents once intended it to be in the past when we are still young.