More Than a Maybe ✨

KABANATA 6

Samantha’s POV

“Yung Mga Tingin na Ayaw Aminin”

Minsan, ang mga mata nagsasabi ng totoo, kahit pa ang bibig pilit itinatanggi.

That’s how it started.

Hindi sa salita. Hindi sa aksyon.

Sa tingin.

“Si Elijah na naman?”

Narinig kong tanong ni Gavin habang binubuksan ko ang locker ko.

Normal na tanong. Walang emosyon. Casual lang.

Pero may kakaiba sa tono niya.

I looked up, and there he was—leaning on the locker beside mine, arms crossed, brows slightly furrowed.

Parang hindi niya alam kung bakit siya nandoon.

O kung bakit siya nagtanong.

“Yeah,” sagot ko. “Groupmate ko sa English. Nagpa-practice lang kami ng presentation.”

He nodded. Slowly. “Ah. Lagi na lang kayo magkasama, ah.”

This time, may laman na ang boses niya.

I wanted to ask, “Bakit, naiinggit ka ba?”

But I didn’t. Kasi ayokong umasa.

Ayokong bigyan ng meaning ang mga bagay na baka ako lang ang nakakaramdam.

Hindi na siya kagaya ng dati.

He still drove me to school. He still waited after class.

Pero iba na ang mga mata niya.

Tahimik siyang nakamasid.

Kapag magkasama kami ni Elijah, parang biglang tumitigas ang panga niya.

Parang may gustong sabihin, pero hindi niya kayang bitawan.

One time, habang nasa canteen kami ni Elijah, nagtawanan kami nang sabay—and when I glanced toward Gavin’s table, he was staring.

Not at us.

Not exactly.

But at me.

At yung tingin na ‘yon… hindi ko maipaliwanag.

It wasn’t angry.

It wasn’t confused.

It was something between wanting and fearing.

Later that afternoon, habang sabay kaming umuuwi, tahimik lang siya habang nagmamaneho.

“Okay ka lang?” I asked.

He nodded, pero hindi siya tumingin sa’kin. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Same excuse. Paulit-ulit.

But this time, I knew there was more behind it.

“Si Elijah ba ‘yan?” I asked—half-joking, half-curious.

He glanced at me for a second, then looked away. “I just don’t get it. What’s so special about him?”

That made me pause.

“Hindi ko naman kailangang ipaliwanag sa’yo, ‘di ba?”

My tone was soft, not defensive. But there was something sharp beneath it.

“Hindi ko alam,” he said, almost in a whisper.

“Maybe… I just thought I’d always be the one.”

And that was the first time Gavin admitted…

Something.

Not love.

Not jealousy.

But a shift.

A crack in his armor.

A silent confession hidden in half-words and sideways glances.

That night, I stared at the ceiling again—just like I always did.

But this time, my heart wasn’t just aching.

It was wondering.

What if he’s starting to see me?

And what if it’s already too late?