stell and i were driving on the way to my apartment when a question suddenly popped up in my mind.

i called him out and he only hummed in response.

he said, stating the obvious to which i replied with an eye roll.

i whispered and he chuckled.

i crossed my arms and he chuckled again, reaching for my hand in the process and intertwining our fingers together.

bAKIT BA BUMIBILIS YUNG TIBOK NG PUSO KO NAKAKAINIS KA NAMAN STELL T________T

my breath hitched when he started massaging the back of my hand with his thumb, probably trying to calm me down. kaso lalo lang akong hindi mapakali e shuta.

he placed our hands on top of the shifter because of course, he's driving. gan'to pala feeling ng pinag-ddrive ka na, tapos naka-holding hands pa kayo shuta matutunaw na yata ako. T_____T

i shifted on my seat to face a bit more towards him.

i felt stell caress the back of my hand with his thumb once again before he sighed.

he heaved a sigh after that and i saw how sadness was suddenly evident in his eyes.

i said softly then he gave me a quick glance and smiled.

i gestured for him to continue talking and i only listened attentively, like how i would when we're in class.

he chuckled.

i stated and he grinned wider.

my heart started beating faster when he looked at me. tangina, crush na crush ko na yata 'to ah. ><

i pushed him lightly and he chuckled, proceeding with his story.

i asked and he smiled, as genuine one.

oh.

he sighed after finishing his story and i did as well. sobrang lalim pala talaga ng samahan nila ni coach pau.

i couldn't say anything after he told me his story. i guess i just didn't know what to say. maybe stell wasn't waiting for my response as well because he did not ask me for anything.

after a few more minutes, we reached my apartment and stell stopped the by the front of the lobby. naka-holding hands pa din pala kami? grabe, dedicated yarn? ><

i was still looking at our hands when stell gently let my hand go. i was about to frown but when i saw him get out of the car and jog towards the other side to open the passenger door for me, I couldn't help but smile instead.

i teased and stell chuckled

kainis, lagi na nga akong kinikilig sa'yo eh. ><

stell said andi smiled but deep inside, i felt something heavy. i know i'm going to see him tomorrow at the univ but why am i feeling like this?

i replied and i saw how he had the same sad smile i have. is he feeling oddly heavy deep down too?

he nodded.

i said, slowly backing away from him and waving a little.

i saw how he laughed before waving to me as well. when i got meters away from him, i finally turned around to walk towards the staircases. but before i could take a few more steps, i felt a hand hold my wrist and pulled me back.

before i knew it, i was already engulfed in a comforting embrace. his perfume immediately filled my senses and his soft hoodie warms my skin from the cold breeze of the night. i felt the chills, the sparks, and the butterflies. i gently hugged stell's waist and rested my chin on his shoulder. i can't believe i'm really hugging him like this. ><

God knows how long we stayed like that before we let go of each other and stell whispered a 'goodnight' before walking back to his car. meanwhile, i kept a smile plastered on my lips until i got inside my unit and let out a happy squeal under my pillows.