"I-Is that so?" I barely managed to say, still staring out the car window. Good thing it was open—Elijah wouldn't be able to see the tears threatening to fall, reflecting in the glass.
I tried my best not to cry inside his car, but my eyes kept betraying me. Small drops began to well up and escape no matter how hard I held them back. Quietly, I wiped them away, pretending nothing was wrong.
"Yeah, she's soon to be his girlfriend. So don't even think about trying," he added, as if warning me.
My head immediately snapped in his direction. "Soon to be?" I asked, confused.
He glanced at me briefly, then focused back on the road.
"Yeah. She will be. Lhiam's planning to ask her to be his girlfriend soon," he said nonchalantly.
That made me feel a little lighter.
So it's not official yet?
That means, I still have a chance, right?
"Why are you so eager to know? Don't tell me… you're actually going after Lhiam?" Elijah asked, clearly surprised.
I smirked, just like he always does, and shrugged.
Of course I am. I'm not just going after Lhiam—I'm going to win him back.
"So, where are we eating?" I asked cheerfully, suddenly in a much better mood.
My heart that was aching just minutes ago, now felt hopeful again.
I just knew it…
Lhiam still loves me. He does. I can feel it.
"Where are we?" I asked in awe as I looked around, curious about this unfamiliar place.
I thought we were going to a restaurant, but this place looked nothing like one. No signs, no menus, no fancy dining. Definitely not what I expected.
"Street market," Elijah replied casually, leading the way without looking back.
"So... where exactly are we eating?" I asked again, confused. There were no visible tables or chairs, and the whole area was packed with people.
"Anywhere," he said again, still nonchalant.
I gave him an 'are-you-kidding-me?' look.
"This place is crowded, and I don't see any restaurant around here. Are you pranking me?" I asked, now suspicious. Just because I came back from the U.S. doesn't mean I've lost touch with Manila. I know there are a lot of good places to eat around here—but this wasn't one of them… right?
He sighed and gestured toward the stalls.
"That's all the food right there. And trust me, it's all delicious."
I frowned."Wait—are you telling me we're going to eat while standing?" I asked, shocked.
He smirked and, without warning, pulled me toward one of the food stalls. He actually looked excited about this.
I continued frowning, scanning the food spread out in front of me—until something caught my eye.
It was this weird ball-shaped snack… smoking? What the heck was that?
And beside it, grilled scallops topped with all kinds of sauces and flavors. My stomach growled on cue.
"Look at you," Elijah teased, clearly amused. "Looks delicious, right?"
I rolled my eyes."Can I get one of those?" I told the vendor, pointing at the scallops.
Elijah laughed beside me and ordered the same."Copycat," I muttered.
"Not gonna lie, it does look good," he admitted.
We continued exploring the food stalls, buying whatever caught our attention and eating as we walked. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying it.
Usually, I'd be sitting down in a restaurant, eating while chatting with someone. But this—walking around, discovering different street foods with someone by my side—felt new and refreshing.
I glanced at Elijah beside me. He was happily eating ice cream—the same one I had.
To be honest… he was actually a fun person to be around.
Even back when we ate at fancy restaurant, I had fun. And now, here in a crowded street market, it still felt enjoyable. He had so many stories about food.
Right now, he was telling me something about pig's brain.
"Wait—people actually eat pig's brain?" I asked, shocked.
"Yup. I tried it in Cebu. I was hesitant at first, but it's surprisingly delicious. You should try it too."
"No, thanks," I said, disgusted. He laughed at my expression.
"Let's try it together when I bring you to Cebu."
"No way am I going to Cebu just to eat that," I grimaced at the thought.
"Alright, fine," he said, grinning. "Then I'll just cook it for you myself."
"Absolutely not!" I protested.
He just laughed harder. Ugh. I hated him.
And yet… I couldn't help but smile too.
"You know, you're actually okay when you're not being annoying. You're kind of nice to be with, honestly."
"So… are you falling for me now?" he teased, flashing a cheeky smile.
I frowned."On second thought, maybe you should shut your mouth," I snapped.
"Yeah, well… your annoyed face really makes my day," he admitted with a grin.
I just rolled my eyes.
"So, how do you know about this place anyway?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"From my sister. She's a foodie, just like me."
My eyes widened."Wait—you have a sister?"
"Why do you sound so shocked?" he asked, half-amused.
I shook my head."I just figured your sister must hate you," I said honestly, imagining her constantly getting teased just like I did.
"Wrong," he said. "My sister's super clingy to me."
I looked at him, baffled."You're lying."
"Nope. She adores me."
Looking at the fondness in his expression, I could tell they had a good bond.
"Maybe she just got used to all your teasing. Poor girl," I muttered.
"What makes you think I tease her?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Well, judging by the way you treat me, I'm sure you do the same to her."
He bit his lower lip and stared at me.
"You're the only one I treat this way." there was something in his voice—sincere, almost soft.
I blinked."W-What?" I asked, stunned.
A strange, fluttery feeling rose in my stomach.
But the moment didn't last.
He suddenly burst out laughing.
I smacked his back, making his face bump right into his ice cream. A stripe of it landed on his nose.
I couldn't stop laughing.
He looked at me, eyes wide, completely flustered.
"You deserve that," I said, sticking my tongue out before running away.
"Hey! You little—Come back here!" he yelled, chasing after me, still with ice cream on his face.
People were staring at us, probably amused by the scene we were causing. But I didn't care. I kept running, laughing, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
Then, I stopped.
I turned back and saw Elijah still running toward me—not with anger, but with a smile and bright eyes.
It was almost night when the streetlights suddenly lit up, making everyone visible around us. We both flinched slightly and looked up in surprise.
I instantly smiled as I saw the beautiful lights shining through this crowded place. People continued walking past me while I stood still, mesmerized by the lights.
I never thought this simple place could hold such beauty—more fascinating than the expensive places I've been to.
And I wouldn't have realized it if Elijah hadn't brought me here… speaking of which—
I turned toward his direction, searching for him among the crowd.
But I was surprised to find him already looking at me.
There was something different in his eyes...
It was as if he was staring straight into my soul. His eyes sparkled—maybe it was the reflection of the lights—but whatever it was, it felt intense.
Watching him in this moment was endearing.
Elijah was undeniably handsome.
But looking at him now—with his glowing tanned skin, those sparkling eyes, and the faint smile on his lips—I couldn't help but smile back.
And just then, I felt a small tug in my heart.
My smile slowly faded, but I kept my eyes on Elijah as he started running toward me again.
Except now, it felt like he was moving in slow motion, while the world around us continued rushing by.
And all of it was happening in sync with my heart tightening inside my chest.
I placed my hand over my heart—confused.
What the hell is this feeling?