A Trip Down Memory Lane: How He Fell in Love with Her

Their seemingly unfriendly relationship slowly grew less and less confrontational each day. Both of them were preoccupied with the stress and pressure of the final exams. Though it should be more for him since he was in this school because of his scholarship, Sam seems to be taking the pressure a little too seriously. He could sometimes hear her thinking out loud from the corner of their hideout in the library. At times he'd like to interrupt by giving her the answers when he hears her ask questions to herself. But he knows better not to disturb her.

He sometimes catches himself staring at her a little longer than usual. She looks lovely while her thoughts are lost in her pile of books. Who would have thought that she has a geek inside of the outgoing personality. He found out that Sam is an active member of the student council. Aside from that, she involves herself in several music and arts activities. She is a fine singer and musician and has used her talent several times to bag the Miss University title. All these he found out by secretly using the Library Custodian's access when he was tasked to encode files into the network.

"You know you could just ask her instead of being a complete weirdo by stalking her," it was too late to close the window when Cathy startled him while doing his little "research."
"You startled me! I'm not stalking anyone," trying to use keyboard shortcuts to close all the windows he has opened about Sam. "Hmm. Okay. You could just text her to start to get to know her, weirdo. By now you should have gotten her phone number if you're that interested," still looking at him suspiciously, Cathy left him.

Sam asked for his number but he realized it has been days since and she hasn't texted him. It would be too awkward to ask for her number now. And what would I text her? She most probably isn't interested.

---

"I thought food and drinks are not allowed inside the library?" Sam smiled at him after he silently placed the can of coffee drink beside her phone. "Yes, and this is the last time I will tolerate this. You could use a little study break every once in a while."

While giving him her sweetest smile, she opened her coffee drink. "Aww. I can't believe you're starting to care," It's hard to tell if she's amused or if she's just mocking him. He didn't bite the bait and left to get back to his duties. He just really wanted to give her something to drink.

"I'm starving. Would you like to join me for lunch?" she didn't bother to stand up when she asked him.

"Would you keep it down please? This is a library!"

"I know. And we can't eat here. Let's go." She just doesn't really take no for an answer.

It was a quiet lunch. At least for him. Students and a few professors keep approaching Sam at their table at the university cafeteria. "This is why I need peace and quiet especially when I need to study." She wanted to go out where there were fewer students but he insisted they eat at the cafeteria because he can't be away from his post at the library for too long. And being a cheapskate that he is, he didn't want to spend more than his daily budget.

Because of all the interruptions, he finished his meal before Sam. He waited until she finished. This was the first time she sees her outside of the library. He rarely wanders around the campus, it was never his thing. If he's not in the library, he could be in one of the secret gardens of the campus reading or drawing.

He watched her talk cheerfully with other students. "I didn't know you were this approachable," at last he was finally able to talk to her. She seem yo know everyone. Not just know them by name or face, there is always something she would comment about with anyone that talked to her. He sensed sincerity with the way she spoke with them. Gone is the stern and stubborn Sam. It's like seeing her at a different light. And again, he is awed. Although this time, he's not that sure if it's just amazement he is feeling towards her.

She swallowed the last bite of her clubhouse sandwich. "I can be fierce or friendly, I just show whatever side of me you deserve. Nobody has seen all sides of me. Except maybe for you. I dunno why. Maybe it's because I like you," she smiled at him and prepared to head back to the library.

Her last comment made him freeze. Or maybe blush. Maybe both. He didn't get to finish cleaning up their table. It has been his habit to clean up after himself when dining out. But this time he was distracted. Or maybe enchanted.

Damn it Sam! What are you doing to me?

---

He's been staring blankly at the ceiling for hours now. All of his To do list has already been checked out. He even has done some of the tasks for tomorrow. Still her words keep on resounding in his ears.

"Maybe it's because I like you."

What could she mean by that? Is this one of her tricks? Maybe it's not like like, maybe it's just nothing. I think I'm going crazy.

He was slowly drifting off to sleep but his trail of thoughts were stopped by the message alert from his phone.

Hey, you still up?

He didn't bother replying. It's from an unregistered number.

It's Sam. You can't be sleeping already. It's only 10:30PM.

Of course I should be asleep. Unlike you, I have to go to school early to work at the library.

This time, he wasn't trying to be harsh on her. He was just trying to maintain his sleepiness.

Sam: Come on. Stay up late with me."

Vince: "Go bother your other friends. Try Cathy."

Sam: "She already fell asleep. I still got a lot of stuff to do and I'm getting sleepy."

Vince: "You should put your back into it then. Maybe if you didn't do a lot of facebooking or instagramming earlier, you should be done by now."

She didn't reply. Deep inside him, he still wanted to chat with her. Especially now that he is slowly getting to know her more.

Okay. Thirty minutes. That's all you got. You gotta go to sleep too. You wouldn't wanna get sick this time of the year.

"Wow! You sure are getting into the habit of caring about me."

One of the reasons why he isn't into too much texting is because he could never guess the feelings behind the message. She could be making fun of him right now or being sarcastic, he'll never know. But either way, he agrees to her. He can't help but care for her.

They exchanged messages until Sam seemed to have gone to sleep. Now he's back at counting sheep. One thought kept on running in his mind. He played several scenario in his head. It was past twelve midnight when he finally succumbed to slumber.

---

The following day, he has his speech ready. Not that it's a long declamation or something, it's just a one liner. He doesn't even mind how he's gonna spiel it, he just knows he has to know. He has thought of the worst case scenarios and has planed his exit very carefully just in case. He is ready. All that's missing is Sam.

Looks like she's not going to drop by today. It's almost lunch time but she hasn't visited her sweet spot in the hideout. But he waited. And just as he was about to abandon his plan, she showed up.

He waited til she has settled in. He then summoned all of his courage and approached her.

"Sam, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

••.•´•.••TO BE CONTINUED••.•´•.••

_{This is an adaptation of @adamada's unpublished story in wattpad. I have permission for this as he gave me access to the confidential source material.}

_{Photo is my own, edited through Canva}

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