Once that vlog got out, I noticed that there have been a number of comments that started appearing on my vlog with Ethan four years ago. Wow…these sleuths. To think that I already have more than a hundred videos!

That vlog even started gaining a lot of views, a far cry from the one thousand or so views that it had before. Comments even started flooding.

wow, talk about fate

oh my gosh, destiny??

so they already did a boyfriend challenge way back??! *mindblown*

Jared has always been handsome

4:04 guys, thank me later

Since most of the comments I got were positive, I can’t help but smile. At first, I thought I’d receive a lot of negative comments, good thing that wasn’t the case. I’m relieved.

Last night, Ethan and I talked about him taking me to and from the uni, and I also told him that I’d probably vlog something like ‘A Day in My Life’, since I’ve been running out of contents and it will sort of be a busy day at school, so I think I’d have a lot of inputs on that day.

When we arrived at the campus, lots of heads were turning towards us. To say that I’m used to it is like lying to myself, ‘cause I’m not. Not that it’s unusual, but I know there’s nothing I can do about it. So I tried to seem really confident while walking, and pretended that it’s only me and Ethan walking these crowded halls.

“Ave, can I?”, Ethan asked as he was linking his pinky finger to mine.

I can’t contain my happiness and smiled. “Sure.”

Now, I don’t feel as uncomfortable despite the stares.

When I got to my class, my classmates immediately approached me. Good thing the prof wasn’t there yet.

“Hey, Ave, what was that?”, one asked.

“Are you together already? Please tell us!”, another interjected.

And another. “I saw your vlogs! Very intriguing!”

Since everyone piled up towards me, I wasn’t able to notice who asked which, and almost everyone of them kept asking the same thing anyway.

“Wait”, I sighed. “Can you let me sit first?”

I then went to an empty seat while some of my classmates followed me around. Once I sat, I can feel their eyes looking at me still, as if begging for an answer.

I gave in. “He’s courting me, is that what you want to know?” It’s probably not bad to say it, right?

Then it’s as if there was a collective gasp. For some, their eyes widened, and some were even covering their mouths. “Wow.”

“Okay?”, I looked at them, grinning, as if asking them to leave.

I know they wouldn’t leave me alone if I didn’t answer them with anything they deem satisfying, so I just said it. Though I wasn’t planning on making it public, I realized that I can’t avoid it since I’ve been doing things that’s for public consumption.

Good thing the prof arrived so the crowd around me dissipated and they all went back to their seats.

After our class, I asked JB and Sav to accompany me going to the cafeteria since I’m hungry. We still have a couple of hours before our next class anyway.

I noticed that DABS was already in the cafeteria when we arrived, minus Cal. I noticed Zach just strumming his guitar and Ethan…singing? I can’t help but stare at him, I didn’t know he can carry a tune.

I slowly went to their table and can’t help but hear his voice. “To let you know how I’m feeling-” I didn’t know he sounded this good while singing.

Since I was behind Ethan, Kel was stifling his giggle. And Ethan didn’t notice that I was there, so he was caught off guard when I poked him.

“What the-”, he suddenly stood up. “Oh, it’s you.” He seemed to have calm down when he noticed it was me.

“Yeah, sorry. Did I startle you?”, I asked, grinning.

He chuckled and shook his head. “It’s fine, no worries. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. Was just about to though. I’ll be back”, I said and immediately grabbed JB’s arm and Savannah’s as well.

I immediately had to make an exit ‘cause knowing him, I knew he’d offer to buy me food, and I don’t want anymore negative gossip about us.

“Avery, I feel like someone might get serenaded”, JB taunted while we were heading back to the table.

“OMG! True! That’s exactly what I feel!”, Savannah added.

“Oh, shut up you guys. Maybe they’re just practicing for some minor subject”, I said.

“Practice?”, JB scoffed, “What practice? They aren’t even classmates with Zach!”

That stunned me. They really do have a point, I guess I just don’t want to assume. Would it really make sense that Ethan would try to serenade me? Come on, Avery.

As I was about to get seated beside JB and Sav, Kel nudged me and guided me to the seat right beside Ethan’s. He had this mischievous smile which he always had, that’s why I’m uncertain if I should read too much into this or not.

Once I got seated, Ethan gave me a bouquet of sunflowers. I widened my eyes at JB and Savannah who at this point kept stifling their smiles and were lightly pushing each other.

I can’t help but bury my face in my hands. “Why are you doing this?”, I looked at him, shyly.

“Isn’t this how you court someone?”, he asked matter-of-factly.

I can’t help but giggle with his innocence.

“Attention! Everyone!” Kel suddenly shouted. “Let’s hear it for Ethan Jared Andrada! He will be giving us a live performance.” The cafeteria suddenly got filled with cheers.

When Zach started strumming, Kel signaled everyone to keep quiet.

“I don’t know how this thing works, but this is me courting you, Avery”, Ethan said which incited a collective gasp.

“I’m falling in, I’m falling down

I wanna begin, but I don’t know how

To let you know how I’m feeling

I’m high on hope, I’m winning”

He held my hand and I just can’t help but stare at him.

“And I won’t let you go

Now you know

I’ve been crazy for you all this time

I’ve kept it close

Always hoping

With a heart on fire”

We stayed that way until the song ended. It’s as though time stopped and I didn’t notice everyone around us and it was just him that I’m seeing.

I slowly got back to my senses when Ethan talked to me, “So, how was it?”

I just looked at him as though he talked to me in a different language.

“How was it, Ave?”, he asked again.

“I loved it”, I can’t help but tell him. I really can’t believe someone would do this to me! And to think that it’s someone I’m really starting to have feelings for. It feels so great.

The entire cafeteria seemed to have gotten back to how it was before, filled with chatters and what not, but still, all my attention was on him. “But how…why did you think of doing it?”, I can’t help but ask.

“I think I remember you mentioning in one of your vlogs that you wanted some sort of grand gesture?”, he looked at me while scratching his head.

Gosh. He’s just so adorable. To think that he takes notes of minor details like that. What did I do to deserve this?

I felt as though I was force feeding myself because I suddenly lost the desire to eat. Not because of any ill feeling, but because I suddenly felt so full!

Once we got out of the cafeteria, it was only then that JB, Savannah, and I began talking to each other again.

“Ahh!” They kept shaking me as though they were the ones more affected by the gesture than I am.

“Good thing I didn’t forget to record”, JB said. “Gosh, I didn’t really expect that from him!”

“Me too! Ave, gosh, I- it’s just so dreamy”, Savannah said as she kept slapping my shoulders lightly.

If I’m just not trying to keep my cool, I would’ve said the same, but I’ll just keep this to myself.

When we got in the class, our classmates immediately approached us. They want to know what’s the tea.

“Avery! It’s become viral!”, one said.

“A lot of people are wondering if that’s already a proposal”, one interjected.

“Are you already a couple?”

I just shook my head. With the things that had happened earlier, I have to admit that even I have started to run out of words.

Good thing our prof came in, but even with her, I felt like I can’t escape the scrutiny.

“Ms. Dela Vega!”, I immediately got up, “…or should I say Andrada?”

“Wooh-” my classmates jeered. “It’s already Andrada, miss!”

I can’t help but cover my face. I can only lower my head as she kept speaking.

“That was quite a scene earlier”, she added. “Anyway, since you seem to be in love. Describe to me what a love seat is.”

Good thing I was familiar with this and have read about it somewhere, so I was able to answer briefly.

The class didn’t last long and we were just given a project to work on.

As I was making my way out, I noticed that Ethan was already waiting for me.

“Ave, I’ll just send you the video later”, JB shouted as she waved goodbye. I also bid goodbye to my other classmates as I went to Ethan.

“You’re here. No classes?”, I asked as I approached him.

“Just finished”, he smiled. “So shall we go home? Or do you want to eat first?”

“Let’s eat”, I replied.

“Where do you want to go then?”, he asked.

“Just somewhere scenic, I guess.”

“I think I know just the right place.”

We then went to this coffee shop that’s a bit far from the uni, I love that it’s overlooking Forthworth. I’ve been wanting to go to this place, but I just didn’t get the chance to, so I’m glad he brought me here.

We decided to just order and stay in the car. There weren’t a lot of people in the cafe, but it felt nice to just stay there with him.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but what made you do it?”, I blurted.

“Do what? That thing earlier?”

I nodded.

“I told you, I saw you talking about it.”

“I know, but I mean…why? Do you enjoy doing it?”, I looked at him, puzzled.

“I don’t know, Ave”, he chuckled. “I just don’t mind if I know it’s something that makes you happy. It makes me happy as well.” He gave me a sweet smile.

I can only hold his hand in response.

When our order came, we still kept on talking about a lot of things.

“I hope it’s not weird to ask, but-”, I paused, trying to think of a better way to word it without sounding too assuming. “…how did you like me?”

“Let’s see…” He thought to himself. “It was that day at the bridge.”

I just stared at him. “Immediately? Why?”

“I mean, why not?” He chuckled. “I guess I was having a rough day then. Then I saw some girl kinda struggling with what she’s wearing and trying to talk to the camera.”

“That’s weird, you’re joking, right?”, I can’t help but punch him in the arm lightly.

“I’m serious.” He smiled. “I think it was really when I approached you then, well, you’re pretty, and you immediately asked me to be your boyfriend.”

My eyes widened at him. “Just…that?”

“Yeah”, he nodded. “I know being with you that time made me feel better right away. Was it love at first sight? Maybe. But I kept watching you, your vlogs I mean, and I didn’t stop getting attracted.”

“Wow. I didn’t know”, the only thing I was able to muster saying.

He just chuckled.

“Don’t laugh. I mean, I also thought you were cute, but it really didn’t cross my mind to-”, I paused. “Well, something happened right after.”

“Yeah?”, he looked at me. “So anyway, after that I kept trying to find you online. Good thing it wasn’t that hard”. He winked.

“Ha! You stalker!”, I accused him.

“Fine. Guilty as charged”, he then presented me with his hands, as though they were tied. “But I didn’t know how to approach you after, we didn’t live in the same city.”

“Ah, so that’s why you went to Hatteras according to Kel?”

He avoided my gaze. “You still remember that?”

“How could I forget?”, I grinned.

“I’m just glad you’re here now”, he said and held my hand as he put it on his lips.

I still can’t believe how things are between us. It just seems too good to be true. I know it’s too soon, but I feel like things are going in a positive direction.

When I got home, the doorbell instantly rang. It was JB.

“Ave, the video’s here!”, she shouted, very excited. She immediately handed me the phone, showing the video of Ethan serenading me.

“Someone was so busy earlier”, she said while side-eyeing me.

“Fine”, I was trying to hide my chuckle. “But seriously? He did that, right? He really did that.”

“Yeah, he did. In all fairness with him, he really has a hidden talent”, she added.

“Thanks for this, huh?”, I told her, pointing at the phone.

“No worries. If I were to be in your situation and my crush would’ve done that to me, I’d probably end up forgetting my name”, she laughed.

I have to admit. Despite wanting to vlog for the clout and potential earnings, it’s being able to record moments like this that strikes me deeper. If not, things would probably just happen, I might be able to recall it for some time, but eventually, they’d slip off my mind.