Page 144 of The Fallacy of True Love
“I’m not a career path that you can just decide on.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking if you feel the slightest bit about me that I do for you. It’s okay if you’re not in the exact same place. I just need a chance to show you I’m serious about this. About you.”
His eyes were so tender, so open. I felt unworthy of him. Here he was, offering his heart on a plate regardless of whether I could reciprocate, and I was still letting my fear get in the way. “You shouldn’t settle for someone who doesn’t care for you as much as you do them,” I told him.
He chuckled softly. “Call me confident, but I’m pretty sure you’ll fall just as hard for me if you give yourself a chance to.”
I rolled my eyes because that was such an Alonzo thing to say—and of course, he was right. “So full of yourself. You know there are things you can’t will into existence, right?”
“Sure, but that won’t stop me from trying.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. None of my past experiences had prepared me for this moment—for this choice that seemed to determine my future. I was scared to get it wrong, but also terrified of getting it right.
“Do you need time? Because I can wait, Maya. I’m not afraid of hard. I’m afraid of not trying and regretting that I didn’t.”
It astounded me how certain he was. “How do you know it’ll be worth it? That we won’t crash and burn?”
“Maybe we will,” he said with a shrug. “Or maybe we’d be amazing together. Don’t you want to know for sure?”
“It’s like you’re asking to get hurt.”
“Life’s full of risks. You just need to calculate which ones are worth taking.”
I went still, stunned by how his words echoed a sentiment I’d had about my favorite thing in the world.
Rather, my second favorite now.
“Some might say the same about riding a wave,” he said, mistaking my silence as a sign that I needed further convincing, “That you could wipe out and get hurt. Doesn’t stop you from trying, does it?”
I laughed roughly. “You just had to bring out that metaphor, huh?”
“I told you, I’m fighting for what I want.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “I love you, Maya. I don’t need to know everything about you to know I want to have the chance to. Just like I don’t need to know the ending to be sure that I want to take the time and effort to make this work.”
“Say yes already, will you?”
We pulled apart at the sound of Inang’s voice. She was standing in the doorway with a shawl over her daster, watching us for God knew how long.
“Don’t let her fool you,” she told Alonzo. “Every time she gets your letters, she looks like that drawing with the hearts in the eyes. I’m pretty sure she dances in her room too.”
I flushed. “Inang!”
“You like to meddle in my life, so this is me meddling in yours,” she said, unrepentant.
Alonzo shook with laughter. I glared at him and muttered, “I don’t dance.”
“Stop being a chicken so you can get on with the good part,” Inang added, making my jaw drop. “I’m going to Beling’s house. Don’t destroy the furniture.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Alonzo replied between chuckles.
As Inang passed us by, she told him, “Welcome back, Lonzo.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Alonzo
“Oh my God.” Eyes wide, Maya kept shaking her head. “Did she just give us her blessing to have sex?”
I laughed. “Sounded like it. That’s…unexpected.” As strange as that interruption had been, I was relieved that Inang had lightened the atmosphere. Hearing that I had her approval didn’t hurt either.
