Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1 - The Girl Who Loved in Silence
Colet Vergara has been in love with her best friend for exactly ten years, three months, and... she doesn't want to count anymore.
She knows it's pathetic. She knows it's cliché. She knows it's the kind of storyline Wattpad writers use when they hate their readers.
But here she is.
In love with Jhoanna Robles. The Jhoanna Robles.
Student council president, Communications Arts major, golden girl of their university. Sunshine smile. Nerdy but pretty aesthetic. Always wearing her black-framed glasses like she walked straight out of a Pinterest board. And the worst part?
She's so kind.
Too kind.
The kind of girl who gives her brightest smile even to strangers.
Who hugs you when you're sad, who holds your hand while crossing a crowded hallway.
Kaya paano nga ba hindi mahuhulog si Colet?
When someone like her makes the world feel a little softer just by being in it.
But loving Jhoanna feels like picking up broken glass. Alam mong masasaktan ka, alam mong dudugo ka... pero kapit ka pa rin.
Kasi minsan, mas masakit yung bumitaw kaysa magdugo.
So every day, Colet loves quietly.
Every day, she watches Jhoanna shine.
Every day, she tells herself, Mas okay na 'to. At least she's still my best friend.
Until one transfer student ruins everything.
But that's later.
For now—present day, Monday morning—Colet is standing under the shade near the student council office, guitar case strapped to her back, attempting to act normal as she waits for her best friend.
She checks her phone: 8:06 AM.
Jhoanna is late. Again.
"Loko 'tong batang 'to," she mumbles under her breath.
Right on cue, she hears someone running.
"Teka, let me guess..." Colet sighs.
"COLET!!!"
A loud, sunshine-like voice cuts through the air.
Then suddenly, arms wrap around her waist from the back.
"Sorry I'm late!" Jhoanna says, burying her face into Colet's shoulder. "I overslept tapos na-traffic pa. Don't be mad at me please?"
Colet pretends her heart isn't doing jumping jacks.
"I'm not mad," she deadpans. "I'm just questioning your concept of time."
Jhoanna laughs—soft, warm, too close.
"You love me naman eh."
Colet freezes.
Yes. Too much.
But aloud she only says, "Wow. Confident ka."
"As I should," Jhoanna says proudly. "Best friend mo ko, duh."
Ouch.
Direct hit.
Right in the unrequited heart.
Before Colet can recover, someone whistles from behind.
"Uy, PDA agad-agad? Monday pa lang," a teasing voice says.
Mikha Lim walks toward them, slinging her volleyball bag over her shoulder. She's tall, red hair, athletic—one of the school's campus crushes. And Jhoanna's cousin.
Beside her, bouncing happily, is Maloi—with her messy bun, paint-stained fingers, and the confidence of someone who always knows they're cute.
"Ahem," Maloi says dramatically. "Colet, huwag ka masyado mag-enjoy diyan. Baka ma-fall ka kay Madam President."
"Baka daw," Mikha snorts. "As if hindi matagal nang—"
"SHHHHH."
Colet glares at them.
Jhoanna blinks, clueless. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing!" Colet, Mikha, and Maloi say at the same time.
Jhoanna looks at them suspiciously, but before she can dig further, her phone vibrates.
She reads the message, then her face lights up.
"Oh shux! I forgot to tell you guys," she says excitedly. "May transferee today. Student council assigned me to give her the campus tour."
And just like that, the universe lets out a loud, dramatic dun dun dun.
Colet doesn't know it, but that single sentence will be the beginning of her heartbreak.
Enter Aiah Arceta
Jhoanna fixes her glasses, smooths her hair, and waits in front of the admin building.
Colet hangs back at a distance, pretending she's just passing by, but really she's spying.
Because she's curious.
And because she's insecure enough to wonder who this transferee is.
Then she sees her.
Or more accurately—everyone sees her.
A tall girl walks in, and the air subtly shifts.
Sun-kissed skin glowing under the lights, soft brown waves cascading down her back like they belong in a dream you don't want to wake up from. Her brown eyes shine even from afar, parang may sariling liwanag.
She looks distant, almost detached, pero graceful in a way that feels unreal. Like she didn't just enter the building, she drifted in straight out of a beach photoshoot, still carrying a bit of the ocean with her.
When she smiles politely at the guard, simple lang, walang effort,
two freshmen literally trip over their own feet.
it's like the world suddenly discovered what beauty is...
and it walked in quietly, like it didn't even know its power.
Colet's jaw drops.
Maloi, who randomly appeared beside her, whispers, "Holy sh—"
"That's the transferee?!" Sheena yells from nowhere, appearing like a loud fairy. "Grabe. Even I want the campus tour now."
Gwen stands next to Colet, quiet but observant. "She's pretty," she says simply.
Pretty is an understatement.
She's the kind of girl who makes you feel insecure kahit wala naman siyang ginagawa.
Aiah Arceta walks toward the student council table, slowing just a little when she spots Jhoanna fixing papers. The hallway is still noisy, students passing by, but somehow her attention locks right there.
Jhoanna looks up.
And just like that, Aiah's eyes widen, her steps falter for half a second like her brain needs time to catch up with her heart. There's this soft, surprised smile she doesn't even realize she's wearing.
Colet notices. Of course she does.
That look. The quiet pause. The instant spark.
No drama, no overthinking.
Just one glance and—
Yeah.
The transferee is done for.
She's totally, undeniably smitten.
"Hi," Aiah says, a little breathless as she stands in front of Jhoanna. "I'm Aiah. Aiah Arceta."
Jhoanna looks up, smiles politely, and extends her hand.
"Welcome to St. Celestine University. I'm Jhoanna."
The moment their hands touch, Aiah's cheeks turn pink.
And Colet?
Colet feels something cold settle in her chest.
Because this—this is exactly how it starts.
A girl meets Jhoanna.
A girl falls for Jhoanna.
Jhoanna remains totally unaware.
And Colet gets pushed to the sidelines.
Again.
The Tour That Killed Colet Softly
"Okay, follow me. I'll show you around the campus," Jhoanna says cheerily.
"Sure." Aiah smiles warmly. "Lead the way."
Colet stays hidden behind a lamppost.
"Don't be creepy," Gwen whispers.
"I'm not being creepy," Colet hisses.
Then pokes her head out again.
Gwen sighs. "You love her too much."
Colet stiffens. "No, I—"
"You don't have to say it," Gwen says gently. "It's obvious."
Colet lowers her voice. "Gwen... I can't lose her."
"You won't," Gwen replies. "Pero if you don't speak up, someone else will."
They watch as Aiah and Jhoanna walk side by side.
Aiah asks questions. Jhoanna happily answers.
Aiah laughs softly at Jhoanna's jokes.
Jhoanna blushes, unaware she's flirting back.
Colet feels it—
the shift.
the change.
the silent panic swirling in her stomach.
Then Sheena arrives dramatically, holding two milk teas.
"One for the spy, one for the conscience," she says, handing the drinks to them.
Colet sighs. "Do I really look like a stalker?"
"Yes," Sheena and Gwen say at the same time.
"Fantastic."
A sudden loud cheer erupts from the volleyball court.
Mikha has arrived for practice.
Aiah turns her head at the noise, spots Mikha spiking the ball with perfect form, and raises an eyebrow.
Jhoanna waves. "That's my cousin, Mikha."
Aiah smiles politely. "She's good."
"Best in the team," Jhoanna says proudly.
On the court, Stacey Sevilleja nearly faints hearing that. She's a cheer captain with a massive crush on Mikha, but nobody knows... except Sheena, na madaldal.
When Mikha sees Aiah, she smirks. Her type clearly activated.
She walks over and flips her hair like a shampoo commercial.
"Hi," Mikha says, leaning on the fence. "I'm Mikha."
"Aiah," the transferee replies.
"You play sports?" Mikha asks, flirting.
"No," Aiah says, uninterested.
"You like athletes?"
"No," Aiah repeats.
She glances back at Jhoanna—
and she smiles.
Colet notices.
And her stomach drops again.
Lunch Break, Disaster Edition
They all end up in the cafeteria together—thanks to Jhoanna, who insists.
"It's her first day! She has to meet everyone," she says.
So they sit in a long table:
Jhoanna
Aiah
Colet (sulking quietly)
Gwen
Sheena
Mikha
Stacey (secretly stealing glances at Mikha)
Maloi (staring at Colet like a lovestruck puppy)
The chaos is immediate.
"So, Aiah," Sheena starts, stirring her soup aggressively, "are you single?"
Colet almost chokes on her water.
Aiah laughs softly. "Yes."
Mikha sits up straighter. "Interesting."
Stacey glares at her cousin Sheena. "Behave," she mutters.
Jhoanna is oblivious. "Aiah, do you want extra sauce? Medyo matabang kasi spaghetti nila dito."
"Oh—thank you," Aiah says shyly, smiling at her like she's sunlight.
Colet stabs her chicken.
Maloi notices.
"Uy, Colet, easy. Patay na yang chicken, wag mo ng saksakin."
Colet glares. "I'm fine."
"You look jealous," Maloi whispers, leaning closer.
"I'm not," Colet lies.
"You are," Maloi sings.
Across the table, Aiah asks, "So, Jhoanna... do you usually guide all the transferees personally?"
"No," Sheena answers for her. "Special treatment yan. Rare."
Jhoanna nudges Sheena. "Uy, huwag ka ngang imbento diyan Shee!"
"I'm serious!" Sheena says. "Normally si VP or secretary gumagawa niyan, but you insisted."
Aiah looks pleasantly surprised.
"You insisted?"
Jhoanna blushes.
"Uy hindi ah... I mean... I'm just doing what I'm told." she says. "But I'm really glad Sir Lauren asked me to do this tour." Then smiles shyly looking down, cheeks turning pink.
Colet feels like her stomach is folding in half.
The worst part?
Aiah sees the weakness—
and she goes for it.
She leans her elbow on the table, chin resting on her hand, eyes soft.
"That's sweet."
Jhoanna turns red.
Colet grips her fork.
Maloi pats her thigh gently. "Hey... breathe."
After lunch, Colet walks ahead, needing air.
Gwen follows quietly, matching Colet's pace.
"You okay?"
"No," Colet whispers. "I think... I'm losing her."
"Not necessarily."
"But you saw how Aiah looked at her," Colet mutters. "And how Jhoanna looked back."
Gwen studies her for a long moment, the kind that feels heavy but gentle all at once.
"Tell her."
"I can't," Colet answers instantly. "What if she pulls away? What if I lose her completely?"
"Or," Gwen says softly, "what if you don't... and she chooses you?"
Colet shakes her head. "That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't see me that way."
Gwen smiles, a little sad, a little knowing. "How can she, if you're hiding everything? And how would you know, kung 'di ka aamin? Puro ka na lang what if. Ayaw mo bang masagot 'yang mga what if mo?"
Before Colet can reply, someone calls out—
"COLET!!!"
She turns.
It's Jhoanna, running toward her again, hair a little messy, breath uneven, eyes only on her.
Colet's heart squeezes.
Always. Always running toward her.
And maybe...
just maybe, this time, it means something more.