Yuna's POV
I woke up to sunlight stabbing through the curtains like it was trying to punch me awake.
My brain felt foggy, slow—like I'd been hit by a jeepney in a dream. I blinked once, twice. My phone said 8:03 AM.
Monday. School day.
Somehow, I'd slept right through my alarm.
I was buried under a fortress of blankets, lyric notebooks, and—what the heck—a half-eaten cookie resting on my pillow like some sad little trophy.
My arm had a scribble in black pen that I didn't even remember writing: "metaphors are just lies that rhyme." .
I groaned, sitting up slowly, trying not to think about how late I was. My mouth tasted like old coffee mixed with regret. I shuffled blindly toward the bathroom door, but no—wrong door. Linen closet. Great.
Second try, bathroom. I stared at my reflection like I'd never seen it before—messy hair everywhere, eyes half-closed, shirt inside out. Then I realized I forgot the towel. Great. Dripped water all over the floor as I shuffled back out.
I fished around for my toothbrush but ended up holding a sock. Classic me. Finally found the brush buried in the laundry basket.
Started brushing with one eye on the clock. Socks? No socks. I grabbed two random ones and shoved them on—one pink with polka dots, the other black and frayed.
Fluffy slipper on one foot, combat boot on the other. Fashion icon.
Finally, I went down. The smell of garlic fried rice and sizzling eggs greeted me like a warm hug. Aunt Rosa stood by the stove, flipping longganisa with that calm, knowing smile she always had—like she already expected this morning disaster.
"You're late, Yuna," she said softly, not angry, just tired in a way I understood.
"Yeah, sorry" I muttered, slumping into a chair.
Suddenly, a whirlwind of energy bounced into the kitchen.
"Yuna! Unicorns are magic! They eat clouds and fart rainbows!" Lily, my cousin, shouted, her tiny hands waving a sparkly unicorn horn.
She had that wild, boundless kid energy—like a tornado dressed in rainbows.
Her scrunchie bounced as she spun around, singing some made-up song about unicorns and candy.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. The way she believed in magic so hard made the mess of my morning feel a little less heavy.
Aunt Rosa gently shoved a plate in front of me: garlic rice steaming with just the right hint of garlic, a golden fried egg with the yolk still runny, and a couple of crisp, slightly charred hotdog slices — my comfort food, the kind that felt like a warm hug on a rough day.
Without saying a word, she refilled my glass with cold water, the clink of the glass against the table the only sound. It was the kind of quiet care that didn't need words to say, I'm here. You're not alone.
Lily bounced into the kitchen, her little feet barely making a sound as she hopped onto the chair beside me.
She hummed her unicorn song, that silly, off-key tune she made up, and smiled wide when I offered her a bite of the hotdog.
I took a slow bite of my food. The salty, familiar taste grounded me—the way garlic rice always did, like a little anchor in the swirl of my sleep-deprived brain.
"Eat up, anak," Aunt Rosa said softly, her eyes crinkling with warmth.
"You need your magic strength for school."
I sighed, cheeks still puffed with rice, and chewed thoughtfully. Maybe today wasn't going to be a total disaster after all. Maybe.
But then the thought struck me—band meeting.
Oh. Right. That thing I was supposed to be at an hour ago.
I grabbed my phone from the table. Fourteen missed calls from Erika, no texts, just calls.
Those calls were like alarms screaming through the silence of my chaotic brain, each one a reminder that I was seriously late and possibly in trouble.
By the time I shoved my plate aside, wiped my hands on my shirt (because who remembers napkins?), and stepped outside, the sun was climbing high, casting sharp shadows down the street. I was already seriously late.
As I shuffled out the gate, I realized I forgot something important—snacks. Band meetings are basically survival marathons, and Erika would definitely kill me if I came empty-handed, and also so i would have an excuse.
So naturally, I run off toward the sari-sari store, the tiny neighborhood corner shop that always seemed to smell like a mix of old candy, fried fish, and summer heat.
I stepped inside, blinking against the sudden gloom, and immediately forgot what I came for.
The aisles were packed with chips, candies, and strange powdered drinks that promised "instant energy" but probably just tasted like sadness.
"Uh, do you have... um, the one that's like the sweet but not too sweet, and kinda like a little spicy?" I asked the store lady, who blinked at me as if I'd just spoken ancient Elvish.
She pointed at a shelf stacked with all kinds of powdered juice mixes. I picked one up and sniffed it. "No, this smells like pencil shavings."
I put it back carefully, then grabbed a bag of chicharrón (fried pork rinds), then dropped it because I thought I heard someone call my name.
Nope, just a mango fly buzzing past.
I picked up the bag again, but then got distracted by the newest item — some weird snack shaped like tiny green frogs. "Are these real frogs?" I asked, holding one up like a trophy.
The store lady laughed. "No, anak, they're just candies."
I blinked. "Oh. Right. Real frogs would be... um, gross."
I grabbed the candy anyway, threw it into my basket, and added a couple of soda bottles—one for me, one for Erika, because she totally deserved some bubblegum-flavored joy.
At the counter, I dug through my bag looking for my wallet but realized I left it on Aunt Rosa's table.
Cue the classic Yuna facepalm.
"Wait, wait—just give me a sec," I said, trying to fish out imaginary money from my pocket.
The store lady giggled, and the guy behind me raised an eyebrow, clearly used to this level of chaos.
Kai appeared at the entrance just in time, shaking his head like I was a lost puppy.
"You forgot your wallet again?" he asked, sounding amused but trying not to laugh.
I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, but I brought charm."
He handed the lady some bills and gave me a look that said You owe me one.
With my snacks and drinks in hand, I waved goodbye to the sari-sari store and started heading back, only to trip over my own slippers halfway down the street. One slipper flew off and landed near a stray dog who promptly sniffed it and gave me a judging look.
Kai caught the other slipper and tossed it to me with a grin. "You're a walking disaster."
I laughed, pulling my boots back on unevenly. "Hey, someone's gotta keep things interesting."
We started walking again, the chaotic hum of my day momentarily held at bay by the steady rhythm of Kai's steps beside me.
We finally arrived at the clubroom, and before I could say anything, Erika grabbed my arm, giving me that look—the one that says, You're so dead, but I love you anyway. She shoved a handful of snacks into my hands and said,
"We were like—"
Suddenly, the whole group exploded into a dramatic reenactment.
Leo gasped, clutching his chest like his heart was about to explode. "What if she's been kidnapped?! Again!" His voice was theatrical enough to make you question if this was a band meeting or a soap opera.
Ethan, still scrolling through his phone, smirked and said, "Or maybe she just followed a butterfly and took a nap on a bench. Like last time." He waved his phone like it was the source of all truth.
Milo, standing silently in the corner with his usual mysterious vibe, deadpanned, "Should we send the chicken?"
Erika snapped at him without missing a beat, "No! Dodong hates her."
Kai sighed deeply and pushed off the wall, finally standing up straight. "I'll go find her."
His voice was low but firm, like he was accepting a secret mission he didn't want but couldn't avoid.
Leo instantly struck a heroic pose, holding an imaginary sword. "Good luck, Kai! The fate of the band depends on you!"
I looked down at the snacks in my hands and tried not to laugh. "Guys, seriously? I just went to buy food. No rescue mission needed."
Erika gave me a mock-serious nod. "Well, you do tend to disappear."
I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
Kai just shook his head, a faint smile breaking through his usual poker face. "Maybe next time, just take your phone."
And just like that, the usual chaos of the band settled around me. It wasn't perfect, but it was home.
To be continued.