"Let's hang out later, after class," Guia said as she kicked the chair in front of her. It's like she didn't care about the rules, even though we were in the library.
"I still have to study, Guia," I replied without even lifting my eyes from the book. Finals are next week, and I really needed to focus.
"You're such a killjoy! All you do is study. Go flirt a little, for once," she said loudly, making people around us glance in our direction.
"Shhh!" the librarian scolded from her desk, giving us the classic death stare.
I winced, but Guia? She didn't care.
She just laughed and whispered, "Sorry, ma'am."
I sighed and closed my book. I knew she wouldn't stop until I paid attention to her.
"It's your fault, you're so noisy," I whispered, leaning closer so she wouldn't speak so loudly again.
"Finals are next week, Guia. I need to study," I explained, hoping she'd understand.
"Next week is still far! You're so boring," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're like a robot—study, eat, sleep. You don't even enjoy life anymore!"
"And you? Don't you study? Don't you have assignments? All you ever think about is going out," I asked seriously. She never seemed stressed about school. I wanted to know how she did it.
She rolled her eyes dramatically. "You're so judgmental! For your information, I do study. I'm not just all about going out and flirting. It's called multi-tasking. I don't want to be like you—forever the prude," she teased, laughing so hard she almost doubled over in her seat.
"Stop it," I whispered harshly, but it was too late. The librarian was already staring at us again.
"You two again! If you're not going to be quiet, then just leave," she said, clearly irritated.
I had no choice but to stand up and gather my things. "Let's go, Guia. Before she throws us out for real," I said, avoiding the judgmental looks of other students.
As soon as we stepped outside the library, she was already teasing me again. "See? I'm living my best life, and you? Just stress. Kaela, you need to loosen up!" She stopped walking and faced me, arms crossed like she was about to give a lecture.
"Don't just study, go flirt once in a while too," she added, nodding toward a group of guys hanging out near the corridor.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't have time, Guia," I said, brushing her off as I adjusted my backpack straps.
"If you really want to, you'll make time," she said, smirking like she'd won. "Look at me—I have time for everything. Study, hang out, flirt. It's called balance, Kaela."
"Guia, finals are next week. If I don't study now, how am I going to pass?" I asked as we walked to our next class.
"Why do you have to sacrifice everything? You're too stiff, girl. Just relax, everything will work out." She stopped to look at me. "Have you ever done something just because you wanted to? Like, not because you had to, but because you just felt like it?"
I didn't answer. The truth was, I didn't know how to. My life had always been about responsibilities—making my parents and aunt proud, getting good grades, and not wasting time on things that didn't matter. And to Guia, that was my problem.
After class, I tried to avoid Guia. I thought she'd go home, but of course, I underestimated her determination.
"Hey, Kaela!" she called while chasing after me in the hallway.
"Let's grab a coffee. We don't have to go out all night. You just need a break, I swear."
"Guia, I really don't have time for this—"
"One coffee, Kaela. Just an hour. Your world won't fall apart if you take a short break." She looked at me with that mix of pleading and challenge I couldn't resist.
So there I was, sitting across from Guia at our favorite café near campus. While she sipped her frappuccino, I just stared at my untouched latte.
"You're so uptight, Kaela," she said, breaking the silence. "Life isn't just about passing exams. You need to enjoy the journey, you know?"
"That's easy for you to say. You're not the one with expectations to meet," I replied, a trace of bitterness in my voice.
She frowned. "Do you think I don't have expectations to meet? My parents expect me to pass too. But you know what I've learned? Sometimes, you have to prioritize yourself. What's the point of working so hard if you're not even happy?"
Her words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. She wasn't entirely wrong, but I wasn't ready to admit she was right either.
We said goodbye when her ride arrived. She's well-off, maybe that's why she didn't worry too much about her future.
I got home quickly since my apartment—gifted by my aunt on my eighteenth birthday—was just walking distance from school. It was nearby, so I didn't have to rush for travel.
When I arrived, I changed into comfy clothes first. I always liked being clean and comfortable, so I tidied up the living room, swept the floor, dusted, and cleaned up a bit. Then I cooked a simple dinner—nothing fancy, but enough to be filling. I played music while cooking to lighten the mood.
After eating, I didn't waste time and washed the dishes right away. I wanted everything done so I could focus on studying without distractions.
I went into my room and headed straight to my study table. I brought out my books and notes to review. I realized how much I still needed to finish—readings, assignments, even a project. It was stressful, but I tried to stay focused. I didn't notice the time—it was already two in the morning. My back started to hurt from sitting too long. I stretched and took a deep breath before lying down to rest.
I woke up at seven in the morning. It's Friday, and I only had one class—P.E. from nine to ten AM. So I didn't need to rush, but I still made sure I was on time.
I got up and cooked rice first. While waiting, I went to the bathroom to take a shower. Afterward, I did my usual morning routine—got dressed, brushed my hair, and packed my bag. Then I ate breakfast quickly. I washed the dishes right away so I wouldn't leave a mess.
Then I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed out. I made sure to lock the door before walking to school.
When I got to campus, I went straight to the gym for my class. It was already noisy from the hallway—I could hear the sound of balls bouncing and people laughing inside. Gym class.
While walking, my phone buzzed—a message from Guia.
Guia:
Hang out?
I shook my head while reading. Hang out again. I hadn't even replied when another message came.
Guia:
Don't tell me you're studying again. For God's sake, tomorrow is Saturday. Let's enjoy the weekend!
I smiled and quickly typed my reply.
Me:
Enjoy the weekend? Finals are next week. How about after finals instead, Guia?
A few seconds later, she replied.
Guia:
Fine. That's a promise, okay?
Me:
Yeah.
When I got to the gym, I looked for a quiet spot where I could sit and wait. It was loud—people were playing badminton, basketball, and volleyball. Every corner of the gym was bustling.
I found a quiet corner and sat down. I took out my notes and put on my AirPods to block out the noise. Focus first—it's finals week.
While I was reading, something suddenly hit my head. I groaned in pain. It must've been a ball.
I removed my AirPods and looked around, trying to find the culprit. He wasn't hard to spot.
He was walking toward me, holding the ball, wearing a white and navy blue P.E. uniform. It was simple, but he had a certain charm—his aura felt light. He was slightly sweaty, and his dark brown hair was messy, but it looked like it was meant to be that way—effortlessly messy. His light brown skin glistened with sweat, but it just made him look more... natural.
"Sorry I hit you," he said, stopping in front of me. His voice was low, slightly embarrassed, but sincere. He couldn't meet my gaze directly, but his expression showed he was genuinely concerned.
"Are you okay?" he added, bending a little to see my face. He stared at me with those almost black eyes—assessing if I was hurt. The concern in his eyes made my heart beat a little faster.
"I'm okay," I replied softly. I noticed his smile—subtle, but genuine, like he didn't need to pretend.
"Are you sure? Does it hurt?" he asked again, still unsure. Sweat slid down from his forehead, but he didn't seem to care. His jawline was sharp, but his relaxed expression made it seem like he wasn't trying to impress anyone.
I nodded silently, but noticed he wasn't leaving yet. He kept looking at me, as if waiting for me to say something. His posture was relaxed, but he had this quiet confidence that made him stand out. Even though he was clearly tired from playing, his presence was... effortless.
"Sorry again," he said, this time smiling wider. His smile was bright, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Then he handed me the ball, as if saying goodbye.
I nodded again, unsure how else to respond.
He looked at me one last time, almost as if waiting for more. But I just nodded again, feeling awkward after such a sincere moment.
"Hey, you're flirting!" Guia suddenly shouted, startling me. She was pointing at the guy walking away with the ball.
I frowned. Why was she here? I thought she didn't have Friday classes?
"What are you talking about?" I asked as I packed my notes away.
"You! You were flirting!" she teased. "He's my classmate in Tax!"
I glanced at the guy she was referring to, now walking back to the other side of the court. An Accountancy student, huh. But seriously, I wasn't looking at him that way.
"I wasn't flirting," I said firmly, raising an eyebrow. "He hit me with a ball, apologized. That's all."
"Hmmm…" Guia said, still unconvinced. "But you two talked for a while."
"He just said sorry, you're so annoying," I said. "I'm just here at the gym for P.E. I was waiting for my classmates."
"Because of P.E.?" she asked, squinting. "Don't you do anything but wait?"
"Nothing," I replied, quietly arranging my stuff. "I was just reading my notes."
"Okay," Guia said, still skeptical.
"What about you, why are you here? Didn't you say you didn't have Friday classes?" I asked.
"I just submitted a project to our prof," she replied, and we said our goodbyes as my classmates began arriving.
After P.E. class, I went straight home.
While cleaning, my phone rang. It was my aunt calling on Messenger.
"Hello, Tita," I greeted.
"How are you, Kaela? How's school?" she asked in a tired voice. She was still in her white uniform—clearly exhausted.
She's a nurse abroad, and she encouraged me to take up nursing too, saying the salary was good.
"I'm doing okay, Tita. My grades are still high, and our finals are next week. How about you?"
"I'm okay. I'll send your allowance tomorrow."
"Okay, thank you, Tita."
"Alright then. I'll go rest now. Take care."
"Okay," I replied before ending the call.
I'm really grateful to her. Even though I'm not her responsibility, she's the one supporting me in school. She's my aunt, my dad's sister. He died in a car accident when I was in high school. My mom wanted me to work after senior high to help the family. She said what mattered was I knew how to read and write.
But my aunt got mad. She said it's better to finish college, to get a good job. That's why she's the one putting me through school—because it was my dad's dream for me to graduate.
After the call, I continued cleaning and even did the laundry.