Sweaty friday afternoon. Their PE class had just ended and Sungho stood in front of their court’s big-ass electric fan, letting the cool air dry the sweat on her skin. She had just changed into her extra clothes after playing volleyball. Thankfully, this was their last class of the day so she could go straight home and collapse onto her soft bed.
Her friends invited her to hang out after resting but she instantly refused. She was too drained and wanted nothing more than to relax.
Just as she was about to stand up, her phone vibrated with a text. Sungho immediately checked it and a smile crept onto her lips the moment she saw the sender’s name. Three messages in and she was already on her feet.
She quickly grabbed her things and bolted out. “Your joyride is already here?” Leehan shouted at her.
“No!” Sungho yelled back as she rushed out of the court. If it were just a joyride, she wouldn’t be running like this—because this was definitely more important.
The exhaustion and heat that had weighed her down earlier were now replaced by pure excitement. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead but she didn’t care—she could wipe them off later.
She ran as fast she could, slowing down only when she spotted a familiar figure standing just outside the school gate. Sungho knew her heart was racing from the run but she felt like that wasn’t the only reason.
“Jaehyun,” she softly called.
The figure immediately turned toward her, breaking into a wide smile. “Sungho!”
“Why did you come to pick me up?” she asked, walking towards her.
“Well…just in case you decided to ditch me,” Jaehyun teased before casually clinging to Sungho’s arm.
Sungho turned her head slightly, looking at Jaehyun as the warm afternoon sunlight cast a golden glow over her face. She stared, momentarily lost in sight—Jaehyun looking so effortlessly beautiful under the late afternoon sun, the wind slightly tousling her hair.
“Why would I ditch you?” she asked, tilting her head to the side to get a better view of Jaehyun’s face.
Jaehyun furrowed her brows, pretending to think. “Maybe because you’re tired?”
Sungho giggled at the answer. “I am,” she admitted, nodding. “But that’s not enough reason to ditch you.” She smiled and gave Jaehyun’s nose a light tap. “Come on, let’s call a tricycle.”
They walked closer to the street, waiting for the drivers to notice them. Jaehyun waved her hand enthusiastically at one of them, catching their attention. It took a few seconds before the driver could cross the highway to reach them.
Jaehyun told the driver their destination and both of them climbed inside.
“If only you waited at your university, you wouldn’t have to ride a tricycle again,” Sungho muttered, narrowing her eyes playfully. But Jaehyun just flashed a big, cheeky grin and shook her head.
Sungho smirked before turning away, watching the scenery pass by as the tricycle rumbled down Katipunan. Students spilled onto the sidewalks, some waiting for jeepneys.
She suddenly felt Jaehyun’s hand resting lightly on her thigh. Her breath hitched for a split second. Sungho stole a quick glance and saw that Jaehyun’s hand was just casually resting there. She swallowed and turned her attention back to the passing scenery outside, feeling a small blush creep onto her cheeks.
“Traffic?” Jaehyun suddenly asked, her eyes shifting congested road ahead. Cars weren’t moving, honkings filled the air and the usual chaos of rush hour was in a full swing.
“Well, it’s not Katipunan if it’s not traffic,” she muttered, stealing a glance at Jaehyun, who simply nodded with a small pout. Jaehyun’s expression was too cute for her own good.
Sungho turned her gaze back outside, the lights from the shops and cafes reflecting in her eyes.
It took them a few minutes more before they arrived. Sungho paid for the fare and they both entered the university. The place was lively, filled with students—some were studying while others were just hanging out, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. Jaehyun’s university was always a nice place to unwind.
“Do you want to eat?” Sungho asked as they passed by the row of food stalls. The scent of pancit canton and grilled street foods lingered in the air.
Jaehyun immediately nodded to her question so Sungho led the way to their usual food stall.
“One calamansi flavor pancit canton and cheese sticks and one chilimansi and kwek-kwek,” she told the vendor before stepping aside to wait.
Jaehyun looked around the university—students sitting on the grass, some were practicing a dance, there were also a lot of people taking a walk in the university. Sungho sneaked a glance at her, a small smile tugging at her lips when she saw how the golden light of the sunset reflected in Jaehyun’s eyes.
A few minutes later, their order was ready. Sungho quickly paid, balancing the two plates while Jaehyun picked out a wooden table with a good view of the field.
Sungho wiped down the table and the seat before sitting and Jaehyun without a word, placed two cheese sticks on Sungho’s plate while taking a two kwek-kwek for herself. It was second nature to them—sharing their food like this had become a quiet habit.
“Thank you for the food!” Jaehyun said before taking a bite.
As she ate, strands of her hair kept falling in front of her face, making it difficult for her to eat properly. She tried to hold them back with one hand but before she could get too frustrated, Sungho—who she thought was too focused on her own food—silently handed her a hair tie.
Jaehyun’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, lifesaver!” She quickly tied her hair back just enough to keep it out of her face then happily went back to her food.
Sungho just smiled, twirling her fork in her pancit canton.
They ate in comfortable silence until someone stepped in front of their table. “Ah, excuse me?” Both of them looked up and Sungho saw a guy—his eyes locked onto her.
She blinked. She will never get used to guys approaching her like this. After all, she had been in an all-girls school since high school and even now.
“Can I get your number?” the guy asked, his tone hopeful. Jaehyun immediately choked on her food. Sungho quickly handed her water while Jaehyun struggled to keep herself from bursting into laughter.
Sungho turned back to the guy, who was still waiting expectantly. “I’m not into guys,” she said, offering a polite but firm smile.
The guy’s face fell slightly before he gave a small nod. “Ah, alright.” Without another word, he turned and walked away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Jaehyun finally let go and laughed out loud.
Sungho rolled her eyes. “Do I look fucking straight?” she muttered, taking another bite of food. She literally wore long sleeves frequently, her energy really screamed ‘not interested in men’ and yet they still tried.
Jaehyun wiped away a tear from laughing too hard. “At this point, you should just wear a name tag that says ‘certified lesbian.’” Sungho scoffed then shook her head but she couldn’t help the small smirk on her lips.
After that small conversation, they peacefully ate their food again. Sungho finished first so she waited for Jaehyun to catch up. As Jaehyun chewed, her cheeks puffed out slightly, making a small bump appear. Sungho smiled—she looked so adorable.
“All done!” Jaehyun announced, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Sungho reached into her bag, pulling out some tissues. “Here,” she said as she handed them over before tidying up the table that they used. She gathered their plates and walked over to the nearby trash bin.
Jaehyun slung her bag over her shoulder. “Do you want to walk or sit first?” Sungho asked as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
“Let’s just sit in the Sunken Garden,” Jaehyun answered, her voice light and relaxed.
Sungho nodded and as they started walking, Jaehyun instinctively clung her arm again. It seemed to be a quiet habit of hers whenever they were together.
A cool breeze swept through the air, making a few strands of their hair fly in front of their faces. The afternoon sun was still warm but the wind balanced it out, creating the perfect weather to just sit and unwind.
Jaehyun scanned the area and pointed. “We can sit there!”
The ground sloped slightly downward and Jaehyun carefully stepped forward. “Hey, careful,” Sungho said and reached out to grab Jaehyun’s wrist, steadying her as they walked in the slope.
After almost slipping a few times, they finally reached the spot Jaehyun had chosen.
“Wait, don’t sit yet,” Sungho shrugged off her jacket and spread it neatly on the grass. Then she noticed Jaehyun’s skirt so she took out her handkerchief and gently placed it over Jaehyun’s lap.
Jaehyun smiled warmly. “Thank you.” She sat closer to Sungho, their shoulders touching and sighed in contentment. “Let’s sit here for a while then take a walk later.”
Sungho leaned back on her hands, feeling the coolness of the grass beneath her palms. The scent of damp earth with the distant smell of street food from vendors near them. She was about to relax when she felt Jaehyun’s pinky finger hook around hers.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She wanted to pretend that she didn’t like it, maybe pull her hand away just to tease Jaehyun but she knew that she would only earn her a pout and she’d end up coaxing her for who knows how long.
So she let her be.
Because truthfully, she liked it when Jaehyun was clingy but she silently hoped Jaehyun only did this with her and no one else.
Sungho closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the wind fill her lungs. She had imagined spending the afternoon resting on her soft bed but this—this was much better.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere. The moon was already up in the sky. The wind carried the distant hum of students strumming guitars and small bells can also be heard from the vendor selling sorbetes. But in the midst of comfortable silence, someone suddenly called Sungho’s name. “Sungho?”
Her eyes fluttered open and she saw one of her blockmates standing nearby with a curious smile. “Oh, hi.” Sungho instinctively took a quick glance at Jaehyun, who had also opened her eyes, now watching their interaction in silence.
Sungho slowly stood up, brushing off her pants before facing her blockmate and the small group of friends with her.
“What are you doing here?” the girl asked, reaching out to lightly hold Sungho’s arm but Sungho subtly stepped back, slipping out of her grasp. She took another glance at Jaehyun, whose expression was unreadable.
“I’m unwinding,” Sungho answered, keeping her tone light as she flashed a small smile.
“Do you want to come with us? We’re heading somewhere fun,” her blockmate offered, adding a playful wink that made Sungho momentarily look away, clearing her throat.
“No, I’m good. I’m still with my—”
“Girlfriend.”
Jaehyun’s voice cut through the conversation as she stepped closer, effortlessly looping her arm around Sungho’s.
Sungho’s heart stuttered.
She turned her head, eyes wide but Jaehyun remained unfazed, her expression cool yet firm. “She’s still with her girlfriend, so I think she’d rather spend time with me than go with you, right?” Jaehyun tilted her head slightly, eyes locking onto Sungho’s. “Right, Sungho?” she repeated, her tone was a little bit teasing.
Sungho swallowed, feeling warmth rush to her cheeks. She gave a small, hesitant nod and turned back to her blockmate, whose expression had shifted into something awkward.
“Oh, alright then…see you around,” the girl muttered before quickly walking away with her friends, their hushed whispers fading into the distance.
Now, it was just two of them again.
Sungho exhaled softly and turned to Jaehyun, her heart still racing. “T-Thank you for—”
“Why are you thanking me?” Jaehyun raised an eyebrow.
Sungho blinked, suddenly second-guessing herself. “For helping me…so I wouldn’t have to join them?”
For some reason, Jaehyun looked even more annoyed.
“You think I said that just to help you?” Jaehyun scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.” Sungho hesitated before slowly nodding.
Jaehyun’s expression darkened. “Wow—after all the—Wow,” she muttered. “I didn’t know you were dense as stone.” Before Sungho could even process what she meant, Jaehyun had already unlinked their arms and was briskly walking away.
“Jaehyun, wait!”
Sungho hastily gathered both her things and Jaehyun’s, slinging her bag over her shoulder before sprinting after her. “Jaehyun!” She quickly brushed off some dust from her jacket, her breathing slightly uneven as she ran across the open field. The soft crunch of dried leaves and twigs under her sneakers. “Jaehyun, hey!”
When she finally caught up, she reached for Jaehyun’s wrist. “Jaehyun,” she softly called her.
Jaehyun didn’t turn around. Her body remained tense, her gaze stubbornly fixed on the ground. Sungho was holding her wrist when she heard it—a small sniffle.“Hey.” Sungho stood in front of her, voice gentle and her fingers slowly slid down to Jaehyun’s hand, lacing them together.
The area they stood in was slightly hidden, tucked between trees. A few students lingered nearby, their laughter distant, the soft strumming of a guitar floating in the cool evening air. But here, in this small pocket of the world, it felt like it was just the two of them.
“I don’t really know why I’m crying,” Jaehyun admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But maybe… maybe because this is my first time confessing to someone.”
Sungho stood frozen when she heard that.
Jaehyun’s head remained lowered, her grip tightening slightly. “I’ve been trying to pursue you ever since I realized my feelings.”
Sungho’s heart was pounding harder than the drum beats from a group that was practicing their performance. “I didn’t know you were this dense,” Jaehyun muttered and let out a watery laugh as she wiped her eyes.
Then finally, she raised her head. Their eyes met—warm, unwavering and filled with emotions that Sungho couldn’t even begin to put into words.
“Mahal kita.”
It was like the world had gone silent. Sungho’s mind latched onto those two words, replaying them over and over.
“I’m really certain that I love you,” Jaehyun continued, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling slightly.
Years had passed since Sungho first admitted to herself what she truly felt for Jaehyun. She had tried to suppress it, tried to move on, convinced herself that it was just a passing feeling. But no matter how hard she tried, Jaehyun had always been the most captivating person in her world. No one else even came close.
And now, hearing this—hearing Jaehyun say it first—this wasn’t on her bingo card.
Sungho had imagined this moment a hundred times. She thought she’d be the one to confess first, that she’d find the perfect timing. This was too much—too sudden. But she wasn’t complaining.
Her heart stopped, her breath hitched. It was like the world had stopped spinning and the only thing that mattered, the only that that existed, was Jaehyun. She was really the center of her world.
“But I will understand if you don’t feel the same way, it’s fine, I just want—”
Jaehyun never got to finish.
Because in the next second, Sungho pulled her into a tight embrace, holding onto her as if she never wanted to let go. Her chest ached but this time, it wasn’t from doubt or longing. It was from happiness—pure, overwhelming happiness.
“Mahal din kita, sobra.”
It took exactly one minute and two seconds before Jaehyun pulled away, blinking as if the words had only just sunk in.
“Really?” Jaehyun whispered in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Sungho chuckled softly, taking Jaehyun’s hand in hers and tracing slow circles over her knuckles. “I love you to the point that I’m not afraid to show the world just how much.” She lifted Jaehyun’s hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss there.
Jaehyun let out a high-pitched squeal, drawing a few amused glances from passersby. But instead of shushing Jaehyun, Sungho simply laughed along, unable to contain her own joy.
She looked at Jaehyun—the girl who had unknowingly woven herself into every part of her life. Without hesitation, she pulled Jaehyun close, wrapping an arm around her waist before giving her a fleeting kiss against her lips.
Jaehyun blinked, obviously stunned before a shy smile bloomed on her lips. “So are we officially….?”
“Girlfriends.” Sungho confirmed, watching as Jaehyun’s smile grew even wider.
“Girlfriends who are stupidly in love with each other.” Jaehyun added with a giggle. Sungho scoffed but the affectionate smirk tugging at her lips gave her away.
Before she could say anything, Jaehyun cupped her face with both hands and pulled her in for another kiss—longer, filled with all the emotions she had been holding back.
It felt like time had stopped, leaving just the two of them. And maybe, in a way, it had because at that moment, nothing else mattered but the warmth between them.
When they finally pulled away, Sungho rubbed their nose together, making Jaehyun giggle.
Then without warning, Jaehyun grabbed Sungho’s hand and took off running.
“Wait!” Sungho yelped, laughing as she tried to match Jaehyun’s pace.
They ran across the Sunken Garden, dodging fallen leaves, narrowly avoiding a group of students and laughing breathlessly all the way. The cool breeze tousled their hair, the streetlights casting a warm glow over their intertwined shadows.
Sungho had been exhausted but if it meant being with Jaehyun like this— she could definitely do more than just a jog.