By Chance and Duty

The air outside the PICC Complex buzzed with excitement. City lights and the glow of camera flashes illuminated the evening sky. Applause erupted as a crowd of young professionals, still clad in their formal attire, gathered in the parking lot. Voices overlapped, laughter echoed, and celebratory cheers filled the space.

"Congratulations, Cadence and Justice!"

"Grabe, mga par! Ang galing niyo!"

"C and J, our very own topnotchers!"

Among the throng of well-wishers, Miel Cadence Villiacruel and Justice Valentine Romero stood side by side, their hands still slightly trembling from the weight of everything that had happened that day. Their names had been called out during the oath-taking ceremony—not just as newly licensed professionals but as two of the highest scorers in the country. It was a moment neither of them had dared to dream of, yet here they were, celebrated by everyone around them.

“I knew it from the start, mga par ko!” one of their batchmates declared, his voice carrying over the chatter. “Never doubted you for a second!”

A wave of agreement rippled through the crowd.

“Since first year pa lang, halimaw na ‘yang dalawang ‘yan! Agad-agad President’s Lister? Hindi man lang nag-adjust?” another friend chimed in, earning nods and teasing laughter.

"Eh, ‘yung isa nga diyan napilitan lang sa course natin, pero grabe naman ang inabot na heights!" someone teased, nudging Justice with a smirk.

“Hoy! I wasn’t forced, okay? I was influenced ,” Justice shot back, crossing their arms in mock indignation.

Cadence smirked. “Sus, Justice, parang hindi ka umiiyak sa dorm halos araw-araw nung first year tayo?”

The crowd howled with laughter as Justice groaned. “Cadence, shut up.”

It felt surreal—the teasing, the familiar warmth of their batchmates, the weight of their medals against their chests. They had pushed themselves to the brink for years, buried under endless textbooks and sleepless nights. And now, they stood here, not just as survivors but as victors.

As the celebration continued, the entire class and their families made their way to a nearby restaurant, turning the evening into a grand feast. The pride in their professors’ eyes was unmistakable. For the first time since the program was established, their university had achieved a staggering 100% passing rate.

Later that night, the college dean rose to speak as the room quieted down.

“Tonight, we celebrate more than just individual victories,” he said, his voice rich with emotion. “We celebrate perseverance, hard work, and the unwavering belief in one another. To the Masiklab Class of 2024—this achievement is yours. And of course, a special commendation to our topnotchers. Our Top 9, Cadence Villiacruel, and our Top 2, Justice Romero.”

A thunderous applause followed. Cadence and Justice exchanged glances—ones filled with disbelief, triumph, and something unspoken.

As the crowd cheered, as the weight of their journey settled in, they knew one thing for certain.

This was just the beginning.

The night was special—a night of triumph, celebration, and new beginnings. One by one, the board passers left the venue, accompanied by their families, eager to mark this milestone in their intimate ways.

Justice, however, remained behind.

"Hey, J, sabay ka na sa amin ah. Bilin ka ni Tita sa akin," Cadence called out, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Justice sighed dramatically, though a smirk played on her lips. "Sure. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko?"

“Wow! Edi sige, maiwan ka dito,” Cadence quipped before dashing off, her laughter trailing behind her.

“Lagot ka sa mommy ko ‘pag iniwan mo ko!” Justice yelped, hastily gathering her things before chasing after her best friend.

The drive home was quiet, their exhaustion finally settling in. The two of them curled into the backseat, heads resting against each other, eyes closed. Yet, sleep refused to come. Their minds were too alive, too full.

"What are you thinking about?" Cadence whispered, sensing that Justice was still awake.

"Just things," Justice murmured back. "What should I do after this?"

"Should we enroll na ba sa law school?" Cadence asked, her voice tentative.

Justice groaned dramatically. "Teh, di ka pa ba pagod mag-aral? Pahinga muna tayo, please."

Cadence chuckled softly. "Pero ‘di ba ‘yon din goal natin dalawa?"

"Yeah, pero p’wede bang next academic year na lang? I don’t think I can face a book right now."

Cadence nodded in understanding. Not even a month after finishing their undergraduate studies, they enrolled in an intense six-month review program. Their university had not expected a perfect passing rate, much less two topnotchers, but Cadence and Justice had inspired their entire batch to work harder.

"Nakakahiya naman kung subsob sila sa pagre-review tapos tayo chill lang dito."

"Kaya nga! Sabay tayo mag-review sa kanila!"

"Dami niyong satsat, sabihin niyo na lang kasi na crush niyo sila."

Cadence and Justice—CJ, as their batchmates fondly called them—were more than just top students. They were role models, the kind of people who made sure no one was left behind. Their professors held them in high regard, aware of how much their presence had shaped the culture of their batch.

A comfortable silence settled between them until Cadence suddenly snickered. "Natatawa ako. Bakit nga ba tayo nag Criminology, beh?"

Justice smirked. "Crush mo kasi ako, kaya susundan mo ‘ko kahit saan ako magpunta."

Cadence jolted upright, accidentally letting Justice’s head hit the headrest with a dull thud.

"OUCH! Salbahe ka!" Justice groaned, rubbing the back of her head.

"Kapalmuks ka kasi, Romero. Naniwala ka talaga sa pinagsasabi ni Nancy?" Cadence huffed.

Justice laughed, rubbing her sore spot. "Grabe, galit na galit! Biro lang, eh."

Cadence sighed, then leaned in to side-hug her friend in a rare display of affection. Justice stilled, momentarily caught off guard. Cadence was never physically affectionate, so this small gesture spoke volumes. She gently let Justice’s head rest on her shoulder, tapping her cheek lightly in apology.

“Pero to answer your question," Justice murmured after a moment, "balak ko naman talaga mag-law. And both my sisters graduated from Criminology. Sabi nila, maganda siyang pre-law course kasi maraming law subjects na covered na agad.”

Cadence hummed in agreement. "Tama naman. Pero di ba sinusumpa mo ‘tong course dati? Sabi mo ang asim ng mga Crim students?"

"Hoy! Hindi lahat," Justice scoffed. "Kita mo naman, ang fresh at bango natin."

"Sa ugali mo lang naman sila inaasim," Cadence quipped.

Justice sighed. "Well, you’re not wrong. Ang dami kasing misogynistic at homophobic. Ang aasim talaga ng pag-uugali!"

She had her reasons for being wary. Back in high school, she had an unpleasant encounter with a group of male Criminology students. One of them catcalled her. She fought back, only to be met with misogynistic remarks. After that, she was constantly harassed by the same group, which left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Still, fate had its way. Her sisters had pushed her toward Criminology, and she eventually caved. Luckily, she wasn’t alone. Cadence had been with her since third grade, and together, they navigated the chaos of their program. To her relief, their classmates and seniors were different—welcoming, and warm.

Over time, she found comfort in the people she surrounded herself with.

"Out of the country muna kaya tayo? Japan? Diba you want to try snowboarding?" Cadence suddenly suggested, breaking the silence.

"Wow ha, may pera kasi ako noh?"

"Libre naman kita, eh."

"Nakakahiya, C. Lagi na lang libre."

"Eh bakit kasi ‘di ka humingi ng pera? Saksakan ng yaman ang pamilya mo."

Justice sighed. "You know they wouldn't hand anything to me ng gano’n-gano’n lang. Sa pamilya ko, sapilitan at pahirapan."

Justice came from a lineage of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers. Their family had wealth—more than enough to make life easy—but her parents never allowed their children to take shortcuts. Everything had to be earned, every privilege justified.

It was exhausting. But she understood.

Cadence only looked at her, then reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly. No words were exchanged, yet Justice felt a quiet reassurance settle between them.

No matter how uncertain the road ahead was, she knew one thing for sure: She wouldn’t have to walk it alone because she would always have Cadence with her.

“Dad naman! You guys pushed me to pursue this, but now you also expect me to pay for my tuition? How exactly do you think I’m supposed to do that?” Justice’s voice wavered between frustration and disbelief, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Not even a full day had passed since she declared her freedom from academics, and yet, here she was, already being hounded about law school. It was not just the pressure of enrolling in their family’s prestigious alma mater that made her blood boil—her father revealed that she would have to shoulder every expense on her own.

Her father’s jaw tightened. “Your brothers and sisters provided for themselves. You can ask them how they did it if you need any guidance. Sila, college pa lang, nag-ipon na. Ikaw? Nagpakasaya ka lang.” His voice was edged with disappointment, his words sharp enough to wound.

Justice felt a sting at the back of her eyes, a single tear threatening to fall. But she bit her lip, forcing it back, unwilling to show weakness.

“What?” she whispered, her voice hollow with shock. “You made them work for it? But you have more than enough money!” She knew the fact already and arguing with her father about it won’t change a thing but she just could not hold herself back from answering.

Her father exhaled heavily, his gaze stern but unwavering. “I told you all from the beginning. Nothing will be handed to you. You have to work for everything. I will not raise children who expect to be fed with a silver spoon. I paid for your education simula nang nagaral ka hanggang sa nakatapos ka ng undergrad so don’t expect me to still do it for your law school.”

Justice knew—on some level—that her father wasn’t being cruel for the sake of cruelty. He wanted them to be independent. He wanted them to stand independently and not be mere products of nepotism. But that didn’t make it any less frustrating. It didn’t change the fact that law school wasn’t just another degree—it was a grueling, expensive pursuit that could drain even the most financially stable students.

She inhaled sharply, willing herself to stay calm. “Please, Dad. If that’s the case, then at least let me work for you . In your office—”

“Not a chance.” His answer was immediate, cutting her off before she could even finish. “That’s how nepotism starts. Get a job on your own. You have a degree. You are a board passer, a topnotcher pa nga. You earn your way.”

Justice opened her mouth to argue, but before she could get another word in, the door creaked open.

Fortiori, her eldest sister, stepped inside, holding a stack of papers. “Tice,” she said, her tone firm. “Let me see your application form.”

Justice groaned. “Ate Fort, pati ba naman ikaw?”

“I told you to have it prepared by now, didn’t I? That was last week .”

Justice barely had the strength to argue anymore. Instead, she let herself sink to the floor, her legs folding beneath her as she dropped her forehead onto her knees.

Her father and sister stood over her, both unrelenting, both expecting her to rise to the challenge without hesitation. She had always known this was the path she would take—but even before she had begun, she already felt the crushing weight of it all.

"I'm not attending this academic year," Justice declared, forcing the words through clenched teeth. "Magiipon muna ako—if you want me to pay for it myself, then fine. I will do it. But not now ."

She gathered all her strength to push herself up from the floor, her legs shaky from frustration. Without sparing her father or sister another glance, she turned and stormed towards the door.

"One more step and you will regret it forever," Fortiori’s voice cut through the tense air, low and serious.

Justice paused for a fraction of a second, her fingers twitching at her sides, before exhaling sharply. "Whatever, Ate. Magsama kayo ni Daddy." Her voice was devoid of warmth as she took the final step out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Her heart was pounding, and her mind was a whirlwind of anger, exhaustion, and helplessness. She had no idea what to do or where to go; all she knew was that she had to leave.

Upstairs, she grabbed her keys, wallet, and phone with frantic hands. She did not even think twice as she ran back down, yanked open the door to her car, and started the engine. The sound of the tires screeching against the pavement barely registered in her ears as she sped away from home.

The phone rang twice before the familiar voice answered.

“Tice?”

Justice swallowed the lump in her throat. “Can you meet me?” she asked, eyes fixed on the stoplight ahead. The red glow blurred slightly as she blinked back her frustration. The number 93 glowed beside it, counting down the seconds.

“Of course. I’m at my office—just come here.”

“On the way na, Ate Cert.”

A brief pause. “Drive safely, Tice.”

The call ended with a soft click, but her hands remained clenched around the steering wheel.

It didn’t take her fifteen minutes to reach the office building. The moment she parked, she rushed inside, her footsteps echoing against the polished floors. The door to the office opened smoothly, revealing the familiar warmth of a space that somehow felt more like home than home itself.

Soft, golden light bathed the room, casting long shadows against the walls lined with books and case files. Unlike most law offices—intimidating, suffocating with the weight of legal burdens—Certiorari’s space had an odd sense of lightness to it. There was no unnecessary clutter, no suffocating silence. It felt alive .

As soon as she stepped inside, her sister was already waiting for her.

"Fort told me you’d probably come," Certiorari said, pulling her into a tight embrace. "And she wasn’t wrong."

Justice let herself be held, just for a moment. She buried her face against her sister’s shoulder before exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“I don’t like your twin.”

Certiorari chuckled softly. “Grabe ka talaga sa Ate mo.”

“She’s salbahe ,” Justice muttered. “Unlike you. Sobrang bait mo. Ugh . Certiorari—an angel. Fortiori—a demon.”

Certiorari laughed again, pulling back to look at her younger sister with knowing eyes. “You do realize she only pushes you because she believes in you, right?”

Justice huffed, crossing her arms as she leaned against the desk. “I know. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Certiorari smiled, shaking her head. Despite being twins, she and Fortiori couldn’t be more different. One was soft and warm, a presence that brought comfort. The other was cold and sharp, pushing others to their limits with unwavering discipline.

And yet, in their ways, both were undeniably family .

"Did Dad not support you all financially?" Justice asked, her voice carrying frustration.

Certiorari let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Oh wow, I thought he would make an exemption for you. I mean, you are his favorite."

Justice scoffed, crossing her arms. "What do you mean favorite ? Puro pagpapahirap lang nakukuha ko kay Dad, Ate!"

"Aww, our bunso isn't aware that she's the favorite of everyone ," Certiorari teased, pinching Justice’s cheek.

"Ate naman!" Justice groaned, swatting her sister’s hand away. "Sayo, maybe I can believe it. But with them? No way!" She threw her arms up dramatically, making Certiorari laugh even harder.

"How sure are you that you are my favorite?" Certiorari challenged, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Justice untangled herself from her sister’s grip, stepping back with narrowed eyes. " Huwag mo kong lalapitan ," she warned, turning away to sulk.

But Certiorari wasn’t about to let her off that easily. "Aww, baby sister ko ‘yan, favorite ko sa lahat eh," she cooed, grabbing Justice’s wrist and pulling her back into a warm hug.

For a moment, Justice let herself melt into the embrace, feeling the comfort of having at least one person in her corner.

"If I could be the one to pay for your tuition, I would, Tice," Certiorari said softly. "But you know we can’t get away with that. Especially not with Fort watching our every move."

Justice sighed, her forehead pressing against her sister’s shoulder. "Then we just won’t tell them," she mumbled. "I’ll pay you back, Ate. Just think of it as an utang."

Certiorari smiled wistfully, her arms tightening around her younger sister. "You’re set on doing things your way, huh?" 

"Sige na, Ate, please," Justice pleaded, tilting her head and flashing her signature pout—the one she knew her sister could never resist. "Kaya mo ba akong tiisin?"

Certiorari raised a brow, unimpressed. "Kaya mo din ba panoorin na pahirapan ni Fort ang buhay ko?" she countered, arms crossed.

Justice groaned, flopping onto the couch. She knew her sister was right. If Fortiorari ever found out, she wouldn't just scold Certiorari—she’d make her life hell . And as desperate as Justice was, she could not drag her favorite sibling into the line of fire.

"Fine," she mumbled, lips still pouting. "Papasok na lang talaga akong BPO."

Cert visibly cringed. "Tice, come on. You always know how to piss off Dad and Fort, but this? This is next-level self-sabotage." She exhaled sharply. "Di ba natuto ka na sa nangyari kay Plea?"

Justice stilled at the mention of their cousin.

Plea had taken a job at what was supposed to be a legitimate BPO company—only for it to be exposed as a POGO headquarters. By the time the authorities cracked down, Plea had been implicated, and their aunts and uncles had to pull every string possible to get her out of jail.

Since then, no one in their family has dared to enter the industry. The risk wasn't just about legal trouble—it was about disgrace .

Justice bit her lip. "Pero Ate, anong gagawin ko? Wala naman akong choice—"

"You do have a choice," Cert interrupted. Her voice was gentle but firm. "We just need to find another way. One that won’t make Dad disown you and get me exiled from this family."

For the first time that day, Justice felt a small flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to fight this battle alone.

Justice let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples as if doing so could somehow ease the exhaustion creeping into her bones. “Okay,” she finally said, her voice laced with resignation. “I’ll just visit Cadence tomorrow and yayayain ko siyang maghanap kami ng work pareho.”

Certiorari’s brows furrowed. “Bakit mo pa siya isasama? Hindi naman tulad ng pamilya natin ang pamilya niya.”

Justice chuckled at her sister’s concern. “Ate, you know how she is. She’ll follow me anywhere.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Gano’n kami as best friends.”

Certiorari scoffed, shaking her head. “Tsk. Ang weird niyong dalawa.”

Justice leaned back on the couch, resting her arms behind her head. “You say that, pero deep inside, natutuwa ka kasi alam mong may kasama akong maghanap ng trabaho.”

Her sister rolled her eyes. “I just don’t want you to rush into anything reckless.”

“Relax, Ate,” Justice said, grinning. “Babalitaan na lang kita, my favorite sissy.” She nudged Certiorari playfully, trying to ease the tension. “And don’t worry, promise —I won’t do anything illegal or anything that will make me sleep on the streets tomorrow.”

Certiorari studied her for a moment as if trying to determine whether she was telling the truth or just saying it to reassure her. After a beat, she sighed and pulled Justice into a tight embrace.

“Proud of you, Tice,” she murmured. “Alam kong kakayanin mo.”

Justice stiffened at first, then slowly melted into her sister’s embrace. Certiorari had always been the warm, nurturing one in their family—unlike Fortiorari, whose love was shown in stern lectures and high expectations. But in this moment, she wasn’t just her sister; she was her safe place, her constant.

Justice let herself stay there a little longer, savoring the comfort. For the first time that night, she allowed herself to believe it. Maybe—just maybe—she really could handle this.

“Pasalamat ka talaga mahal kita kundi baka matagal na kitang binigwasan,” Cadence teased after Justice finished telling her everything that had transpired the other day. She had recounted how her family had practically forced her to immediately attend law school, only to leave her to figure out how to pay for it herself. Her plan to get Cadence to join her in the hunt for jobs, though, had her laughing now.

Justice rolled her eyes, slumping into the chair across from Cadence. “Isipin mo na lang na adventure natin ‘to—into becoming a stronger duo.”

Cadence leaned back, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow. “Sabihin mo lang na ‘di mo kaya, na ‘di ako kasama.”

“Oh, please,” Justice said, smirking. “Pakapalan ng mukha tapos kalaban kita, champion ka na agad.” She threw her head back, laughing. “Parang anong klaseng challenge naman ‘yan?”

Cadence rolled her eyes but couldn’t help chuckling. “Wow, J ah! Baka nakakalimutan mong ginagawan kita ng favor dito.” She stood up, hands on her hips, an exaggerated stance to make her point. “Pag nagbago talaga isip ko, susko…baka matulungan kita, pero babawiin ko pa rin sa’yo ‘yan.” Cadence wagged a finger in her face as though to warn her.

“Ihhh, wag C,” Justice said, her voice turning playful. “Halika, iki-kiss kita,” she threatened, leaning in toward her with a mischievous grin.

Cadence froze for a moment, a smirk curling at her lips. “Oh, really?” she challenged, stepping back slightly but still teasing. “Is that how you plan to convince me to work with you?”

Justice, feeling both serious and lighthearted, leaned forward and winked. “Ayoko lang naman na magbago isip mo at mawala ako sa plano mo.”

The two girls stared at each other, a shared unspoken understanding passing between them. After a moment, both of them burst into laughter, the tension from their earlier conversation melting away. Despite the pressure and the uncertainty, they knew they had each other—partners in crime, for better or worse.

"Okay, okay, fine," Cadence finally relented, still smiling. "You win. I will help you."

Justice grinned, a weight lifting off her shoulders. "I knew you'd come around."

Justice and Cadence wasted no time scouring agencies where they could land a job as professional criminologists. Their credentials as board topnotchers were impressive, earning them praise and admiration. But despite their qualifications, they kept running into the same problem—lack of experience.

Each rejection only fueled their frustration. Their confidence was undeniable, but it seemed the industry favored those who had already been in the field.

But time and time again, they met the same response: “Your credentials are impressive, but we require at least two years of experience.”

It was starting to feel like a broken record.

Justice could barely contain her frustration. “So paano nga kami magkaka-experience kung walang gustong magbigay ng experience sa amin?!”

Cadence, equally frustrated, sighed as they stepped out of yet another agency, the rejection letter still warm in their hands. “Alam mo, J, malas yata tayo sa araw na ‘to.”

Justice groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “C, hindi to malas. Kapalaran to.”

“Kapalarang maging unemployed?”

Justice sighed dramatically, slumping against their car. “Ano na gagawin natin?”

Cadence crossed her arms. “There’s only one thing left to do.”

Justice raised an eyebrow.

Cadence smirked. “Tatawag tayo kay Ate Rhy.”

Justice grimaced. Despite their firm belief in standing on their own feet and avoiding nepotism, desperation won.

“Just for the experience,” they assured themselves.

The next morning, they arrived outside Rhythm Security Agency.

Justice adjusted her sunglasses and took a deep breath.

“Okay,” she said, straightening up. “Game plan. Walang special treatment. Kahit kapatid mo siya, dapat dumaan tayo sa tamang hiring process.”

Cadence snorted. “J, kung may ibang agency na tatanggap sa’tin, hindi na tayo aabot dito.”

Justice groaned. “Fair point.”

Cadence smiled, patting her best friend on the shoulder. “Relax ka lang. Trabaho lang naman ang hanap natin, hindi away.”

Justice sighed. “Sige na nga. Mauna ka na sa loob, bibili lang ako ng coffee para kay Ate Rhy.”

Cadence nodded and headed inside.

Justice turned to cross the street. She had no idea that this one simple action would change her life forever.

The sun was blazing. Justice pulled out her umbrella, attempting to open it, but it refused to cooperate. She shook it. Still jammed.

Her frustration grew as she continued to fumble with it, all her attention focused on forcing it open.

Then—

SNAP. The umbrella finally opened.

And that’s when she noticed the car. Speeding. Right at her.

Her stomach dropped.

A loud screech filled the air.

And then—

Impact.

The force wasn’t enough to throw her across the street, but it was enough to make her lose balance and collapse onto the pavement. Pain shot through her body as she landed hard on her left side. She barely registered the burning sensation from her scraped arms and knees, too stunned by what had just happened.

Then the throbbing started. She clutched her arm, a sharp pain running through her bones.

Did I just break my arm?

Tears welled in her eyes as the pain intensified. She could feel the warm trickle of blood sliding down her elbow, and her stomach churned at the sight.

She hated blood.

A man’s voice cut through the chaos.

“Oh God! I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”

Justice barely had the energy to glare. Instead, she squeezed her eyes shut and focused on not throwing up.

The man hesitated before kneeling beside her.

“Come on,” he said urgently. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Justice barely registered his words before she felt his arms gently lifting her. Her vision blurred as he helped her into the backseat of his car.

She shut her eyes, letting the dizziness consume her.

The first thing she saw when she woke up was Cadence’s very, very pissed-off face.

Justice blinked groggily, her mind still foggy.

“You okay?” Cadence asked, arms crossed.

Justice took a moment before reaching up and dramatically cupping her cheek.

“C…” she whispered weakly.

Cadence raised an eyebrow.

“I think… I’m going to die.”

Cadence’s eye twitched.

“Baliw ka talaga,” Cadence deadpanned. “Sugat at baling buto lang yan. Malayo sa bituka. Ano pinagsasabi mong mamamatay ka?”

Justice groaned, shifting uncomfortably. Pain shot through her body. “Ikaw na bahala sa mga pangarap natin, C…” she continued in her best tragic voice.

Cadence turned her back. “Napaka-OA mo talaga.”

Justice would have continued her performance, but then she noticed that Cadence was not alone.

A man stood nearby, looking like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

Cadence smirked at him.

“Sir,” she drawled, “lagot ka talaga pag nalaman ng pamilya nito kung anong ginawa mo.”

The man visibly paled.

“Judge ang lolo niya,” she continued, her voice filled with mock sympathy. “Prosecutor ang tatay.”

The man gulped.

“I know who they are,” he admitted tensely. “You don’t have to taunt me anymore—I’m already scared shitless.”

Cadence grinned. “If I were you, luluhod ka na para di ka isumbong.”

The man immediately turned to Justice, his expression desperate.

“Miss Romero, please.” He clasped his hands together. “Don’t tell your dad. I’ll be dead by tomorrow if he finds out.”

Justice raised an eyebrow.

Cadence snatched his ID. “Hmm.” She smirked. “Ares Agustin?”

Justice’s eyes snapped open. “You’re dead,” she said.

Agustin turned even paler.

“Please, please, please,” he begged. “I’ll do anything—just don’t tell your dad.”

Justice crossed her arms. “Anything?”

“I already paid for all your medical bills!” he added hastily.

Cadence nudged Justice’s elbow, lowering her voice just enough for the Agustin to hear. 

“Teka, J, bakit parang takot na takot ‘to?” Cadence asked, her brows furrowing as she observed the man’s panicked expression. His entire demeanor screamed anxiety, and it only worsened the longer he stood in front of Justice.

Justice, still seated on the hospital bed, barely spared him a glance. “He works under Dad. Intern ata?” she replied, her tone laced with disinterest, though her eyes remained fixed on the man responsible for her current predicament.

The intern swallowed hard before speaking, his voice laced with nervous energy. “Opo, I’m Mr. Romero’s intern. I was running an errand for him when… well, when I accidentally hit you.” He exhaled sharply, clearly distraught. “Honestly, patay na ‘ko knowing I couldn’t complete the task. Pero mas lalo akong madudurog sa lupa kapag nalaman niyang ako rin ang dahilan kung bakit ka nandito.”

Cadence crossed her arms, trying to suppress a chuckle. “Grabe ka namang mag-react. He’s not gonna kill you… right, J?”

Justice finally met the man’s frantic gaze, her expression unreadable. “Depende,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly. 

“J,” she whispered loud enough for Agustin to hear, “diba may security agency din tong mga Agustin? Pasok ka dun, sure hire, tapos kalimutan mo atraso niya.”

Ares nodded eagerly. “Yes! Yes! I’ll hire you.” He clutched his chest like he was making a sacred vow. “My sister needs a new personal bodyguard! I’ll pay you handsomely, basta quits na tayo.”

Justice stared at him. Cadence stared at her. Justice slowly smirked.

“...How handsome are we talking about?”

Agustin visibly relaxed. “Six digits,” he said quickly.

Justice opened her mouth to seal the deal. "Dea—" She paused.

A storm of realization hit her like a freight train.

Wait a minute. She was about to agree to a six-digit paycheck when there was something even bigger she could demand.

Her tuition. Her future.

She looked up at the man, her lips slowly curling into a devious smile.

"You pay for my tuition," she proposed, eyes sharp with opportunity. "I guard your sister."

The man’s brows shot up, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in the deal. Then his face split into a wide, grateful grin. "Yes! Absolutely. That works even better!" he exclaimed, voice laced with relief.

Justice raised an eyebrow. "You agreed too fast. There's more to this, isn’t there?"

The man hesitated, then sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well… let's just say this is perfect timing. She’s going to attend your target law school and my father has been pestering me to find someone to watch over my sister—" He made air quotes. "Without her knowing."

Justice’s expression darkened in understanding.

"So… is she a problem child?"

The man let out a dry chuckle. "That's an understatement." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "My dear little sister has a nasty habit of sneaking out and engaging in things our father would disown her for." He exhaled sharply. "Pero we can’t exactly stop her because she’s… difficult."

"Difficult?" Justice echoed, her interest piqued.

"Sobra pa sa sobra," he confirmed.

Justice narrowed her eyes. She was starting to get a clearer picture.

"So, let me get this straight," she said slowly, ticking off on her fingers. "You need a personal bodyguard for your sister, pero hindi niya dapat malaman na meron siya?"

Ares nodded eagerly. "Tumpak."

"And you're thinking I’d be perfect for the role because I’m already going to the same law school as her?"

"Bingo."

Ares clasped his hands together. "You can blend in as just another student—she won’t even realize it."

Justice tilted her head, weighing the pros and cons.

No upfront cost for the school. A good-paying job. And best of all? An opportunity to make her father eat his words.

"J! This is it!" Cadence practically bounced in excitement beside her. "Minus your broken arm, which I still don’t know how you’re explaining to your dad, this is a total win-win!"

Justice smirked. "It does sound like a sweet deal…"

Cadence leaned closer. "I mean, let’s be real. Sobrang kailangan mo ‘to. Unless you want to go crawling back home and beg Ate Fort and Uncle Prosecutor to cover your tuition?"

Justice visibly cringed at the thought. Yeah. That wasn’t an option. She turned to the man, extending her uninjured hand.

"Alright, Mister… uhh, what’s your name again?"

Ares blinked before chuckling. "Ares. Ares Agustin."

Justice nodded. "Okay, Mr. Ares. Do we have a deal?"

Ares grinned, reaching out and clasping her hand in his. "Deal, Ms. Justice."

As their hands met in a firm shake, the agreement was sealed.

Cadence let out a loud whoop, clapping her hands in excitement. "This is it, J!" she cheered. "You're about to enter law school, tuition-free!"

Justice exhaled, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

"Yeah," she murmured. "Now I just have to figure out how to survive it."

After securing the deal of a lifetime, Justice wasted no time calling her parents to inform them that she would be staying over at Cadence’s place.

"Mommy, matutulog ako kina C, okay?"

Her mother didn't even hesitate. "Alright, just do not forget to text me if you need anything."

Justice grinned. If only they knew she was currently hiding a broken arm and a secret contract to be someone’s undercover bodyguard. The moment she ended the call, she tossed her phone aside and flopped face-first onto Cadence’s couch.

"Aaaah," she sighed dramatically. "This is peak comfort."

Cadence, already dressed in her oversized shirt and fluffy shorts, sat cross-legged beside her and placed a large pizza box between them.

"J," she started, eyes narrowed in suspicion as she reached for a slice. "Before we start celebrating—what the hell is your excuse for that arm?"

Justice blinked innocently, holding up her sling-bound arm.

"Oh, this?" she said, nonchalantly waving it. "Ano ka ba? I’ll just say na we were playing pillow fight and you hit me so hard that I fell off the bed and broke my arm."

Cadence froze mid-bite. She slowly placed her pizza back into the box and turned to glare daggers at her best friend.

"Excuse me?"

Justice grinned devilishly. "I mean, it’s a good excuse, diba? Totally believable."

Cadence let out an exasperated gasp. "You witch! What if I tell them the truth? Na you got hit by a car and nearly died in the middle of the street?"

Justice gasped theatrically. "You wouldn’t!"

Cadence smirked. "Ay, huwag mo akong subukan, Romero."

Justice, refusing to lose, leaned in closer, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Then I’ll tell them you pushed me pagkakita mo sa paparating na kotse."

Cadence’s jaw dropped. "You—!"

Before she could strangle her best friend, she grabbed a slice of pizza and smacked it straight into Justice’s face.

"This friendship is over!" she dramatically declared, throwing up her hands.

Justice erupted into uncontrollable laughter, peeling the slice off her face and licking off some of the cheese.

"Ahhh, worth it," she snickered.

Cadence, still fuming, grabbed a pillow and launched it at Justice’s stomach. "You’re impossible!"

"Hahahaha!" Justice doubled over, dodging another incoming attack. "Come on, C, come here. Let me make it up to you, lalambingin na kita." She stood up, spread her arms, and puckered her lips. 

Cadence recoiled instantly. "Yuck!" she shrieked, scooting away. "Get away from me!"

Justice wiggled her brows. "Parang di mo ako crush."

"I DON'T!" Cadence yelled, throwing another pillow. "Kapalmuks ka talaga!"

The room was filled with uncontrollable laughter, and their original plan of watching AdventureTime was completely abandoned. Instead, they wrestled, threw jabs, and shrieked like overgrown children, the air thick with the scent of warm cheese and the unmistakable feeling of home.

By the time exhaustion finally caught up with them, the pizza box was nearly empty, and they lay sprawled across the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Justice let out a content sigh. "Man… that was fun."

Cadence hummed in agreement. Silence settled between them—a comfortable, familiar one. Then, Cadence turned her head slightly.

"J?"

"Hmm?"

"Should I come with you tomorrow?"

Justice thought for a moment. It was tempting.

"Yeah," she admitted. "I think it’s better if you’re there. Moral support. Backup. You know the drill."

Cadence smirked. "Thought so. Alright, I’ll go. Malakas ka sa’kin eh."

Justice smiled softly. "I know."

A beat of silence.

Then she whispered, "Thanks for always being there for me, C."

Cadence didn’t respond with words. Instead, she simply reached out and squeezed Justice’s hand.

Justice squeezed back.

No more words were needed.

Minutes later, they drifted off to sleep, the soft sound of their breathing filling the space, the remnants of their laughter lingering in the air.

Ares handed Justice a photograph, his expression unreadable. “This is my sister, Artemis. She’s about your age and, if I’m not mistaken, roughly your height,” he said casually.

Justice took the portrait from him, her gaze flitting between the image and the man standing before her. With a small smirk, she lifted the picture next to Ares’ face, tilting her head in amusement.

“It’s like she stole your face,” she remarked. “Sobrang magkamukha kayo.”

Ares grinned. “Maganda ba?”

The unexpected question caught Justice off guard. She felt the heat creep up her neck as she sputtered, “P-Pwede na! And why are you even asking that? Parang pinapain mo akong aminin na gwapo ka.”

Ares chuckled at her reaction, clearly entertained. “People say that a lot, Miss Romero. And for the record, I was just joking.”

Justice narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced. “You know, the more I think about this job, the more it feels like you’re hiring me as a stalker instead of a bodyguard,” she said, crossing her arms.

A thought had gnawed at her all night—who was she protecting Artemis from? From what Ares had told her, she was expected to follow his sister around and observe her every move.

Before Ares could respond, Cadence, who had been listening with great amusement, jumped in. “J, you’re supposed to watch over her, right? If she ever wanders somewhere dangerous, it’s your job to step in and keep her safe.”

Justice frowned. “Yeah, but she’s in law school. Ano namang delikadong gagawin niya doon?”

Ares gave her a pointed look. “Who said you’d only be watching over her at law school?”

Justice blinked. “Wait… so I have to follow her around?”

Ares sighed, exasperated. “Yes, Miss Romero. This isn’t just some glorified babysitting job inside a well-secured campus. I’m paying for your tuition, covering your allowance. Do you think I’d offer all that just for you to sit back and relax?”

Cadence burst into laughter, pointing at Justice as she doubled over. “Oh, man! You can’t be this slow,” she teased, wiping at the corner of her eye.

Justice shot her a glare. “Fine! It’s not like I said I would not do it. I just wanted to clarify things,” she huffed.

Ares smirked. “So, let’s lay it all out. I pay for your studies and provide your allowance. In return, you look after my sister. Ideally, you’d befriend her.” His voice dipped lower, almost conspiratorial. “But let me warn you—she is not exactly the easiest person to deal with. I would bet it will take you at least a year to get close to her.” He ended with a wink.

Justice’s brow twitched. The challenge in his voice was unmistakable.

“Oh, come on, Mr. Agustin,” Cadence chimed in, slinging an arm around Justice’s shoulder. “‘Di mo ba alam? Matinik ‘tong bata ko. Pustahan tayo, in a week, best friends na din sila ni Artemis.”

Ares shook his head. “No way. A year.”

Justice crossed her arms, now fully offended by how little he thought of her skills. Her lips curled into a smirk as she met his gaze head-on. “You’ll eat your words, Mr. Agustin,” she declared, eyes glinting with determination.

Ares simply chuckled, clearly entertained. “We’ll see, Miss Romero.”

And just like that, the game was on.

Justice passed the entrance examination effortlessly, as expected. With Cadence by her side, she successfully enrolled at Nuestra Señora Institute of Law—the prestigious alma mater of her entire family. Walking through its towering gates, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of expectations pressing down on her. This was where generations of Romeros had carved their legacies, and now, it was her turn.

Of course, her circumstances were… unconventional. Unlike her relatives, who had entered law school through sheer academic merit and family prestige, she had a different advantage—one wrapped in secrecy.

Her family had been thrilled when she announced she could fully cover her tuition, though she had been careful with the details. She had told them she was employed as a personal bodyguard for someone attending the same law school. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. But she had conveniently left out the part about following this person everywhere, watching their every move like some undercover spy.

As for the cast wrapped around her arm, she had spun an equally convincing tale. “Nadali ako habang naka-duty,” she had explained, voice steady, gaze unwavering. She had painted a picture so vivid that even her most skeptical relatives had believed her without question. It was a skill she had honed over the years—telling just enough of the truth to make a lie undetectable.

Despite securing her place at the university, one crucial element of her job remained unfulfilled—meeting her principal. Artemis Agustin.

Ares had assured her that their first meeting would take place on the first day of classes. Until then, she had to prepare. Thankfully, Ares had managed to acquire a copy of Artemis’ class schedule for the entire semester. It was a small but significant advantage, allowing her to anticipate her movements.

And as if fate had decided to make things even easier for her, their schedules aligned perfectly—same subjects, same time slots. The only difference was that they had different professors and were assigned to separate classrooms.

Justice smirked as she scanned the timetable in her hands.

This might just be easier than she thought.

Or at least, that’s what she told herself. Because something told her that Artemis Agustin wasn’t the type to make things simple.

And if Ares’ warning was anything to go by, this assignment was about to be far more complicated than she had anticipated.

Justice and Cadence had always been inseparable. For fifteen years, they had sat side by side in classrooms, shared notes, and endured every academic struggle together. It was as if an invisible red string tied them together, pulling them back into each other’s orbit no matter where life took them.

That is why when Cadence told her the night before that she would not be attending the first day of class due to a personal matter, Justice felt an unfamiliar weight settle in her chest. It was strange, stepping into this new world alone. But she had no time for nerves. She had two objectives: securing the opportunity Ares had given her and fulfilling her duty to protect Artemis.

Sitting on one of the benches near the entrance, Justice kept her eyes peeled for her principal. The minutes ticked by, each second amplifying the tension in her chest. Then, her phone buzzed.

            Ares: [Just dropped sissy off. She’s wearing a white collared top and blue slacks. Good luck!]

Justice immediately straightened, scanning the crowd for anyone matching the description. Students swarmed the campus, their voices blending into a constant hum, but there was no sign of Artemis. Five minutes passed, then seven. The weight in her chest became a sinking feeling.

“Shit. Did I just lose her on my first day?” she muttered to herself.

Frantically, she turned around—only to collide head-on with someone. A sharp gasp. A jarring impact.

“What the hell!” the person snapped.

Justice barely had time to react before she recognized the voice. Her breath hitched. Artemis.

Justice wasn’t entirely unprepared for this job. Ares had provided her with video clips of Artemis beforehand, allowing her to familiarize herself with her principal—even if only through a screen. She had memorized the way she carried herself, the subtle sharpness in her gaze, and most importantly, the way she spoke.

That was why, despite her momentary panic, she had instantly recognized Artemis’ voice the moment she snapped, “Jusko po.”

It was one thing to study someone through a screen, but meeting Artemis in person was something else entirely. The videos had not captured the full weight of her presence, the effortless way she exuded confidence and irritation in equal measure.

And now, thanks to her clumsiness, Justice had managed to collide—literally—with the very person she was supposed to be protecting.

Her panic momentarily eclipsed the pain shooting up her slung arm. Her belongings were scattered on the ground, but she could not move—could not even think.

Artemis crossed her arms, looking at her as if she were the strangest thing she had ever seen. “Hello? God, classes haven’t even started yet, and you already look lost,” she said, cringing at Justice’s frozen expression.

Justice shook herself out of her daze, clearing her throat. “S-Sorry, I just got a little… distracted.” She dropped to her knees, hurriedly gathering her fallen belongings with her one good hand, trying to ignore the dull throbbing of her injured arm.

Artemis clicked her tongue. “Watch where you are going next time,” she said, eyes raking over Justice before adding, “Ganda-ganda mong lutang.”

And just like that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Justice stunned in her wake.

Justice opened her mouth to respond, but all that came out was a weak, “W- wait!”

To her surprise, Artemis stopped, looking over her shoulder with an unimpressed expression. “What?”

Justice scrambled for something to say, but instead of forming a coherent thought, her brain betrayed her. “You’re…” 

Also pretty. 

“Never mind,” she says, scratching her forehead, embarrassment evident on her face.

A moment of silence. Then, Artemis rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful.

“Loser,” she muttered before finally striding away.

Justice remained rooted to the spot, her face heating up. It wasn’t until a gust of wind hit her that she realized something crucial—her vision was blurry. Her glasses.

She frantically patted her face, only now realizing they had fallen off in the collision. 

She groaned, burying her burning face in her hands.

This was not the smooth first impression she had hoped for.

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter of students getting to know each other. The air was filled with the scent of food and fresh beginnings. Justice adjusted her glasses, her fingers idly tapping against the desk as she listened to Maxine Luna, her newly found friend, ramble on about the students around them.

Although they had only met that day, their bond formed quickly when they were seated next to each other in class. It helped that they both had friends who had yet to attend—Justice often spoke about Cadence, while Maxine mentioned her friend Giselle Antipolo, who had skipped the first day. They even made a pact to introduce their friends to each other once they all finally showed up.

"Do you have a crush on anyone from that group?" Maxine asked suddenly, her voice laced with curiosity. She subtly gestured toward a group of four students at the far end of the room.

Justice rolled her eyes and swatted Maxine’s hand down before the other girl could attract unwanted attention. "Huy! Stop pointing nga, they might see you!" she hissed. Then, crossing her arms, she added defensively, "And for your information, no. I just happened to glance their way, that’s all. Malisyosa ka."

Maxine smirked knowingly. "Mmm, sure. But you’ve gotta admit—they are all pretty good-looking."

Justice narrowed her eyes at her. "You sound more interested than I do. Maybe you’re the one with a crush on someone there. So, alin ba sakanila?" she teased.

"You call me nosy, but look at you!" Maxine shot back, feigning offense.

Before they could continue their playful bickering, Justice noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Her heart nearly stopped.

The group had noticed them staring. All four students turned their heads in unison, their gazes sharp and questioning as they scanned the room.

Justice stiffened. Fortunately, she was seated with her back toward them, making it easier to pretend she wasn’t the culprit. But Maxine? Maxine was caught red-handed.

"Oh god, they’re looking! Stop staring!" Maxine whispered harshly, gripping Justice’s wrist like it would somehow shield her from the consequences.

Justice barely had time to suppress her laughter before two girls from the group suddenly stood up and made a beeline toward them.

Oh no.

Justice instinctively straightened her posture, her mind racing for an excuse, but it was too late. The girls stopped right at their table, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Alam naman namin na nakakaakit ang ganda namin, but could you please tone it down on the starring?" one of them said, her lips twitching into a smirk. She was dressed in a flowing long skirt and an oversized yellow top, her dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders.

Justice’s cheeks flushed. "We weren’t staring! Napatingin lang!" she protested, shaking her head vigorously.

The second girl, who was practically wrapped in various shades of pink from head to toe, scoffed. "Yeah? Then why is she still looking?" she pointed at Maxine, who, to her credit, still dared to smile.

"I was simply admiring," Maxine said smoothly. "Didn’t your friend just say you’re pretty?"

A sudden silence stretched between them. Then, to everyone’s surprise, a hint of pink dusted the girl’s cheeks. She crossed her arms tightly and huffed.

"Bolera!" she accused before abruptly turning on her heel and stomping away, her pink skirt swishing dramatically behind her.

The girl in yellow—who still stood by their table—sighed, watching her friend retreat. "Sasha!" she called after her, but the girl didn’t even spare her a glance.

Justice and Maxine exchanged amused glances before the girl in yellow turned back to them with a smirk.

"Kinilig ata si bading," she remarked, tilting her head toward Maxine. "Anyway, our youngest, the one with the bob,” she pointed in her direction, “isn’t comfortable being stared at, so if you could keep it to a minimum, that would be great." Then, as if just realizing something, she scrutinized Maxine closely. "Though… you weren’t staring at the youngest, were you?"

Maxine, unfazed, leaned back in her chair. "And what if I wasn’t?"

The girl hummed, crossing her arms. "I could set you up with Sasha," she mused as if contemplating the idea. "That is if you promise to stop staring at our group like you're plotting something."

Maxine let out a short laugh. "Duly noted."

The girl extended a hand toward her. "Melody. Mel for short."

Maxine shook it, grinning. "Max."

Then, Melody turned to Justice, her gaze playfully assessing. "And you, Miss Four-Eyes?"

"Justice," she replied, shaking her hand.

Melody tilted her head, considering something. "Justice, huh? Very fitting for law school. But you know…" A teasing glint appeared in her eyes. "I think there’s something that fits you even better."

Justice blinked. "What?"

Melody leaned in, lowering her voice just enough to send a shiver down Justice’s spine.

"Me," she said simply.

Then, without another word, she turned and sauntered off, leaving Justice momentarily stunned.

Maxine barely held in her laughter. Then, unable to resist, she burst out laughing. "First day of class, and you’re already turning heads."

The following day, Justice and Maxine made good on their promise, introducing their friends, Giselle and Cadence, to each other. What started as an awkward greeting quickly melted into easy laughter and effortless conversation. The four of them fell into a natural rhythm, teasing and bickering as if they had been friends for years.

It didn’t take long for secrets to start spilling.

"Oo nga pala," Justice began with a smirk, nudging Giselle as they walked down the hallway. "Your dear friend Maxine has already taken an interest in someone."

Giselle’s eyes widened in delight before she turned to Maxine with a devilish grin. "Oh? Do tell."

Maxine groaned, shooting Justice a betrayed look. "I hate you."

Justice only shrugged, feigning innocence. "Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo."

Cadence, catching onto the conversation, perked up. "Wait, wait—who is it? Nakita na ba natin?"

"Hindi pa," Justice mused. "But if we do, I will let you both know."

Giselle and Cadence squealed in excitement, their minds already racing with possibilities.

Maxine covered her face in exasperation. "I need new friends."

Despite her complaints, she didn't protest further. It was the kind of teasing she didn’t mind—though she'd never admit it out loud.

After a while, Maxine and Giselle excused themselves for a quick bathroom break, leaving Justice and Cadence alone.

The moment they were out of earshot, Justice wasted no time.

Cadence’s brows lifted in intrigue. "About Artemis?"

Justice nodded. "I ran into her yesterday. Well—' ran into' is a strong phrase. More like she and her friend caught me and Maxine staring at their group."

Cadence burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Nakakahiya ka! That’s how you met her?"

Justice groaned, running a hand through her hair. "It was so unfortunate. And, to make matters worse, yung kaibigan niya—Melody ata pangalan—outright flirted with me before running off."

Cadence whistled. "Wow. The first day, and may lovelife ka na. Impressive."

"Not funny."

"It's a little funny."

Justice rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.

"Also," she added, her tone shifting slightly, "the girl Maxine likes? She’s part of Artemis’ friend group."

Cadence's jaw dropped. "No way ."

Justice nodded solemnly. "Yes way."

The two of them exchanged glances before dissolving into laughter once again.

"This is a mess," Cadence said between breaths.

Justice sighed, shaking her head. "A beautifully chaotic one."

Justice wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling, before nudging Cadence with her elbow. "Okay, but I have something to tell more."

Cadence raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Spill mo na agad."

Justice took a deep breath before dropping the bomb. "I met Artemis in a different way before that nga pala.."

"Huh—what? Akala ko ba first yung kasama si Max?"

"No," Justice said, now looking slightly embarrassed. "It happened at the school entrance before classes started yesterday."

Cadence leaned in, suddenly invested. "Anong nangyari?"

Justice groaned, already feeling the embarrassment creeping back up. "Okay, so it happened right at the school entrance. Hinihintay ko kasi siya and I was looking around not to miss her. Tapos when I suddenly turned around—bam—I walked straight into someone."

Cadence gasped dramatically. "No!"

"Yes," Justice muttered, covering her face. "And guess who that person was?"

Cadence’s jaw dropped. "No way ."

Justice sighed. "Yes way nga. Ang OA mo ah!"

Cadence clutched her chest, already grinning. "Oh my god. Tapos? Did she say anything? Did you?"

Justice let out a long, suffering groan. "I completely humiliated myself. I nearly knocked her over, then I dared to freeze and lose myself eh kinakausap niya pala ako."

Cadence was shaking with laughter. "Di kita kaibigan!"

Justice continued to dramatically explain how embarrassed she was.

Cadence wiped at her eyes, already tearing up from laughing. "How did she react?"

Justice let out a defeated sigh. "She just… stood there. Looking at me."

"Oh no," Cadence gasped between giggles.

"And not just any look—it was this unreadable, straight-faced, slightly amused but mostly confused look. Like she was deciding if I was a normal human being or some kind of glitch in the system."

Cadence cackled. "You are a glitch in the system!"

Justice shot her a glare, but it held no real malice. "Gusto ko na lang magpalamon sa lupa , C. And to make matters worse, after I finally managed to speak up, she just… told me na ang ganda ko daw na lutang. I felt like I needed to say it back to get back at her pero sobrang hiya ko talaga so I said never mind." Justice waved a hand vaguely. "She stared at me and called me a loser. And walked away."

Cadence wheeze-laughed. "OH MY GOD."

Justice buried her face in her hands. "It was so bad."

Cadence shook her head in sheer amusement. "Wow. First meet up, and you've already physically assaulted your mission target. Ang galing mo talaga."

Justice groaned. "I hate you."

"No, no, I mean it," Cadence teased, wiping away her laughter tears. "That is truly an excellent first impression. You're off to a great start."

Justice peeked at her through her fingers. "You think maaalala niya ‘yon?"

Cadence snorted. "Oh, absolutely."

Justice groaned again, this time falling back dramatically against the chair. "I need a redo. "

Cadence grinned. "Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get one. And when you do, I pray you do not trip over your own feet or something, because that would just complete the cycle."

Justice narrowed her eyes. "If you jinx me, I will drag you down with me."

Cadence only laughed harder, shaking her head. "Justice, I love you, but you are the disaster protagonist of this story, and I am just here for the ride."

Justice sighed, a small, reluctant smile creeping onto her lips. "This is going to be chaos. "

Cadence smirked. "Beautiful, glorious chaos."

And something told them this was just the beginning.