Burnout
“Maloi, you’ll be attending Maki’s gig this Thursday. Surprise guest artist ka niya for this, okay?”
Ate Maan’s voice cut through the chatter of the dressing room as she stood near Maloi’s chair. Maloi, mid-way through having her foundation blended, barely flinched at the announcement. The other girls were in their own seats, getting their hair and makeup done, their usual pre-show buzz filling the room.
“Sige po, Ate Maan.” Maloi nodded, giving a short, obedient reply.
Internally, she scoffed. Loko ‘yun. Hindi man lang ako sinabihan na isasama niya pala ako sa gig niya.
“Grabe yan, magkikita na naman sila.” A teasing voice piped up from beside her.
Maloi glanced at the next chair and saw Stacey smirking at her through the mirror.
“Nako, Staks, di ka na napagod. Issue ka na naman.” Maloi rolled her eyes.
“Daming sinabi, oh. Sabi ko lang naman magkikita na naman kayo.” Stacey lifted her hands in mock innocence, grinning as she continued scrolling through her phone.
“Tigilan mo ko, pagod ako.”
Stacey chuckled but let it go, leaving Maloi to her thoughts.
Truthfully, Maloi was exhausted. It had been a week since their last bonding at Aiah’s condo—a fun, chaotic night spent on watching Maloi’s MV with Maki, followed by a movie that had them all swooning and laughing until their stomachs hurt. But more than that, it had been a week since her last real interaction with Colet.
Lately, Maloi couldn't shake the feeling that Colet was deliberately keeping her distance. It wasn’t just subtle anymore—it was obvious. The stolen glances that quickly turned away, the way Colet always seemed to find an excuse to leave whenever Maloi entered the room, the shift in their conversations that had once been effortless but now felt forced, clipped.
At rehearsals, Colet would conveniently position herself on the opposite side of the room, her attention locked on anything but Maloi. During meals, she would engage in conversations with the others, never once directing a word to her unless absolutely necessary. Even in their group chats, where Colet was usually quick to react to Maloi’s messages, now she barely acknowledged them.
It was frustrating, confusing. Maloi replayed their last moment together at Aiah’s over and over, searching for something—anything—that could explain why things had suddenly changed. But no matter how much she tried to make sense of it, she was left with nothing but silence.
Ano ba kasi ang nangyari dun? She wondered.
Flashback
The living room of Aiah’s condo was a mess of tangled limbs, scattered blankets, and half-empty snack wrappers. The girls were still in the same position, some sprawled on the floor or on the couch, all comfortable in their makeshift sleeping spots.
Maloi lay beside Colet, both of them stretched out on the carpet. Aiah had tossed them pillows earlier, and the two of them naturally settled close together with Sheena.
A soft, golden glow from the TV screen illuminated Colet’s profile as she watched My Only Ü, a classic romcom. The room was filled with laughter, especially from Jhoanna and Stacey, who kept throwing playful comments at the screen.
“Ang cute talaga ni Kuya Vhong sa movie na ‘yan,” Sheena sighed dreamily.
Maloi, utterly absorbed in the film, gasped at a particularly kilig scene, her heart racing in tandem with the onscreen romance. Without a second thought, she instinctively reached out and grabbed Colet’s arm, her fingers curling tightly around it.
“Arghh! Jusko, di ko kaya!” Maloi cried, her voice laced with playful desperation, squeezing Colet’s arm as if the film’s intensity had suddenly become too much to bear. The other girls around them shrieked with laughter, caught up in the same whirlwind of excitement.
Colet let out a soft laugh, her head shaking at their dramatic reactions. Yet, to Maloi’s surprise, she didn’t pull away. Instead, Colet shifted ever so slightly, her arm moving a little closer, as if inviting Maloi to cling more comfortably to her side.
Maloi, so lost in the moment, didn’t even realize how her fingers had dug deeper into the soft fabric of Colet’s sweater, the texture beneath her fingertips grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected. Her head, too, had found its place just below Colet’s shoulder, the warmth of her body a gentle comfort that Maloi couldn’t bring herself to pull away from.
It wasn’t until the scene faded, the rush of excitement ebbing away, that Maloi realized just how close they had become—how intimately her body was pressed against Colet’s. A sudden jolt of awareness hit her chest, making her heart flutter erratically.
Colet’s hand had settled on her waist, fingers tracing small, slow circles on the fabric of Maloi’s hoodie, the touch so tender, so unhurried. Maloi could feel the faintest heat of Colet’s thumb, the sensation both grounding and electrifying all at once.
The warmth began to seep into Maloi’s skin, making her feel deliciously light-headed, as if the world outside of this moment didn’t matter. Every subtle movement of Colet’s thumb felt like a caress, delicate yet firm, a gentle rhythm that stirred something deep inside her.
She didn’t move. Couldn’t. The way Colet’s presence wrapped around her was too comforting, too intoxicating. It was like an unspoken invitation, and Maloi, her pulse quickening with each passing second, found herself leaning into it—into Colet.
It was nice. Too nice. And for the first time in a long time, Maloi felt at ease.
She might’ve stayed like that for the rest of the night—if not for her bladder betraying her.
“Col, CR lang ako saglit,” she murmured, reluctantly untangling herself.
Colet’s arm fell away as Maloi got up. She just gave a small nod in response, her face unreadable in the dim lighting.
Maloi hurried to the bathroom, doing her business quickly, eager to get back. When she returned to the living room, though, her stomach dropped.
Colet was no longer on the floor.
Instead, she had moved to the couch, her knees drawn up, her gaze fixed on the screen.
Maloi frowned. Ano na?
She settled back down on the carpet, glancing at Colet, waiting for her to return to their previous spot. But she didn’t. She stayed where she was, her attention never shifting to Maloi.
Maloi got back to her position on the floor, settling down with a sigh, and noticed her phone lit up, the screen filled with several notifications. Her thumb swiped across it absentmindedly, and the first message that popped up immediately caught her attention.
Text Message
From Maki: I love youu!!
Maloi blinked.
Huh?
Quickly, she swiped to read the full message.
From Maki: Congrats, Maloiskie!!
From Maki: Everyone loves you sa MV!
From Maki: Ang galing mo!! I knew you were the right person for the song!!
From Maki: Thank you so muchhhh!!!
From Maki: I love you!!
Maloi smiled, shaking her head. Maki was always like this—sweet, expressive. She typed out a quick thank you and set her phone aside.
When she glanced back at Colet, though, she was met with silence. Colet wasn’t looking at her.
Maloi sighed internally.
End of Flashback
Maloi let out a deep sigh, pulling herself back to the present. Her reflection in the dressing room mirror stared back at her, tired and confused.
She was so done with this. Whatever was happening between her and Colet, she needed to fix it.
Because, honestly?
It was starting to drive her insane.
The girls were back in the studio, fully immersed in practice, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization. Maloi should have been just as focused—counting the beats, hitting the steps—but her mind refused to cooperate.
Her gaze kept drifting.
Again and again, her eyes found Colet.
She watched the way Colet danced—so effortlessly, so fluidly, as if the music lived within her. But no matter how many times Maloi stole glances, Colet never once looked back.
Maloi swallowed hard, frustration curling in her chest.
She couldn’t keep second-guessing. Whatever this was, it needed to stop.
So she made a decision.
After practice, she was going to talk to Colet.
And she’d do it the only way she knew how—by pretending nothing was wrong.
She’d be her usual self, playful, lighthearted, the Maloi everyone knew. Maybe if she acted normal, things between them would go back to normal too.
As soon as practice ended, she made her move.
"Col!" she called out, slipping effortlessly into her usual cheerful tone.
Colet turned, blinking at her. "Oh?"
Maloi grinned, pushing aside the nerves bubbling in her chest. "Kain tayo? May bagong bukas diyan sa Scout Borromeo!"
Colet raised an eyebrow. "Kakatapos lang natin mag-training."
"Kaya nga!" Maloi chirped, stepping closer. "Perfect time for food! Tara naaa."
Colet hesitated, her lips pressing together in thought.
Maloi, sensing her window closing, leaned in and pouted dramatically. "Bili naaaa," she whined, exaggerating her plea. She really, really wanted this.
Just the two of them.
Colet exhaled in defeat, a small, almost reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "Sige na nga."
Maloi’s heart leaped.
"Nasabihan mo na yung girls?" Colet asked.
"Ah, eh…" Maloi faltered for a second before quickly recovering. "Wala na, nakauwi na sila eh." She pouted again, feigning innocence. "Tayo na lang muna. Ang tagal na natin di kumakain together, ih."
Colet gave her a knowing look, but to Maloi’s relief, she didn’t question it. "Oki po," she relented.
Maloi grinned so wide she practically bounced on her feet.
The small restaurant was quiet, their booth tucked away in a cozy corner. Their food sat between them, barely touched, the air around them thick with an awkwardness Maloi hadn’t anticipated.
She had told herself she’d make this dinner feel normal.
But right now, nothing felt normal.
She tried.
God, she tried.
But every attempt at conversation was met with short, clipped responses from Colet. A nod here, a hum there, the occasional polite smile. Maloi felt like she was talking to a wall.
She twirled her spoon between her fingers, searching for something—anything—that could break whatever weird tension had settled between them.
Then it hit her.
"Ay, Col!" Maloi suddenly blurted out, her eyes lighting up as an idea popped into her head.
"Nakita mo na yung email ng school?"
Colet, who had been absently poking at her food, finally looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Ang alin?"
"Yung tungkol sa graduation photoshoot natin this coming Friday!" Maloi leaned in slightly, eager to keep Colet engaged. "Nagsabi ka na ba kila Coach na di ka muna sasama sa practice?"
"Ah, oo," Colet murmured, nodding. "Nakita ko na nga yun." A small, genuine smile formed on her lips, as if the thought of graduation made everything feel a little lighter.
"Good!" Maloi beamed, maybe a little too excited. "Sabay tayo punta, ha? Para may kasama ako mag-antay ng forever sa pila."
Colet let out a soft chuckle. "Sige."
Encouraged by the response, Maloi pressed on.
"Ay oo nga pala, nakita mo ba ginawa nila Sheena at Jho kanina kay Mikha?" Maloi snickered, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Bwisit yung mga yun minake-upan si Mikha nang parang timang—tawa ako nang tawa!"
Colet blinked, then let out a small chuckle.
"Tapos, ‘di pa tapos!" Maloi continued, barely containing her laughter. "Dinamay pa nung dalawa si Gwen, naawa ako sa dalawang nonchalant na yun, pinaglaruan ampota!'”
That did it.
Colet laughed, shaking her head as if trying to process the absurdity of it all.
Not just a polite chuckle.
A real, genuine laugh.
And just like that, the ice between them cracked.
They fell into their usual rhythm, swapping stories, teasing each other, laughing over the ridiculous things that had happened throughout the week. Maloi basked in it, in the sound of Colet’s laughter, in the way her eyes softened, the way she finally—finally—looked at her the way she used to.
Maloi barely noticed when the food disappeared, too lost in the moment, in the way Colet’s smile lit up the space between them.
And then, as the laughter quieted, Maloi found herself just… looking.
At Colet.
At the way the soft glow of the restaurant lights kissed her features.
At the way she was smiling—really smiling—at her.
Colet tilted her head. "Bakit?"
Maloi hesitated, then smiled, something warm and unspoken settling in her chest. "Namiss ko 'to."
Colet's smile didn’t falter. "Alin?"
Maloi gestured between them, her voice softer now. "Ito."
Colet held her gaze for a moment before letting out a small chuckle. She didn't say anything, but her eyes said enough.
Maloi took a quiet breath, heart pounding. She knew she was pushing her luck, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them.
"Namiss kita."
The moment stretched, thick with something unspoken.
Colet didn’t look away. Instead, she just… smiled.
A soft, knowing smile.
"I do too," she murmured.
Maloi felt her heart squeeze, warmth spreading from her chest to the very tips of her fingers.
"Thank you for this, Loi," Colet added, her voice gentle.
Maloi exhaled, grinning. "Let’s do this again, ha?"
Colet just nodded.
Maloi smiled and finally felt a sense of relief.
Maloi had been in high spirits lately. Colet was back to her usual, cheerful self, and the awkwardness between them had finally faded.
And today, of all days, was special. Their graduation photoshoot.
They were supposed to go to the studio together, but at the last minute, Colet had messaged her that she’d be a bit late—she had to pick up Ep Ep, who insisted on tagging along.
Maloi is waiting in the studio and she distracted herself by scrolling through her phone, half-listening to the chatter around her, when suddenly—
“Ate Mawoi!”
A small voice broke through the noise, bright and excited.
Maloi turned just in time to see a tiny blur dashing toward her, arms outstretched.
“Ep Ep!” she gasped, immediately crouching down to scoop the little boy into her arms. She spun him around slightly, making him giggle before pulling him into a tight hug. “Hi, baby! I missed you!”
Ep Ep clung to her like a koala, nuzzling into her shoulder.
From a few steps away, Colet watched the interaction unfold, an amused smile on her lips.
“Sorry natagalan kami,” she said as she approached. “Ang kulit kasi nitong batang ’to.”
Maloi glanced up, and for a moment, everything else faded.
Colet stood there, her eyes warm.
Still cradling Ep Ep, Maloi gave her a small shrug. “Okay lang.”
Colet held her gaze for a beat longer before looking away, cheeks faintly dusted with pink.
The three of them found a spot to sit while waiting for their turn in front of the camera. Maloi absentmindedly played with Ep Ep’s tiny fingers, her mind drifting.
“May naisip ka na ba for your creative shot?” she asked, breaking the silence.
Colet sighed, leaning back slightly. “Wala pa nga eh. Baka hindi ko na lang gawin.”
Maloi’s eyes widened. “What?! Hindi puwede ’yon.”
Colet lifted a brow. “Bakit naman?”
A slow, mischievous grin spread across Maloi’s face. “What if we do it together?”
Colet blinked. “Ha?”
“You heard me.”
“Tayo?”
“Oo! Cute kaya ’yon.” Maloi nudged her with her shoulder. “Tara na, wala ka nang takas.”
Colet chuckled, shaking her head. “Ikaw talaga…” Then, after a beat, she exhaled in surrender. “Fine.”
Maloi beamed.
When her name was finally called, she hopped onto the set, effortlessly shifting from radiant smiles to candid, goofy poses. Colet watched from the sidelines, trying (and failing) not to be entertained.
Then, it was Colet’s turn.
Maloi crossed her arms, watching her closely. She had always known Colet was beautiful, but something about the way the light caught her features, the way she carried herself, made Maloi’s breath hitch.
And then, before she could fully process it, it was time for their creative shoot.
Maloi wasted no time. The moment they stepped in front of the camera together, she moved in close—closer than necessary.
Colet stiffened, eyes widening slightly. “Loi—”
“Relax,” Maloi whispered, her voice teasing, her hand finding its place at Colet’s waist.
Colet swallowed.
The first few shots were lighthearted—Maloi making funny faces, Colet let out a laugh before she could stop herself—but then, the energy shifted.
Maloi turned to her, her expression softer now, more genuine. And before Colet could second-guess herself, she lifted a hand, brushing it against the side of Maloi’s head, fingers threading slightly into her hair as they posed.
The photographer’s camera clicked rapidly, capturing the moment—the closeness, the quiet warmth between them, the way Maloi’s fingers gently tightened at Colet’s waist.
And just like that, it was over.
“Hala, ang cute natin dito!” Maloi gushed the second they stepped away, scrolling through their shots on the screen.
Colet, on the other hand, was busy handing her flash drive to the attendant.
“Col, look oh!” Maloi poked her side repeatedly, but Colet barely glanced up.
“Col, can I post this on IG? No—scratch that—I will post this. It’s too cute not to post!”
Colet snorted. “Bahala ka, Loi.”
“Hmm… anong magandang background music dito?” Maloi murmured to herself.
Colet just watched her, lips curving upward.
Later that night, Maloi lay sprawled across her bed, the soft glow of her phone screen illuminating her face in the dimly lit room. She had already posted her solo graduation photos—her notifications were still buzzing with likes and comments from friends, family, and fans—but when it came to her pictures with Colet, she found herself hesitating.
She scrolled through their shots again, her fingers pausing over each frame. They looked good together—too good, actually. Maloi had expected their creative shoot to be fun, maybe even a little chaotic, but instead, their photos had turned out… Sweet. Natural.
Her lips curled into a smile as she traced her thumb over the screen, stopping at a particular shot where Colet had her hand on the side of Maloi’s head, a fond expression in her eyes.
She sighed, flopping onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Anong kanta bagay dito? It had to be perfect—something that captured the feeling of that moment. She cycled through possibilities, mumbling song lyrics under her breath, playing snippets in her head. Nothing felt quite right.
She was mid-scroll, still lost in thought, when her phone buzzed. A notification popped up at the top of her screen.
@bini_colet posted a new photo.
Curious, she clicked on it.
It was Colet’s graduation picture. Ang cuteeee.
Then, another notification.
@bini_colet posted a new photo.
“Huh?” Maloi mumbled, tapping on it.
The moment the post loaded, her heart stopped.
It was their picture.
And beneath it, lyrics played:
“O kay tagal din kitang minahal…”
Maloi blinked at the screen, her fingers frozen mid-scroll. Burnout? She listened to the lyrics again, as if making sure her ears weren’t playing tricks on her.
It was their photo—her and Colet, side by side, caught in that easy, familiar warmth. And Colet had chosen Burnout as the background music.
A quiet laugh bubbled up in her throat. Why didn’t I think of that?
She clicked on the post, watching their pictures flash across the screen to the tune of the song. A mix of candid and posed shots—her pulling Colet closer, Colet laughing as Maloi made faces at the camera, that one frame where their gazes met, caught in a moment that felt softer than it should.
A giddy feeling rose in Maloi’s chest, spreading like a slow, sweet warmth. She clutched her phone to her chest and rolled onto her stomach, kicking her feet behind her. Her cheeks ached from smiling too much, but she didn’t care.
“Okay, Burnout it is,” she murmured, barely noticing the way her voice trembled just a little.
She sat up, quickly selecting the same song for her own post. It had to be this one—there was no other choice. With one final glance at their photos, she pressed upload.
Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with a flood of notifications. Likes, comments, tags—her entire feed was blowing up.
She let out a breathy laugh and collapsed back onto her bed, letting the phone slip from her hands as she stared at the ceiling. The lyrics played in her head again, looping like a song stuck on repeat.
"O kay tagal din kitang minahal," she hummed softly, fingers absentmindedly tapping against her blanket.
A smile crept back onto her lips. “I guess the Blooms were right…” she whispered, turning to glance at her phone again, the notification of Colet’s post still glowing on her screen.
“Burnout is definitely our song.”