It was a beautiful day in Cebu, the kind that bikers like Maloi Ricalde live for. The sun was high, casting a golden glow on the well-maintained bike trails winding through the hills. The soft breeze against her skin, the rhythmic hum of her bike’s tires—there was nothing like it. This was freedom.
But as much as Maloi loved riding, she knew her bike wasn’t invincible. After all, it was an old, faithful companion, with its scuffs and scratches that told the story of countless adventures. Today, though, it seemed like the adventure was about to take a turn for the worse.
A sudden pop echoed in the silence, followed by a jolt in the ride. Maloi cursed under her breath as she slowed down, pulling over to the side of the trail. Her tire had blown out—again.
“Great. Just great.” Maloi rolled her eyes, inspecting the damage. She could practically hear her best friend Colet’s voice in her head, nagging about how Maloi should keep better track of her bike’s condition.
Not now, she thought. Focus.
She checked her phone, but of course, there was no signal. No call for help, no internet. And the worst part? She didn’t have the proper gear to fix her bike. Of all days to forget her spare tube and pump, it had to be today.
With a sigh, Maloi leaned back against the bike and looked around. The nearest town was still a good ten kilometers away. She had no choice but to try walking down the trail, hoping to find someone who could help.
Her bruised body ached with every step she took, but she pushed on, biting back the pain. She was used to pushing limits—though today, her limits were fighting back harder than she expected.
Meanwhile, Aiah Arceta was finishing up her morning jog, the familiar trails of Cebu offering a sense of calm she needed after a long week of work. As much as she loved her job as a journalist, sometimes she just needed a moment to herself, to recharge. The serenity of the hills made her feel alive, almost like she was the only one in the world.
Aiah’s mind wandered as she jogged, her thoughts drifting back to simpler times. Like when Maloi—her ex-girlfriend—would drag her along on her crazy bike adventures. The memories were bittersweet now. They’d been close, and though things hadn’t worked out, there was no denying the connection they’d once shared.
Maloi… Aiah mused. She hadn’t seen or heard from her in months, and honestly, she hadn’t expected to ever cross paths again.
But then, as if fate had something else in mind, Aiah heard a faint sound—someone calling for help.
“Maloi?” Aiah’s voice carried across the trail, a name that had never left her heart.
And then, just as quickly, the answer came.
“…Aiah.” The voice was raspy, tired.
Aiah’s heart skipped a beat as she rushed forward, not quite believing her ears. As she rounded the corner, her eyes fell on the last person she ever expected to see: Maloi.
The sight of her ex, battered and bruised, leaning against her bike like a warrior who’d lost a battle, hit Aiah like a ton of bricks. Maloi was clearly in pain—her arms and legs were scraped up, and she was clearly struggling to stay upright.
“Oh my God, are you okay?!” Aiah shouted, rushing over to her. She reached out instinctively, but then froze, unsure if she should touch her. It felt like so much had changed since they last saw each other, and it felt strange to be this close to Maloi again. But there was no time for hesitation.
“Teka, ’wag ka na gumalaw!” Aiah insisted, panic evident in her voice. She had always been the calm one in their relationship, but seeing Maloi in this state threw her off balance.
“I-I’m fine,” Maloi muttered, but her voice trembled slightly. Aiah wasn’t buying it.
“No, you’re not,” Aiah said firmly. “You’re not fine. You’re hurt. I’m helping you.”
Maloi hesitated, looking up at Aiah. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—a mix of surprise and uncertainty. After all, the last time they’d seen each other, their parting hadn’t exactly been on the best terms.
Aiah was the one who had wanted to break things off, thinking it was for the best. Maloi, as always, had been full of chaos, refusing to accept that things could be over between them. Yet, here Aiah was, offering to help her when Maloi had expected anything but this.
“You… you still want to help me?” Maloi asked, the skepticism clear in her tone.
Aiah nodded without hesitation. “Of course I do. You’re hurt, and you need someone to take care of you. I’m not going to leave you like this, Maloi. Not now.”
Maloi felt her chest tighten. It had been so long since she’d heard Aiah speak to her like that—like they were still together, like nothing had changed. The familiar warmth in her voice tugged at Maloi’s heartstrings, but she quickly pushed the feeling away. It wasn’t that simple. It couldn’t be.
Aiah reached out, her hand hovering just inches from Maloi’s arm. “Come on, let me help you,” she urged softly, her eyes pleading.
Maloi hesitated for a long moment. Her pride, her stubbornness, made her reluctant to rely on anyone—especially Aiah, the one person who had once meant the world to her. But her bruises ached, and the distance to the nearest town felt too far to go alone.
And so, slowly, almost reluctantly, Maloi took Aiah’s hand.
As Aiah helped Maloi to her feet, a sense of familiarity washed over them both. The way their hands fit together felt like no time had passed at all, like they were still those two people who once shared everything.
“Thanks,” Maloi mumbled, her face turning red as she avoided looking at Aiah. She was embarrassed, still feeling that old, familiar tension between them.
“No problem,” Aiah smiled softly, though her eyes carried a warmth that made Maloi’s heart race. “Let’s get you somewhere safe first. I’ll take care of everything, okay?”
Maloi nodded, grateful but unsure. She knew it was risky to let Aiah in again, but she couldn’t deny the comfort that came with being close to her.
As they walked down the trail together, Aiah stayed close, making sure Maloi didn’t stumble. It felt natural, like old times. Maloi would throw in a sarcastic joke, and Aiah would respond with an eye-roll, her lips curling into a smile despite herself. They still had that rhythm, that connection. It wasn’t gone, not completely.
But as they reached the town and found a place to rest, the moment became more real.
“So…” Maloi began, nervously adjusting her jacket. “What now?”
Aiah sat beside her on the bench, her eyes soft. “We’ll get you patched up first, then I’ll help you with your bike. You didn’t bring a pump or spare tube, did you?”
Maloi groaned. “Ugh, I totally forgot them. I’m such an idiot.”
Aiah chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re not an idiot. Just a little forgetful sometimes.”
The warmth between them settled into something more comfortable, like the air after a rainstorm. It wasn’t all patched up—there were still things left unsaid, still history to address—but for now, they were together.
And somehow, that felt like enough.
By the time the sun began to set, they were sitting side by side on the bench, Maloi’s bike fixed and ready to go. Aiah had been true to her word, taking care of everything, and Maloi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.
“So…” Maloi trailed off, not sure what to say. “Are we… okay?”
Aiah looked at her, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “We’re better than okay, Maloi. You still owe me for this, though.”
Maloi laughed, her heart light. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
And just like that, the tension between them melted away, replaced by something softer, something that felt like hope.
Maybe things could work out after all.
The night had settled in, with the dim glow of streetlights casting a warm hue over the streets of Cebu. Aiah and Maloi sat side by side, the bike fixed and ready for the ride home. The brief quiet between them was comfortable now, no longer filled with awkwardness or tension, but rather a sense of familiarity that had resurfaced after months apart.
Maloi, still slightly embarrassed by her earlier clumsiness, fiddled with the edges of her jacket. “I honestly can’t believe you came to my rescue like this,” she said, trying to mask the sincerity in her voice with a hint of her usual playful tone. “You really do enjoy saving me, huh?”
Aiah shot her a teasing look. “I don’t enjoy saving you, Maloi. I just… can’t help it. You always end up in these situations.”
“Hey, it’s not like I asked for this to happen,” Maloi retorted, her lips curling into a smirk despite the aches in her body. “The bike just decided it hated me today.”
Aiah laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic, I swear.”
Maloi’s smile faltered slightly at that. She couldn’t help but feel the sting of the past, the memories of their break-up still fresh enough to remind her of how they used to be—how she used to be. The woman in front of her, Aiah, had been her rock, the one who always knew what to say, always knew how to calm her down when the chaos of life overwhelmed her. And though she was hesitant to admit it, Maloi missed that—missed Aiah.
But now? Now, they were exes. Exes who were still figuring out what this new dynamic between them was supposed to be.
“So, what now?” Maloi asked, glancing over at Aiah. The question hung in the air, unspoken words passing between them like a thick fog.
Aiah turned to meet her gaze, her expression softening. “What do you mean by that?”
Maloi shifted uncomfortably. “I mean… are we just gonna pretend like this didn’t happen? Like I wasn’t stranded on the side of the road, and you didn’t just come out of nowhere to save me?”
Aiah’s eyes softened, and she reached over to give Maloi’s hand a brief squeeze. “I’m not pretending anything. I’m just… glad you’re okay.”
Maloi stared at their joined hands for a moment, feeling the warmth of Aiah’s touch seep through her. There was something in Aiah’s words that struck her, something that made her heart flutter. Maybe, just maybe, things didn’t have to be as complicated as they had made them out to be.
Aiah noticed the way Maloi was looking at her and sighed. “I get it, Maloi. Things are… different now. But it doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. I always will.”
The vulnerability in Aiah’s voice caused a lump to form in Maloi’s throat. She wanted to say something, wanted to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she just gave a small nod, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions.
“You know, I used to hate that you always tried to fix everything,” Maloi finally said, breaking the silence. “It annoyed me so much, always thinking you knew what was best. But now… I kind of get it. You just want to help, even when I don’t ask for it.”
Aiah smiled gently. “I don’t always know what’s best, Maloi. But I do know that I don’t want to see you hurt. Not again.”
Maloi swallowed hard, her eyes flicking down to the ground. She wanted to say something back, to tell Aiah how much she appreciated her, how much she had missed her—but the words got stuck, tangled in the mess of their past.
Aiah, sensing the tension building again, squeezed her hand once more. “Don’t think too much about it,” she said softly. “Let’s just… take it one step at a time, okay?”
Maloi looked up at Aiah, her lips quirking into a small, reluctant smile. “Yeah, okay.”
And just like that, they fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when two people understand each other without needing to say much.
The ride back to the city was quiet, but there was a certain ease between them. Maloi’s bike hummed along the road, the only sound filling the night air, while Aiah sat behind her, her arms wrapped around Maloi’s waist. It felt like old times, and yet it didn’t. There was an unspoken understanding now—things had changed, and maybe that was okay. Maybe they didn’t have to pick up right where they left off, but instead, they could start anew, building something different, something that was theirs.
As they neared the city, the glow of the streetlights cast long shadows, and Maloi couldn’t help but glance at Aiah in the rearview mirror. Aiah was watching her with a soft smile, her expression content, and for the first time in a while, Maloi felt a little lighter.
When they finally reached Aiah’s place, Maloi turned off the engine and got off the bike, stretching her sore muscles. Aiah followed, her eyes never leaving Maloi’s as she carefully adjusted her jacket.
“Well,” Maloi said, breaking the silence, “I guess this is where we part ways… again.”
Aiah nodded, stepping a little closer. “Yeah. But I’ll be here if you ever need anything, okay? Don’t hesitate to reach out, Maloi.”
Maloi stared at her for a moment, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. Aiah had always been the one to offer help without expecting anything in return, and that had never changed.
“I won’t,” Maloi promised, her voice quieter now, full of sincerity.
As Aiah turned to head inside, Maloi felt a tug at her heart—a desire to hold on, to not let go of this moment. But she knew, deep down, that things would never be exactly like they were before. They couldn’t be. Yet, somehow, the uncertainty didn’t feel as scary as it once did.
Maybe they could still find a way to be something new. Maybe they could still find their way back to each other—at their own pace, in their own time.
With that thought, Maloi turned away, her heart lighter than it had been in a long while, and started her bike once again, ready for the next adventure.