Then, it was.

The morning shines gently on the corners of Raine’s room. It was supposed to be a usual morning not until she saw a peaceful face lightly snoring on her bed as she mesmerizes it from the comforters on the floor. It made her smile, for the first time during her almost 4 years stay here in Pampanga, a gently being can be witnessed lying on her bed sheets.

Pampanga was her escape from the noises of Manila, but at that moment, in front of her was the new escape from the voices inside her head—the relentless whispers of her thoughts that had long haunted her. It was as if Chase’s presence momentarily silenced the chaos, offering her a rare and comforting stillness.

After their Dingalan trip, her head was filled again by the thoughts on what will happen if they get caught? What will happen to Chase when the laboratory knew that they were dating?

Her mind often raced a hundred miles per hour, leading her to ghost Chase for days. It was always her against herself, a battle she had been fighting for years.

Raine’s mind has always been her greatest enemy, because if one good thing happens to her, she self-sabotages, thinking that maybe she doesn’t deserve it, that maybe all of it was just temporary preparing her towards one great misery.

In case her situation with Chase was the same, she thought that her instability with life might Chase be dragged along the darkness inside her.

For a long while she stared at the girl lying on her bed. The one good thing that has ever happened to me, Lord, ibigay mo na sa ‘kin ‘to?

A soft rustle of bed sheets can be heard, a sign that Chase is near on waking up.

“Hey there, hon,” Raine greeted with a smile, having her hand caressed Chase’s face.

“Hmmm….morning po,” the other greeted with her eyes still closed, pulling Raine's waist into her.

The day went about with both of them cuddling and watching a bunch of films as they hang on Raine’s couch and munch on some fast-food take outs. It was their day off, after all. From crying their hearts out watching 50 First Dates to laughing their asses off after finishing Central Intelligence.

All moments of the day, Raine adored Chase. Her apartment witnessed a new person marking her existence inside and she’s not complaining an inch about.

The following weeks passed, and they followed the same routine, Chase prepares breakfast, leaves off for internship duty and Raine will bring their packed meals just in case they had the same laboratory shift. When they had opposing shifts, Chase always makes sure that a sandwich is inside Raine’s tote bag before the older leaves. While Raine never misses a chance on brewing a fresh pot of coffee.

On days’ off, Raine helped Chase review by asking the younger random questions about the day’s scheduled subject and when all flashcards are done, a movie night will serve as a reward.

Sometimes, they had art sessions to relax their strained minds from all things laboratory.

Of course, with Chase and Raine’s set-up, Jace has definitely had a hint about her friend’s situation. Raine was dating an intern. She chose to observe from afar and waited whenever her friend’s ready. However, she can’t help but worry for her friend. Raine had a clean image, so perfect that even the blood banking head had an eye of an eagle watching her next moves every duty, waiting for Raine to stumble.

At the same time, at peace because it was the month where Raine’s smile was brighter after her 4 years of timing in and out of duty just for the sake of it, it was new for Jace yet it was better.

Since, Chase moved in with Raine, there were lesser times for her to bond with Celeste, Hannah, and Riley, in which this didn’t sit right with Celeste.

Aside from the fact that Chase didn’t even bother formally telling them her newfound relationship in Pampanga, the other rarely even entertains their messages and calls. Celeste was happy for Chase, and she had no issues or whatsoever with their friend dating a laboratory staff. She was just upset having felt that Chase was disrespecting their friendship, plus she covered Chase multiple times whenever her sister Yna checks on her through Celeste. Ano naman namang rason ang gagawin niya para ilusot si Chase kay Ate Yna? One thing was sure, she certainly misses Chase.

Hannah and Riley were bummed with it too, having a romantic relationship shouldn’t be a reason for a person to fall out with their friend group.

But Chase was so into her relationship bubble that she didn’t even notice that she was already spending almost all of her time with Raine. From morning until bedtime, all she thought about was immerse herself in Raine’s love.

“Babi, nakita mo po ba ‘yung iPad ko po?” it was a Tuesday afternoon, both of them were off duty.

“Sa kwarto natin hon, check mo po sa balcony. Diba ‘dun ka last nag-highlight?” Raine instructed as she ties her shoelaces, “I’ll get going na Chasey, may need lang po ako asikasuhin for the lab’s blood donation drive.”

Chase pouted and baby talked, “Alis ka na naman?”

“Babalik din po ako agad, masyado naman akong mami-miss ng misis ko,” and approached Chase planting a soft forehead kiss on the younger.

“I’ll miss you,” and tilted her head down together with her signature doe eyes, making it harder for Raine to even step her foot outside the door. But work’s work, and gave Chase a peck again, this time on her cheeks.

Raine hopped into her car and smiled witnessing once again a handcrafted bracelet made by Chase during one of their “art sessions” every off duty. The bracelet was placed there, to remind her every day that someone was waiting for her to come home safe, that it wasn't just her dog Speed, it now includes Chase.

After checking everything, she tilted her head up and there was Chase outside her front door carrying Speed on her arms, waiting for her to leave safely.

“Ingat po. I love you!” and flew her a kiss, Raine opened her car window pretending to catch it, and landed it into hers. Chase giggled and waved goodbye.

Raine left the subdivision when her phone rang, it was Chase.

“Hey, hon. Missing me already?” she answered through her car’s monitoring being paired with her phone, “Why don’t you invite your friends over? Daan ako sa Wendy’s after to grab some food for you girls.”

“Good idea, babi! Miss ko na rin sila,” Chase realized, her girlfriend was right, kailangan niyang bumawi kina Celeste, Hannah, and Riley.

“I’ll text you after the meeting, babi. I love you po.”

Chase went with Raine’s suggestion and sent a message their group chat after days of being inactive.

mga pinatapon sa nowhere (aka pamps)

never na-late (sa inuman): ano exam natin next week?

celeste: immunosero pati mycoviro

hannah montanga: may copy kayo nung pre-test natin?

cokechazer: Hiiii, want niyo dito dinner?

celeste: WOW NANDITO KA PA PALA SA GC

celeste: AKALA KO NA-KICK NA KITA

cokechazer: Ehhhh. Sorry na. Huhu. Ito na nga oh, babawi na

hannah montanga: babawi sige nga send mo nga copy nung pre-test natin

cokechazer: [sent an attachment]

hannah montanga: okay forgiven

never na-late (sa inuman): diyan ba sa apartment mo?

cokechazer: Send ko yung address ni Ma'am Raine. Dito na us mag-review and dinner. Love u!

celeste: jusko pasalamat ka may isang hibla pa ako ng pagmamahal sayo

After a few minutes, Raine’s friends arrived at her apartment, each one settling in the living room to review their transcribed notes. Celeste made sure to express her frustrations to Chase, while Riley and Hannah just went along.

The sound of a Lexus pulling into the driveway was heard, and Speed immediately barked excitedly, with his tail thumping against the door.

The four of them turned their focus to the scene outside before going back to reviewing. As they continued, Raine entered with take outs from Wendy’s with Speed greeting her by hopping on her legs. Having to witness Raine inside her own apartment, it was a new scene for Celeste, Hannah, and Riley. The three of them greeted and their laboratory staff greeted them back with a smile as she struggled walking to the kitchen.

Chase stood up to help Raine handle dinner, with Riley offering a hand but Raine insisted for them to continue studying and let her set the table for them. Besides, this is her way of thanking her friends for being “patient” with Chase, for being patient and understanding with her relationship with Chase.

Dinner came and the table had an awkward atmosphere. With thick silence, and only the sounds of utensils scraping against the plates. Celeste’s eyes darted to Chase’s every now and then, while Hannah and Riley tried to make light conversation, but it felt forced.

For the three, it was their first time sharing a meal with one of their laboratory staffs whom they rarely had any interaction during laboratory shifts, let alone outside duty hours. And considering also the huge factor that their friend, Chase, is dating that blood banking staff.

It was supposed to be night for Chase’s significant other and close friends to bond. However, the blame doesn’t lie with her friends. They came because they missed Chase and perhaps tolerated the fact that she’s dating Raine. Chase had once been their “one call away” friend, so Celeste, Hannah, and Riley needed ample time to adjust and accept their new dynamic with Chase—especially Celeste.

Chase and Raine may have found comfort with each other, but it was still something the three hadn’t fully wrapped their heads around.