Chapter 5
It was nearly midnight, and the 7/11 was quiet save for the faint hum of the refrigerators and the occasional buzz of the fluorescent lights. Colet stood behind the counter, her hair pulled back into its usual messy bun, hands fidgeting with a small bag of pandesal.
She glanced at the clock, then at the glass door. Right on cue, Aiah walked in, her sharp, focused demeanor softened slightly by the late hour. She made her way to the coffee station without a word, her movements precise as always.
“Good evening, ma’am masungit,” Colet teased, flashing her a playful grin.
Aiah sighed but didn’t hide the slight twitch of amusement in her lips. “Good evening, Colet.”
Colet’s grin widened. She loved how Aiah always tried to act indifferent, though she had started to let her guard down in these late-night visits.
“Coffee lang ulit, ma’am?” Colet asked, stepping out from behind the counter.
“Coffee lang,” Aiah replied, but her eyes flicked briefly to the small bag in Colet’s hand.
Colet caught her gaze and held up the bag. “Actually… I got something for you.”
“For me?” Aiah blinked, clearly caught off guard.
“Oo, ma’am. Alam ko lagi kang nagpupuyat, so…” Colet trailed off, her tone turning shy as she extended the bag.
But instead of taking the bag, Aiah reached out instinctively—and her fingers brushed Colet’s hand.
Time seemed to slow. Aiah’s cool touch lingered, and for a split second, their eyes met. Colet’s teasing demeanor faltered, replaced by a nervous, uncertain smile.
Aiah’s breath hitched. Realizing what she’d done, she pulled back as if burned. “I—uh…” she stammered, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. “I should go.”
“Ma’am—” Colet started, but Aiah was already turning away, coffee forgotten on the counter.
“Good night, Colet,” Aiah said quickly, pushing the door open and stepping out into the night.
Colet stood frozen, the bag of pandesal still in her hand. She stared at the door long after it swung shut, her heart pounding in her chest.
The morning sunlight filtered through the classroom windows as Colet sat through Aiah’s lecture. She tried to focus, but her mind kept replaying the moment from the night before—the way Aiah had held her hand, however briefly, and the way she’d fled immediately after.
When class ended, Colet lingered, unsure whether to approach Aiah. Finally, she gathered her courage and decided to visit her at the faculty room.
The hallway leading to the faculty area was quieter than usual. Colet walked slowly, clutching a folder of sketches to use as her excuse.
As she approached the door, she stopped short. Through the glass window, she saw Aiah standing with a man—a tall, clean-cut guy with a confident smile.
Colet’s heart sank when she saw Aiah laugh softly at something the man said. Then, to Colet’s shock, Aiah reached out and placed her hand on his arm, leaning closer in a gesture that felt too intimate to be casual.
“Jeremy,” Aiah said, her voice muffled but clear enough to make Colet flinch.
Colet couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation, but the sight was enough. Her throat tightened, and she felt a sharp pang in her chest. She clenched the folder in her hands, willing herself to move, but her feet stayed rooted to the floor.
The man—Jeremy—said something, and Aiah laughed again. This time, she slid her arm around his. Colet’s vision blurred.
Finally, she forced herself to turn and walk away.
Colet slumped into her usual seat, staring blankly at her sketchpad. Her classmate Maloi, who sat beside her, nudged her shoulder gently.
“Hoy, okay ka lang?” Maloi asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
Colet blinked, startled out of her daze. “Ha? Oo naman. Bakit mo natanong?”
“Kasi parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo,” Maloi said, tilting her head. “Mukha kang lutang. Anong problema?”
Colet hesitated, biting her lip. Finally, she asked, trying to sound casual, “Maloi, alam mo ba kung may boyfriend si ma’am Aiah?”
Maloi’s eyebrows shot up. “Boyfriend? Hmm… hindi ko sigurado. Pero…” She trailed off, her tone turning thoughtful.
“Pero ano?” Colet pressed, her chest tightening.
“Nakita ko siya kanina sa faculty room,” Maloi said. “May kasamang lalaki. Ang guwapo ha, parang model.”
Colet forced a laugh, though it felt hollow. “Ganun ba? Baka nga boyfriend niya.”
Maloi shrugged. “Malay natin. Pero bakit mo naman tinatanong? Crush mo si ma’am?”
“Wala! Wala lang!” Colet said quickly, her face heating up. She buried her face in her sketchpad, pretending to focus on her drawing.
But no matter how much she tried to distract herself, the image of Aiah with Jeremy lingered in her mind, along with the sting of disappointment that she couldn’t quite shake.