Miggy's POV
A few months later, Gabriella finally graduated from college. We were just waiting for her school credentials to be released so she could move into the condo I gave her. So far, everything was still a secret—especially about her.
They had to leave Mom with Aunt Beth and Uncle Manuel in the U.S. for now, because Dad's brother had fallen seriously ill. Aunt Beth and Uncle Manuel were two of the three siblings in that branch of the family, and they decided to go there together since they were the only ones available to help. Uncle Manuel had said it would be better to break the news to Mom once they were back in the country.
But I had a feeling they'd be staying there for a while—apparently, they were planning to have her undergo some medical tests while they were there. Honestly, I just wanted Mom to take a real break. She's long overdue for a proper vacation.
Despite all that's been happening, I can genuinely say I'm happy. They say time flies when you're enjoying life, and I finally understood what that meant.
It's been a few months since I invited Gabie to dinner in Tagaytay. That one evening changed everything. Since then, my days have been brighter. Every moment with her felt worth it.
More than a month after that dinner, I asked her if I could pursue her—seriously this time. And she said yes. I wasn't disappointed; in fact, I was beyond lucky. From there, our dinner dates became a regular thing. We didn't always go somewhere fancy, but it was never about the place. It was about her.
When the new semester started, though, I didn't ask her out as much. I knew how busy she was with her thesis, and I didn't want to be a distraction.
Sometimes, if I didn't have work the next day, I'd tag along when she studied at the study hub space, we both liked. I also went there during my major exams. Studying in the condo never worked for me—I'd just end up dozing off. At least in the study hub, I stayed focused.
She only accepted one photoshoot project a month now, sometimes none at all. And that was fine. Her priority was school, and I respected that. It was a big change compared to the holiday season, when her bookings were nonstop. At one point, she even shot a commercial again for a major cellphone brand.
Aside from her thesis, she was also working on her photography portfolio—her final collection for school. That's Gabie. Always going the extra mile.
This evening, I picked her up after her midterm exams. We planned a simple dinner together.
"How's your day?" I asked as she slid into the passenger seat.
She sighed as she adjusted her seatbelt. "Draining. The exams were tough."
I glanced at her and smiled as I started the engine. "Relax. I know you aced them."
She scoffed softly. "Not sure about that."
"Hey," I said, turning to her for a second. "I know you did great, okay? Proven and tested."
She laughed, finally looking my way. "Wow. You trust me that much?"
I smirked. "Always."
She looked out the window, the faintest smile playing on her lips. I didn't need a thank-you. Moments like this were more than enough.
So, I said confidently, "I'm just stating facts," and she just shook her head, amused.
I hadn't met her mom yet. The few times I dropped Gabie off at their place, her mom was either out running errands or hadn't come home yet. I didn't want to linger either—I figured it might seem inappropriate if her mom came home and it was just the two of us in the house. And when her mom was around, I usually couldn't stay because of my work schedule.
So, whenever I dropped her off, I didn't even bother to get out of the car. Besides, it wasn't a regular thing. Most of the time, it was Jhay who brought her home, especially during the holidays when they had tons of projects.
"What do you feel like eating?" I asked as we cruised through traffic.
"Why me?" she replied.
"Because you just finished your exams—you deserve to recover from that mental drain. Maybe you're craving something?"
She chuckled softly, and then said with a grin, "Really? Am I allowed to feel touched?"
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she laughed, which was easy to notice because of how fair her skin was.
"Touched or fluttered?" I teased, cutting into her joke.
She immediately covered her cheeks with both hands, which made me burst out laughing.
"You're annoying," she muttered, clearly flustered. "You're doing it again."
I could tell she was getting conscious again; she avoided my gaze.
"That's right. Let me shake you up just enough so when you finally fall for me, it's going to be for good." That's what I wanted to say—but of course, I kept it to myself.
We'd been like this ever since we started getting close—always teasing, always half-joking, always something more than friends but not quite anything official.
"You better behave or I'll report you to Meynard. I know he'll love hearing this," she warned, trying to regain control of the moment.
"Go ahead. I know you're both just ganging up on me!"
"Ha! As if you don't have allies. You've totally won Jhay over. He used to be my best friend, but ever since you came into the picture, it's like I've been replaced."
I laughed and shot back, "What, jealous of Jhay now?"
She rolled her eyes but was clearly holding back a smile. Her cheeks were turning even redder. "So cute." I had to force myself to hold back. Honestly, if I didn't, I might have kissed her right then and there.
But I knew that wasn't right. She hadn't said yes to me yet. So, I kept my distance. As much as I wanted to cross that line, I knew I couldn't—not without her permission. The last thing I wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable or pressured.
"Go on, keep teasing. You'll get your karma soon," she warned playfully.
I laughed even harder. That's just how we were. We teased and laughed all through dinner. Since she loved pasta, I brought her to one of our favorite Italian restaurants. It was a familiar spot for us—comfortable, easy, warm.
Afterward, I dropped her off at their place, same as always. I didn't get out of the car, especially since it was getting late.
In the few months we've been talking and spending time together, I've noticed something about her. Gabie's not fussy—not about food, clothes, places. She liked things simple.
She once told me her mom used to say she had to be—because she was the eldest. She grew up used to hard work and low expectations, used to managing with what they had. Her father had died before she was even born, so it had always just been the two of them—her and her mom, making it through life together.
***
I messaged Gabriella to confirm our plans for tomorrow—she'd finally be moving into the condo I gifted her when she graduated.
"What time should I pick you up?" I asked.
"Just after your shift tomorrow, big bro," she replied.
I shook my head, smiling a little as I typed back, "I'm not going to work tomorrow. I'm finishing everything tonight so I'll be free. I scheduled this day off weeks ago and already told the office."
"Wow! My big brother is really sweet. I hope the person you're courting finally says yes—you've been flirting for months," she teased.
"There it is", I thought. Always circling back to that topic.
"Why are we talking about me again? I just asked what time I should pick you up," I replied, pretending to be annoyed.
"Oh my, big bro... I just remembered the person you're dating because you're being so thoughtful," she said, with that telltale giggle that meant she was enjoying this way too much.
I sighed. "You've been completely infected by Meynard's teasing. Why did you even agree to be that jerk's apprentice?"
She burst into laughter. The sound echoed warmly in my ear, and I realized how far we'd come. A few months ago, I wasn't even sure how we'd fit into each other's lives. But now, we talked often, met up occasionally, and I'd even brought her to visit Dad's grave more than once.
I liked having her around. It felt like someone I could take care of—someone I could share this version of family with, even if Mom was no longer here in the way she used to be. Gabriella brought something light back into my life. Every time I saw her smile; I thanked Dad silently. Maybe it was him who brought her to me. Sometimes I'd joke that when I kissed Dad's grave and whispered Gabriella's name, he must've been listening, nodding in quiet approval.
We didn't always need to do anything big—sometimes we'd just hang out by Dad's grave, bring food, talk. Get to know each other better. And with each conversation, we slowly built something real.
"Did you tell your special someone that you're not meeting up tomorrow?" she asked, her voice dropping into that playful tone again. "She might get hurt if you just disappear."
I leaned back on the couch. "She's busy with thesis work. Their defense is coming up soon, and I don't want to disturb her. I know how much pressure she's under."
"Wow," she said, dragging out the word dramatically. "Not just sweet—but understanding, too!"
I groaned. "That's enough, Meynard's minion. Leave me alone!"
She laughed again, that familiar bubbly laugh that always made me shake my head.
"Alright, nig bro. I'll stop. Bye for now. I know you'll text me again later anyway. See you tomorrow—mwah!"
"You're hanging up with me already? Fine. See you tomorrow. Be careful," I said.
I was still grinning when the call ended, her laughter trailing behind like a soft afterglow.
It had been a few days since I last saw Gabie. She was neck-deep in thesis work, and with the final defense around the corner, I knew she'd only get busier. But even if we couldn't see each other, I made sure to message her every day—sometimes a short good luck, sometimes a cheesy meme, sometimes just a reminder to eat.
And I sent her food whenever I could. She wouldn't always reply right away, but that didn't matter. I just didn't want her skipping meals or feeling like no one was thinking of her.
That was my way of being near, even when she was too focused to notice.
Gabie's POV
"Besh, come with me to National Bookstore for a bit—I need to buy some stuff," I said softly to my best friend, who was sprawled out on the sofa watching TV.
It was Saturday, and I wasn't in school because I was preparing for my final defense. Still busy as ever. Mama had already left for her usual buy-and-sell errands. Thanks to my commercials, her business has grown a lot. More customers come now—even from nearby neighborhoods. Most of the time, she's out delivering orders, whether close by or farther away.
Mama sells dishes, rice, and other food items to her customers aside from her RTWs. She's even thinking of buying a freezer to store stocks. I offered to chip in for it, but she declined—said there was only a little left to save. When she's not delivering, customers come by our place to buy directly.
"What are you going to buy?" Jhay asked.
"I need more bond paper—maybe what I have isn't enough. Also, folders, pens, and some spare ink for printing my thesis. I want to bind it myself," I explained.
"Did you fix the corrections already?"
"Yeah. I talked to my professor, and he said I could start printing, so that eased my worries a bit. Now, it's just the defense to prepare for."
"Good luck!" Jhay smiled. He wasn't exactly interested in what I was doing, but he tagged along anyway, just to keep me company. Sometimes he even helps Mama when there are lots of deliveries. He said she prefers being with us than dealing with his siblings, who tend to stress his out.
"Are you going to see Sir Miggy today?" he asked as we headed for the jeepney stop.
I didn't tell him that I needed to focus on my thesis first. Thankfully, he understood. Even if we don't meet in person, he texts me several times every day.
"When are you going to answer your persistent lover?" he teased.
"After the defense. I don't want distractions."
"Wow, you have a timeline!"
"Yeah. You know I've been waiting forever to finish college, right?"
"I know, but he might get tired of waiting for you."
"I explained everything to him from the start. If he really can't wait, then it means he's not willing to sacrifice—and maybe what he feels for me isn't real," I said.
"That's not how I see him. In the few months we've known him, he's been sincere. Remember, you said his texts are flawless. Plus, he always sends you food! That's rare these days. Your luck with him is one in a million, besh."
"You sound like you're jealous!"
"Oh my gosh! It's just that he's thoughtful, kind, and—bonus! —he's handsome and always smells good!" Jhay joked, teasing me as I laughed.
Before she could say more, we had to get off the jeep.
National Bookstore was crowded with students like me, scrambling for last-minute school supplies. The semester's end is always stressful, with projects and requirements piling up. Bond paper, ink, and folders are expensive, especially when you're doing a thesis. Thankfully, my summer projects helped me save enough to buy a laptop and printer for school. Though I only earn once a month now, I'm glad I can still contribute.
"Let's eat before going home. I'll buy Mama some food so she won't have to cook. She'll be tired when she gets back," I said.
"Wow, Aunt Beauty's business is really booming since they found out she's your mom," Jhay teased.
"Stop! Someone might hear you!" I whispered, embarrassed.
"Look at your social media—Facebook, IG, Twitter. You have so many followers. I'm the admin, so I know," she said proudly.
"It's not just me. Everywhere we go, people recognize me as the new phone endorser. I still can't believe it sometimes," I said, feeling shy.
"I never dreamed of being famous through modeling or endorsements. I want to be a licensed psychologist. But these gigs help me and Mama a lot. Plus, I'm saving for a house. We're just renting right now, and I want to change that."
We grabbed fast food and ate quickly because I still had work waiting at home. When we left the mall, Jhay and I kept chatting, laughing—the kind of endless talk that makes time fly.
Then, suddenly, I blurted out, "Besh, I miss Miggy. It's weird not seeing him for a few days."
"What? Are we thinking the same thing?" Jhay laughed.
As we walked toward the exit, we passed the grocery section. I noticed Miggy there, talking to a woman who seemed close to him. They laughed and shopped like old friends.
My heart stopped.
I froze, unable to look away. Jhay pulled me behind a magazine stand, out of sight but able to watch. I felt cold and dizzy. "Who was that woman? Why did he look so comfortable with her?"
"Maybe he's tired of waiting for me," I whispered, tears threatening to fall. My feelings for him were growing stronger, but I had to stay focused. Did he understand that?
Jhay tried to get me to calm down. "Don't cry. I'll handle this. I talked to Meynard—Miggy's at the condo now. I didn't go because he was with his fiancée. But we can't leave without knowing who that woman is."
"What if he's just playing me? Dating both of us?" I choked on my tears.
"Don't cry! You have to stay strong. We'll find out the truth," she said, determined.
"But what if he's really lost interest?"
"We'll see. And no matter what, you have to keep your defense in mind. School first, okay?"
I nodded, wiping my tears.
"Promise me you won't cry in front of them. You can't look defeated," Jhay urged.
"I don't want a scandal," I whispered.
"We're not going to make a scene. Just find out the truth calmly. Understand?" she asked.
I just nodded.