Still Into You

5 - Where We Stand

Yunah’s POV

I glanced at my wristwatch. 2:47 PM.

Great. I was thirty minutes late for my afternoon class. Not that I didn’t have a good excuse—today had been a circus.

First, I couldn’t find my presentation file. Then my bike tire went flat. Then traffic decided to chew me alive. And to top it all off? I forgot my ID.

Thankfully, the campus guard took pity on me. Let me in anyway. We’re basically best friends now.

“Ay hala, tapos na?” I blurted as I spotted my blockmates spilling out of the classroom.

I ducked inside, scanning for Ree and Justin. Ree’s my blockmate—one of only two people here I’d call friends. We got close when we were paired for a seatwork. At first, I thought he was this tall, stylish, intimidating guy. But then we worked together at a coffee shop and… well, let’s just say I found out his heart beats very differently.

One day he blurted, “Bruha ka, dikit ka nang dikit kay Justin. Nagseselos ako.”

I was like, “Wait, seriously?”

That’s when he came out to me. Since then, we’ve been inseparable.

“Ricardo!” I called out now.

He winced like I’d slapped him. He hates his real name, claims it “smells bad.”

He grabbed a handful of my hair. “Call me that again and I’ll slap you,” he threatened.

“I’m super late,” I said, wiping sweat from my forehead.

“You’re not late. We don’t have afternoon class,” he replied.

Justin was coming down the stairs. “Professor called a meeting,” Ree added.

Relief washed over me. If there had been class, I’d have been doomed—our professor’s a terror.

“Come on, I’m treating you,” Ree said.

“Wow, Ricardo, you’re actually paying?” I teased.

He smacked Justin on the head. “Not you. You’re not part of this.” Then he dragged me out before Justin could retaliate.

The fast-food place was nearly empty, so we got our orders quickly. Since Ree was paying, Justin and I shamelessly loaded up.

“Careful, you’ll give yourselves indigestion,” Ree said, though he looked weirdly proud of his generosity.

After lunch, Justin left to pick up his sister. Ree and I swung by the National Bookstore for supplies, but I made a pit stop at the manga section first. I was in the mood for something light, so I grabbed a volume.

“Try this,” I told him, pointing at a romance manga.

“No thanks, girl. I don’t even know how to read manga.”

“There’s literally a guide inside.”

Still, he shook his head. Fine, his loss.

Once I’d paid for my manga, we headed up to NBS proper. We each grabbed a basket. I stocked up—Muji pens in different colors, highlighters, sticky notes, paper clips, a new calculator (my old one was hanging by a thread), glue, bond paper, a binder, bookmarks… all too cute to resist.

Ree paid first. Tall, handsome, dimpled, and dressed in sharp, masculine clothes—if you didn’t know him, you’d assume he was straight. Until he opened his mouth, anyway.

“₱1,987.45,” the cashier said when it was my turn. I handed over ₱2,000 and got a pitiful ₱12 in change.

Ree insisted on carrying my bags, which earned him glances from half the girls we passed. He’s used to being a head-turner.

We decided to stop by Taco Bell before heading home. His driver had only dropped him at campus earlier, so I was giving him a lift.

“Bathroom,” he said, heading off.

“Sure. Just don’t peek in the men’s urinal,” I called after him. He rolled his eyes and muttered, “Idiot.”

I scrolled on my phone while waiting. He was taking forever. Then—

“Girl, I have to step out for a bit. Dad’s calling,” he said when he returned. He slipped outside before I could answer.

Justin once told me Ree’s dad didn’t accept who he was. Around him, Ree always made an effort to appear more “manly.” His father’s the current PNP Chief, which probably explains the constant pressure.

Sometimes, I worry about him. He hides bruises under concealer, insists they’re “nothing.” Even his mother doesn’t intervene—she’s given up trying to be heard. Ree’s stronger than anyone gives him credit for.

I was lost in thought when someone slid into the seat across from me. I looked up, expecting Ree.

“Hi, Yunah!” Jacob greeted.

“Hey,” I replied.

“Alone?”

I shook my head. “With a friend.”

“Who?” he asked, leaning in.

Before I could answer, Kit materialized and plopped down beside him. “Hey! You’re here too?”

“She’s a hologram,” Jacob deadpanned.

Kit grinned. “You on a date? Can we sit here? We’re third-wheeling over there.” He pointed to a table across the room.

Rai sat there with a girl, laughing.

So? And why was my stomach tightening?

Jacob didn’t give me a choice. “Rai! Amber! Come here!” he shouted. Heads turned.

The pair walked over. Rai shook his head but still offered a polite, “Hello.”

“Hi! I’m Amber, and you are?” the girl said, extending her hand.

I’m not big on handshakes, but ignoring her would be rude. “Yunah,” I said, shaking it.

Her eyes widened. “Yunah Faye?”

I nodded.

“Oh my God! Where are you in college now? Still DLSU?”

How did she know I went to DLSU?

“Transferred to EAC this semester.”

“What? Really?” She looked… disappointed?

“Tourism. I chose it to be with Rai. You?” she asked.

Right. Tourism. And you “chose” it for him.

“Same course as Justin,” I replied.

“Friends with him too?”

“Blockmates.”

Rai glanced at his phone. “Come on, Mom just texted,” he said, pulling the two guys along.

“Bye, Yunah!” they called in unison.

Before leaving, Amber leaned toward me, lowering her voice like we were co-conspirators.

“I’m Rai’s girlfriend, by the way.”

Then she flashed a bright smile and swanned out the door.

Like… was that necessary? Did it need to be whispered?

Girl, please. Ask Dora to pull out a map so I can find where I keep my care.