UNWRITTEN FOREVER

CHAPTER 5: When Jealousy Spoke

Gwy wasn't looking for her.

She was just on her way to return a film roll to the art room when she caught sight of them — Aileen and Clark, sitting under the tree near the courtyard.

They were laughing.

Aileen was sketching something on her pad, and Clark leaned over, pointing at it, his voice low, teasing. She playfully pushed his arm, smiling in a way Gwy hadn’t seen in a while.

Something sank inside her chest.

She froze for a second, just watching. She wasn’t even sure why. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was something else.

Or maybe she already knew. And it hurt more than she expected.

That night, Gwy stared at the last photo she took of Aileen. The one where she smiled straight into the lens, no filter, no mask.

She remembered how her heart beat differently that day.

And now, watching Aileen laugh with Ethan it stung. Not because Aileen was doing anything wrong, but because Gwy had been pretending too long.

Hindi na lang ito simpleng admiration.

Hindi na lang ito tuwing magkasama sila.Gusto ko siya.

The thought came uninvited, but once it did, it refused to leave.

And for the first time, Gwy admitted it to herself fully, honestly.

Gusto ko si Aileen.

Even if she didn’t know what to do next.

The next day, Gwy avoided the courtyard.

She walked slower between classes, stayed inside the room during breaks, and answered messages from Harper and Haze with short replies. She didn’t know what she was avoiding more — Clark, or the way she felt every time Aileen smiled at someone else.

“Gwy, san ka na?” Aileen texted.

She stared at the message.

She typed: “Busy lang.”

And deleted it.

Then typed again: “May tinatapos ako sa library.”

Lie. But it was easier than saying.“I can’t look at you right now because I don’t know how to hide how I feel.”

She hit send.

Aileen replied: “Okay, see you later?”

Gwy didn’t answer.

She couldn't.

Later that afternoon, Gwy sat by herself behind the gym, where the afternoon light filtered softly through the chain fence. She liked the quiet there — no crowds, no expectations, no Aileen.

But as if the universe disagreed, Aileen appeared.

“Kanina pa kita hinahanap,” she said, walking slowly toward her.

Gwy looked away. “Sorry. Gusto ko lang mapag-isa.”

Aileen frowned. “May ginawa ba ako or something?”

“No,” Gwy said too quickly.

Aileen studied her for a moment. “Gwy… iba ka na these days.”

Gwy’s throat tightened.

She couldn’t say the truth. Not yet.

So she just nodded and whispered, “I know.”