Threads of Destiny

CHAPTER 03

Mae was walking one afternoon toward the usual hangout of her classmates after volleyball practice when she caught the sound of their hushed voices. She slowed her pace, curious. She was only a freshman at San Deba College back then.

“Wait, you actually agreed to that? That sounds so weird!” one girl said, chubby cheeks flushed as she half-teased, half-scolded.

“At least he was satisfied,” the pretty girl replied, lowering her voice with a shy smile. “The important thing is, I’m still… untouched.”

The chubby girl groaned. “I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t. That’s too much for me. I’d rather stick to something less… painful.”

“Ugh, I can’t even imagine it. Totally gross,” another classmate jumped in.

Mae frowned, unable to resist her curiosity. “Hey what are you even talking about?”

The chubby girl shot her a mischievous grin. “We’re talking about how girls… keep their innocence.”

Mae blinked. “That’s new to me. How does that even work?”

One of the girls leaned closer, like she was sharing a state secret. “Mae, guys can be really persistent. If you’re not careful, they’ll do everything they can to get what we’re all trying to protect.”

“Well, I won’t let that happen,” Mae said, straightening her back. “If I have a boyfriend someday, he’ll respect me.”

Her classmate giggled. “There are ways, you know. Some girls manage to keep their virtue while still keeping their boyfriends… happy.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Mae asked, her face open with innocent confusion.

The girl smirked and whispered, “Let’s just say… there are other options. It might be uncomfortable at first—like, you know, the backdoor… or your lips. But some girls even end up liking it.”

“Ew!” Mae made a face. “That sounds awful. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Only if you rush things. If you go slow, you’ll be fine,” the girl teased with a laugh.

Mae crossed her arms, unimpressed. “I don’t care. If a man truly loves me, he won’t ask me to do anything that makes me uncomfortable.”

“Suit yourself,” her classmate shrugged. Then another girl quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, are you all watching Ravermaya’s concert at the Araneya Center next week?”

“Yes!” Mae’s friend Liza jumped in right away. “Mae and I are going. I heard there’s a front-act band from another school. Apparently, their guitarist is really handsome.”

“Really?” one girl asked. “Doesn’t matter, we’ll see for ourselves at the concert.”

As they left the hangout, Liza leaned close and whispered in Mae’s ear. “I’ll be at the concert too. Who knows? We might even meet a few guys. Don’t be too stiff, Mae. Just… take things little by little.”

Mae blushed crimson. She knew exactly what Liza meant, and while she wanted to argue, a strange flutter stirred inside her chest.

After the group dispersed, Mae headed back to her boarding house. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her friends’ strange conversation replayed in her mind, tangled with the image of the mysterious guitarist she hadn’t even met yet.

At that same moment, across the city…

A punching bag rattled under the force of heavy blows. A young woman with sharp, bobcat-styled hair drove punch after punch, kick after kick into the bag. She was beautiful in her own right, tall, elegant, with a striking presence that demanded attention.

Michelle wasn’t just good at martial arts; she was skilled with weapons, close combat, and self-defense tactics, all drilled into her since childhood by her father, a former member of the Philippine Scout Rangers. He’d been dismissed from the service after a botched operation, but his discipline lived on in her.

“Michelle! I’m in love!”

Michelle froze mid-punch, whipping around at the sound of the young voice.

“What? You’re what?” she asked, hands still raised. “Wait, wait—maybe you mean you have a crush?”

“Not a crush!” the girl replied with a grin so wide it nearly split her face. “I really fell in love for the first time!”

Michelle rolled her eyes. “At fifteen? Oh, come on, Kryztal. You don’t even know what love is. I’m eighteen and I’ve never been in love, so trust me, what you’re feeling? It’s a crush. Totally different.”

Kryztal, Michelle’s ward pouted. Like Michelle, she had a bobcat haircut and striking features, though her youth gave her a softer, almost doll-like charm. “How would you know the difference if you’ve never been in love yourself?”

Michelle smirked. “Easy. I asked Google.”

Kryztal groaned. “You’re impossible.”

But Michelle’s expression softened. “Look, it’s fine to have a crush. But don’t let it consume you, okay? You know what the doctor said about your condition. You have to keep your emotions in check.”

“I know,” Kryztal said, a little sheepishly. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Michelle tilted her head. “So… who’s this guy anyway?”

Kryztal’s eyes lit up. “It happened in the canteen…”

She told Michelle the story: she’d been carrying a stack of books when a tall, long-haired guy had accidentally bumped into her, sending everything crashing to the floor. She’d been ready to snap at him—until she looked up.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, miss!” he said, crouching down to help gather her books.

Kryztal froze. He was handsome, ridiculously so. His posture, his smile, the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her, it was like something out of a movie.

“I-It’s okay,” she managed. “You seem like you’re in a hurry.”

“Yeah, I’ve got an exam later… and a gig tonight,” he said with an easy grin.

“A gig?” she asked, suddenly curious.

“Yeah. I’m John, senior engineering student at Eastern University. Music’s just my side thing.”

They shook hands. Kryztal introduced herself shyly, admitting she was only a ninth grader. Before John could say more, one of his bandmates called him over.

“John! Let’s go, we’re late for rehearsal!”

“Coming!” he shouted back, then turned to Kryztal. “Sorry, I have to go. We’re playing as the front act for Ravermaya next week at the Araneya Center. You should come. I’d like to see you there.”

“Okay,” Kryztal answered softly, her heart racing.

Michelle listened, stunned, as Kryztal finished the story.

“You bumped into a guy and fell in love instantly?” Michelle said, incredulous.

Kryztal only giggled. “So? He was amazing. And you’re coming with me to the concert, right?”

Michelle sighed but smiled. “Fine. We’ll go. But we’re home by ten or your uncle will kill us.”

Kryztal squealed and hugged her. “Thanks, Michelle! You’re the best big sister ever.”

Michelle shook her head but couldn’t help smiling. Kryztal and her sisters, Kryzel and Kryzette, were triplets—but so different. Kryzel was bubbly and easygoing like Kryztal, but Kryzette… was another story. Aloof. Unpredictable. Brilliant, yes, but shrouded in mystery.

And Michelle had a gut feeling—one day, that mystery would pull them all into something far deeper than just a concert.

That evening.....

The phone buzzed on Yvette’s desk, and she picked it up without glancing at the screen. “Hello?” she said, half-distracted with her notes.

“Yvette?” a familiar voice said, warm and steady. “It’s John.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “John! Hi! How are you?”

“Better now that I’m talking to you,” he said lightly, and she caught the teasing in his tone.

She laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re impossible.”

“I might be,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Anyway… I’m calling because my band is going to play as a guest in Ravermaya’s concert at the university next week. And I wanted to see if… well, if you’d like to come.”

Yvette’s eyes lit up. “You want me to come?” she asked, voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.

“Of course! It wouldn’t be the same without you there. You can see me completely in my element… not just nerdy electronics guy or Harold’s friend,” he teased.

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” she said, grinning so wide it made her cheeks ache. “I’ll come to Manila just to watch you play. I can’t wait to see you on stage, John. You always amaze me.”

John’s laugh was soft, almost shy. “Well… I hope I don’t embarrass myself. But knowing you’ll be there makes me feel braver.”

Yvette bit her lip, her heart fluttering. “You won’t embarrass yourself. You’re… you’re John. And your music… it’s amazing. I wouldn’t miss it.”

There was a pause on the line, and she could almost hear him smiling. “I’m glad. Really. It’ll be fun. Maybe you can bring a friend if you like… though, honestly, I’d rather you be the only one I see in the crowd.”

Yvette felt warmth bloom in her chest. “You’ve got it. Just me, cheering the loudest,” she said, laughing softly.

“Perfect,” John said. “I’ll see you next week, then.”

“Can’t wait!” she replied, her voice full of happiness. “Thanks for inviting me, John. I’ll be counting the days.”

“Good. And… Yvette?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for always believing in me… even from afar.”

Her heart skipped again. “Always, John. Always.”

They hung up, and Yvette leaned back in her chair, a wide smile on her face. Her thoughts were already racing—what she would wear, how she would get the best spot in the audience, and, of course, the thrill of seeing him perform live.

That concert wasn’t just a gig anymore. It was a chance to be close to him, to see the side of John that few got to witness, and she couldn’t wait.