Chapter 3
1069 Words
Wednesday – 6:22 AM – Aira’s Journal Entry
> “Something’s changing.
I don’t know if it’s me.
Or if it’s him.
Or maybe… it’s the way I’m starting to let the world in again.”
7:18 AM – Campus Pathway
“Good morning,” bati ni Calix habang sabay silang naglalakad.
“Hmm,” Aira replied, sipping her coffee. She was quieter today—but not cold.
“Di ka pa fully gising?” tanong niya.
“Hindi naman. Iniisip ko lang…”
“About?”
“Things,” she said vaguely, but Calix didn’t press.
That’s what she liked—he never demanded answers she wasn’t ready to give.
Flashback – Aira, 17 Years Old
“Sabihin mo na lang kung may iba ka na!” sigaw niya kay Jed, habang umiiyak sa tapat ng gate.
“Wala! Pero nakakapagod ka na!”
And in that moment, she swore:
Never again would she make someone prove their love by chasing after her tears.
Back to Present – Calix’s POV
She doesn’t talk much.
But I listen anyway.
Sometimes, you don’t fall for the girl who smiles the brightest.
You fall for the one who rarely smiles—because when she does, it feels like sunrise after endless rain.
And Aira was like that.
Wounded. Distant.
But beautiful in the way she still showed up, despite it all.
10:51 AM – Mid-class Break
They sat under the big tree near the building steps.
Calix shared his sandwich without asking.
Aira blinked. “Anong meron?”
“Wala. Gutom ka na, obvious,” he teased lightly.
She rolled her eyes, but took the half-sandwich anyway.
> “Thank you.”
The words were small. But real.
And from someone like Aira?
They meant more than a thousand sweet lines.
4:27 PM – Chat with Mira
AIRA:
Calix is weird. Hindi siya sweet sa normal way.
MIRA 🌼:
Define weird.
AIRA:
He remembers the little things. Hindi siya showy, pero parang lagi siyang nandyan… quietly.
MIRA 🌼:
Girl. That’s not weird. That’s rare.
7:08 PM – Calix, Walking Home Alone
Nasa ilalim siya ng streetlights, bitbit ang earphones pero wala ring music.
Same habit. Just like her.
He smiled.
> “I don’t want to fix her. I just want to stay… so she doesn’t have to heal alone.”
Thursday – 3:18 PM – Campus Library
Tahimik sa loob. Ang tunog ng aircon at pagbalikwas ng pahina lang ang maririnig. Perfect spot for someone like Aira—quiet, focused, invisible.
She sat in the farthest corner, tucked between two shelves. Gusto lang niyang matapos ang readings niya for lit. Hindi niya inaasahan na may darating pa.
Pero dumating nga.
Si Calix.
Hindi siya nagulat.
Hindi rin natuwa.
Pero hindi rin siya tumanggi.
“Pwede?” tanong ni Calix habang hawak ang dalawa nilang required readings.
Aira nodded. “Sure.”
Umupo siya sa tapat ni Aira. Walang ibang bitbit kundi libro at tahimik na presensya. Hindi siya nagtatanong kung okay lang. Hindi rin siya nagpaparamdam na may kailangan siyang sabihin.
And that… was comforting.
3:41 PM – The Unspoken Warmth
They read in silence. Occasionally, Aira would glance at him.
Si Calix, seryoso sa binabasa. Minsan may kinukuhang note. Minsan, napapangiti sa linya sa book.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero may parte sa kanya na kalmado. Mas magaan.
Hindi niya kailangang magpaliwanag.
Hindi siya tinitingnan para husgahan.
Hindi siya pinipilit magsalita.
Flashback – Aira, 20 Years Old
“Ang dami mong walls,” sabi ng last boyfriend niya.
“I needed them.”
“Hindi ka magiging masaya kung ganyan ka forever.”
Pero mali siya.
Aira wasn't unhappy.
She was protecting herself.
Back to Present – Calix’s POV
Napatingin si Calix sa kanya nang bahagyang nauntog si Aira sa mesa habang nagyuyuko.
“Okay ka lang?” tanong niya, pabulong.
Tumango si Aira. “Oo. Babad na lang siguro mata ko.”
Tahimik. Then Calix pulled out a small candy from his pocket.
Mint.
“Here.”
Aira blinked. “Bakit?”
“Wala lang. Pang-refresh ng brain,” sabay ngiti.
She hesitated. But took it.
Calix didn’t even stare after giving it. Nagbasa ulit siya.
At doon napaisip si Aira.
This is the first time someone gave without asking anything back.
4:12 PM – Rain Again
Paglabas nila ng library, umuulan ulit.
Calix didn’t bring an umbrella this time. Si Aira rin, wala.
Pareho silang napangiti. “Déjà vu,” sabay sabi.
They stood under the covered walk, both staring out at the rain.
“Ayoko pa umuwi,” bulong ni Aira.
Calix didn’t respond agad. Pero hindi rin siya umalis.
They sat at the bench. Walang ingay. Walang cellphone. Walang pakialam sa paligid.
Aira rested her chin on her knees.
“Pagod na pala ako,” bulong niya.
“Sa ano?” tanong ni Calix, tahimik ang tono.
“Sa pag-aadjust para sa mga taong hindi naman kailanman nag-stay.”
The Turning Point
Calix looked at her—really looked.
“You don’t have to adjust for me.”
Napatingin si Aira sa kanya.
“I mean it,” dagdag niya. “Kung anong kaya mong ibigay, ‘yun lang. Kung hindi pa ngayon, okay lang.”
And those words… felt like balm to her bruised self.
She bit her lip. “Bakit ka ganyan?”
Calix chuckled. “Saang parte?”
“Yung parang… hindi ka takot sa walls ng tao.”
“Siguro kasi, hindi lahat ng walls had to be broken. Some just need to be leaned on… until the one inside feels safe enough to open the door.”
Aira stared at him.
Then she smiled.
Kaunti lang. Pero totoo.
6:09 PM – Dorm Chat with Mira
AIRA:
He makes me feel calm.
MIRA 🌼:
LORD. AMEN. THIS IS IT.
AIRA:
Pero scary pa rin.
MIRA 🌼:
It will be. Pero love that’s right won’t pressure you. It will just... wait.
Calix’s POV – That Night – 10:23 PM
He stared at his phone.
No reply yet from Aira.
But that’s okay.
He wasn’t looking for validation.
He just hoped…
she went to bed tonight feeling a little less alone.
Aira POV
She wrote on a fresh page.
> “Today wasn’t loud.
But it was warm.
I didn’t fall.
I just sat beside someone who didn’t make me want to run.”
And for Aira,
that was more than enough.
- Writer
