Echoes of Us

Chapter Four- A Day Like Any Other

Lexa’s POV

If there was one thing I loved about corporate life, it was predictability.

Emails. Meetings. Deadlines. Everything moved in a straight, measurable line. Walang unnecessary detours, walang biglaang plot twists.

Or at least, ganun ang iniisip ko bago ko nakita si Fio ulit kahapon.

I adjusted my blazer as I stepped into the elevator, the cool metal doors closing behind me. Inside, colleagues exchanged polite nods, murmuring about reports and upcoming projects. I tuned them out, staring at the floor numbers lighting up one by one.

"Focus, Lexa."

Pero kahit anong pilit kong ibalik ang utak ko sa trabaho, siya pa rin ang naiisip ko.

Fio. Damn para naman akong tanga, kakaisip dito.

I thought seeing her again would feel heavier than that. Akala ko kakailanganin kong mag-recover mula sa emotional whiplash.

But surprisingly? Hindi masakit.

Nakakapagtaka. Two years ago, the thought of her—even just her name—felt like a bruise. I kept pressing just to see if it still hurt.

Ngayon, wala na yung kirot.

Pero may natira pa rin—hindi lungkot, hindi saya, kundi isang tahimik na realization na nagbago na talaga ang lahat.

The elevator doors slid open, and I walked into the office, the familiar rhythm of my day settling in. My assistant handed me a folder with client reports, my inbox flooded with messages, my phone vibrating with reminders.

"Ganito dapat ang iniisip ko ngayon."

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus.

The company has been my anchor for the past two years. This job was stable. Dependable.

Unlike love. Unlike us.

So I drowned myself at work.

Because if I was busy, I wouldn’t have time to wonder—

Wonder if she thought about me after yesterday. Wonder if she felt the same kind of quiet relief I did. Wonder if this was really closure… or just another beginning. Inangyan, ako nababaliw dito tapos siya hindi?

I sighed, typing away on my laptop.

"Focus, Lexa."

At least, for now.

Fio's POV

"Walanghiya ka, Fio. Dalawang taon mong ‘di ako kinausap tapos ngayon parang normal lang?"

Andre’s voice was loud enough for half the café to hear, but I barely reacted. Sanay na ako sa pagiging dramatic niya.

"Ang OA mo," sagot ko, stirring my coffee.

"Nag-usap naman tayo, kaso bihira lang." He gave me an exaggerated glare.

"Hindi ‘yon usap. Kulang na lang i-email mo na lang ako." I laughed, shaking my head.

"Sorry na." Andre and I have been best friends since we were kids.

Through everything—school, relationships, heartbreaks—he was the one person who never left. And I guess, deep down, I felt guilty for drifting away.

"O siya, forgiven ka na," he huffed, taking a sip of his drink. "Pero seryoso, kamusta ka na?" I sighed, leaning back.

"Mas okay na ako ngayon." He nodded, reading between the lines like he always did.

"Lexa?" he asked, not even pretending to be subtle. I rolled my eyes.

"Ano bang gusto mong malaman?"

"Nag-usap kayo, diba?"

"Oo. Pero hindi katulad ng iniisip mo." He raised a brow.

"Hmm. At paano ‘yun?" I hesitated before answering.

"Wala nang bitterness. Parang… para kaming dalawang taong bumitaw pero hindi galit sa isa’t isa." Andre smirked.

"Para kayong nag-mature?" I laughed.

"Para namang dati immature tayo."

"Lexa?" he prompted again, not letting the topic die.

I exhaled. "Mas okay na kami ngayon. Yun lang." Andre didn’t push, just nodded.

"Okay. Pero kung sasabihin mong ‘okay’ na kayo, ibig sabihin hindi na awkward ‘pag nagkita ulit?"

"Sa tingin ko?" I shrugged.

"Oo." He grinned, suddenly way too interested.

"Good. Kasi may salo-salo mamaya. Pupunta siya." I froze.

"Ano?" Andre chuckled.

"Sabi mo ‘di awkward, diba?" he said. Damnit!

Well. We were about to test that theory. I wasn't prepared for that.

Andre smirked as he leaned back against his chair, sipping his coffee like he had just won something. Typical.

"Anong klaseng salo-salo ‘to?" tanong ko, crossing my arms.

"Nothing big," sagot niya, shrugging. "Tamang get-together lang. May ilang kaibigan, may food. Mico at Van pupunta."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "At si Lexa."

He grinned. "Obviously."

Tumayo siya, iniwan ang tasa niya sa counter, checking his watch. "Look, Fio, kung ‘di awkward, dapat chill lang ‘to, diba?"

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Hindi naman ibig sabihin na okay na kami, eh dapat every week may reunion."

Andre laughed. "Relax. Hindi naman kayo pinipilit na mag-usap buong gabi."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Fine."

His smile widened. "Good. Kita tayo mamaya." aniya at bumalik sa loob ng opisina niya samantalang ako eto nakatulala.

The night was young, yes. And here I am sa party na sinasabi ni Andre.

The small gathering was set in the back of a cozy resto-bar, with warm lights and relaxed conversations floating in the air. Mico was already nursing a drink, Van animatedly chatting about some ridiculous story, and Andre casually keeping everything in balance.

And then, Lexa walked in. The moment she walked is the moment I froze in my chair, failed to act well and, for whatever reason, parang gagong kinakabahan ako.

She scanned the room, her corporate presence somehow feeling more composed than the rest of us—structured, predictable, in control.

I inhaled sharply, keeping my expression neutral. We are fine now. I shouldn't put meaning to whatever will happen tonight. Yes, keep it cool.

Pero bakit may parte sa akin na parang kinakalabit ng alaalang dati naming pagkakaibigan?

Lexa’s eyes met mine across the room, brief but full of something unspoken.

Maybe tonight, we were really going to find out if ‘okay na kami’ was actually true. Andaming sinabi.