Unyielding Hearts

Lia Fernandez stepped through the university gates without hesitation. There's no pause nor excitement. In particular, there's no fear. Just… control. Her heels clicked softly against the pavement, steady and measured, as if she had already memorized every path this place had to offer. At 5’8”, she stood taller than most girls—and it showed. Heads turned. Conversations paused. Even the guards by the gate glanced twice. She didn’t notice. Or maybe… she chose not to. Her fingers tightened slightly around the folded paper in her hand. “Room 204… English Building…” she whispered, scanning the campus map. Left. Straight. Then the stairs. Simple. A group of girls passed by her, giggling. “Freshman ka rin?” one of them asked. Lia didn’t even slow down. “Yes,” she replied politely—but kept walking. No invitation. No warmth. Just distance. Because warmth led to attachment. And attachment— Attachment destroys everything. Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. A memory tried to surface— A slammed door. A shout. Glass breaking. Her mother’s voice— Lia blinked. Gone. Buried. Locked. She inhaled slowly. “Focus,” she murmured. No past. No distractions. No boys. Especially not boys.