The Timing Between Us

Everywhere

Clara

I decided that I was done.

Done stalking Reig.

Done overthinking.

Done crying over a man I personally pushed away.

It was embarrassing at this point.

One cheek kiss from a random pretty flight attendant and suddenly I was acting like a widow from a historical drama.

Absolutely pathetic.

So the next morning, I forced myself to get up early and continue life normally.

No overthinking.

No emotional damage.

No Reig Miller.

Easy.

Very easy.

Except apparently the universe found me hilarious.

After finishing my morning routine, I headed to the gym again. The soreness from yesterday still lingered around my legs, but strangely enough, I liked it.

Physical pain felt simpler.

Easier to understand.

Unlike whatever was currently happening inside my chest.

After showering and changing into a simple fitted white shirt and black leggings, I stopped by Sara’s café for breakfast.

Sara immediately looked suspicious the moment she saw me.

“You look determined.”

“I’m moving on.”

She blinked once.

“From what?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You know exactly what.”

“Oh,” she nodded seriously. “Tall emotionally unavailable man.”

“Yes.”

“How brave.”

“I’m serious.”

Sara placed my coffee in front of me dramatically.

“Thoughts and prayers.”

I ignored her.

Mostly because if I spoke longer, I might accidentally admit that I checked Reig’s tagged photos before sleeping.

Not important.

After breakfast, I headed to the university to process my re-enrollment documents.

The moment I stepped inside the campus, a familiar feeling settled quietly inside me.

The university was beautiful in a way that felt calming instead of overwhelming. Tall trees lined the roads, their branches swaying gently with the wind while sunlight filtered softly through the leaves. Students walked around in groups, laughing loudly without caring who heard them.

Near the Sunken Garden, several families had laid picnic mats across the grass while children ran around freely. Some students jogged around the UP Oval while others simply walked beneath the trees with earphones on.

Life moved so naturally here.

Like everyone was heading somewhere.

Meanwhile I still felt stuck between leaving and staying.

I sat quietly on one of the benches while holding my folder against my lap.

The wind brushed lightly against my skin.

Peaceful.

For the first time in days, my chest felt lighter.

Then suddenly

I wanted to draw.

The urge appeared so naturally that it caught me off guard.

My fingers twitched slightly.

I found myself staring at the people around me automatically imagining how I would sketch them.

The old man feeding birds nearby.

The little girl chasing bubbles near the Sunken.

The sunlight falling against the trees.

For a brief moment

I missed it so badly my chest physically hurt.

But immediately I stopped myself.

No.

Enough.

That chapter was over.

I already deleted the page.

I already made my decision.

I inhaled deeply before standing from the bench.

Right.

Documents first.

Future first.

As I started walking again, someone suddenly shouted from nearby.

“Reig! Bilisan mo!”

My entire body froze.

My heartbeat stumbled painfully fast.

I turned immediately

Only to see two random male students laughing beside the sidewalk.

One of them waved lazily.

Not him.

Of course not him.

I laughed quietly at myself afterward.

God.

This was getting ridiculous.

Apparently now every tall man in Manila would emotionally terrorize me.

I continued walking while trying very hard not to think about how disappointed I felt for half a second there.

Embarrassing.

Very embarrassing.

A few minutes later, I passed by another tall guy wearing black.

Again

My stupid brain immediately thought

Reig.

I frowned at myself.

Maybe I needed medical help.

Or exorcism.

One of the two.

By lunchtime, I decided to eat at one of the campus canteens before going home.

The line was long enough to make me question all my life decisions.

I stood there quietly while scrolling through my phone absentmindedly until the two guys in front of me started arguing.

“I’m telling you black coffee is good.”

“It tastes like sadness.”

“It’s coffee.”

“It’s boring.”

And immediately

Reig entered my mind again.

Because of course he did.

I stared blankly at the menu in front of me.

Unbelievable.

This man had somehow infected my entire thought process.

Frustrated, I suddenly lost my appetite for eating there.

I ordered takeout instead before leaving the canteen quickly.

Maybe going home was safer.

Far away from:

tall men,

black coffee,

and emotional suffering.

Unfortunately, halfway through my walk toward the tricycle terminal

Rain started falling.

Soft at first.

Then heavier.

Students immediately started running for cover while others laughed underneath the sudden downpour.

I stopped walking briefly.

Then slowly smiled.

I like rain.

Always had.

There was something strangely comforting about it.

Maybe because rain made the world quieter.

Softer.

Like everything slowed down for a little while.

Instead of riding a tricycle, I decided to walk home instead.

The rain cooled the air pleasantly while the scent of wet pavement filled the streets. Cars moved slower. People huddled beneath umbrellas. Small stores pulled down covers to protect their displays.

And somehow

For the first time in days

My thoughts finally felt calm.

Not happy.

Not healed.

Just calm.

Maybe moving on wasn’t one big dramatic moment.

Maybe it was this.

Walking home alone in the rain while trying not to fall apart anymore.

By the time I reached my apartment building, my clothes were slightly damp and my hair probably looked terrible.

But I didn’t really care.

I climbed the stairs quietly before stopping in front of my unit.

Because sitting beside my door

Was a box.

Medium-sized.

Wrapped neatly in brown paper.

My name written on top.

I frowned immediately.

Confused.

Slowly, I picked it up.

It wasn’t heavy.

And attached to the top was a small sticky note.

Written in familiar handwriting.

Thought you might want these back.

— Mika

My eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Back?

Confused, I quickly unlocked my apartment door before bringing the box inside.

Then carefully

I opened it.

And instantly forgot how to breathe.

Inside were photographs.

Dozens of them.

Old childhood pictures.

Elementary school memories.

Classroom events.

Field trips.

And right on top—

A photo of me and Reig sitting beside each other underneath a tree.

Young Reig looking annoyed.

Young me laughing beside him brightly.

At the back of the photo, written messily in childish handwriting:

Clara talks too much.

— Reig Miller, Grade 5.