Rewritten by Fate

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

LIA POV

I didn’t know when it started, but somehow, Evan and I began to gravitate toward each other. It wasn’t planned, not at all. But lately, we just kept running into each other—whether it was on campus, in the Sunken Garden, or even in random spots outside UP.

It was almost like the universe was pushing us together, and despite how much I wanted to ignore it, I couldn’t deny that we were slowly starting to get to know each other.

Like today.

I was hanging out with my friends in BGC. We had just finished a group project and decided to reward ourselves with a little break, which turned into an entire evening of wandering around High Street. Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of crowds, but my friends always knew how to convince me to join them. Besides, I could use the distraction after all the work.

We were walking around, debating which café to go to when I heard someone call my name.

“Lia!”

I froze. I knew that voice.

Turning around, I saw Evan walking toward me with his own group of friends, hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets, that same familiar smile on his face. Of course, he would be here. It seemed like wherever I went, he wasn’t far behind.

“What are the odds?” he said, coming to stand in front of me. His friends lingered a little behind, laughing about something I couldn’t hear.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart was doing that annoying fluttering thing again.

“Out with your friends too?” he asked, glancing over at my group. “Looks like we had the same idea.”

I nodded, suddenly feeling awkward. “Yeah. Just… blowing off some steam after a long week.”

He grinned. “Same here. Sometimes you need to get out of your head and just chill.”

Our friends eventually merged, talking amongst themselves, and before I knew it, Evan and I were walking alongside each other as we moved to the next spot. It wasn’t weird, surprisingly. In fact, it felt kind of natural, like this was just how things were supposed to be now.

“So, have you made any progress on your story?” he asked as we walked, his hands still in his pockets.

I shrugged. “A little. It’s still a work in progress.”

“Is the guy still as annoying as me?” he teased, bumping my shoulder lightly.

I laughed despite myself. “Maybe. He’s still figuring things out.”

“And the girl?” he asked, glancing at me with genuine curiosity. “Is she figuring things out too?”

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about it. “I think she’s trying. But it’s not easy, you know? Sometimes it’s hard to make sense of everything when things keep… changing.”

Evan nodded thoughtfully, his playful expression softening. “Yeah, I get that. Life’s like that sometimes. But hey, change isn’t always bad.”

We kept walking, and for the first time, I felt like I was seeing a different side of him. He wasn’t just the loud, confident guy who loved attention. There was more to him—something deeper, something that made me feel like maybe we weren’t so different after all.

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It wasn’t just that day in BGC either.

A few days later, I bumped into him again—this time in Katipunan. I had gone out with my friends for dinner, and of course, Evan was there too, hanging out with his crew. It was like we were following each other’s footsteps without meaning to.

We didn’t talk much at first, just a casual wave and a smile when our paths crossed. But over time, those small interactions became more frequent. Whether we were in a café, waiting for class to start, or just passing each other on campus, there was always a moment—a shared glance, a knowing smile.

And then, there were the small talks.

Nothing big. Just the usual stuff—complaints about assignments, funny things our professors did, or which places in Katipunan had the best food. It wasn’t deep, but it felt easy. Comfortable.

Like today, for example.

I was sitting outside a café near UP, sipping on my drink while reviewing notes for an upcoming quiz. It was one of those rare quiet moments where I could actually focus. That is, until someone slid into the chair across from me.

I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

“You again?” I said, raising an eyebrow as Evan made himself comfortable.

“Me again,” he replied with a smirk, taking a sip of his iced coffee. “You stalking me or something?”

I rolled my eyes. “Funny. I could ask you the same thing.”

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Hey, it’s a small world. Or at least, a small campus.”

We sat there for a while, just talking. Nothing important—just random things like favorite films, travel dreams, or which professors were the most boring. It was strange how easy it felt, just sitting there with him, like we’d been doing this for years.

At one point, he glanced at my notebook. “You’re always writing. What’s the new story about?”

I shrugged, not really wanting to share too much. “Just another romance. You know, the usual.”

He nodded, looking genuinely interested. “Let me know when you’re done. Maybe I’ll give it a read.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right. I’m sure you’ll be the first in line.”

“Hey, I’m serious!” he said, grinning. “I bet it’s better than half the stuff people write these days.”

There it was again—that disarming charm. It wasn’t over the top, just sincere enough to make me smile despite myself.

We talked for a bit longer, but eventually, I had to get back to my notes. He waved goodbye, and as I watched him walk away, I couldn’t help but think about how things had changed between us. A few weeks ago, I barely knew him. Now, he was popping up everywhere in my life, and somehow, I didn’t mind.

Evan was no longer just that guy who annoyed me in class. He was… something else. And maybe, just maybe, I was starting to like the way things were unfolding.

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