Ellie sat at the edge of her bed, her room dimly lit by the soft glow of fairy lights she strung up around her window. Her phone buzzed with a notification from the dating app she downloaded out of boredom more than anything else. School had been draining lately, and everyone around her seemed too busy or too in love to notice her slow drift into loneliness.
She hesitated, thumb swiping over the screen, before tapping the icon.
"You have a new match!"
She sighed. "Let's see who you are this time," she barely interested.
Ady, 20. A soft smile in his profile photo, slightly messy hair, a hoodie that said 'Not a Morning Person'. His bio read:
"2nd year college student, into late-night talks, anime, and black coffee. Just looking for something real."
Ellie raised a brow.
"Something real, huh?"
Still, something about him seemed different. He didn't have the usual shirtless photos or the overconfident bios. And he had kind eyes.
She hit the message button.
Ellie: "Hey. I'm not a fan of coffee, but I like your hoodie."
A reply came faster than she expected.
Ady: "Fair enough. I'm not a fan of mornings either, so we already have something in common."
Ellie laughed quietly. It wasn't the funniest thing, but it felt genuine.
Ellie: "So, Ady, what brings you to the world of swipes and strangers?"
Ady: "Honestly? I was bored. My best friend Joseph said I should try it. What about you?"
Ellie: "Same. My friend Ashley made me download it. I didn't think I'd actually talk to someone."
Ady: "Lucky us then."
That night, Ellie stayed up longer than usual. Their chat went from light jokes to favorite movies, family, and even embarrassing childhood memories. Time passed fast, the way it only does when something clicks.
Ady: "Okay, last question before you fall asleep on me. Pancakes or waffles?"
Ellie: "Pancakes. No contest."
Ady: "Wrong answer."
Ellie: "You did not just say that."
Ady: "I did. Waffles are the superior breakfast food. It's science."
Ellie: "Blocked and reported."
He sent a laughing emoji. She smiled at the screen like an idiot, then typed slower now as sleep crept up on her.
Ellie: "Goodnight, Ady. This was nice."
Ady: "Goodnight, Ellie. Sleep well. Let's talk again tomorrow?"
Ellie: "Yeah. I'd like that."
Two Weeks Later
"Okay, spill. Who's got you smiling at your phone every five seconds?" Ashley asked as she react out next to Ellie on the cafeteria bench.
Ellie rolled her eyes. "No one. Just… someone I met online."
Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Online? Ellie! What if he's a 50-year-old creep?"
"He's not," Ellie said, half-laughing. "We've been talking almost every day. He's a college student like us. Lives in Cebu."
Ashley flinch. "That's like a million miles away."
"Not that far. And it's not like I'm planning to marry him," Ellie said, then paused. "He's just… different. I feel like I can talk to him about anything."
Ashley leaned her head on Ellie's shoulder. "Just be careful, okay?"
Ellie nodded. "I am. He's safe. I can feel it."
Meanwhile in a small apartment in Cebu, Ady was lying on his bed with his legs resting on the wall. His roommate Joseph was across the room playing a game on his laptop.
"You're smiling again," Ken said without looking up. "Let me guess. Pancake Girl?"
Ady threw a pillow at him. "Her name's Ellie."
Joseph caught it mid-air. "Right. Pancake Girl Ellie. You've been talking to her nonstop for two weeks. When are you going to ask her to video call?"
Ady smirk "I don't want to scare her off. I like where we are right now."
Joseph looked over. "Dude, if she's real and sounds like she is you better not let her go. You don't look at your phone like that for just anyone."
Ady smiled, slightly embarrassed. "I know."
Another Month Later
The connection between them only grew. They sent photos, voice messages, funny memes, and even random thoughts throughout the day.
Some nights were just quiet typing and soft replies.
Ady: "Sometimes I wonder if we would've met in real life. Like, same university or same city. Would we even notice each other?"
Ellie: "I think I would've noticed you."
Ady: "You say that now."
Ellie: "Because it's true. You're easy to talk to. You make me feel seen."
Ady's heart beat a little faster. He didn't reply for a few minutes, and Ellie noticed.
Ellie: "Too much?"
Ady: "No. Just… I feel the same. I don't think I've opened up to anyone like this in years."
Ellie: "Me neither."
One quiet evening, Ady finally asked.
Ady: "Ellie, do you think what we're doing… does it count as love?"
Her screen stayed still for a minute. Then came the response.
Ellie: "I don't know what love is supposed to feel like. But I know I wait for your message like my day depends on it."
Ady's chest tightened. For a moment, he couldn't type.
Ady: "Same."
They stayed quiet after that. Some feelings don't need more words.
Midterms Season
Ellie hadn't replied in two days. Ady sent a message the night before:
Ady: "Hey, I know you're probably just busy. Just wanted to say I hope you're okay. I miss our chats."
Still no reply.
He stared at the screen, then finally put his phone down and leaned back. Joseph walked into the room holding two instant ramen cups.
"Still no reply?"
Ady nodded. "It's probably just school stuff. She mentioned midterms."
Joseph handed him a ramen. "Still sucks though. You two talk like soulmates, man. You should call her sometime."
"I don't want to push," Ady said quietly. "I'll wait."
Back on Palawan
Ellie was pacing her dorm room, phone in hand. Ashley watched her silently from the bed.
"Just reply to him," Ashley said finally.
Ellie shook her head. "I'm scared. What if we're just pretending something's there? I'm starting to like him more than I should."
Ashley sat up. "You already do."
Ellie looked at the screen, his last message still unread. She whispered, "I don't think I deserve someone like him."
The next night, Ellie finally texted back.
Ellie: "Hey. Sorry for being quiet. Midterms have been crazy, and I've just been in my head a lot."
Ady: "It's okay. I'm just glad you're okay."
Ellie: "Can we talk tomorrow? Like, actually talk?"
Ady: "Of course. I'll be here."
The Next Day
Their first video call was slightly awkward but sweet. Ady smiled nervously, brushing his hair back. Ellie wore an oversized sweater, biting her lip before speaking.
"You look real," she said.
"You too," he replied. "More beautiful than I imagined."
She blushed, laughing quietly. "Don't start."
They talked for two hours. It wasn't perfect—just pauses, laughs, soft silences—but it was real. When they said goodbye, Ellie felt something settle in her heart.
That night, Ady sent one final message.
Ady: "Promise me something?"
Ellie: "What is it?"
Ady: "Let's meet after graduation. Four years from now. No more distance. Just us."
She stared at the screen, heart pounding.
Ellie: "I promise."