Twelve Years Ago — A Rusty Playground in Cavite
The sun beat down on cracked cement, casting long shadows across the faded monkey bars. Rust clung to the metal like dried blood, and the slide had long since lost its shine. But 7-year-old Felicia Delacruz didn't care.
She ran in wide circles, cheeks flushed, laughter tumbling from her lips. Her dark hair clung to her forehead in sticky strands. The world was simple—just her, the wind, and the broken playground.
Until it wasn't.
"Hey, piggy!" a voice shouted.
Felicia stopped in her tracks.
Three more joined in, circling like hyenas.
"You're gonna break the swing!"
"She looks like she eats five lunches!"
"Maybe she rolls down the slide instead of sliding!"
Felicia froze, a weak smile glued to her face. She stared at her worn shoes, blinking hard to keep the tears in.
And then—
A voice cut through the jeers.
"Leave her alone."
A scrawny boy stepped forward. Worn slippers. Dusty knees. Eyes too steady for a kid his age.
The bullies stopped, momentarily thrown off.
"She's not a pig," he said. "She's a person. And I'm playing with her—so get lost."
It wasn't loud. It wasn't even angry. But it landed with weight.
The bullies scoffed and grumbled, but something in his voice deflated them. They turned and wandered off.
Felicia stared at the boy.
"Why… why did you help me?"
He shrugged. "Because they were being dumb. Wanna play?"
She nodded.
They played tag until the sun dipped low. He let her win. Shared his Choc Nut. Made her laugh until her ribs ached and her earlier tears felt like someone else's.
Something warm bloomed in her chest—a feeling too big for her to name.
Before the day ended, she looked up at him and asked, "What's your name?"
He grinned. "So Hyun."
---
Present Day — University of the Philippines, Manila
The campus gates towered over Felicia like sentinels. Maybe it was the nerves. Or maybe everything just looked bigger after eleven years abroad.
She adjusted the strap on her bag and exhaled. First year of college. A fresh start.
She had changed. Taller now. The soft roundness of childhood replaced with sharp eyeliner and quiet poise. But some memories—especially one—refused to fade.
It was the last day before summer break.
She turned a hallway corner—and stopped cold.
There he was.
So Hyun.
Not the dusty-kneed boy from the playground, but tall now. Lean. The same kind eyes.
Her breath hitched. She stepped back before he could see her.
Should I say something?
Would he even remember me?
She didn't know how to step forward. So she did what she always did when she couldn't speak.
She typed.
---
[Messenger – One Month Ago]
Felicia
> Hi
So Hyun
> Uh… do I know you?
Felicia
> No. But you looked interesting.
---
She didn't say:
> "You saved me."
"You were my first friend."
"You were my first love."
Instead, she let time move. One message became ten. Then late-night talks. Inside jokes. Conversations that lingered longer than her screen time.
That same warm light flickered back to life.
---
[Messenger – Present Day, Night]
So Hyun
> Hey, Gray. You up?
Gray
> Always.
How was your first day?
So Hyun
> Total chaos. Vending machine ate my coin.
A senior tried to recruit me into fencing??
And I accidentally locked eyes with the goddess of the campus.
Gray
> lol
Did you survive her divine gaze?
So Hyun
> Barely. I think my soul left my body.
Gray
> You're so dramatic.
So Hyun
> You're so anonymous.
Gray
> Touché.
So… who's this "goddess"?
So Hyun
> Felicia Delacruz.
(Felicia in her room, clutching her phone, blushing.)
Gray
> Oof. Big name. She in your class?
So Hyun
> Sat next to me.
Gray
> 👀
So Hyun
> Everyone looked like: "Who tf is he?"
Gray
> And what are you, So Hyun?
So Hyun
> …background noise?
Gray
> Nah.
You're that one lyric that sticks in your head all day.
So Hyun
> …That's oddly poetic.
Gray
> That's because I'm oddly poetic.
(So Hyun smiles at the screen, scrolling up to reread the last message.)
---
So Hyun
> I kept checking my phone all day.
Hoping you'd message.
Is that weird?
(Felicia, cheeks pink, presses her pillow to her face.)
Gray
> No.
I did the same.
So Hyun
> Oh.
---
(The ceiling felt too close. His chest too full. Words hovered.)
---
Gray
> Can I ask something kinda risky?
So Hyun
> Always.
Gray
> If I'd been the one sitting next to you in class instead of Felicia…
Would you have noticed me?
(Felicia holds her breath. So Hyun stares at the screen. Then—)
So Hyun
> I already do.
(Felicia's heart does a full somersault.)
Gray
> 😳
You mean that?
So Hyun
> I don't know your face. Or your real name.
But I know you text at weird hours, like your thoughts don't fit in daylight.
I know you love the sound of rain but hate cold pillows.
I know you care more than you let on.
And somehow, even through a screen…
You made me feel seen.
So yeah.
I'd notice you. Every time.
(Typing… paused. Typing again.)
Gray
> That's not fair.
So Hyun
> Why not?
Gray
> Because now I'm blushing and you can't even see it.
So Hyun
> I don't need to. I can feel it through the screen.
Gray
> Stop it.
So Hyun
> Make me.
Gray
> Don't tempt me.
So Hyun
> …Maybe I want to.
---
(The air in So Hyun's room turns charged. His fingers move before doubt can stop him.)
---
Gray
> Are you flirting with me?
So Hyun
> I think I've been flirting with you for weeks.
I was just too scared to call it that.
Gray
> What changed?
(He takes a breath. Then answers—honestly.)
So Hyun
> I don't want to spend another day pretending I don't like you.
I don't care if I haven't seen your face.
I care about you.
So yeah.
I like you, Gray.
More than I know how to say.
Do you… feel the same?
(Felicia's heart explodes behind her ribs. She nearly drops her phone.)
Gray
> I made a wish just now.
So Hyun
> Yeah? What was it?
Gray
> That you'd say that.
So Hyun
> So… is that a yes?
Gray
> It's a hell yes.
I like you too, So Hyun.
Even if you're dramatic.
Even if you're kind of a dork.
You're my favorite notification.
(So Hyun's vision blurs. He wipes his eyes before he even realizes.)
---
Felicia whispered to the quiet:
"So Hyun is my boyfriend now."
And on the other side of the screen, he laughed—soft and stunned. Like the universe had glitched in his favor.
---
Gray
> Sleep now, boyfriend.
I want to hear all about your day tomorrow.
Even the vending machine disaster.
So Hyun
> Only if you promise to tell me your real name someday.
Gray
> Someday.
But for now…
Just call me yours.