Quiapo was alive.
That was the only way to describe it, alive in a way no mall or café could ever replicate it. The sound of jeepneys honking, vendors shouting prices, local kids teasing each other, and the never-ending footsteps of people weaving through stalls filled the air.
For Kaius, this was heaven, he was used to it. How? His nanny used to take him whenever she went out to buy things his parents ordered her to, when his parents found out, thankfully they weren't angry. They allowed him, but not often, only rarely. His eyes then darted everywhere, at the kaleidoscope of colors from cheap trinkets up to the endless stacks of DVDs and cellphone accessories, the candles and sampaguita garlands near the church gates, and the sheer variety of faces, each telling a story.
He tugged at Eliot's sleeve as they crossed to the other side of the crowded street. "Look at that old man selling rosaries. See his hands? Even from a distance, you can tell they're rough, also... you can see the lines. I'd love to take a picture and write a caption, it truly shows diligence, one of the Filipino traits.Then, look closely, you can see the tiredness in his eyes, but, he's still smiling."
Eliot glanced, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Are you seriously about to take a photo of his hands?"
"If only I could, yes," Kaius said, eyes gleaming. "But I don't want to be disrespectful. Not everything interesting has to end up in a frame, right? Sometimes... you just have to take a look and... appreciate."
Eliot raised a brow, but something softened in his features. He didn't say it aloud, but deep inside, he was starting to understand why people admired Kaius' photography, because he didn't just see, he looked.
They kept walking, weaving between the stalls, stopping every now and then when something caught Kaius' attention. But to Eliot's surprise, even though there were many things to focus on, Kaius wasn't grabbing his camera every two seconds. His standards were higher than Eliot expected.
"I thought you were a photographer?" Eliot teased after watching him ignore yet another stall full of colorful handmade bracelets.
Kaius smirked. "I am. But being a photographer doesn't mean you photograph everything you see. Sometimes, you need patience... patience in waiting to spot something that is not just interesting, but something that will truly captivate you... SO, all you gotta do is to wait for the right shot. The right story." He said sincerely, accompanied by his cute smile.Yup, cute, because for some reason, Eliot finds Kaius' smile, cute.
Eliot hummed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Or maybe you're just choosy." Well, he just wanted to get back at Kaius for all the teasing he gave him. He didn't know, maybe because of his teasing about photography related things... he might see an object or emotion that Kaius could show, annoyance, not just him always being the one annoyed by Kaius.
"Could be," Kaius said with a grin, clearly just playing along with Eliot's jab at him. "That's why you're my partner, right? You're the brain, I'm the eyes.I will show you the things you need to see, so you can form appropriate, correct, and attractive words for those who will hear or read it.."
The word partner made Eliot's heart stutter for a second, but he quickly masked it with an eyeroll. "That's deep, how deep did you dive just to pull out those words?"
"Oh you, you keep teasing me" Kaius shot him a teasing glance. "Are you getting back at me?"
Eliot groaned, quickening his pace. Well, caught but not convicted. Though, he wasn't hiding it and his intention was obvious.
By the time their feet started to ache from all the walking, the smell of fried food and grilled meat pulled them toward the food stalls. The sizzling sound of quail eggs deep-fried in hot oil, so far... the oil was still good, the crackle of turon (banana spring roll), and the smoky aroma of barbecue hung in the humid air, it made them even hungrier.
Kaius' eyes lit up. "Perfect! Let's do a food crawl."
Eliot gave him a look. "Food crawl? In Quiapo?"
"Yeah, why not? What's the point of coming here if we don't try the food here" Kaius insisted, already fishing out his wallet. "We'll try everything. Then, we'll rate it. Like those food vloggers online."
Eliot pinched the bridge of his nose, but a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "...Fine." He was still full but, he couldn't deny Kaius' wide and excited smile and eyes.
And so, it began.
Kaius and Eliot bought kwek-kwek, a stick each. Kaius bit into his first piece, savoring it exaggeratedly. "Mmm... the outside is crispy, and the inside is soft, it's freshly cooked. Delicious, it's still hot. The vinegar is also perfectly seasoned. 8/10 for me, plus one because the oil used for frying is new."
Eliot chewed thoughtfully, then shrugged. "5/10. Vinegar and kwek-kwek are a bad pairing, maybe if it was sweet and spicy sauce, I could give it higher."
Kaius gasped. "I told you earlier to get extra sauce, put it in a cup. See, you didn't want to listen."
"Whatever, let's move on to the next one."
They shared a stick of barbecue this time. Kaius tore a piece, chewing with a satisfied hum. "Solid, this is delicious paired with hot rice. The barbecue sauce is also great, I'd definitely keep coming back for this, worth the price. 9/10."
Eliot frowned after tasting his bite. "Hmm... 7/10. It's good, but it tastes like it was drowned in sweet sauce to cover the fat." Eliot is not really a fan of eating too much fatty foods. He doesn't find the joy in eating it. He'll only get sick from it.
Kaius pointed at him dramatically with the stick. "Were you a food critic in your past life?"
"Maybe." Eliot smirked.
They then tried turon, sugar glaze cracked under their teeth.
Kaius' eyes widened. "This! 10/10. Crunchy, sweet, perfect. Just like what my nanny used to cook for me and my sibling. It's so good."
Eliot shook his head, it seems like there's nothing that's not delicious to Kaius."8/10. It's good, but too oily. More than the right amount of oil, stop eating too much, too much is bad... especially since it's already too sweet, and now it's oily."
Kaius clutched his chest. "Eli, you wound me. Who rates turon below 9?"
"Me." Eli replied obviously. It's like he's saying, ask a stupider question.
They kept going, trying isaw (grilled chicken intestines), halo-halo, and even the infamous "for the corrupt contractors out there"lumpia (spring rolls) from Neneng V. The line was long, students and tourists waiting excitedly.
When it was their turn, they ordered two pieces and stepped aside to taste.
Kaius bit first, chewing slowly. Eliot watched his face closely. He's not trying his yet, he's waiting for what Kaius will say before he tries it.
"Well?" Eliot asked.
Kaius tilted his head, considering. "...4/10." For the record, Kaius Zyran Reyes has a low rating, Eliot almost applauded, he then tried his. After one bite, that's it. He immediately knew why Kaius' rating was so low.
"It's just hype, really." Eliot said as a matter of fact. Well, maybe, it was hyped because of the tagline. Especially since it perfectly fits the current issue of corruption of those under the DPWH. The feeling that, they are indulging in the money of the Filipino people, without realizing that they are causing the downfall of their own country.
Their eyes met, and for the first time, both of them laughed at the same thing, genuinely, freely... just pure joy.
"Imagine," Kaius said, still chuckling, "people lining up for something that's average. The power of the internet is this strong."
That was all Eliot needed to spark.
"You're right," he said, suddenly animated, his voice picking up that rare passion he rarely showed. "Imagine, just one viral video, one catchy tagline, it can boost someone's business.Even if the product is mediocre, if the hype is strong enough, people will still buy. It can make or break livelihoods in a split second. Social media can be a gift, but it can also destroy, especially if people ride the hype without looking deeper.Something Filipinos always do, top 1 in meddling on social media even though what they know about the issue is less than a spoonful."Eliot sighed."If only people used their time wisely, instead of immediately commenting, why not fact check? right? not just, react immediately even if you don't know anything yet, just depending on one source. Annoying."
Kaius stilled.
Because Eliot, usually so guarded, so sarcastic, so stingy with his words, was opening up, speaking with confidence which you can see in his eyes glancing sharper, and a tone clearly displeased. Well, he understood his point, that's why he wasn't fond of scrolling through his news feed. More on, post then offline for him.
And it mesmerized him. The way Eli speaks what's on his mind.
Every syllable, every movement of Eliot's lips, every shift of his brows, it was like watching a different kind of poetry being written right in front of him.
Without even realizing it, Kaius' fingers reached for his camera. He lifted it slowly, eyes never leaving Eliot's face through the viewfinder.
Then, a perfect timing came.
Eliot looked up. Straight at him.
Click.
The sound was soft, but enough for Eliot to notice.
His brows furrowed immediately, lips tightening.
Eliot groaned, shaking his head as if too tired to argue. He didn't snatch the camera. Didn't demand deletion like he used to. He just sighed and let Kaius be.
Because honestly? He was starting to get used to it. He's starting to get used to being surprised by the click of a camera and when he looks, it's pointed at him.
Kaius, on the other hand, glanced at the photo again, and his chest tightened. Not the tight that could make him lose consciousness. It's something that could make him... nevermind.
It wasn't just a random candid shot. It was the shot.
The kind that said more than words ever could. And the kind that makes him want to take a few more.
They moved on after, trying more food, rating, laughing quietly at their shared "too harsh critic" tendencies, oh, well, more on it's just Eliot. He was the only one who mostly gave painfully honest reviews on the food they tried.
The air in Quiapo had begun to change. The sky, earlier blindingly bright with the unforgiving noon sun, was now darkening at the edges. Clouds gathered, heavy and threatening, and the breeze carried that damp, earthy scent that warned of incoming rain.
Lately, you really couldn't understand the weather. Just now, it was so hot. Then later, here it is, it looks like it's going to rain.
Eliot glanced up, lips pressing together. "Looks like it's going to rain."
Kaius, still fiddling with his camera, followed his gaze. "Yeah, the sky is dark, it happened so fast. The sun was scorching earlier."
They'd spent hours roaming, tasting, rating, arguing, laughing, surprisingly, their collaboration felt more natural than forced. Kaius had two or three photos he was confident about, Eliot already had lines forming in his mind, snippets of verses waiting to be woven.
But now, the air was thick, heavy with a promise that it would really rain, it wasn't just a maybe it will rain because it really will rain.
Eliot exhaled. "Let's just head back. We've got enough material for today. Also, we might get caught in a heavy rain and flood in the middle of the road while traveling, you know... we're prone to flooding, because the money for flood control was used to send the children of those involved in ghost projects to study abroad. The others, used it for mukbang content, and the others..."
"You forgot about the ones complaining about the 5k allowance per day, Eli," Kaius quipped with a grin, slinging his camera strap back on.
They wove through the dispersing crowd, each step quicker as droplets began to fall. By the time they reached Eliot's dorm building, a nondescript structure tucked in a quieter side street, the drizzle had escalated into a downpour. Rain hammered against the roof, bouncing off the narrow gutters.
Eliot fished out his keys, unlocking the door. "Let's stay here for now. My dorm's nearer. We can start drafting captions or maybe the poems."
"Sure, no problem with me."
The door swung open to reveal a small, modest space. A single bed pressed against one wall, a study desk cluttered with papers and books, a small drawer chest, and a rack of clothes. Everything was neat, organized, and unpretentious... very Eliot. Very literature major.
The moment Kaius stepped inside, he exhaled, tossing himself onto the bed without hesitation. "Finally. I can rest."
"Oi!" Eliot barked, raising a brow. "That's my bed."
"Eli, don't you have any pity?" Kaius said lazily, folding his arms behind his head. "Where will you seat me where I'll be comfortable?"
Eliot rolled his eyes. "You're impossible." He set his bag down, grabbed a towel, and muttered, "I'll take a quick shower. Don't touch anything without my permission."
"Noted." Kaius gave a mock salute, grinning.
The bathroom door shut, the sound of water running soon filling the room.
For a moment, Kaius lay still, listening to the rain outside and the steady hum of water inside. It was oddly soothing, the tiredness he felt earlier in Quiapo is replaced by this cocoon of warmth and sound.
But stillness was not in Kaius' nature. Especially when Eliot is involved. There's something about Eliot that makes him want to know things.
He sat up, glancing around. "Can I..." he mumbled to himself, then raised his voice. "Eli, is it okay if I look around your dorm room?"
Through the water's muffled roar, Eliot's voice came faintly. "Just don't make a mess and put my things back where you got them!"
Such an advanced thinker. How did he think that he would touch his things? When all he asked was to look around his dorm.
"Got it!"
Kaius chuckled, pushing himself up. He moved carefully, genuinely respecting the space. He skimmed over Eliot's desk, neat stacks of notebooks, highlighters arranged by color, a few philosophy books alongside poetry anthologies. He picked up one, flipping through the worn pages, his brow raising. So, this is the stuff he actually reads, huh.
On the wall, a corkboard held pinned reminders, deadlines, schedules, a few sticky notes with cryptic one-liners written in Eliot's handwriting. One caught his attention: "Wounds are where the light enters."
Kaius tilted his head. That's deep. Very Eliot.
He wandered further, crouching near the small drawer chest. Its top was clean, just a few essentials neatly arranged. Out of habit, he brushed his fingers along the wood, appreciating the grain, until something glimmered faintly at the corner.
A key.
Just lying there, half-tucked by the edge of a drawer, like it had been carelessly set aside.
Kaius reached for it, rolling it between his fingers. At first, it seemed ordinary, a brass key, slightly aged, with a distinct ornate design along the bow. But then... something came to his mind, something that reminded him how perfect the key he was holding was for it.
He frowned, holding it closer.
Wait a second.
That design, the curling motif on the bow, almost floral but more geometric looked exactly like the one on an old lock he'd noticed back in the campus library. The nearly forgotten drawer tucked away in a dim corner, ignored and collecting dust. A drawer no one seemed to use anymore.
Kaius' brows furrowed, curiosity surging.
"Why does Eli have a key like that?" he muttered under his breath. He examined it from different angles, heart beating faster with each second. His instincts told him this wasn't just a random key.
For a moment, he was tempted, tempted to slip it into his pocket, to test it later. But he quickly shook his head. No. I am not a thief and I will not break Eli's trust in me just to satisfy my curiosity.Besides... maybe it's just a coincidence.
Still, his attention was glued to it, his photographer's mind already painting scenarios, framing possible stories behind a simple key. If it really is that one, this could be a perfect story, it might even be the highlight of their exhibit.
Behind him, the water shut off.
Kaius blinked, startled. Hastily, he set the key back exactly where it was, careful to match its position. He straightened, pretending to scan the corkboard again just as Eliot stepped out, hair damp, towel draped casually around his shoulders.
Eliot's sharp eyes landed on him immediately. "You touched something, didn't you?"
Kaius smirked, trying to look innocent. "Me? Noooo. Just admiring your super aesthetic corkboard. Very Eli coded, very literature major."
Eliot narrowed his eyes, suspicion evident. But he didn't push further, just shook his head and moved toward his desk. "You're a terrible liar."
Kaius scratched the back of his neck, well, what Eli said was true. He's not really good when it comes to lying.
Kaius flopped back onto the bed, hiding his grin.
Outside, the rain pounded harder, rattling against the window. The world beyond blurred into silver streaks, but inside Eliot's dorm, time seemed to slow. And for Kaius, that key's image refused to leave his mind.
Eliot pulled out a notebook and pen, settling at his desk. "Alright. Let's draft possible poems or captions for those shots. Which ones do you think are strong enough?"
Kaius sat up, grabbing his camera and scrolling through the shots they'd taken in Quiapo. "This one." He angled the screen so Eliot could see, a candid shot of a vendor handing lumpia to a street kid, their hands almost touching. "It's simple, but powerful. Like a story of giving, everyday kindness.The beauty you can see in kindness amidst hardship.The one where you don't have much either, but you can still share with others."
Eliot leaned closer, studying it. "Mm. That could work. Something about genuine exchanges, the sacredness of ordinary gestures but carries weight." He agreed."Try showing this to the contractors' kids, I'm sure they won't be able to relate."
Kaius grinned. "Exactly. You always know how to put things into words. And no need to waste our time on the corrupt's kids, they won't understand that. They're just waiting for money. They're the scholars of the Filipino people."
They continued like that, sifting through photos, tossing ideas, scribbling notes. The rain became their backdrop, steady and unrelenting. But in that tiny room, the air was charged, half collaboration, half something else simmering beneath. Like electron and proton.Their collaboration acts as an electron, moving outside the nucleus.Proton on the other hand is that something shimmering beneath... maybe the way Kaius couldn't stop looking every time Eli would share something.
But every now and then, Kaius' eyes would flick to the drawer. To the key he pretended not to care about.
And every now and then, Eliot would catch him looking, not at the photos, not at the notes, but at him.
The rain outside raged on. And inside, without either of them realizing, another rain of something unexpected was quietly beginning between the two of them.