Author's POV.
It had been a few days since Tesha's birthday gala — the one where Boni and her friends hung out, laughed, and met a few new faces. By now, she had already forgotten about it.
Her attention had shifted back to her usual routine — long hours spent watching anime, Korean dramas, and Chinese series that seemed endless. Every night she'd whisper the same lie to herself: "One last episode before I sleep." But by the time the ending rolled, the sun was already up — and her eyes, tired and red, begged for rest she never gave.
That morning was no different. She woke up late again — as always. No time for a bath. She brushed her teeth, slipped into her uniform, and hurried to Tesha's house so they could walk to school together.
While waiting outside Tesha's gate, she scrolled through her phone and suddenly remembered something.
> "Tesha," she started lazily, "someone added me three days ago. You know this… Calixto Alfonso?"
Tesha furrowed her brows, trying to recall.
> "Hmm? I don't think so—wait! That's the guy from the mall! Clay's friend!"
Boni looked up briefly.
> "Ah."
That was all. Just ah.
No smile, no curiosity — just that plain, emotionless tone that said she didn't really care.
Because she didn't.
Or at least, she kept telling herself she didn't.
They continued walking to school, chatting about random things. By the end of the day, the name Calixto Alfonso had already slipped from her mind again.
That night, when she got home, she opened her social media — and saw a message waiting.
> Clay: Best, can you please accept Calixto Alfonso friend request?
Boni: Why? Who's that?
She knew exactly who. But admitting it meant caring — and she didn't want to care.
> Clay: He just wants to be friends.
Boni: I already have friends.
Clay: Come on, he wants to know you better.
Boni sighed, her thumb hovering over the keyboard.
> "What's the point?" she muttered, half to herself.
She didn't like this kind of thing — the whole "someone wants to know you" setup. It made her uneasy. Like she was being pushed toward something she didn't ask for.
> "He's not even into me anyway," she said softly, convincing herself, a small frown forming.
"Fine."
She tapped Confirm.
Friend request accepted.
---
Calixto's POV
We were on a short family vacation — the kind that's supposed to help you relax but somehow just gives you more time to overthink. I was sitting by the balcony, watching the sunset melt into the sea.
It had been three days since I sent her that friend request.
Still nothing.
> "Guess that's a no, huh," I murmured, letting out a dry laugh.
I looked down at the messy research paper I was supposed to be finishing. Researching while on vacation. Productive, right?
But no matter how many sentences I wrote, my thoughts kept circling back to her — that quiet girl who barely said a word, who stood behind the others like she didn't belong there… yet somehow drew my eyes more than anyone else.
Then, out of nowhere, my phone buzzed.
A notification.
"Boni Gel accepted your friend request."
> "Huh?"
I blinked. Stared at the screen again.
> "HUH?!"
My heart jumped. And for the first time that day, I smiled without even realizing it.
The sea breeze felt warmer all of a sudden.
Like something small — and maybe a little dangerous — had just begun.