Chapter 5 – The Group Project
Room 304 of the Humanities Building smelled faintly of whiteboard ink and rain. The windows were open, letting in the late afternoon breeze along with the distant sound of jeepneys and student chatter from the courtyard below. Althea slipped into one of the chairs, notebook hugged to her chest, scanning the room for a familiar face.
She didn't have to look long.
Liwei sat near the middle row, back straight, sleeves rolled neatly, pen already in hand. When he saw her, his expression changed not dramatically, not obviously but enough that she noticed. Enough that her stomach did a small, traitorous flip.
"Okay, everyone," their professor announced, clapping her hands once. "For your midterm requirement, you'll be working on a group project. I'll be assigning groups today."
Althea stiffened. Group projects always made her nervous. They meant schedules she had to juggle around work, expectations she worried she couldn't meet, people who sometimes looked at her like she didn't belong.
Names were called. Students shifted seats. Groans and laughter echoed around the room.
"Navarro, Althea Marie… Chen, Liwei…"
Her breath caught.
"…Santos, Kyla… and Reyes, Mark. Group four."
Althea looked up just as Liwei turned around. Their eyes met. Surprise flickered across his face—followed quickly by something dangerously close to relief.
They moved their chairs together near the window. Kyla, a bubbly MassComm student, immediately started talking about meeting schedules. Mark scrolled through his phone, half-listening.
The project topic was written on the board: Cultural Identity in Modern Philippine Literature.
Althea's fingers tightened around her pen.
"This is actually interesting," Kyla said. "We could divide the work. Maybe someone handles research, someone writing, someone presentation—"
"I can help with research," Liwei offered. "And… structure."
Althea glanced at him, surprised. He met her gaze briefly, then looked back at Kyla.
"I can write," Althea said quietly. "That's… my strength."
Liwei's head turned toward her. "I know."
The simple words warmed her more than they should have.
They agreed to meet on Saturday at the main library. As the class ended and students began filing out, Mark and Kyla walked ahead, already discussing food plans. Althea gathered her things slowly, suddenly aware that it was just the two of them again.
"So," Liwei said, standing. "Looks like we're… partners."
"In school," she replied. "Officially."
His lips curved slightly. "And unofficially?"
Her pulse jumped. "We're… still learning."
They walked out together. The hallway buzzed with voices, footsteps, and the squeak of rubber soles against the polished floor. Yet somehow, she felt wrapped in a quiet space that followed only them.
"You're very good in class," he said. "You speak when it matters."
Althea smiled faintly. "You barely speak at all."
He considered that. "I was taught that listening is more important."
"And what are you listening for?" she asked.
He stopped walking.
She turned to face him, the hallway moving around them like a river around stone.
"For things that aren't said," he answered. "For people who don't think they're worth hearing."
Something in his words struck too close. Althea swallowed.
"Liwei…" she began, then hesitated. "Do you ever feel like you're living the wrong life?"
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Every day."
The honesty of it made her chest ache.
They stood there, too close, too aware. If anyone looked at them long enough, they would have seen it the tension, the pull, the invisible thread tightening between them.
Liwei reached out, then seemed to think better of it, letting his hand fall back to his side.
"I should go," he said quietly.
"Yes," she agreed, though she didn't want to.
They walked in opposite directions. But even as distance grew between them, Althea felt him with her like a question she couldn't stop asking, like a story she was already afraid to finish.