Work Text:
And if it all ended tomorrow
Would I be the one on your mind?
Your mind? Your mind?
And if it all ended tomorrow
Would you be the one on mine?
The afternoon breeze feels refreshing. Jhoanna really appreciates how their school has a lot of trees that give them shades and how tables are brilliantly placed underneath them all around the grounds.
She's figuring out a formula when Maloi's voice pierces through the silence.
"Ariana Grande's new album is delightful." Maloi says, loud enough that she captures the attention of the other occupants of the table. "Have you guys listened to it?" She inquires, her airpods now in her hands.
"I have." Aiah answers with a big smile, just as Jhoanna replies, "I havent." While Colet shakes her head and Mikha shrugs.
"Really? You three are boring." Maloi regards them with a thumb down.
Colet scrunches her nose and returns to her papers. Mikha leans the underside of her jaw on her left palm, her elbow resting on the tabletop. She seems intrigued. Jhoanna follows her example and watches as Maloi beams at Aiah.
"Aiahkins, you're apparently the only other one with a good taste here."
The older grins. "Of course."
Jhoanna and Mikha share a look, silently agreeing that they'll let the underhanded insult pass, just this time.
"What's your favorite song?" Maloi asks, obviously excited and curious.
Aiah appears thoughtful. Her lips pursed while her pointer finger is tapping at her chin. "I would say I like We can't be friends (Wait For Your Love) the most."
Maloi's eyebrows almost fly to her hairline. "Oooooohh relate much?"
"No, silly." Aiah waves a hand. "I just really like how the song sounds. I love how Ariana's singing conveyed the emotion and the message wholeheartedly."
"I know, right? She really is one of the greatest singers of our generation." Maloi gushes. "I love how she transitions between soft and powerful on cue."
Jhoanna inwardly agrees. She admires how modern and aesthetic Ariana is in expressing herself through music.
"It's understandable why Ari would choose Wait for Your Love as a single." Maloi continues. "But her Intro: End of the World tugged at my heartstrings the most, specially these iconic lines," the ribbon enthusiast starts singing, "And if it all ended tomorrow, would I be the one on your mind? Your mind? Your mind?"
On Jhoanna's left, Colet stops her scribbling, lifting her eyes to gaze at the artist across the table. Jhoanna sides eye her knowingly.
Maloi sighs. "It's really romantic and kind of melancholic, y'know?"
Aiah nods. "What a clever way of asking for assurance."
Jhoanna catches Mikha's meaningful look towards the eldest.
Why this girl wouldn't just confess, when the feelings are obviously mutual, is beyond Jhoanna.
"Indeed." Maloi taps at the table. "Say, Jhoanna, if the world would end tomorrow, who's going to be on your mind?"
"Why am I the one who's suddenly on the hot seat?"
The older girl bats her pretty eyelashes at Jhoanna. "Because I'm curious about you, dear."
Jhoanna raises an eyebrow. "Am I really who you're curious about? Right now?" She intones with a knowing smirk.
"Just answer the question." Maloi huffs.
The youngest crosses her arms and answers, "My parents, of course."
Maloi throws her hands up. Aiah chuckles. Colet shakes her head, going back to finishing her activities. Mikha snickers.
"That's already a given answer, you precious only child." Maloi grumbles, leaning back to her seat.
Aiah, sensing Maloi's frustration, butts in. "Maloi meant it in the romantic way, Jho. Like, who would be that special someone that your brain will conjure an image of before everything disappears?"
Jhoanna already knew what Maloi was hinting in her initial question, but somehow she's still taken aback by Aiah's straight up asking.
There's a pause. Then her brain starts painting this familiar picture. Long luscious hair framing a tall neck and a magnificently sculpted face with pretty lips parted in a signature sweet smile, a cute nose, rosy cheeks, and lastly, a pair of captivating dark brown eyes shaped in adorable crescents.
Jhoanna's sudden stop, followed by continued seconds of silence, intrigues the older girls.
Mikha looks curiously at her friend across the table. Colet, wondering why her only seatmate becomes uncharacteristically still, turns to face her. Aiah regards the youngest with a questioning smile.
Maloi, seemingly aware of what's going on inside Jhoanna's head, cheekily snaps her fingers at the girl spacing out in front of them.
Jhoanna blinks. Caught off guard by how the attention of the whole table is fully on her.
"Ohohoho, who had you in such a reverie, miss Robles?" The ribbon enthusiast asks with a Cheshire Cat grin.
The sudden appearance of a Coca Cola can, loudly deposited on their table, saves Jhoanna from having to reply.
Jhoanna quickly recognizes the hand holding the drink. Her eyes automatically trace along smooth, fashionably pale arm, catching sight of a delicate pink strap hanging on porcelain-like shoulder and a shiny silver necklace (which she remembers purchasing) encircling long neck, before her gaze finally settles on a familiar glowing face and radiant smile.
'Her.' Jhoanna's traitorous mind answers.
'Wait, what?'
"What chu guys doin'?" The newcomer asks, her tone a copy of Isabella from that show Phineas and Ferb.
"Hey, Staku." Aiah greets.
Mikha's brows furrow. "Where's Gwen and Sheena?"
The tall girl releases an amused sound. "Sheena said she was feeling under the weather. Gwen and I volunteered to take her home, but that conniving brat signed at me that she wants her solo time with Gwen, so I reasoned that you guys actually needed me for something. Hence, here I am gracing you with my fabulous presence."
Colet chuckles. "Honestly, at this point, I kind of feel bad for Shee if Gwen really still doesn't have any idea about her feelings."
Their friends bemusedly agree.
"Anyway, here's your beloved coke, Jho."
Said girl clears her throat. "Thank you, Stacey." Jhoanna says, her lips slightly curving up.
Her best friend raises an eyebrow, probably confused at the mention of her name and not the usual 'Staks'. But Jhoanna can't help it. She is barely getting a grip. Her mind is playing games with her just now and she's not prepared, at all.
Maloi narrows her eyes. "Hey now, why is she the only one who gets a coke?"
"Because I'm going to ask for her notes, duh."
Mikha snorts. "Bribery. The foundation of JhoCey's friendship."
Stacey haughtily flips her hair. "Of course." She occupies the empty sit on Jhoanna's right. "What else could be the secret of our long lasting relationship? Right, Jho?" Stacey playfully elbows her, smirking smugly, obviously challenging Jhoanna to retort.
That effectively helps Jhoanna return to her usual self.
"I dunno, Staks," Jhoanna shrugs. "I think it's because I'm your favorite." She says with absolute confidence. "Even more than pink." Jhoanna grins as Stacey lightly shoves her.
"Here," The pink lover forcefully pushes the canned carbonated drink towards Jhoanna's lips. "Drink this so you can have your wits back." Her other hand making its way to pinch Jhoanna's cheek.
Giggling, the younger grabs Stacey's wrists, stopping her best friend from manhandling her any further. "Don't be upset, princess. You know you're my favorite everything too."
Stacey appears to be preventing a smile. She squints. "Shut up." Stacey hastily frees herself, letting Jhoanna take the coke off her hand.
"Ehem."
Jhoanna almost jumps off her seat.
Maloi's teasing smirk reminds her that she's being set up. For what exactly? She's not sure. But her gut tells her that she's being set up by their friends.
Stacey raises an eyebrow at the other occupants of the table. "Don't look at me like at that. You girls are the ones who looked like you were ganging up on Jho before I came here." Her stare and tone evidently reprimanding. Maloi and Aiah appear a bit sheepish while Mikha and Colet wear their usual deadpan visage. Jhoanna can't help but be suspicious.
"The audacity to do that without me." Stacey admonishes in exaggerated manner. "You know I'm the leader of Bully Jhoanna club."
Ah, there it is.
The other girls chuckle.
Jhoanna tsks. She should've known. She will never catch a break as long as these people are around.
"Now spill, so I can make it worse." Stacey beams, tapping the table in enthusiasm.
There's no stopping Jhoanna's sassy eye roll.
"It's not really bullying." Aiah explains with a mischievous smile. "We were just talking about Ariana's new album. I assume you already know about it."
"Do you even have to ask?" Stacey puts a hand on her chest. "Ari's my girl. Best believe I consumed the whole album the moment it was released."
"That's what I thought." The eldest wags her pointer finger, expressing her approval. "Anyway, the verdict was that Maloi and I loved it, while Jho, Colet, and Mikha Lim haven't listened to it yet."
"What?!" Stacey shrieks. "Mikha?!" Said red head flinches. "I expect this kind of betrayal from neanderthal Jho and tough girl Colet, but not you."
"Say what now?" Jhoanna scowls.
Colet just nods.
"How could you?" Stacey's pout makes its appearance. "I literally fangirled over it when we were eating ramen with Gwen last week."
Mikha raises her hands. "In my defense, it was hell week. I didn't had the time to check it out. Sorry, Staku. Promise I'll listen to it later, no matter what."
The pink lover crosses her arms. "You will also share your thoughts about each song."
Mikha heaves a sigh, accepting her fate. "Sure."
"Are you two done now?" Jhoanna scoffs. "You're such a drama queen, Staks."
"Oh, I know you love me for it, baby." Stacey's wink is nothing short of annoying. Jhoanna feigns gagging.
Her best friend smirks. "Don't test me, bff. Expect me at your room later, bugging you until you memorize the lyrics of Bye and Eternal Sunshine."
Jhoanna groans. Great, she just booked herself a sleepless Friday night then.
"Colet?" Stacey regards her next target, reaching for the older's hand. "I will donate snacks for your next visit at that orphanage."
"Add drinks and I'll even give you a reaction video."
"Deal." Stacey grins triumphantly. Her thumb rubbing the back of Colet's fingers before letting go. "Maloi, be a dear and guide her through it."
"With pleasure."
"Perfect. I'll send you that lovely figurine keychain you were drooling over at the mall yesterday."
"Awesome!" The resident Bayonetta glasses wearer is practically bouncing on her seat. "Thank you, Staku. I'll hug you now but I'm too comfy here to move. Maybe later."
Stacey waves a hand. "Now, where were we?"
Aiah wiggles her eyebrows "What princess Stacey wants, princess Stacey gets, huh?"
"Don't worry, you're still the real Queen among us." The younger cheekily says.
Aiah shakes her head, a fond smile gracing her lips. "So Maloi asked what my favorite song was and I answered We can't be friends (Wait for your love)."
"Oooh, nice choice."
"What's yours, Staku?" Maloi interjects as she places her chin on her left palm.
Jhoanna takes note of the way her best friend's demeanor turns slightly shy. She's also playing with her fingers, a usual implication that she's being thoughtful.
"I'm torn between Supernatural and Ordinary Things."
"Ohhh," Aiah's eyebrows almost lifts off her forehead.
While Maloi reacts as if she heard something scandalous. "Staku soft lover girl era?"
Stacey just huffs, but she doesn't deny it, causing the other two to squeal.
A strong nudge on her left distracts Jhoanna from the pinch that lingers in her chest.
"Fix your face, Jho." She hears Colet whispers. Jhoanna turns to retort but the smirk on her friend's face stops her. "You're being too obvious."
"What?"
"Your eyebrows are on the verge of having a twin reunion." Colet points out with a snicker.
The remark makes Jhoanna realize how deep her frown is. She blinks, separating her eyebrows, and changing her expression into a neutral one before facing the other girls again.
"Who is it? Who is it?" Maloi and Aiah ask together, both holding onto Stacey's hands and shaking them.
"There's no one." Staku says, her lips curving into something like a half grimace, half smile. "I just appreciate the arrangements of those two songs more than the others." She explains while tugging her hands back. Then she sneers when she glances back at Jhoanna. "Stop looking at me like that, Jhoanna." Her face twists into a wholly mischievous expression. "A bad wind might blow on your face and it will get stuck like that. It's already awful to see your sour face everyday, please don't let it morph into something more hideous."
Jhoanna growls. "Why you?!" She lunges, aiming for Stacey's cheek and hair, trying to pull at something.
The miscreant actually has the audacity to squeal. Stacey just giggles as she successfully dodges Jhoanna's grabby hands, taking hold of Jhoanna's fingers and pushing them away.
"Hey! Stop it!" Colet grabs the back of Jhoanna's collar. "You're messing up my notes!"
The roughhousing duo stop. Jhoanna turns and sees that Colet's papers are now a bit scattered on the table. She winces.
"It's Staku's fault." She grumbles, roughly throwing her best friend's hands away and shrugging off Colet's hold on her collar.
"I don't care." Colet glares. "Stop or you'll both taste my fist."
Jhoanna immediately side eyes Stacey menacingly. She sees the other girl mirrors her perfectly before they both roll their eyes.
She scoffs at the smirking girls in front of them. "Just go on with your story."
"As I was saying," Aiah taps her fingers on her planner, "I told Maloi my favorite, then she said that her's is Intro: End of the World."
Stacey beams. "Oh, I absolutely love that song. You can really sense the vulnerability in it."
"I know right?" Maloi's whole face lits up. "Specially in the last part."
"Yeah, I admire how artistically sentimental it is." The pink lover sighs dreamily. "Ari really used her golden pen with those lyrics. It's a good reminder that it's special to have someone whose company makes you feel safe and content that you would want to spend all of your moments, even the last ones, with them."
Jhoanna thinks she hears a hint of longing in her best friend's tone. The urge to tease Stacey for being deeply into these lyrics bubbles within the surface. Unfortunately, Mikha's pointed and meaningful stare is too intense for Jhoanna to ignore.
She begrudgingly swallows down her jests.
"While also hoping that they feel the same." Aiah's serene smile suggests how she relates with the impression.
Jhoanna catches Mikha casting an inquisitive glance at the older girl beside her. She reminds herself to have a talk with the redhead later.
Maloi hums. "Ariana is such an icon for being the patron diva of romantic overthinkers."
"Hear, hear." Stacey lifts the canned coke, as if cheering for a toast.
Aiah's eyes almost disappear as she giggles at Staku's silly antics.
Jhoanna knows she's in for trouble when, in the next second, her gaze meet Maloi's.
"Ariana's magnificence aside," the artist grins, "let's continue with the story."
Jhoanna can only watch as Stacey looks at Maloi and Aiah expectantly.
"So I guess Maloi was inspired by the song," the oldest grins, "because she suddenly asked Jhoanna who's going to be on her mind if the world ended tomorrow."
Stacey snorts. "Let me guess," she glances at Jhoanna for a moment, her expression undeniably conceited, before her eyes go back to the two older girls, "she answered, her parents."
"Yup." Aiah chuckles.
Stacey shakes her head. "Classic Jho."
Maloi has the audacity to cast a teasing look at Jhoanna.
Then there's Mikha who is wearing that slightly empathetic expression. As if silently saying, "Sorry, bud, can't help you."
Colet is too busy, with finishing her activities, to care.
Jhoanna scrunches her nose in annoyance at all of them. "I was being forthright."
Her best friend clicks her tongue. "You were being a smartass."
"Whatever." Jhoanna rolls her eyes for the nth time.
"Well," Aiah speaks up again, "since Jhoanna was being a smartass," she signs the quotation marks with her fingers, "I asked her directly who would be that special person that she will visualize before the end of the world?"
"Girl froze." Maloi relays with a wicked grin, obviously enjoying exposing Jhoanna's momentarily brain lapse. "Then she had that hazy look in her eyes that gave her away." She playfully squints at Jhoanna. "She was definitely thinking of someone."
Jhoanna channels her inner actress, trying her best to keep her expression blank as Stacey peers at her.
"So to make it clear, the look that we had when you thought we were ganging up on Jho was just us starting to grill her into revealing who was the person on her mind." Aiah explains, finalizing the story.
Colet raises a hand. "For the record, I was just curious why Jhoanna suddenly stopped being her usual worm like self and became a statue beside me." She shrugs. "I have no interest in this gossip. It's already obvious who it is." She mumbles the last part and Jhoanna's sure that Colet did it on purpose so only she can hear it.
She swings a small kick at Colet's shin under the table. The older manages to dodge and nonchalantly returns to writing.
Her inward plotting for revenge is disrupted as she feels a foreboding aura from her right.
"Ooooooh," Staku drawls, draping an arm on Jhoanna's shoulders. Her face almost invading Jhoanna's personal space. "I bet it's Taneo~," she singsongs.
Jhoanna can't help but snort at how incredulous that assumption is.
She suppose since Stacey's not that close with the boy, she's not aware that he's queerer than Jhoanna can ever hope to be.
"He's a great guy." Her tall seatmate cheekily adds. "And you two look good together."
Across the table, Aiah and Maloi nods in agreement. Annoying triumphant grins plastered on their faces. They don't even bother hiding how they're having fun watching Jhoanna be put on the stop like this. She was right to think they were setting her up. These two devious masterminds, hiding behind their bright personalities.
Mikha and her share a look again. She silently asks for help. The red head wordlessly encourages her to hang in there.
"But, Jho" aaand there it is, Stacey's infuriating condescending tone, "we have to test if he is willing to put up with your stinky feet."
1, 2, breathe.
"Shut up." Jhoanna grumbles, using enough strength to effectively push Stacey off her without actually hurting her best friend.
Jhoanna grits her teeth together. The other girls' cackling has her thinking she needs to find new friends. It also doesn't help that despite Sheena's absence, Jhoanna can still somehow hear her chortles. What with Maloi and Stacey almost sounding like her. Aiah's mocking loud laughter just fuels her desire to storm off and leave them. But she's sure that if she does give in then it will be just another teasing material for them later.
Time to use her secret weapon.
She crosses her arms and pouts.
Like clockwork, Stacey coos. "Aww, Jho, you know we're just teasing." Stacey is using the baby talk tone that she specifically reserves for Jhoanna. "And we're just making sure you're not letting your youth waste away on studying too much."
"I'm not wasting anything." Jhoanna furrows her forehead, pointedly ignoring the effect of Stacey's sweet voice. "It's just that journalism is kicking my ass lately so I assure you I don't have time to think of stuffs like that. Besides, I already have you guys distracting me. There's literally no need for more."
"We love you too, baby Jho." Aiah makes a kissy kissy face.
Jhoanna's expression twists into that of disgust. "Can we stop being mushy now please?"
Stacey chuckles. "Your face is mushy." She pinches Jhoanna's cheek.
"But Jho, remember," Maloi chimes in as Jhoanna swats her seatmate's hand away, "there's nothing wrong with focusing on your studies, the same way there's nothing wrong with having someone special now."
Jhoanna is about to open her mouth but Aiah beats her to it.
"What Maloi means is that it's better to accept it if you do already have a person like that." The older adds. "Don't deny yourself the truth, because the truth will set you free, sister." Aiah states in that sage tone that she uses when she's humorous enough to channel her moniker "Mother Mary".
Mikha tries, and fails, to cover her laugh with a cough.
Maloi lightly pushes Aiah with a hand while she hides her giggles behind her other palm.
A bemused huff is the only sound of acknowledgement from Colet.
Stacey snickers. "If I were you, I'd just give them a name." She whispers with a conspiratorial smile.
Jhoanna had had enough of their attention on her, so she turns to the busybody on her left.
"You might as well add your piece, Colet." She says in her most deadpan voice.
Really, she should've known better than to do this because in the next moment, Colet casts her deep gaze at Jhoanna, and then at the pink lover beside her, then she opens her mouth and says, "If Stacey looks at a mirror then she'll find the answer that we all seek."
The three girls across the table burst out laughing.
Jhoanna feels the sudden spread of warmth all throughout her face and ears.
"Huh? What did she said?" Jhoanna hears Stacey ask. She seems clueless at the implication of Colet's statement.
Thankfully, a miracle occured, the loud sound of the bell drowns out their friends' laughter.
Jhoanna quickly packs up her things and stands up. "Will you look at that? It's time for the last class." She flashes them a fake smile. "See you girls later, maybe never. Bye." And with that she speedily walks away without looking back despite of Stacey's calls for her name.
💙💖💙💖💙💖💙💖
"Stacey," Jhoanna's mom greets her with a big smile and a warm hug. "Have you had dinner, my dear?"
"Yes, auntie." She beams, holding out the paper bag that she brought. "Mom made too much for us two again, so here."
The older woman accepts the food.
"It's pesto and steak. You can reheat them tomorrow for breakfast."
"Thank you, beautiful." Her auntie's gentle smile reminds Stacey of Jhoanna's. "I baked cookies. You can have some in Jhoanna's room then take home the others for my beloved friend."
Stacey can't help but clap her hands. "That would be lovely. Thank you so much, auntie. I would rather just bring them home." She can smell the cookies' divine scent and happily sighs. "It's a good thing Jhoanna's not here to be stingy with your delicious cookies."
The owner of the house chuckles. "That girl is upstairs working on that article that's been keeping her up all night these days."
They exchange a few more pleasantries and gossips before Stacey makes her way up towards Jhoanna's room.
She immediately spots her best friend upon entering. The younger girl is sleeping on top of her study table. Stacey does her best to silently laugh at the funny way Jhoanna's eyes and mouth are half open.
Her laughter subsides as it registers to her that her best friend is listening to music, Ariana Grande's Intro: End of the World to be exact.
Stacey's eyes soften. Jhoanna can be such a sweetheart sometimes, when she's not being the bullheaded chaotic hellion that she usually is.
Stacey notices that the chair Jhoanna bought for her is already settled beside Jhoanna's own. The girl must've fallen asleep waiting for her. She takes her seat then mirrors Jhoanna's pose. Her head lays on its right side so she can face her friend while her left hand rests close to Jhoanna's right one, their pinkies nearly touching. She slowly blinks. Jhoanna's soft breathing and Ariana's soft voice are beautiful lullabies.
The last part of the song comes up and Stacey can't help but quietly joins in.
"And if it all ended tomorrow
Would I be the one on your mind?
Your mind? Your mind?"
She gazes at Jhoanna's slumbering figure. Torn between hoping that her best friend would wake up or hoping that she would stay in her dreamland.
"And if it all ended tomorrow
You would be the one on mine."
She whispers. Closing her eyes. Wishing that someday she will have the courage to sing her lyric change to the girl she changed it for.