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"Did you see my latest vlog? The one about the hidden food spots in the next town over?" March was rambling about her latest vlog while we lounged at the corner sari-sari store. She sat cross-legged on the bench, munching on a bag of chicharrón as she talked animatedly, "I got so many comments about how good my cinematography is, but seriously, the halo-halo there is worth it!"
I nodded absentmindedly, not really following her. March had a knack for going on tangents, and I was used to just letting her talk. My attention shifted when she walked by
Caelus appeared, carrying a bag of groceries from Aling Rosa’s store, her long hair waving as if in a movie. She adjusted the bag in her arms with a soft, effortless grace, and her faint smile made my breath catch
"Dan Heng?" March snapped her fingers in front of my face, "Are you even listening?"
"Uh..." I managed, not taking my eyes off Caelus
March followed my gaze, and when she saw where—or rather who—I was looking at, her lips curved into a knowing smirk, "You're staring"
I quickly looked away, feeling heat creep up my neck “No, I wasn’t”
“Sure, and I’m the Pope” March crossed her arms, tapping her foot, “You like her~"
“I don’t even know her,” I mumbled, though my heart betrayed me, racing as if I’d sprinted a mile
“Doesn’t matter. That’s how it starts!” March said brightly, then elbowed me, “You should go talk to her”
"No."
"Why not?"
“I just...can’t..” My tongue felt tied at the mere thought of speaking to Caelus. She was radiant, confident, and way out of my league
March squinted at me, clearly unimpressed. Then, her expression shifted into one of gleeful mischief "If you won’t talk to her, I’ve got a better idea!"
I frowned, dreading what was coming, “What are you scheming?”
She clapped her hands "You should serenade her!"
My heart nearly stopped “What?”
“You heard me! Serenade! Classic Filipino courtship. She’d love it!” March’s eyes sparkled as she leaned in, clearly enjoying my discomfort
“I’m not doing that,” I said flatly, though my voice cracked slightly, "It's not that common these generations anyway.. Who knows what she'll think?"
March crossed her arms, giving me a deadpan look, “Oh, please. That’s just an excuse. You think girls don’t appreciate a heartfelt gesture? Especially one as romantic as a serenading? Trust me, Dan Heng, this isn’t about trends—it’s about showing her you’re serious”
I shook my head, “I’d probably just embarrass myself. What if she doesn’t even like it?”
March rolled her eyes dramatically, “Oh, come on! Caelus isn’t some cold-hearted diva. She’s sweet, approachable, and—” She paused, smirking, “You’ve totally been paying attention to her personality, haven’t you?”
“I’ve… heard things,” I mumbled, avoiding her gaze
“Exactly! And if you’ve heard those things, you’d know she’d find it atleast charming!” March leaned closer, resting her chin on her palm as she teased, “Unless you’re saying you don’t have the guts to do it?”
I glared at her “This isn’t about guts”
“Uh-huh” She straightened, putting her hands on her hips, “Then prove me wrong! Serenade her! Make a grand gesture. It’s the perfect way to stand out!”
March waved me off, “You don’t have to be a great singer, Dan Heng. It’s about the gesture!” She grinned, “Besides, I know you secretly sing in the shower. Don’t deny it. You’ve got the voice for this!”
“I—” I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. The idea of standing outside Caelus’ window, guitar in hand, made my chest tighten. But another part of me, the one that always lingered on her smile and the way her laugh lit up the street, wondered if maybe—just maybe—March was right
“I don’t even know what song to use,” I said quietly, as if giving the idea the tiniest sliver of consideration
March jumped to her feet, already plotting, “I’ll help you pick a song, and we’ll rehearse. Trust me, Dan Heng. This will win her over!”
Before I could protest further, March grabbed my arm and grinned. “Come on, future Romeo. Let’s make this happen”
I sighed, defeated. My gaze flickered back to Caelus, now a distant figure walking away. Could I really do this?
For her, maybe I would
My hands trembled slightly as I strummed the guitar, the notes echoing softly in the quiet of the evening. The cool breeze carried the scent of sampaguita, and the distant hum of crickets filled the gaps in the air. Beside me, March grinned mischievously as she knocked on the closed window of Caelus's house
“Relax,” she whispered, nudging me with her elbow, “She’s going to love this!”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the cool evening breeze. What if she didn’t open the window? What if she thought this was ridiculous?
But then, the window creaked open, and Caelus’s face appeared, her hair slightly messy as if she’d been lounging. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw me standing there, guitar in hand
“Good evening,” she said slowly, leaning against the window frame “What’s going on?”
I could barely think. Her voice was soft and hoarse at the same time, and the way the moonlight illuminated her face was enough to make me freeze
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my nerves, “Uh… Good evening..” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Then, I strummed the first few chords again and began to sing, my voice low and steady
`Are serenades still in style?`
My voice started softly, trembling just a little as I found my rhythm. I glanced up, catching the way Caelus’s expression shifted from surprise to something warmer. Her lips parted slightly, her eyes softening as she leaned a little closer to the window
`Perhaps you’re wondering all the while.
Who’s this fool, caught in a daze,
Stumbling through these clumsy plays?
And out of tune, my nerves betray`
March was just out of my peripheral vision, but I could feel her silently cheering me on, probably grinning like an idiot. I kept going, pouring every bit of sincerity into the song, hoping it would make up for the awkwardness threatening to take over
`With roses in my hand, I stand,
In faded jeans, not quite so grand`
Caelus’s lips curled into a soft smile. I noticed the way her hand rested lightly on the windowsill as if bracing herself. That smile, small as it was, gave me courage to keep going
`My friends in barongs stand close by,
Dressed up fine beneath the sky.
With a song better than a sing-along, I try.`
As I transitioned into the chorus, and I decided to let myself feel the words fully. I poured everything I could into them, hoping she’d understand just how much this moment meant to me
`The heavens are alight with stars,
The breeze so cold, yet hearts aren’t far.
From your gaze, I’m losing my control, my dear.
With this song, I hope you see,
All my heart I give to thee.
In this humble serenade, I pour my soul`
As I sang, her expression softened even further. She leaned her chin on her palm, looking down at me with a mixture of amusement and something I couldn’t quite name. Her cheeks were faintly pink, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if she felt even half of what I did
`Isn’t it just like the screen,
A romantic movie scene?
Aren’t you the star, the leading role,
And I’m the one who plays your soul?
In a tale where love will take its toll`
Her laughter broke through the quiet when I hit the end of that verse, soft and melodic. I nearly stumbled on the chords, but I recovered quickly, my focus locked on her
`The heavens are alight with stars,
The breeze so cold, yet hearts aren’t far.
From your gaze, I’m losing my control, my dear.
With this song, I hope you see,
All my heart I give to thee.
In this humble serenade, I pour my soul..`
As the final chords faded, silence blanketed the street. The distant hum of crickets returned, but my heartbeat thundered in my ears. I dared to meet her eyes again, my chest tight with anticipation
For a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then, slowly, her smile grew, warm and genuine, “That was beautiful,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of shyness
I exhaled, the tension in my chest easing slightly. Behind me, March punched the air and mouthed, Told you so
Caelus rested her chin on her palm, still smiling, “I didn’t know you could sing like that”
I let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of my neck, “I, uh…” I fumbled for words, my fingers tightening on the guitar. “I just… wanted to do something special.." My voice cracked slightly at the end, making me wince internally. Great, smooth
Her smile turned into a soft chuckle, and something about the sound loosened the tight knot in my chest. I cleared my throat, summoning the courage I’d been clinging to all night, Taking a deep breath, I decided there was no turning back now. I reached behind me, where the bouquet of roses had been tucked carefully out of view. With slightly trembling hands, I held them out toward her
“These are for you,” I said, my voice quiet like a hush tone, “I know we don’t really know each other that well yet, but… I’ve admired you for a while now. And I wanted to tell you how I feel”
Her eyes widened, glancing from the roses to me. For a moment, I worried I’d pushed too hard, that maybe this was all too much. But then she smiled again—soft and gentle
“That’s… really sweet,” she said, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush as she accepted the roses. She held them close, her fingers lightly brushing the petals, “But…” She paused, her gaze meeting mine, sincere and thoughtful, “I think we should take things slow. We don’t know each other that well yet, but…”
I held my breath, waiting for her to continue
“I’d like to be your friend,” she said with a warm smile, “For now, at least. Let’s get to know each other first. Is that okay?”
Relief and a strange kind of happiness flooded through me. It wasn’t a rejection—not at all. If anything, it felt like the beginning of something real, something worth taking the time to build
“That’s more than okay,” I said, smiling despite myself, “I’ll… I’ll do my best to get to know you better. No rush”
Her smile widened, and for the first time, I felt like the nerves in my chest were replaced with hope
From behind me, March let out a dramatic whisper loud enough for both of us to hear, “See? Told you it would work!”
Caelus laughed softly, and I couldn’t help but join in, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. Maybe this wasn’t the perfect ending to my serenade, but it felt like the perfect start of something much bigger