Chapter Text
Stacey:
I arrived late for my first class at my University. The professor was already droning on about syllabus details, so I slipped into the nearest empty seat I could find, trying not to draw attention to myself. It was a decent desk, not too scratched up, with a view of the whiteboard that wasn’t blocked by anyone’s head.
Perfect.
Or so I thought.
A few minutes later, I heard the lightest sigh from behind me. The kind of sigh that said, Oh, you’re going to regret this. Before I could turn around, a soft, warm weight settled onto my lap.
“Excuse me?” I stammered, looking up at the girl now sitting on me as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Her sleek brunette hair was tied in a loose ponytail, and her gold-rimmed glasses framed dark, focused eyes. She held a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other, her gaze fixed firmly on the professor.
“You’re in my seat,” she said matter-of-factly, without so much as glancing at me.
“You—what?!” My voice came out louder than I intended, earning a few glances from nearby students. “Bakit hindi mo na lang ako sinabihang umalis!?”
She shrugged, still jotting down notes. “Why waste time? Nagsisimula na yung lecture, Ayokong may ma-miss sa notes ko.”
I blinked, utterly baffled. Her tone was calm and nonchalant, as if sitting on a stranger’s lap was a perfectly reasonable solution to this problem.
“Well, you can still ask now,” I said weakly, though I made no move to shift her. Honestly, I was too stunned—and okay, maybe a tiny bit distracted. Up close, she smelled faintly of citrus and something floral. Her skin looked impossibly smooth under the classroom’s harsh fluorescent lights.
She finally looked down at me, raising an eyebrow. “Mukhang komportable ka naman eh. Hindi ba?”
Comfortable? Was that the word for the tornado of feelings currently swirling inside me? “I—I mean, pwede naman ako lumipat. Dito ka na ulit sa upuan—”
She tilted her head, the tiniest smirk tugging at her lips. “Kung gusto mo.”
My mouth opened, then closed. The truth was, I didn’t really want her to move. “I mean… okay lang naman. You seem busy,” I said, my voice softer now.
Her smirk deepened, and she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Good. Then don’t move.”
My face burned as she returned to her notes like nothing had happened. My heart thudded so loudly I was sure she could hear it. This had to be a fever dream. Or maybe this was just what it meant to attend a prestigious university full of interesting people.
After what felt like forever, she spoke again, her voice softer this time. “Bago ka dito, diba?”
“Oo,” I managed, my hands hovering awkwardly at my sides. “I’m Stacey.”
“Aiah,” she said, her tone light but brisk. “If kakandong ako sayo for the whole lecture, ‘wag ka makulit. Papangit yung sulat ko.”
Oh. Right. My knee, I’ve been bouncing it in nervousness. I swallowed hard. “Noted.”
The tiniest chuckle escaped her lips. “Good. You’re a quick learner.”
I couldn’t tell if it was the warmth of her laugh or the casual brush of her fingers as she flipped a page, but something about this moment made me glad I’d chosen this desk. Even if I’d have to figure out later whether this was normal classroom etiquette—or if Aiah was just different.
As the lecture droned on, I started to settle into this... bizarre situation. Aiah was still sitting on my lap, her posture perfectly straight as she scribbled down notes with that laser-focus of hers. The whole thing felt so absurd, yet strangely... normal? The warmth of her body, the rhythm of her breathing, the soft rustling of her notebook—everything started to fade into the background.
I couldn't believe how comfortable I’d become with this. A few moments ago, I would've jumped out of my skin if anyone suggested I'd be sitting in a lecture with a girl on my lap. But now? I had forgotten how ridiculous this was. The only thing I could really focus on was how quiet the room was, save for the occasional scratching of pens and the low hum of the professor's voice.
And yet, there was this soft weight pressing against me—Aiah, who seemed to be completely unaware of how she was casually perched on my lap like it was just another day at school.
I glanced at her again, trying to act like it was no big deal. Her expression was so serious, eyes locked on the board as she took notes. I wanted to laugh. Was she really that focused on the lecture or was she just so used to... this? I tried to concentrate on the lecture too, but honestly, I could barely remember what the professor was saying anymore. All I could think about was how cute Aiah was, the way her brow furrowed when she concentrated, the way the end of her ponytail swayed gently with every subtle movement she made.
She sighed, stretching slightly and, in the process, shifting just a little more on top of me. I froze. How was she still so comfortable? The thought of moving felt like a distant memory, but at the same time, I couldn't ignore how much she seemed to fit there, as if this arrangement had been destined.
Without thinking, I absentmindedly shifted my legs a little, trying to adjust my position while keeping my hands still at my sides.
"Nangangalay ka na?" Aiah’s voice cut through my thoughts, her tone sharp but playful as she glanced down at me, eyes briefly flicking up from her notes.
“Uh, hindi,” I stammered, my heart skipping a beat as I quickly tried to act casual. “I’m fine. Just... getting comfy too, I guess.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. But, to my surprise, she didn’t say anything more, instead continuing to scribble away as if nothing had changed.
I glanced at her again, noticing how her lips curled into a subtle smile when she thought no one was looking. How could she be this effortlessly adorable? The kind of smile that made my heart beat a little faster, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything about it. Not when my mind was still caught up in the fact that I was sitting in a lecture with a pretty girl on my lap, who seemed completely unfazed by the whole thing.
Was I really zoning out? Was I really okay with this? I could still feel the warmth of her body, the softness of her clothes as they pressed against me. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized—I didn’t really want her to move.
She leaned back slightly, resting her head against my shoulder, her breath warm against my neck as she adjusted her position. It felt natural, like we'd been sitting like this for ages, not like we had just met 30 minutes ago. I couldn’t help but smile, my heart doing flips.
Aiah didn’t even look up this time, her voice coming out quiet and casual. “You’re surprisingly comfortable. Akala ko lilipat ka na eh.”
“I’m... uh, nasasanay na ako,” I replied, my voice shaking just a little. “Lalo na kasi...cute ka naman.
The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I instantly cursed myself. I hoped she didn’t hear that.
But then, Aiah glanced up, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Alam ko," she said with a teasing glint in her eyes.
I froze, stunned. Did she just...?
Her smile only grew as she straightened up, clearly satisfied with my flustered reaction. “You’re cute too,” she added, almost like an afterthought.
I blinked. Was she flirting with me? Was this... flirting? I honestly couldn’t tell, but whatever it was, it made my heart race even faster.
This whole situation was turning out to be a lot more complicated—and a lot sweeter—than I ever imagined.
….
The lecture wrapped up, and the class slowly began to empty, the students packing their things with a mix of relief and tiredness. My legs had almost gone numb from sitting still for so long, but I was too embarrassed to get up while Aiah was still on my lap. I shifted slightly, but she seemed oblivious, still scribbling furiously in her notebook, completely immersed in whatever details she was jotting down.
Finally, after a few more minutes of me trying to hold back my awkwardness, Aiah stood up, stretching and letting out a little sigh. “Well, that’s over,” she said, brushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face.
I stood up too, feeling the ache in my legs as the blood returned to them. “Yeah, um... that was a long class.”
“So,” Aiah said, snapping me out of my daze. She was gathering her notebook and shoving it into her bag, her movements quick but efficient. “I was thinking about grabbing coffee. Tara?”
I looked at her, trying to keep my cool, but my heart fluttered at the idea. “Coffee?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, trying not to seem too eager. “Hindi mo naman ako kailangan imbitahan. You could just go on your own.”
Aiah tilted her head, her lips quirking into a playful smile. “pero I do have to invite you,” she said, eyes twinkling behind her glasses. “Ginawa kitang upuan for almost isang oras and hindi ka nagreklamo. I think it’s only fair that I reward you with coffee.”
I felt my cheeks warm at the reminder. “I... didn’t mind, I mean, umupo ako sa upuan mo eh.” I said quietly, my voice betraying me as it came out more flustered than I meant.
Aiah’s smile softened, and she gave me a teasing glance. “Good. So, coffee?”
I took a moment, trying to fight the nervous excitement building up in my chest. Aiah was inviting me to hang out, outside of class, just the two of us. This wasn’t a casual thing. This could be something... more.
“Sige,” I said, my voice a little steadier now. “Mukhang hindi ka titigil if hindi ako pumayag.”
Aiah’s smile widened, and it felt like the world suddenly brightened. “Hindi talaga. Let’s go then.”
As we walked out of the classroom together, I couldn't help but feel a little giddy. The thought of sitting across from her, having a conversation without a classroom full of people, was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. But in the best way possible.
"So," I said, trying to ease the tension, "palagi ka bang kumakandong sa kung sino-sino, or is that a one-time thing?"
She shot me a quick glance, that same mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Only if they’re as pretty as you,” she said with a wink.
My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t stop the smile that crept onto my face. I might not have been sure of where this was headed yet, but whatever it was, I was already looking forward to it.
Happy Aiahcey Day!