Chapter Text
It was one of those chaotic mornings where nothing seemed to go right for Stacey Sevilla. Her alarm clock betrayed her (again), her favorite nude lipstick was missing (how could she go out looking basic?), and her freshly polished heels felt just a tad too tight. To top it all off, she was running late for her 8:00 AM pharmacology submission.
Clutching her folder close to her chest, Stacey bolted through the crowded halls of St. Elena University, heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. “Excuse me! Sorry! Excuse me!” she said, navigating through clusters of students who had far too much time to hang out near the stairwell.
And then it happened.
One wrong step, one slippery tile, and Stacey felt her ankle twist. Her arms flailed as she desperately tried to grab onto the railing, but instead, she landed with a very unladylike thud on the stairwell landing.
“Ugh, great! Ang ganda ng pasok sa araw ko!” she muttered under her breath, wincing as she inspected her ankle.
The crowd around her barely paid attention—except for one person.
“Miss, okay ka lang?”
Stacey looked up and froze. Standing above her was a tall girl with neatly tied hair, a black SSG polo tucked into faded jeans, and a first-aid kit slung over one shoulder. She looked oddly calm, like someone who knew exactly what to do in emergencies.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Stacey said quickly, trying to stand but wincing again when she put weight on her foot.
“Sure ka? Kasi mukhang hindi,” the girl replied, her lips quirking into an amused smile. She crouched down beside Stacey, pulling out a roll of bandage from her kit. “Patingin nga.”
Stacey hesitated. “H-Hindi na! Kaya ko na ‘to—”
“Miss,” the girl interrupted, her tone firm but not unkind. “Nursing student ka, ‘di ba? Alam mo naman siguro na dapat i-elevate at i-wrap ang sprained ankle, ‘di ba?”
Stacey blinked. “Paano mo nalaman?”
The girl smirked. “You’re wearing a nursing pin, plus ang daming alcohol spray sa bag mo. Gusto mo pa ba ng iba pang clues?”
Before Stacey could protest, the girl had already wrapped a bandage snugly around her ankle. Her movements were quick but gentle, and Stacey couldn’t help but notice how steady her hands were.
“Name’s Aiah, by the way. SSG Vice President, Engineering Department,” she said casually, tightening the bandage. “You might want to wear flats next time, Miss Nursing.”
“I—uh—thanks,” Stacey mumbled, too flustered to come up with a witty comeback.
Aiah stood, offering a hand to help her up. Stacey hesitated for a split second before accepting it, noticing how surprisingly warm Aiah’s hand felt against hers.
“Anyway, ingat ka. At baka gusto mong dumiretso sa clinic para ma-check nang maayos,” Aiah said with a small smile before walking off, her first-aid kit swinging with each step.
Stacey stood there for a moment, her mind racing.
“SSG Vice President ng Engineering?” she muttered to herself, brushing imaginary dust off her uniform. “Ugh, ang yabang naman niya! Sino ba ‘yan para mag-comment sa choice of footwear ko?”
But even as she hobbled to her next class, Stacey couldn’t help but glance back at Aiah’s retreating figure.
For some reason, her heartbeat was a little faster than usual.