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To anyone in St. Maraiah Queen’s Academy, Jhoanna and Gwen were an unlikely pair.
Jhoanna was as formidable as her mother. Her mother Cora was a well-known journalist who wielded immense political influence. One wisely placed eyebrow raise or smirk mid-interview could tip the scales of public opinion for or against one’s favor. Like her mother, she was also known as a champion of liberalism and activism. One who would stand up against bullies. One who easily offers a smile to anyone. Her popularity among her schoolmates boosted her easily to the top position in their Student Council.
On the other hand, Gwen, the privileged scion of the powerful Apuli clan, was more reserved and conservative. Her mother is the incumbent Governor of Albay, while her father is the Secretary of Energy. She knew from a young age the power of her surname. Her aura was both alluring and intimidating. Honors class since first grade, debate club president, volleyball team co-captain. The kind of person who is so intense you get torn between looking away and savoring each millisecond of eye contact.
They were close, but most of their interactions were clothed by political influences. From a young age, their parents would force them to go to boring galas where they would spend hours making fun of all the stuffy adults. Even their conversations at school were mostly academic
It all changed with a game of spin the bottle. They were at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Gwen and Jhoanna were sixteen, both in tenth grade. The mouth of the bottle stopped towards Gwen, and she chose truth. Some horny asshole asked her, “Who’s your first kiss?”
Gwen, ever so reserved and conservative, flushed red with embarrassment. Everyone in the circle started squealing, and it was so loud that Jhoanna almost missed Gwen’s answer.
“I’ve never had one,” the taller girl said so tersely. No one dared to ask a follow-up question, but the mocking giggles rang loudly in Gwen’s ears.
The day after that party, Jhoanna and Gwen were at yet another charity event. They were sitting on the floor of an empty room, hiding from everyone else. The journalist’s daughter brought a deck of UNO cards for them to play.
“Plus four!” Jhoanna exclaimed while giggling.
Gwen grumpily took four more cards from the deck. “Dinadaya mo yata ‘ko, eh.”
“Paano naman mangdadaya dito? Eh ikaw nga nagshuffle, eh.”
“Ayoko na. This is getting boring.”
“‘Wag kang pikon kapag talo, Gwenny,” Jhoanna said with a laugh.
Silence engulfed the room as Jhoanna kept the cards. The journalist’s daughter noticed the political scion was quieter than usual. Gwen’s silence was usually intimidating, now it seems insecure.
“Okay ka lang?” Jhoanna asked, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Gwen murmured, but the words were hollow.
Jhoanna frowned. “What’s up? Pagod ba from yesterday’s party?”
"Maybe. I don't know." Gwen fiddled with her phone. Her fingers moved mindlessly across the screen, but her eyes were distant. Jhoanna waited for Gwen to say more, but the silence stretched out. So Jhoanna let her gaze wander, pretending to scroll through her own phone.
Then Gwen broke the silence. Her voice was quiet, hesitant, almost like she wasn’t sure if she should ask. “Have you had your first kiss?”
Jhoanna’s heart skipped a beat. They never talked about things like this. Not about boys or crushes. It wasn’t like Gwen to ask such personal things, especially not in this way. Her usual confidence was replaced by something more raw.
“Was it the spin the bottle yesterday?” Jhoanna offered, trying to fill the silence with something, anything, to avoid the growing tension. “’Wag mo na isipin ‘yun. They’re just being assholes.”
Gwen didn’t seem to hear her. Instead, her eyes met Jhoanna’s, and her usual calculating gaze was back but it still softened around the edges. “Answer my question.”
Jhoanna felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She looked away, unsure of how to respond.
“Y-yeah, I have,” she mumbled.
There was a pause, a charged one, heavy with things neither of them had said. Jhoanna could feel Gwen’s gaze on her, and it made her stomach flip.
“What was it like?” Gwen asked, and this time, her voice was steady and more insistent.
Jhoanna hesitated, trying to find her words. “It was stupid. Really awkward and weird.” She lowered her voice. “Sobrang unromantic.”
“Who was it with?”
Jhoanna let out a humorless chuckle. “Does it matter?”
Gwen’s gaze softened, but there was still a quiet edge to it. “I don’t know. You don’t think it matters?”
Jhoanna’s lips quirked upward, a half-smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nah. It would’ve mattered more if I cared about that guy. Kaya ikaw, Gwenny, ‘wag mo ibigay first kiss mo kung kani-kanino lang.”
Gwen blinked, “If given the chance, would you want to redo it?”
“Paano naman mareredo ‘yung first kiss ko?” Jhoanna asked with a raised brow, her heart beating faster.
Gwen leaned in closer, her voice imbued with that trademark Apuli bravado when she demanded, “Kiss me.”
The words hit Jhoanna like a jolt of electricity, her breath catching in her chest. She couldn’t have heard that right. Gwen, the Governor’s daughter is asking to kiss her?
Jhoanna laughed, though there was a nervous edge to it. "Lasing ka ba?"
Gwen’s smile turned daring, sharp even. "You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I’m just saying it’s like hitting two birds with one stone. I get to have my first kiss, and you get to redo yours."
Jhoanna’s heart was pounding in her chest, each beat thundering in her ears. She couldn’t seem to move. And yet, somehow, she found herself leaning in. She closed the gap between them, even though everything inside her screamed to stop.
“Gosh, you’ll make a good politician one day, Gwenny,” Jhoanna said with a hint of humor as she felt the magnetic pull between them.
Their lips brushed tentatively at first.
Then Jhoanna pressed in, soft but firm.
For Gwen, the kiss was like stepping into the warmth of sunlight after a bitter, endless winter. It was the first warmth she had felt in a long time, and it made her skin tingle, her heart beat faster. Every nerve in her body came alive, as if the cold that had numbed her for so long was slowly starting to thaw.
For Jhoanna, the kiss felt like coming home after a long, exhausting day. It was the comfort of a soft bed, the feeling of being wrapped in warmth and security. Unlike her first kiss, there was no chaos or unnecessary tongue or teeth. It was peaceful — like a safe harbor after being tossed by the storm.
A few seconds passed, and Gwen reeled back. Jhoanna didn’t want to let go. So, she reached for the taller girl’s neck and pulled her back in.
It wasn't rushed or frantic, but deeper and more intimate. Gwen felt the warmth of Jhoanna's breath mingling with her own, the gentle pressure of Jhoanna's lips coaxing her closer, but with a softness that told her they both wanted to savor the moment.
Jhoanna's hand slid from Gwen's neck to her cheek. Her thumb brushed over the curve of her jaw with a tenderness that sent a shiver through Gwen's body. It was a delicate touch. It was as if Jhoanna was memorizing the feel of her skin, and it made Gwen's heart race in a quiet, expectant way.
“Move your lips,” Jhoanna whispered between kisses.
Gwen pulled back again, “I don’t know how.”
Jhoanna saw her friend’s polished confidence waver. She took the other girl’s hand and put it on her waist. “Basta relax ka lang,” she offered gently. “Gayahin mo ‘ko.”
Their lips met again. This time with a slow, deliberate intensity. Gwen responded instinctively, her hands moving to Jhoanna's back, pulling her in with steady pressure. The kiss deepened, but still, there was no urgency. It was a rhythm — slow, steady, like the rise and fall of a breath.
There was a softness in their touch and a reverence in the way their lips moved together. They were both out of breath but no one wanted to stop. A tentative graze of tongue caused Gwen to gasp, allowing Jhoanna more space to explore.
But before Jhoanna could do more, the sound of a doorknob rattling shattered the moment.
Gwen’s eyes flew open, wide with panic. In one swift motion, she shoved Jhoanna back. Her hands pushed against her shoulders, sending Jhoanna stumbling. The younger girl’s head hit the wall with a thud, and Jhoanna gasped, clutching the spot where it hurt. The world came crashing back, and all the emotions, all the warmth, were replaced by cold, crushing reality.
A knock came, louder this time.
“May tao ba d’yan?” the person on the other side of the door asked.
Gwen’s eyes flicked to the door, and for a moment, Jhoanna saw in the other girl’s eyes a rare emotion — fear. Gwen stood rigid, every muscle tense.
“Fix yourself,” Gwen whispered urgently, her voice tight with panic.
Gwen opened the door, and a janitor stood on the other side. His eyes flicked between Gwen and Jhoanna. The taller girl had her sharp and calculating gaze, while the other offered a smile.
“Ay sorry po, ma’am,” he stammered, bowing his head. “Hindi ko po kasi alam na nandito kayo sa loob.”
“Nako. Sorry din, kuya. Ingay kasi sa loob, eh. Tumakas lang kami kila Mommy sandali,” Jhoanna lied seamlessly with a smile.
Gwen didn’t speak. She simply stared at him, her expression cold and unyielding. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if she were holding back words, or perhaps something more dangerous.
The janitor swallowed, his gaze darting nervously to the floor. “Sige po. Maiwan ko na po ulit kayo.”
Without another word, he backed away from the door and fled, leaving the room in a silence that felt too heavy. Gwen stood there for a moment longer, her breath coming in shallow bursts, her eyes still locked on the door as if expecting it to open again.
Jhoanna let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, her heart still racing from the sudden adrenaline. They had narrowly escaped being caught. The kiss now felt like a distant dream. A buzz from her phone broke her line of thought.
“Tara na. Hinahanap na tayo nila Mommy,” Jhoanna said before leaving Gwen in the room.
The days after their secret rendezvous were filled with an electric tension Gwen couldn’t quite shake. Students were used to Gwen walking around like she owned the place. Her head held high. Her posture was straighter than a ruler. Her eyes trained to the front like nothing else was worth looking at. When Monday came, the students immediately noticed Gwen peering around the hallways like she was looking for something. Or in this case, someone.
“What the heck do you keep looking for?” Mikha asked. The shorter girl was her volleyball co-captain and one of the few people Gwen trusted in this school.
“Wala,” Gwen said, neck swinging to the other side of the hallway.
“It’s like you’re hiding from an utang or something. What’s up with you today?”
“Wala nga. Ang kulit.”
The two started walking to their room while talking about their next volleyball game. Suddenly, Gwen heard a familiar high-pitched laugh.
“Jho, you’re too loud for a Monday morning,” Mikha said with her brow bunched up.
Jhoanna just stuck her tongue out at Mikha teasingly. As she passed by, Jhoanna pinched Gwen’s arm and slipped a piece of paper into her hand.
Gwen was about to open it when the other girl stopped her.
“Mamaya mo na basahin. ‘Pag walang epal,” Jhoanna said, rolling her eyes at Mikha, before leaving with her friends.
“What the heck was that?”
“I have no idea,” the short-haired girl said, her arm still tingling from when Jhoanna pinched her.
Class started and Gwen was incredibly bored. History at 8 AM should be outlawed, she thinks to herself. Suddenly, she remembered the piece of paper that Jhoanna had given her. She opened it secretly and had to stifle a chuckle.
Meet me at the gym. 12:15. Brought you lunch.
Gwen quickly checked the clock. Morning classes were almost over.
Why the sudden secrecy ? She thought.
It was not entirely unusual for them to have lunch together. Sometimes Jho would find her way to Gwen and Mikha’s unofficially designated table, and sometimes Mikha would drag her to the Student Council room to get free lunch. She stuffed the paper into her pocket and tried to focus on the last few minutes of the lecture, but her mind kept drifting.
As her Science teacher was going on and on about mitosis, her mind drifted to the kiss.
Jhoanna’s nose bumping against hers.
Jhoanna’s hands on her waist.
Jhoanna’s pink, soft, pillowy, lips.
Jhoanna, Jhoanna, Jhoanna.
After the final bell rang, Gwen didn’t waste any time. Despite Mikha’s protest, she slipped out of the classroom as quickly as she could. She tried walking as casually as possible down the hallway, trying to act like she wasn’t in a rush. It was only 12:08. She had a few minutes before the arranged time.
The short-haired girl turned right to the restroom near the gym. Gwen stood in front of the mirror. She let out a shaky exhale before touching up her hair and makeup. This is nothing new. Jho and her have had lunches together. She didn’t know why she was being nervous.
(If Gwen were honest with herself, she would admit she wasn’t nervous.)
((She was excited.))
When she finally reached the gym, Jhoanna was already there, leaning against the bleachers with that confident, relaxed look she always wore like it was second nature.
“You actually came,” Jhoanna said, flashing her a grin.
Gwen tried to act nonchalant, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. “Kawawa ka naman kung 'di ako pumunta.”
Jhoanna’s expression shifted to one of playful mischief. “Ikaw ang kawawa kung ‘di ka pumunta. Dala ko pa naman favorite mo.”
Jhoanna pushed the lunch bag closer to Gwen. The short-haired girl opened it to reveal a tupperware filled with seafood marinara.
“Nako,” Gwen quipped. “Baka may lason ‘to, ah?”
The journalist’s daughter cackled and jokingly slapped Gwen’s arm. “Just shut up and eat, Gwenny.”
The two ate in relative silence except for the buzzing of the gym’s ceiling fan and occasional yum s from Jho. After some minutes, Gwen broke the silence.
“So,” the short-haired girl started. “What’s up with you?”
Jho shrugged. She rubbed her hands on her lap. A nervous tick, Gwen noted.
“Gusto ko lang i-make sure na…” Jho cleared her throat, averting her eyes from the other girl. “Gusto ko lang i-make sure na okay tayo…”
Gwen raised an eyebrow, her fork pausing mid-air. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
Jho sighed.“Don’t act dumb, Gwenny.”
“I’m not!” Gwen said, raising her hands in defense. “Seryoso nga. Bakit hindi tayo magiging okay?
Jhoanna opened her mouth, as if to say something, closed it again, then huffed in frustration. “You know!!!”
Gwen blinked, and answered in the same tone as Jhoanna, “I don’t!!!”
“The kiss!” Jhoanna finally blurted out, her voice a little louder than she intended.
Gwen let out a slow, exaggerated “Ahh,” as if the answer had only just dawned on her. She leaned back against the bench, arms crossing over her chest, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “The kiss.”
Jhoanna narrowed her eyes, annoyance flashing across her face. That stupid, smug expression was infuriating.
“Why are you so chill about this?” Jhoanna asked, crossing her arms.
Gwen tilted her head, pretending to think. “Gusto mo bang magpanic ako?”
“Yes! No!! Ewan ko!” Jhoanna groaned, dropping her head back in frustration.
Gwen chuckled.
“Did I make you feel uncomfortable?” Gwen asked, her voice softer than usual. She shifted slightly, her knee brushing against Jhoanna’s.
Jhoanna swallowed, feeling the air between them shift, “No…”
Gwen hesitated, studying her face carefully. “Did you feel forced to do it?”
“No!” Jhoanna answered too quickly. She could feel the weight of Gwen’s stare, the unrelenting intensity in those dark eyes.
Gwen’s fingers curled against her own thigh. Her long fingers gripped the fabric of her skirt like she needed something to hold on to. “Hindi mo ba…” She hesitated, voice faltering. “Hindi mo ba nagustuhan?”
Jhoanna’s breath hitched. “No! I mean oo. I mean—I liked it.”
Gwen let out a slow exhale. Her lips parted slightly like she was about to say something else but couldn’t quite find the words. The silence between them stretched, thick and suffocating.
“Do you…” Gwen’s gaze flickered downward, drawn unconsciously to Jhoanna’s lips. “Do you wanna do it again?”
Gwen looked at her with uncertainty and longing. Jhoanna felt her stomach flip. Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She leaned in slightly, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. Gwen didn’t move or even blink as if one wrong move would shatter the fragile moment they had found themselves in.
“Yes,” Jhoanna whispered before closing the gap. Timid and unsure but it was enough to send a jolt straight through her core.
Jhoanna’s breath caught in her throat. Her body momentarily froze. Her typically quick mind tried to catch up with what was happening.
It was different from the first time—not a question, not a dare, but a choice. A deliberate, conscious choice.
Gwen woke from her daze. She kissed back with the certainty that Jhoanna lacked. Her right hand reached for Jhoanna’s neck, pulling the long-haired girl closer. The quiet girl quickly gained confidence. Her lips traveled from Jhoanna’s lips to the junction between her ear and neck. Her kisses were fleeting and ticklish.
Gwen’s hand found its way to Jhoanna’s waist. All hesitance and timidity thrown out the window. She wasn’t sure what she was doing or how they had even ended up here, but the way Jhoanna responded made her forget every reason she had to hold back. Her kisses were persistent; her touch was purposeful.
Jhoanna reveled at the demon she created.
The world outside of them ceased to exist. The only thing Gwen could focus on was the soft pressure of Jhoanna’s lips. The way her breath mingled with her own. The way her pulse pounded against her ribcage like it was trying to break free.
Then, the sound of footsteps.
Both girls froze.
Gwen was the first to pull back. Her eyes were wide and her lips slightly parted. Her heartbeat slammed against her chest as reality crashed down around her.
Jhoanna was still close, her forehead nearly brushing against Gwen’s. Her lips were swollen. Her breathing was uneven. And a patch on her jaw was starting to bruise.
The footsteps grew fainter. Someone was just passing by. They were not caught. But the damage was done. The moment was no longer theirs.
“Epal naman,” Gwen muttered, glaring at the gym doors.
Jhoanna chuckled as she laid her forehead on Gwen’s shoulder. “Bitin?”
Gwen scoffed, though the heat creeping up her neck betrayed her. "Ang kapal mo."
Jhoanna only laughed, the sound vibrating against Gwen’s shoulder.
Outside, the distant bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break.
Jhoanna sighed dramatically. “Ugh, back to reality.” She pulled away and stretched her arms before standing up. “Tara na, Gwenny. Hinahanap ka na siguro ni Mikha.”
"How am I gonna go back to class after that?” Gwen groaned, rubbing her face like she could wipe away whatever had just happened between them. “Sabihin mo na lang masama pakiramdam ko. Student Council President ka naman. Excuse mo muna ‘ko."
Jhoanna smirked, reaching out to tug at Gwen’s wrist. “Tigil-tigilan mo ’ko. Baka isipin ng tao may favoritism ako.”
Gwen rolled her eyes, but she still let Jhoanna pull her up. “After what just happened, hindi pa rin ako favorite mo?”
Jhoanna winked. “PSA lang, Gwenny. Ayaw ko sa masyadong clingy, okay?”
Gwen pushed her playfully, muttering a frustrated, “Bwisit ka,” as they made their way back inside the building.
The hallway buzzed with students, everyone filing into their respective classrooms. The normalcy of it all felt jarring after what just happened.
Jhoanna turned to Gwen as they reached her classroom. Jhoanna smirked, voice teasing but laced with something else, something softer.
“Same time tomorrow?”
Gwen rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips.
“Same place.”
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Jhoanna grinning behind her.
Lunch breaks became their sanctuary. The time between classes stretched endlessly, but those forty minutes felt like seconds.
It was just casual, Gwen tells herself.
A thrill, a game, a secret shared between the two of them.
Gwen would text a simple “Dito ako” with a location, and Jhoanna would show up without question. Some days it was the empty bleachers at the gym, other times the abandoned storage room near the science lab. If neither was safe, they’d find a quiet corner in the library, hidden between shelves where no one ever bothered to check.
Jhoanna always kissed first. Confident, teasing, unafraid. Gwen, despite her usual bravado, was always a little hesitant at first. But hesitation never lasted long.
The moment Jhoanna’s fingers would find the collar of Gwen’s uniform, Gwen melted. The sharpness in her softened.
Her hands would usually start on her own lap but would eventually find themselves sliding over Jhoanna’s thigh. Her hands would glide higher, and higher, and higher. Firm touch. Slow circles. Until they reached heaven on earth.
If Mikha noticed Gwen missing lunch all week, she doesn’t say anything.
It was another lunch break. Jhoanna moved back from straddling Gwen. She was still coming down from a high like no other. She took deep breaths to try and level her breathing. Gwen sat beside her, acting nonchalant, though the warmth of Jhoanna’s thigh against her own was making it increasingly difficult to focus on anything else.
“So,” Jhoanna mused, tilting her head toward Gwen. “Have you been practicing?”
Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Practicing what?”
Jhoanna smirked, “You know… kissing.”
Gwen scoffed, rolling her eyes, but she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. “Anong klaseng tanong ‘yan?”
Jhoanna shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Curious lang. If you’ve been out there, meeting new people, gaining experience.”
Gwen knew exactly where this was going. She turned her head, giving Jhoanna a flat look. “Have you?”
Jhoanna didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she let the silence stretch, playing with Gwen’s patience like she always did. Then she grinned. “Maybe.”
Something unpleasant twisted in Gwen’s chest. She ignored it. “Good for you.”
Jhoanna hummed, watching her closely. “Selos ka?”
Gwen let out a dry laugh. “Bakit ako magseselos? Hindi naman tayo… you know.” She gestured vaguely between them.
Jhoanna nodded, voice light, but her eyes unreadable. “Yeah. We’re not.”
Another pause.
Jhoanna leaned in just slightly, voice dropping. “So… may iba ka ngang pinagpapraktisan?”
Gwen held her gaze, lips pressing into a thin line. “Okay lang naman, ‘di ba?”
Jhoanna’s smirk faltered for just a second—so fast Gwen almost missed it. Then she exhaled, leaning back against the bleacher with an exaggerated stretch. “Sa’kin okay lang. Baka magselos naman ‘yang kinikita mo.”
Gwen hated how her stomach dropped at the statement. Hated how she couldn’t tell Jhoanna there was no one else. Hated how there could be someone else for Jhoanna.
Instead, she shrugged. “Casual lang naman din.”
Jhoanna nodded, though something in her expression flickered. “Yeah. We’re just having fun.”
“No labels.”
“No expectations.”
“No jealousy,” Gwen added, though it left a sour taste in her mouth.
Jhoanna flashed her a grin, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right. Just… casual.”
“Cool.”
“Exactly.”
Another beat of silence.
Jhoanna shifted, but not before giving her knee a light squeeze. “So, no hard feelings?”
Gwen grinned, despite the tightness in her chest. “None at all,” she said leaning in to kiss the other girl again.
A few weeks later, they found themselves in the school library. The quiet, cozy atmosphere should have been perfect for studying, but Gwen couldn’t concentrate. Not when Jhoanna was sitting beside her.
“Will you attend the Arcetas’ fundraising gala on Saturday?” asked Gwen, whose fingertips were dancing on the other girl’s shoulder.
The two are currently sitting in a secluded corner of their library. It was another lunch break, which meant fewer people at the library and more privacy for the two of them.
“Yeah, I think so,” Jhoanna replied offhandedly, eyes focused on her phone.
Gwen hummed. Jhoanna had been distracted the whole time they were together. The political scion, raised to command full respect and attention, hated it.
The taller girl stared at the back of the other girl’s head, fingers now grazing the younger’s arm. “What color are you wearing?” Gwen asked again, hand traveling to Jhoanna’s hair.
“I don’t know,” the student council president replied curtly, still distracted.
“Do you wanna go together? Or are you going with your mom?”
“Cole asked me out,” Jhoanna answered. “ Ay puta, ” she whispered after her character died in the game.
Gwen’s hand stilled on her friend’s hair. “Cole? Cole Vergara?”
“May kilala ka bang ibang Cole?” Jhoanna replied sarcastically.
“You know, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” Gwen, trained to keep eye contact, was currently staring at the other’s lips.
“But the highest form of intelligence. Oscar Wilde,” Jhoanna retorted with a smirk. She shrugged Gwen’s hands off of her before going back to her phone.
Gwen's hand, gentle yet firm, grabbed a fistful of the other girl’s hair, forcing her to look up. Jhoanna gasped as her eyes flickered with something that could have been interpreted as fear. But Gwen knew it was something else. Something reserved for her to know.
“Anong meron sa’yo? Kanina ka pa bad mood, ah?”
“Anong meron sa’kin? Wala,” Jhoanna chuckled lowly. “Anong meron kay Sheena?”
Gwen’s gaze flickered. Jhoanna’s smirk widened.
“Sarap ba ng strawberry lip balm niya? That was my birthday gift to her, by the way. You’re welcome.”
Gwen’s jaw tightened. “You’re being ridiculous.”
Jhoanna only laughed, but there was no real humor in it. “Am I?” She pulled back, finally tucking her phone away.
Gwen let go of Jhoanna’s hair, hands clenching into fists against her lap. “So, si Cole ang date mo.” She said it like a statement, not a question.
“Yup.” Jhoanna leaned back, arms crossing over her chest like she was waiting for Gwen to say something. To react.
Gwen scoffed, shaking her head. “Okay. Enjoy your night with him.”
Jhoanna frowned, tilting her head. “Seriously? ‘Yan lang sasabihin mo?”
“Ano pang gusto mong sabihin ko?” Gwen asked, voice sharper now.
Jhoanna studied her, eyes narrowing. “I don’t know. Maybe something honest for once?”
Gwen’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re overthinking.”
“No, you’re underthinking.” Jhoanna sighed, running a hand through her hair. “‘Di kita gets, Gwenny. Ayaw mong kasama ko si Cole pero ayaw mo rin aminin kung bakit.”
“Sinong nagsabing ayaw kong kasama mo siya?” Gwen whispered sharply. “If he makes you happy, then go! Just don’t come running to me when he doesn’t make you come.”
Jhoanna gasped. An audible gasp that rang through the silent library.
“That’s so rich coming from you,” Jhoanna whispered back. “Kissing different boys in the hallways, but hiding me at the gym or storage rooms.”
“Is that what this is?” Gwen snapped. “Fine. I’ll kiss you in hallways too. ‘Yun ba gusto mo?”
Jhoanna smirked, but her eyes were dark and challenging. “You’re not that brave, Gwenny.”
Gwen scoffed. “Oh, please. Alam mo na nga ‘yung kay Sheena—”
Jhoanna tensed, but her expression remained composed. “So, you did kiss her.”
Gwen hesitated. “I—”
“Thought so.” Jhoanna let out a humorless laugh, standing up and grabbing her bag. “See you at the gala, Gweneth.”
Gwen stared as Jhoanna walked away, her stomach churning with frustration.
If Mikha noticed Gwen being borderline murderous all week, she doesn’t say anything.
The Arcetas’ ballroom was dripping in wealth. Chandeliers cast a golden glow over marble floors. Politicians and socialites dressed to impress. Champagne flutes clinking in hushed conversations. Gwen had spent the last hour smiling politely, shaking hands, and pretending she wasn’t scanning the room for one person.
Then she saw her.
Jhoanna stood near the grand staircase, dressed in a blue dress that hugged her frame. Her hair was swept to one side, leaving her neck bare. Cole was beside her, talking animatedly, but Jhoanna wasn’t really listening.
She was looking at Gwen.
And Gwen was looking at her.
The air between them stretched, drowning out the noise of the gala.
Cole said something, making Jhoanna laugh, but it was forced. Gwen could see it. The way her fingers curled slightly, the way she kept glancing in Gwen’s direction.
That was all the confirmation Gwen needed.
She moved.
Jhoanna saw her coming, her smirk forming even before Gwen reached her.
“Gwenny,” she greeted smoothly.
“Dance with me.” It wasn’t a question. Gwen never asked for anything.
Cole frowned, looking between the two girls. “Uh—”
“Sorry, Cole,” Jhoanna said, already slipping her hand into Gwen’s. “Duty calls.”
Gwen pulled her onto the dance floor, one hand resting on Jhoanna’s waist, the other clasping her fingers. The music swelled around them, violins sweeping in a slow, haunting melody.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, Gwen exhaled. “I hate seeing you with him.”
Jhoanna raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Ano ‘yun?”
Gwen tightened her grip. “I hate seeing you with him.”
Jhoanna’s lips twitched. “Look at you being brave.”
They swayed in silence, moving in sync, a slow and deliberate tension crackling between them. Gwen’s fingers traced lazy circles against Jhoanna’s back, and Jhoanna shivered.
“Selos ka?” Jhoanna teased.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Parang ikaw hindi, ah?”
Jhoanna hummed. “Konti lang.”
“Liar.”
Jhoanna laughed softly, but the playfulness faded when she met Gwen’s gaze. The room suddenly felt too small and too warm.
Gwen’s voice dropped. “Can I kiss you?”
Jhoanna didn’t answer.
Suddenly, she was very aware of the eyes trained on them. She saw Gwen’s mom staring curiously from her periphery. She saw Cole glaring at the back of Gwen’s head. She saw her mom pausing a conversation to watch her, too.
And suddenly, it felt like every person in the room was waiting for her response.
“Daming tao,” she noted as a matter of fact.
For once, Jhoanna was the one hesitant and unsure.
Gwen pulled her closer. Her eyes steady and calm.
“‘Wag mo silang pansinin,” Gwen started, her voice lace with light humor.
Jhoanna laughed lightly, remembering Gwen’s cringe when she sent that meme jokingly a few weeks back. “Kasi inggit sila?”
“Kasi akin ka.”
For once, Gwen leaned in first.
Their lips met in a slow kiss—nothing rushed, nothing frantic.
Their first kiss was a favor. The second was a choice. Everything in between was desire.
This was a promise of a new chapter.