Chapter Text
After finishing her SPM, Emilia sat in a small café with her two best friends, Joni and Mia, celebrating their last high school days and the uncertain road ahead. The soft background music filled the air as they shared laughs, teasing each other about their stressful exams and how it felt good to finally be free from the weight of textbooks and deadlines.
“It’s over! Can you believe it?” Mia said, taking a sip of her iced coffee, her eyes bright with excitement.
“I feel like I can finally breathe,” Joni added, looking like she might jump out of her seat with joy. “So, what’s next? You two got any big plans?”
Emilia leaned back in her chair, looking out the window for a moment, feeling a strange mix of relief and... something else. She was happy it was all behind her, but there was a nagging feeling that she couldn’t shake. A sense of being lost.
Emilia had some ideas about working in the business field or in law, but she wasn’t sure which one would suit her or bring her satisfaction. “Earth to Emilia! Gosh, you're always lost in thought,” Joni said, puckering her lips into a mock frown as Mia laughed at her reaction.
Emilia scoffed, smiling as she sipped her tea. She couldn’t believe their big exam was over, marking a huge step into adulthood. “I’m not sure yet. I’m still thinking... But I do want to get my driver’s license,” Emilia’s eyes sparkled at the thought of driving. It would be a great chance to go out without needing a driver and no curfews.
“Oh heck yeah! I’ll be driving you guys to the beach!” Joni huffed proudly, while Mia and Emilia exchanged a glance, both thinking Joni might drive recklessly. They smiled awkwardly to themselves.
“Oh, I want to do a part-time job! Maybe as a handcraft teacher or a baker,” she chuckled, before Joni’s eyes lit up in excitement.
“A baker?! If I go to the bakery, can I get a discount—no, free pastries?” Joni exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. Emilia, unable to hold back a grin, playfully smacked her arm.
“Ow! You’re too harsh!” Joni winced, rubbing her arm dramatically. She then gave Emilia the saddest, most exaggerated pity face. “Emilia, you’re so mean to me…”
“You're too funny, Joni," Mia laughed. "Maybe I'll sneak some of it," she whispered, making both Joni and Emilia look at her in surprise. Despite being known as the most beautiful and kind-hearted person in their lives, they almost forgot that Mia could be sneaky at times—something she might have learned from Charles.
Emilia was enjoying the soft glow of the coffee shop, the rich aroma of roasted beans filling the air, and the cozy hum of conversations around her. She took a sip, savoring the smoothness of her coffee, before noticing Joni eagerly ordering another bread to satisfy her big appetite. Meanwhile, Mia smiled, watching the redhead devour her cheese tart.
"I'll go order another coffee," Emilia told her friends, who nodded in agreement.
As she made her way to the counter, her phone buzzed with a message from Corey. A smile tugged at her lips, and she quickly started texting him, her mind consumed by thoughts of her crush. Lost in the moment, she didn't notice the person right in front of her until it was too late.
With a sudden jolt, Emilia collided with someone, sending coffee splashing onto her shirt. The heat stung, but not enough to burn her skin. Her white blouse was now stained with dark coffee, and she felt her temper rising, ready to lash out at whoever had just ruined her day. She cursed under her breath.
"What the heck?!" she muttered, frustration bubbling up. But then, she saw who she had bumped into—Norman, of all people. The last person she wanted to see. "Seriously? You need to be more careful," she snapped, her irritation clear. But Norman just stared at her, unfazed, as if it didn’t faze him at all.
"Aren't you the one who bumped into me?" Norman asked, his face expressionless.
Emilia's irritation flared, her brows twitching in annoyance. Before she could lash out, Joni and Mia quickly stepped in, saving Norman from whatever wrath their purple-haired friend was about to unleash.
He sighed, already used to Emilia losing her cool whenever he was around. "I'm just stating facts."
Emilia bristled, ready to fire back with a sharp retort that would put him in his place. But before she could get a word out, Joni and Mia grabbed her by the arm, dragging her toward the restroom before she could start an all-out argument.
Joni and Mia helped Emilia wash away some of the coffee as the purple-haired girl sighed, clearly feeling her day was ruined. Her friends could see it in her eyes.
“Gosh, this blouse was a birthday gift from Corey,” she grumbled, inspecting the fabric. Most of the stain was gone, but the faint smell of coffee still lingered.
“Don’t be so upset, Emilia. He’s just a bit…” Mia hesitated when she saw Emilia’s irritation flare. Bringing him up would only make things worse. “Never mind…”
“I mean, he wasn’t wrong. I was a little distracted when Corey texted me,” Emilia admitted, sighing.
Joni and Mia exchanged knowing looks before chuckling. They both knew Emilia and Corey had something going on, but it was frustrating how neither of them had made a move yet.
“So, what did he say?” Joni asked slyly, leaning in with a smirk.
“Yeah, Emilia. What does he want?” Mia added, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Maybe he’s finally asking you out on a date.”
Emilia’s face turned bright red as Joni and Mia exchanged amused glances, giggling like a pair of giddy teenagers.
“Stop it!” she huffed, flustered, as they stepped out of the restroom and headed back to their seats. Crossing her legs, Emilia tried to look irritated, but her friends weren’t about to let her off so easily.
“Oh, come on,” Joni teased. “We all know it’s bound to happen sooner or later.”
Mia nodded knowingly. “It’s just a matter of who makes the first move.”
Emilia groaned, hiding her face behind her drink as the teasing continued. But Corey's message still lingered in her mind, making her heart skip a beat.
“He actually wants to meet me at the beach tonight,” she admitted, her voice quieter than before.
Joni and Mia gasped in unison, their eyes lighting up with excitement.
“He must be confessing to you!” Joni grabbed Emilia’s hands dramatically, her expression almost teary-eyed. “I can hear wedding bells already…”
Emilia rolled her eyes before giving Joni a light smack on the back.
“Hey!” Joni yelped, rubbing the spot while pouting.
Mia chuckled, watching her friends’ antics. Meanwhile, Emilia just sighed, shaking her head. She couldn’t believe Joni was already planning her marriage to Corey when they weren’t even dating yet.
They finished their cakes and coffee before heading home, the evening settling in. But for Emilia, the night wasn’t over—she had a special outing planned with her crush, the rising MABA basketball star. As she slipped into a cute white dress, her eyes lingered on the stained blouse. The mark was still there, a faint reminder of earlier. It was a little disappointing, but maybe a bit of bleach would take care of it.
As she stepped out of her house, Emilia spotted Corey waiting for her, dressed in a red Hawaiian shirt and knee-length pants, perfectly fitting the beach vibe. Her heart fluttered—though it felt like just yesterday she had seen him, weeks had passed since their last meeting due to his intense training schedule.
Corey smiled as he reached out, gently taking her hand, guiding her down the stairs with effortless ease.
"I'm surprised you dressed like this. I like it," he whispered, making Emilia's heartstrings tug with every word.
They hopped into his car, and Corey drove them toward the beach, where the rhythmic waves and peaceful night stretched endlessly before them.
As they arrived, the salty breeze kissed her skin, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the quiet space. She let out a breath, feeling her entire body relax under the sensory embrace of the ocean.
"So, why did you bring me here?" she smirked, watching as Corey grew flustered. Before he could answer, she teased, "I'm just kidding."
He chuckled, shaking his head, before revealing a picnic basket. The sight of it made her heartbeat quicken. A secluded beach, the night sky, a picnic—it all felt too perfectly planned. "Is this... a confession?" she wondered, her heart pounding wildly.
The stars surrounded them, twinkling like silent witnesses to a love about to bloom. Corey lay back on the picnic blanket, his gaze fixed on the vast night sky. “Just wanted to hang out. It’s been weeks since we last went out,” he said casually.
Emilia’s eyes wandered across the sky when, suddenly, a streak of light flashed above them. A shooting star.
Corey’s eyes widened in awe, as if the universe itself had sent them a sign. “A shooting star! Make a wish, Em!”
Emilia smiled, her body relaxing as she closed her eyes and made a quiet wish. “I wish for a partner who will stand by me, support me, and always be my guiding light,” she whispered.
Corey watched her intently, his gaze soft yet filled with longing, as if he already knew what—or rather, who—she truly desired. Without hesitation, he gently took her hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. Their eyes met, and in that lingering moment, no words were needed. They both understood what the other was feeling.
Then, as if pulled by an unspoken force, Corey leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips. His heart pounded, and when they finally pulled away, Emilia's eyes shone—lit up by the realization that they were officially together. Flustered, she quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. Corey chuckled, wrapping an arm around her as they gazed out at the vast ocean, a quiet sense of certainty settling between them. A new beginning had just begun.