Chapter Text
“Pat! Wake up! I got my tattoo! I’m so excited, I think I know who mine is,” Film stormed into her redheaded best friend’s room before her alarm even went off.
Film had always been more into soulmates than Pat. She’d been excited for this day for as long as she could remember, and as much as Pat did not like the whole idea that she needed someone to make her happy, she had to admit that she had found herself wondering once or twice about what would appear on her skin.
Pat groaned but turned around and looked at Film. “Why was ‘good morning and happy birthday’ not the first thing I heard today? Happy Birthday, Film.”
Film and Pat are cousins and best friends. They are both the same age, same birthday, same school, and same neighborhood. They are practically siblings. People think it’s amazing and weird at the same time, but they think they are each other’s platonic soulmate. Well, that is what Film thinks, Pat thinks it was just a coincidence.
Film looked at her and rolled her eyes. “As I was saying, we got our tattoos. How are you not checking yours right now?” She asked. “I got mine at my tricep, and you will not believe what it says!”
Pat was starting to get curious, so she stood up and looked for herself. Below Film’s shoulders are the letters “NT” in an elegant font.
Pat practically looked confused as she realized that none of their classmates had that except, “Nanon Tuazon? This has got to be wrong, Film.”
Nanon Tuazon… everyone knows him. He’s literally the most popular guy at school and has both brains and beauty. He is also Film’s boy best friend, but everyone knows that he’s gay. Everyone except his oblivious best friend, Film Rachanun Mendoza.
“Who else could it be? It’s got to be him. Do you think I should ask him out?” Film asked.
“Just talk to him. He’s your best friend. But maybe don’t get your hopes up, I really doubt it’s him after all, he has a tattoo, and he never said it was you, “ Pat pointed out.
Film narrowed her eyes and said, “Maybe he didn’t tell me because he was scared? Or maybe he was-”
“Oh, my God. Stop stressing,” Pat interjects Film. Film thought it over and looked at Pat with a smile. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Cousin, I’m always right,” Pat said as she walked up to hug Film.
“Happy Birthday, Lovey.”
Pat rolled her eyes, “That’s Pat, cousin. Happy Birthday, Film.”
Since Pat hadn't brought her tattoo up, Film knew not to push it and just left her room, going downstairs to eat breakfast.
Film and Pat are practically sisters, so they’re like living in each other’s houses even though they live right next to each other.
Pat made her way to her mirror. She glanced at herself, analyzing every inch of her skin. She didn’t know which letters she wanted to see, but she did know which ones she did not want to see.
She took off her shirt, and that’s when she saw the letters, M, P, and V on her waist in beautiful handwriting. She couldn’t help but touch her new tattoo. Millions of thoughts flooded her mind, but she willed herself to forget about it for now and just get dressed.
“MPV”
The cousins entered the student lounge and were met by their friends, all dispersed on the couches.
“Guys, look who finally decided to show up, “ a girl with eyes like a boba greeted them. “Well, it’s a school day, Pattraphus,” Pat muttered, rolling her eyes.
“Stop calling me that. It’s Bonnie, Pat. And I was just wondering cause you know it's your birthday,” Bonnie remarked, groaning a little bit.
After almost all of their friends had congratulated them, Pat looked around and went to sit next to her cousin.
“So, Film and Pat,” Nanon started nervously, “What’s your tattoo?”
“Well, Nanon, no need to worry, mine’s not NT, thank god.” As much as Nanon felt relieved that he was not Pat’s soulmate, he was kind of offended at Pat’s comment.
“It’s not about you, it’s more about… me,” Pat answered honestly. “Plus, I’m just glad it's not something weird like AA. I didn’t want to look like a battery,” she laughed and looked at Film curiously.
“I’d rather not say mine,” Film said shyly as she kept looking in Nanon’s way.
“Well, are the famous Pattranite Legaspi and Film Rachanun Mendoza ever gonna tell us their tattoos?” Bonnie said as if the cousins weren’t in the room.
Film and Pat look at each other and laugh, making the rest of the people in the lounge crazy and curious about their tattoos, but it wasn’t just what they were crazy about.
Suddenly, there was an announcement from their speaker.
“Good morning, everyone. This is your principal. I am here today to inform you about the recent events in our town. The public school at Shadyside has officially closed, and starting tomorrow, students from the public school will be going here. I hope you all get along with each other. Thank you.
To Film Rachanun Mendoza and Pattraphus Lacsamana, please proceed to the principal’s office.”
Students begin to make noises, complaints, and show annoyance. “The students from the public school in Shadyside. That place is full of delinquents and problematic children, and they're going to our school,” Pat ranted with annoyance.
Film and Bonnie look at each other before standing up and going to the principal’s office, wondering why they are being called after the announcement the principal had made.
After leaving the lounge, Nanon moved closer to Pat and asked curiously. “What is Film’s tattoo?” In annoyance, Pat rolled her eyes, “She literally just left and your best friend. Can’t you just ask her like a normal person?”
She then stood up and left the lounge, and with every step she made tells other people that don’t talk to her at all.
At the principal’s office, Film and Bonnie knock on the door, wondering if they did something wrong. The door opened then, with the principal smiling at them.
“Hello, Film and Pattraphus, please sit down,” the principal said, still wearing his smile.
“Good morning, sir,” Bonnie said as she sat down beside Film, still worried about why they had been called.
The principal assured them that they are not in trouble, but rather he had a favor to ask. “Students from the public school will be coming here tomorrow, and I was hoping that you two could welcome them and give them their tour tomorrow. Of course, you could ask other people to go help you with the tour.”
Bonnie looks at Film with a slight hesitation, but she knew that Film would not be able to say no, and rather than let her do it by herself, Bonnie agreed instantly.
“Sure, we would love to,” Bonnie answered with a smile.
“Thank you very much.” The principal stood up and offered his hand to shake, and both girls did the same; after saying goodbye, they left the room.
Film didn’t say anything, but she was worried. The public school is known for delinquents, especially in Shadyside, which has gangs and typically a high crime rate.
“Film, Film!” Bonnie called out. “Oh, Bonnie, sorry about that,” Film said with her eyes looking at the floor.
Bonnie smiled and rubbed Film’s back. “Hey, it’s okay. We know what your family has been through on Shadyside. But how bad could it be? They are kids, so I think we will be fine. Let’s ask Pat and Nanon to help us. We will both have muscle and attitude to counter those delinquents if they try to do something bad.”
Film then calmed down and looked at Bonnie. “Thank you, Bon. Yeah, having Lovey and Nanon there would be nice.”
Bonnie started laughing. “Lovey. The famous ice princess is called Lovey by her best friend.”
Film also started laughing after slipping the nickname she used to give her best friend Pat when they were kids.
Pat used to like it until she became this ice princess… the unattainable in their school, and began to think that Lovey is a weak name for the ice princess.
“Shhh, don’t tell her I said that. She’ll be pissed off.”
“Yeah, yeah, but between you and me, Film… what does your tattoo say?” Bonnie smirked, hoping she would be able to crack towards Film’s secret, and crazy it may seem, she did.
“It’s NT,” she then realized what she said and suddenly covered her mouth in shock, trying to get an excuse.
“I-I mean- ugh,” Film panicked, but Bonnie suddenly grabbed her and said. “Oh my God, Film. Is it?”
Film then gives up thinking about an excuse and just answers Bonnie. “I-I don’t know, but he is the only one who has the initials here.”
She grew flustered, which made Bonnie smirk again, but instead of pushing with the teasing, she just hugged her friend and said, “Well, eventually the truth will come out.”
Bonnie did say that, but she did think of something, as she had forgotten about something important. Then suddenly it came into her mind, “Isn’t Nanon gay?” she thought, not saying it to Film.
Film smiled at her friend, and before she could thank her, Bonnie changed the topic, noticing that Film was too nervous and flustered about the situation.
“Now, let’s go to class? And we can continue all the talking at lunch,” Film nodded in agreement as they went to their respective classes.
At lunch, Nanon, Film, Pat, and Bonnie meet at their usual table in the cafeteria together with their friends Chimon and Jingjing. They talk about everything. Film and Pat’s tattoo, and also about the students transferring tomorrow to their school.
“So, as I was saying, the principal asked Film and me to welcome the students tomorrow. And I’ll be honest, I was hoping you guys could help us?” Bonnie said, hoping they would agree, but sadly, it didn’t go as planned, not entirely.
“Sorry, Bon, but I won’t be there,” Pat answered as she rolled her eyes, still irritated by the fact that those delinquents will be going to their school tomorrow.
Nanon glanced at Film before agreeing to come, “Yeah, sure. Anything you need.”
“Thank you, Nanon, I really appreciate it,” Film said, smiling at him in return and turning to Pat with pleading eyes.
“Are you sure you can’t go, Pat? It will be really nice if you are there,” Film frowned, which caused Bonnie to have an idea.
“Little Pattranite Legaspi made her favorite cousin / best friend sad?” Bonnie smirked, knowing that since they were kids, Pat can’t stand it when Film is sad, after all, Film is like the sister she never had, her platonic soulmate, as they establish, even if she didn’t agree with that.
Pat then groaned and narrowed her eyes on Bonnie, knowing what exactly she was doing, “Fine! Okay? I’ll be there. But don’t expect me to be nice to them.”
Film and Bonnie then shared a smile in excitement, but were suddenly interrupted by their friends.
“Aren’t you going to ask us to come?” Chimon said, looking at Bonnie with a flirty look. Bonnie then rolled her eyes, “Ugh, that’s up to you. Jingjing can come, but you? Yeah, don’t.”
“Ouch, harsh Bons, you know you like it when I’m with you.” Before things get a little intense, Jingjing starts to change the topic and bring it back to the tattoos they have.
Bonnie and Chimon had a history together during the summer a year ago, but it didn’t last for a month. She ended it after finding out that Chimon isn’t really the guy he thought he was. They are still friends, but she can’t help but get irritated because of him.
She was just relieved that during Chimon’s birthday 8 months ago, they discovered that his tattoo didn’t indicate Bonnie’s initials, but that didn’t stop Chimon from pursuing her.
Bonnie can’t wait for her tattoo to appear on her birthday, a few weeks from now, to finally make Chimon stop pestering and flirting with her.
“Anyway, I was planning that we could divide into groups? What do you think?” Bonnie asked, looking away from Chimon and smiling at her other friends.
“Sounds good to me,” Film uttered in a slightly lowered voice. Still worried and anxious about tomorrow.
Pat notices the expression Film has. Of course, she knows. She is her best friend.
“Since there are six of us right now, maybe we could get a few more? Then divide it,” Pat suggested as she looked at Bonnie with eyes that were trying to make her realize the uncomfortable expression Film has.
Fortunately, Bonnie had realized what Pat was trying to do and looked for more people. They were divided into groups of 3 people each. Since they didn't know how many students there were, each group would have a few students with them during the tour to maximize the time and explain the curriculum to them.
As expected, Bonnie, Film, and Pat are together to make Film comfortable for tomorrow, after all, only the two of them know how difficult it is for Film to face people from Shadyside.
But little do they know that even Pat finds it hard to face them, but she hides those fears with her anger.
At Shadyside, students were shocked by the sudden announcement of their school being shut down and being transferred to a different school. It wasn't because it was a bad announcement.
Some of the students are excited to transfer to a private school, especially knowing that it has a much more comprehensive curriculum and better teaching than in public school. But there are still students who were not pleased by the announcement, knowing a part of their land is going to be closed down and being forced to join a school full of know-it-all students, students who think they are better than the rest of them.
“Well, I’m not going,” a tall girl muttered to her friend. “I don’t want to go to such a school. We know they hate us, and let’s be honest, the feeling is mutual.” She rolled her eyes and glanced at her friend, “Don’t you agree, Namtan?”
Namtan looked at her friend, still thinking, “Actually, Emi, I don’t care if they hate us. Our school wasn't a great one and lacked a lot of subjects and extracurricular activities. You know how much I dream of being in the newspaper club.”
Emi suddenly glared at Namtan, but sighed because if she was being honest, what she said was true. “I just can’t help but get irritated by the idea of being in the same school as those kids.”
Suddenly, two more of their friends appeared in a hurry.
“Guys, settle something for us. What do you think I should wear tomorrow?” a girl with hair as dark as a raven asked, showing Namtan and Emi two pieces of clothing from top to bottom.
“I told you, the black one is better. Why would you have to ask both of them?” a boy with more brunette hair asked with annoyance in his tone.
“Because I could never trust your opinion, especially in clothing, Ohm,” the raven-haired girl replied. “So, what do you guys think?”
Namtan chuckles as she answers, “I don’t know why you are asking us, Milk, but I think I’ll agree with Ohm. You would look better in the black one, it will match your hair.” Emi nodded in agreement.
“Why are you even stressing about clothes?” Emi asked Milk. “You could go there with whatever you were, after all, they already hate us. What else can we do?” Emi added while drinking some of her soda at the table.
“First of all, I ask you guys because you are my friends. Second, we could try to look nice, maybe they would hate us less. And lastly, maybe my soulmate would be there,” Milk replied while fidgeting and blushing in excitement.
“Yeah, right, Milk, we know that your soulmate doesn’t exist,” Ohm teased while laughing. Milk narrowed her eyes toward him.
“My soulmate exists! Maybe yours is the one that doesn’t,” Milk countered, trying to piss Ohm off.
“Calmed down, guys,” Namtan interjects, trying to cool the air that is starting to heat up. “Ohm, you shouldn’t have said that after she told us about her tattoo 2 months ago. And Milk, you saw Ohm’s tattoo before us half a month ago, so you know that he has a soulmate. So, can we just drop it and go back to our topic earlier?”
Milk and Ohm exchanged a glance at each other and sighed, “Yeah, sorry, Namtan and Emi,” Ohm muttered with a frown. “I guess I wasn’t really excited for tomorrow either.”
Milk then hugged the three of them and said, “It’s going to be okay, guys. We might find it hard, or maybe they will suck, but at least we have each other, right?” Her friends nodded in agreement and hugged her back.
The four of them had been friends since the first year of high school, except Milk and Emi, who had been friends since they were kids. The four of them had treated each other like siblings, especially in a place like Shadyside, where, in order to survive, you need to help each other, especially when you have a very fucked up life, in their situation, fucked up family.
On their way home, in a small cabin made just for the four of them, away from their blood relatives. Milk didn’t stop about the chances of meeting their soulmates, after all, they hadn’t met anyone in Shadyside that has the initials that their tattoo had.
“I’m telling you, guys. We’ve been looking for our soulmates since Namtan got her tattoo a year ago, then Emi a few weeks after Namtan’s, Ohm half a year ago, and mine 2 months ago. And yet, we still haven’t found anyone with those initials. Then they got to be someone that is not from Shadyside,” Milk explained, trying to convince her friends.
Emi groaned, “Can’t you stop? Who cared about a soulmate anyway?” Suddenly, she was interrupted by all of her friends, who suddenly said, “I do,” synchronized with each other, and they gazed at each other before starting to laugh.
“O-kay fine. Hypothetically, one of your soulmates is there. What would you do? I mean, those private school students hate us,” Emi asked, curiously waiting for their answer. But Namtan and Ohm remained quiet, unsure what to say.
“I’ll just have to seduce my soulmate! No one can resist my charm,” Milk announced proudly, making a fist and smiling widely as if she knew she would succeed in seducing whoever her soulmate was.
“What the hell is that?” Namtan asked with a slight chuckle. “Well, good luck with that, especially with those weird initials you have below your rib, Milk. What was that again?”
“Soulmate buddies,” Ohm said, looking at both Milk and Emi for having the same initials, which are “PL. You two may even end up with the same person,” Ohm tried holding his laugh as he teased his two friends.
“Well, at least we don’t have NT,” Milk retorted. “If it wasn’t for the assurance that Namtan isn’t your soulmate, I would have pushed through the idea about you and Namtan ending up together,” Milk said, smirking about the idea that Ohm’s tattoo was Namtan’s initials.
Emi just laughs as she looks at her friends’ faces, trying to tease and pissed off each other. She then looked at her ankle, and he was reminded of the initial “PL.”
She didn’t realize that her friends saw her looking at her tattoo, which caused them to tease her about it, acting like she didn’t care, but he does.
After that, the four of them started laughing and continued to walk to their cabin and take a nap for the rest of the day. Trying to get themselves ready for whatever is to come tomorrow.