In every class, there's always that girl.
The one who never tries too hard. The one who doesn't sit in front, yet everyone somehow knows she's there.
For their block in Engineering, that girl was Andrea Navarro.
Quiet in the corner. Not exactly sociable, but always present. Not the most competitive either — but when she spoke, you'd sometimes catch yourself thinking, "Damn, that was actually clever."
She was a true dalagang Pilipina — a traditional Filipina maiden — with a touch of sarcasm. Always with her abaniko (fan) in hand. Sometimes embroidered, sometimes made of rattan, sometimes floral.
And the way she used it? Elegant. Dramatic. Historic.
"Wow, you look like a mix of Maria Clara's grace and Gabriela Silang's fire!"
She'd flip her hair and smirk. "I know, right?"
Then everyone would burst into laughter.
Andi would often sit by the window, abaniko in hand, gently fanning herself even when it was cold. Not because she was hot — but because aesthetics mattered. Aura was life.
She wasn't the smartest. "I'm kinda dumb at Math," she'd say, laughing tiredly as she took a big bite of pandesal from her tote bag.
Calculus was her personal demon. But despite the struggle, she never missed a class. Sleep-deprived, hungry, late — she'd still show up. Messy bun, light makeup, abaniko in tow.
What made her stand out wasn't just her old-fashioned style or her throwback-Pinay charm. It was how comfortable she was being herself. Long skirts, tucked-in blouses, loose cardigans, closed shoes, sometimes a pearl hair clip. She always looked like she just stepped out of a Noli Me Tangere cosplay.
Yet despite her look, she wasn't intimidating. Actually, she was warm.
Especially during breaks.
"You want?"
She'd offer food wrapped in wax paper — sometimes pastries, sometimes leftovers, sometimes Jollibee when she was too lazy to cook. She always had extra. Always willing to share. Always helping others with their homework even if she was just as lost.
Even with her quiet, composed aura, everyone knew Andi wasn't ordinary.
She never bragged — but you could tell that when it came to money, she didn't have to worry.
When there were group payments, she was always the first to contribute. Sometimes she'd show up with a new phone case, a new set of pens, or a new shoulder bag — minimalist yet elegant. The vibe? Rich Tita from Intramuros. Not branded, not flashy, just… tasteful.
Once, she brought her own wooden laptop stand to the library. The aesthetic kind. Everyone noticed.
"Girl, where'd you get that?"
"Shopee. But I checked the reviews first — I had to make sure it was real wood."
"Girl, you're on another level."
But perhaps the most whispered-about topic in their group chat?
Her crush.
A tall, tan guy from Business Administration — the one she always accidentally lined up with at the convenience store. No one knew him personally, but every Friday, Andi somehow ended up on the same floor as him.
"Oh, look at her — peach lipstick today. Her crush must be here again."
"Even her fan lifts a little whenever he walks by."
Andi would deny it, of course. "Excuse me? This is purely for motivation purposes."
But her friends knew. Especially that one time the Business Ad guy walked by while she was eating ensaymada — and she literally choked.
"That's what you get for trying to act cute — you almost died!" Jem screamed. Andi smacked her arm.
Andrea Navarro wasn't the type to chase the spotlight. But she was the type people remembered.
Because even in her quiet ways — her long skirts, her abaniko twirls, and her deadpan one-liners about math trauma — she was uniquely, confidently her.
A girl with a storm inside, a fan in her hand, a plan in her heart… and maybe, just maybe, a crush she was still trying to calculate — even if she was failing Calculus.
---
Engineering Week
It was a humid Thursday, and Engineering Week was in full swing.
There were booths, games, org tables in the hallway, and a talent show that was supposedly for "graded participation," according to their chill professor — the same one who somehow always managed to destroy everyone's finals.
Andi Navarro sat at the edge of the hallway — abaniko in one hand, clipboard in the other — wearing her favorite long dusty-blue skirt, a cream blouse with lace cuffs, and black Mary Janes.
Classic. Graceful. Trying-too-hard-to-be-cute. Just kidding.
But deep inside? Her heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking. And her dignity was slipping away.
Because ten steps away… was him.
Tall. Tan. Gamer glasses. A Business Ad major who definitely looked like he had a Steam library full of strategy games.
"But what if I'm not interesting?" Andi whispered, her abaniko trembling.
"You don't have a choice, Maria Clara," Jem murmured back. "Your outfit's too good to waste. You just need a tiara, honestly."
Andi fanned herself faster, her blue skirt swaying slightly.
"Girl, this is it," Jem urged. "If you don't talk to him, we will — and we'll tell him you get UTIs every time you see him."
"DON'T. I have a reputation," Andi hissed.
"Exactly," Lara grinned. "So go maintain it — approach him like you've got background music in a teleserye."
Deep breath. One dramatic abaniko wave for courage. Then she stood.
She walked — graceful but trembling — toward the Business Ad booth where the guy, Alonzo Javier (thank you, IG stalking), sat behind a laptop, stapling papers while monitoring scores.
Andi took another breath, then said the most awkward thing ever, "Hi… um, are you the one in charge of this booth?"
Alonzo blinked, pausing mid-staple. "Uh, yeah… do you need forms?"
That voice. Low. Shy. Gentle. Lord, if he smiles, I'm dead.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Classic move.
"Actually… I was just curious about the event. I wanted to observe, if that's okay."
Alonzo smiled — slow, genuine, soft.
"Sure. There are seats here. You can sit if you want."
And she did. Without thinking. Without grace. Almost tripped on her skirt — but recovered like a champ.
Nice recovery. 10/10.
An hour later, Andi found herself sitting beside Alonzo, milk tea in hand, their conversation flowing like they'd known each other for years.
He wasn't intimidating at all. He was soft-spoken. Funny. Kinda nerdy.
He talked about old anime, strategy games, and his love for cats. Andi talked about being an Engineering student with a Math allergy, a weakness for cheese bread, and her obsession with Philippine history and Cordilleran culture.
He laughed. A full, bright smile. And Andi's brain just… stopped working.
"Your fan's cool," he said, looking at her abaniko. "Like something princesses use in period dramas."
"Who was the last girl you liked?" she blurted out. Girl, what's the connection?!
But Alonzo just chuckled.
"Honestly? I haven't really had time for that kind of thing."
LORD. THIS IS IT. PLEASE.
By the time they said goodbye, Andi's soul had already walked down the aisle.
As she turned away, she dropped her abaniko. Literally. The universe betrayed her grip.
She picked it up quickly, smiled like nothing happened, and walked away — shaking.
When she got back to her friends, she looked pale.
"Friend, what happened? Why do you look like a ghost?"
"OH MY GOD, YOU DROPPED YOUR FAN?!"
"Did you guys kiss?!"
Andi blinked. "He smells so good, Jem. I wanted to kneel and say 'I do.'"
"Andi, you whore!" Jem screamed, laughing.
They pulled her down onto the bench, fanning her with her own abaniko.
"Girl, calm down. He's not even courting you yet."
"But it already feels like he's the one," Andi whispered dreamily.
That night, Andi opened her phone — and there it was.
A DM.
Alonzo Javier:
Thanks for talking earlier. You're really easy to talk to. :)
Andi froze. Stared at the screen. Stared at the ceiling.
Then whispered softly, almost reverently—
"Lord… is this it?"