"Hey, Zhaira!" someone called out suddenly, making her glance up.
"Hey, Azrael," she greeted, a small smile forming.
He fell into step beside her as they walked toward the school gate. "We have practice later. Mind if you watch?" he asked, his voice hopeful.
"Uh… sure," she replied.
"Really? You'll be there? I'm counting on it," he said with a grin, clearly thrilled.
Zhaira nodded and smiled. But she was completely caught off guard when he leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
"See you later!" Azrael called over his shoulder as he jogged ahead, leaving Zhaira standing frozen, her mind still spinning.
.....
Later, inside of their room, Zhaira's attention was drawn to a sudden commotion outside. Her eyes widened in surprise as Enoh stepped in, a bouquet of roses held carefully in his hands.
"W-What… is this?" she asked, both surprised and blushing.
"I know I'm moving too fast, but I don't want to waste any more time. I can't wait any longer," Enoh said, stepping closer. His eyes locked on hers with determination. "Zhaira Loverial… will you be my girlfriend?"
A gasp filled the room, and even the air seemed to hold its breath.
"Ayieehhh, please say yes!" Sena squealed, unable to contain her excitement.
"Yes," Zhaira replied, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
Enoh's face lit up, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "You don't know how happy you just made me," he whispered against her hair, his voice trembling with emotion.
Not far away, Cali watched the scene unfold, her chest tightening with pain. Beside her stood her close friend and classmate, Winter.
"You should be the one standing there, Cali… not her," Winter's voice echoed in her mind.
Regret gnawed at Cali—she had let Enoh walk away, and jealousy consumed her as she watched Zhaira and Enoh. She wanted him back, no matter what it took, and she was already plotting her next move.
In the afternoon, Enoh gently told Zhaira that he needed to leave first due to an "emergency." Zhaira decided to stay for a while and watch Azrael's practice. She walked to the soccer field and soon noticed him waving at her. Then, he continued playing, skillfully maneuvering the soccer ball across the field. It was easy to see why he had been chosen as the vice-captain.
After practice, Azrael jogged over to her. "I did a great job, right?" he asked with a playful smile.
"You're really good… I'm impressed," Zhaira replied, genuinely amazed.
He smirked, leaning closer. "I can score in the net, but I haven't scored in your heart yet," he murmured, almost teasingly.
"Huh?" she blinked, confused and a little flustered.
He chuckled.
"Nothing, want to walk home together?" he offered.
"Sure," she said softly, a smile tugging at her lips.
.....
Enoh and Cali met outside the school—this was the "emergency" he had mentioned. Cali had called him, wanting to meet him.
"What is it now? I'm in a hurry," he said impatiently. Before he could react further, Cali suddenly embraced him. "I'm sorry, Enoh. I was wrong. I shouldn't have broken up with you… please, come back to me," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
Enoh pushed her away gently but firmly. "It's over, Cali. I'm happy with Zhaira now, so don't try to interfere," he said, his voice steady but resolute.
Cali's face twisted in anger and disbelief. "Why? What does she have that I don't? I'm better than her!" she shouted, desperation lacing her voice.
Enoh's expression hardened, his jaw clenched. "No," he said, voice low but unwavering. "You're wrong. She's better than you. And I… I love her."
"So please, stop this already. I no longer love you. My heart belongs to her now. And besides, you're the one who pushed me away. Just be happy for me—that I finally found my real love."
With that, he turned on his heel and began walking away, leaving her standing there, stunned and silent.
Cali clenched her fists, her eyes burning with anger and jealousy. "Mark my words, Enoh… I'll get you back. I won't stop until you're mine again!" she screamed after him.
Enoh paused but didn't look back. "I'll never go back to you… never," he said before continuing to walk away, leaving her behind completely.
.....
Walking home with Azrael, Zhaira suddenly noticed a motorcycle blocking their path.
"Enoh?" she called.
Enoh stepped off the bike, a warm smile on his face. "I came back to take you home," he said, giving Azrael a brief, cool glance.
Azrael stepped back, nodding seriously. "Go ahead. I'll leave you two," he said, his eyes meeting Enoh's for a moment before he walked away.
Zhaira climbed onto the motorcycle and wrapped her arms around him from behind. The cool evening breeze whipped past them, but all she felt was the steady warmth of his body.
.
.
.
Zhaira and Enoh walked hand in hand, fingers intertwined, as the late afternoon sun cast warm shades of gold along the path.
"I wish things could stay like this forever," Enoh suddenly said, his voice low. Then he kissed the back of her hand. "No one to interfere… no one to take you away from me."
Zhaira looked at him, puzzled. "Why would anyone come between us? I don't think anyone would try… right?"
Enoh tightened his hold on her hand—firm, protective, almost desperate.
"I love you, Zhaira," he said, his tone steady but full of emotion. "Of course no one will dare… I promise, whatever happens, nothing will ever change. You're the only one I'll ever love."
Her heart melted. She stepped closer and hugged him tightly."I love you so much too, Enoh," she whispered against his chest.
Later, while Zhaira was packing her books inside the library, Cali approached her.
"Can we talk?" Cali asked.
Zhaira sat down, cautious. "What do you want to say?"
"I want him back," Cali said directly. "I want Enoh back."
Zhaira froze, but she immediately fixed her gaze on Cali with a serious expression. "I will never give him back to you. He's not an object you can claim whenever you want. We love each other. Whatever you and Enoh had—it's over."
"Are you sure it's really over?" Cali leaned closer, her eyes sharp. "Did you know he still meets with me? Secretly? He told me he still loves me. And you? You're just someone he's passing time with."
"That's a lie," Zhaira said, her heart pounding. "Enoh would never do that."
"How long have you even known him?" Cali scoffed. "You don't know the real him yet. If I were you, I'd step aside and let us get back together."
"I won't give him up," Zhaira said firmly, even as her chest tightened with fear. "I believe he loves me."
"Suit yourself," Cali smirked before turning and walking away.
A painful tightness gripped Zhaira's chest. Please… let Cali be lying… please.
.....
Meanwhile, outside the library, Enoh waited for Zhaira—until Winter approached him.
"Hey, Enoh, did you hear the news?" Winter asked.
"What news?"
"That Azrael likes your girlfriend. No wonder he keeps asking her to watch their practices," Winter said casually.
"She… watches his practices?" Enoh asked, his expression darkening.
"Well, yeah. Didn't you know? Aren't you her boyfriend?" Winter teased before walking away.
Heat rushed through Enoh's head. He stormed off.
.....
When Zhaira finally came out of the library, Enoh was gone. She called him repeatedly, but he didn't answer.
As she walked down the path, someone suddenly covered her eyes from behind. Startled, she removed the hand—and saw Azrael grinning.
"Hey, how are you?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she answered shortly.
"You don't look fine. Are you sick?" He cupped her cheek gently, concern in his eyes.
"I'm okay. I have to go," she said, trying to walk away, but Azrael caught her hand.
Suddenly, he pulled her into a hug.
"H-Hey! Azrael—let go…" Zhaira struggled, shocked.
"Zhaira."
Both of them froze.
Enoh stood there.
Before Azrael could even react—
BOOOOGSSHH!!!
Enoh's fist slammed into Azrael's jaw.
"You bastard! You're actually flirting with MY girlfriend?!" Enoh roared.
"S-Stop it, Enoh!" Zhaira cried, pulling him back.
"And YOU!" Enoh shouted at Zhaira, anger and jealousy twisting his face. "You already have a boyfriend, and you still let another guy touch you?!"
"She didn't do anything wrong," Azrael said, wiping blood from his lip.
"Shut up!" Enoh barked.
He grabbed Zhaira's wrist and dragged her away.
"E-Enoh… you're hurting me," Zhaira sobbed. His grip was too tight, fueled by rage.
Her tears snapped him out of it.
"I—I'm sorry…" he whispered, releasing her immediately. "I didn't mean to. I just… lost it."
Still crying, Zhaira choked out, "There's nothing going on between me and Azrael… please believe me."
Enoh pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have listened to rumors. Please… forgive me."
She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
.....
That evening, Enoh walked her home to her apartment.
After he left, Zhaira noticed a homeless man digging through the trash nearby. Concerned, she took out a sandwich from her bag and approached him.
"Excuse me… here, you can have this," she said gently, offering him sandwich.
The man looked up. To her shock, he wasn't old—he was a young man, strikingly handsome beneath the dirt and messy hair.
"Thank you," the handsome vagrant said, taking the sandwich.
"I've never seen you around here before," Zhaira said softly.
He didn't answer, simply ate.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Eros," he replied quietly, taking another bite.
She nodded and turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.
"Oh—here."Eros handed her a heart-shaped keychain."That'll bring you luck in love."
She stared at it, touched and confused."Thank you—"
But when she looked back, Eros was gone.
She searched behind the bins. Nothing.It was as if he vanished into thin air.
When Enoh arrived home, he found his older brother and his brother's friend, Seven, in the living room. A wedding invitation sat on the table—Seven's marriage to the daughter of Don Agustin Montemayor. Enoh congratulated him, then retreated to his room, lying on his bed and pulling out his wallet to look at Zhaira's picture.
.....
The next morning, Cali showed up outside Enoh's house.
"What do you want now, Cali? We're over, remember?" Enoh said, irritated.
"Please, Enoh… come back to me. I know you still love me…"
"That was before—when I was stupid enough to chase after you," he said coldly.
But before he could react, Cali suddenly kissed him.
At the doorway—something fell.
Enoh turned.
Zhaira.
She stood there, crying.
"W-Wait—Zhaira, I can explain—" he said, panicked, reaching for her.
But she ran.
He chased after her, but she was gone.
The sky darkened, and rain poured violently, drenching everything.
"ZHAIRA!!!" Enoh shouted through the storm.
He searched everywhere—streets, corners, paths—but she was nowhere. Eventually, he sank to the ground, soaked, desperate, heartbroken.
Meanwhile, Zhaira stumbled through the rain, tears mingling with the storm.She had seen everything—the kiss.So it was true.Part of Enoh still belonged to Cali.
A passing taxi stopped at the red light. Inside, Azrael looked out—and saw Zhaira collapsing.
"Stop the car!" he shouted.
He leapt out, running toward her.
"Zhaira! Zhaira, wake up!" He lifted her into his arms, soaked and trembling, and carried her into the taxi.
Inside, he gently brushed the wet strands of hair from her face.
"Why are you letting yourself get hurt like this…?" he whispered, voice breaking. "I'm right here… I will never hurt you."