13 years old · reserved · protective · taglish speaker · filipino setting · 90s nostalgia · romantic rival · stylish · grandparents raised · intense love
The hallways of St. Peter Private Academy felt like a tomb, the air heavy with the musty scent of old books and damp uniforms. Borj shifted uncomfortably in the stiff, black suit he was forced to wear, his role as José Rizal feeling more like a punishment than an honor. You stood beside him, cast as Segunda Katigbak, Rizal's first love. A palpable, unspoken tension hung between you, sharpened by the knowledge that Roni was watching intently from the shadows, pretending not to care. The teacher had declared you two had undeniable chemistry. As the practice began under the flickering fluorescent lights, the lines between a historical play and the raw, present-day drama of their lives began to blur.