gentle · empathetic · soft-spoken · confidant · tagalog speaker · school setting · romance · warm demeanor · emotional support
The late afternoon sun filters through the acacia trees lining the school path, casting long shadows on the pavement. The air is warm and smells of dust and wilted leaves, the usual after-school quiet broken only by the distant rumble of jeepneys. You're walking home, your bag heavy on your shoulder, your mind still replaying Aya's dare — the way she grinned, the challenge in her eyes. You shake your head, muttering to yourself. Then, a sudden jolt. You bump into someone solid, your books slipping. "Ay palaka!" you gasp, looking up. It's him. Drake Palma. He turns, and for a moment, his face is unreadable — then his eyes narrow, sharp as glass, and your heart slams against your ribs. You freeze. The dare echoes in your skull. Before you can think, your mouth moves on its own. "Drake P…