Colet POV

The game continued until our drinks were almost gone. Malapit na ang pang-5th spin.

 As I was holding Jho's hand, I couldn't deny the comforting feeling it gave me. Every once in a while, I found myself squeezing her hand. Para kasing our hands perfectly fit together.

Ha? Naunsa naman ka, Colet uy. I rolled my eyes at myself. I kept having this stupid idea again.

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my shoulder. It was Jho. "Nahihilo nako," she murmured, massaging her forehead. Mukhang natamaan na nga ito.

Her closeness made my heart race. The warmth of her head resting on my shoulder felt unexpectedly intimate, and it made me more aware of every tiny movement.

 I turned slightly to look at her, seeing the tiredness in her eyes.

"Ano, okay ka lang?" I asked softly, trying to keep my voice steady. She nodded weakly, but I could tell she wasn't feeling her best.

"Gusto mo bang magpahinga na muna?" I suggested, glancing around at our friends who were still engrossed in the game.

"Siguro nga," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. I helped her stand up, keeping a firm hold on her hand to steady her.

"Okay lang, guys, pause muna kami ni Jho," I announced, and everyone nodded understandingly.

We made our way to a quieter corner of the room, and I helped her sit down on a soft, cushioned chair. She leaned back, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.

I found myself watching her, a mixture of concern and confusion swirling inside me. I needed fresh air; kung ano-ano na naiisip ko. 

As I was about to step back, I felt a tug on the hem of my shirt.

"Dito ka lang," Jho said. She was tugging my shirt, signaling me to sit down. I sighed and took a seat beside her, leaning my head back as I calmly listened to the rhythm of our breathing.

"Ayaw mo ba sakin?" The girl beside me suddenly asked.

"Huh?" I asked, confused. Saan galing yun?

"Eh kasi kahapon diba?" She turned her head to look at me. Shit. I could feel her breath right now, a mixture of alcohol and her citrus scent, which was intoxicating. 

Ano ba, Colet, focus.

"Tapos yung sa school din, yung sa cafeteria with Stacey asking you if okay lang ba sumama ako sa inyo, you ignored the question kaya," she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush.

I chuckled, realizing she was more affected by the alcohol than I initially thought. May tama na nga 'to, wala ng preno eh, I thought to myself, smiling.

"Hindi naman sa ganun," I began, choosing my words carefully.

"Yung kahapon kasi, I was surprised. Hindi kasi ako na-heads up na it was me na makikipag-share ng room. I'm sure you would understand, it's about my personal space kasi and the sudden changes," I slowly explained to her.

"Yung sa school naman with Stacey, there are times na tahimik lang talaga ako, pero in my head, I don't mind it naman. And sometimes my silence is a yes." I smiled as I turned my gaze to her.

She was calmly staring at me as if binabasa niya ako kung sincere ba ang mga sinabi ko. Her eyes softened a bit, and I could see the tension in her shoulders relax.

"Talaga?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "So you don't mind me being around?"

"Of course not," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me.

"I actually think you're pretty cool. It's just... sometimes I need a little time to adjust to new situations. And new people."

Jho seemed to consider my words, her expression thoughtful. "I get that," she said finally. "I guess I was just worried kasi, you know, I don't want to be where I'm not wanted."

"You are wanted," I assured her, feeling a pang of guilt for making her feel otherwise. "I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise."

She smiled, a small, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Thanks, Colet. That means a lot."

We sat there for a moment in comfortable silence, the earlier awkwardness dissipating. The sounds of our friends' laughter and chatter drifted over to us, but it felt like we were in our own little world.

I noticed how the moonlight gently illuminated her face, highlighting her soft features. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and I felt an inexplicable urge to reach out and tuck a stray strand behind her ear.

"Gusto mo bang bumalik na?" I asked eventually.

"Pwede rin dito na lang muna tayo," Jho suggested. "Mas tahimik dito."

"Okay," I agreed, feeling oddly content. We stayed like that. The cool night air was refreshing, a stark contrast to the warmth I felt from Jho's proximity.

"Alam mo, Colet," Jho began, breaking the silence. "Alam mo bang nahihirapan akong basahin ka. Usually kasi madali lang sakin bumasa ng tao, pero sayo nahihirapan ako. Parang may mystery sa'yo."

I felt my cheeks heat up at her words. "Mystery? Ako? Wala naman," I replied, trying to downplay it.

"Meron," she insisted. "Pero it's a good thing. It makes me want to know you more."

Her words stirred something inside me, a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Well, nandito lang naman ako," I said softly. "We have plenty of time to get to know each other."

As we sat there, the night air around us seemed to crackle with unspoken possibilities. The laughter of our friends was a distant echo, the stars above us a silent witness to this unexpected moment of connection.