It was past eight o'clock when the two settled into an alcove not far ashore.
Ko loved this spot. It was secluded, just the right size, and tranquil: things he craved when he wanted to relax and get out of his head.
He had just started the second semester taking up marketing management: a bullshit major he chose out of boredom. He was tolerant at first, but that lasted until he picked up his guitar again.
Ko had been fond of playing the guitar ever since he learned Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water when he was six years old. Sometimes he found other things to do, but he'd always go back to his guitar— strumming when he's bored, dusting it whenever he cleaned around the house, or replacing the strings when he notices they're a little bit worn out.
Other times, he completely immersed himself in it.
He would start neglecting long quizzes and projects to perfect a cover of UDD's songs, and soon ditched classes in favor of going to gigs and jamming with different bands.
When no one was available, the alcove was witness to his experimental, half-finished songs, and his voice, which sounded like a cool summer's wind, echoed throughout its rock walls.
Ko wasn't ungrateful. Nor neglectful. His mom knew this too. When his grades came out not long after, Ko told his mom he wanted out. He wanted to pursue music. His grades weren't stellar but at least he didn't fail anything. Not this time, his mom thought.
It was a short discussion. Kathy, Ko's older sister, was scheduled to relocate hospitals, and Ko knew he wanted to transfer to a university in Manila. He had three to choose from, but ISBA was by far the one he hoped he would go to.
It was a tedious process but a few months later, Ko finally got confirmation that he was eligible to transfer to two out of the three universities, ISBA one of them.
This was the news he's been stewing on and wanted to tell Iris, who had just appointed him boyfriend, merely two hours ago.
Iris was ahead of him and the first one to go inside. It should've been dark given the hour, but the moonlight was extraordinary. Ko turned around and glanced at the sky. There, among whisps of clouds, was a perfect full moon.
"Ko?" He heard Iris call. He continued walking forward. Iris found the rock he always sat on at the left side and attempted to dust it off with her hands. Ko shook his head and smiled a bit, knowing the rock was wet from seawater. He walked ahead of her and felt for the towel slung on his shoulder. He laid it flat on the rock's surface and motioned for Iris to sit down.
"Thank you," She almost whispered her reply. Ko swallowed, suddenly feeling a sharp tension in the air. Ko was standing over her and he could see her face clearly. Her eyes that always looked curious and innocent, her gloss-covered lips that always seemed to be parted slightly, her cheeks that always reminded him of red apples.
Iris's breathing had turned heavy. "Ko?" She squeaked, though she didn't mean for it to sound so...expectant.
"Iris," Ko answered. He could start talking now. He could even open with a joke before he got to the details of how he'll be able to follow her to Manila after all.
But all he could think about at that moment was Iris's lips, and her lips, and her lips.
Without saying anything, Ko cupped her face and touched a kiss on her mouth. It was the lightest kiss he's ever given her, making room for Iris to turn her head away if she didn't want to do this.
Because apparently all of the hints in the world aren't enough, and this was Iris, who became so special to him in a span of days, and he wanted their first to be perfect.
