When the Universe Conspires

01: Ordinary Gravity

It was the kind of morning that began quietly, without fanfare. Connie rolled out of bed to the distant hum of her aunt's old coffee maker, the scent of toasted pandesal drifting through the small house. Her room was a cluttered sanctuary of mismatched posters and secondhand furniture, bathed in the soft light sneaking through the curtains. She stretched lazily, glancing at her phone just in time for Aki's text to appear.

"Meet you at the usual spot?"

Connie smiled. It was always the same—Aki, with his predictability, his steady presence. They'd walk together, like they always did. It was routine, but it was theirs.

She threw on her school uniform, not really caring that her skirt was slightly wrinkled. The house was quiet, but she could hear her aunt humming to herself in the kitchen. As Connie wandered down the narrow hallway, she passed by the small altar with flickering candles and statues of saints, her aunt's quiet devotion. Tita Flora believed in astrology and the stars, yes, but she also had this unwavering belief in her faith, in something larger than both of them. The universe was her sanctuary, the stars her daily gospel.

The scent of coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the faint perfume of incense from last night's novena. Connie found her aunt standing by the sink, already dressed in her colorful house dress, hair pinned up in her usual messy bun, eyes bright and lively despite the early hour. Her aura always exuded warmth, the kind of warmth that felt like a blanket on a cold morning.

"You're gonna be late, Con," Tita Flora said, her back turned as she stirred her coffee. "Are you still walking with Aki today?"

Connie nodded, grabbing a slice of pandesal from the plate on the table. "Yeah, we're meeting at the corner."

Tita Flora chuckled. "That boy... He's like a shadow, always around. Not that I'm complaining. Better Aki than someone else." She turned to Connie, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But don't you think it's about time you two admitted that there's something more going on?"

Connie groaned, stuffing the pandesal into her mouth to avoid answering. This wasn't the first time her aunt had teased her about Aki. "Tita, please," she mumbled through the bread.

Flora laughed, a light sound that filled the kitchen. "I'm just saying. Stars don't lie, hija. Your charts have been telling me for months now—"

Connie rolled her eyes. "And what do the stars say this week? That I'm destined for detention?"

Her aunt wagged a finger at her playfully. "Venus is in retrograde, and you know what that means. Don't make any rash decisions. The universe is tricky right now."

Connie raised her eyebrows, pretending to take the advice seriously. "Noted. No rash decisions. Got it."

With a quick kiss on her aunt's cheek, Connie grabbed her bag and headed for the door. "See you later, Tita!"

Stepping outside, she was greeted by the familiar sight of Aki waiting on his bike, one foot propped up on the pedal, his phone in hand. His crisp white uniform looked freshly ironed, and his hair was neatly combed, though a few stubborn strands stuck up at odd angles. Connie smiled to herself. Aki always looked effortlessly put together, as if he didn't even have to try, but she knew better. His family expected perfection, and he wore that expectation like an uncomfortable second skin.

"Ready?" he asked, hopping off his bike as she caught up.

"You're awfully eager this morning," she teased, tugging at the strap of her bag. "Let me guess, your dad's riding you about school again?"

Aki gave her a small, tight smile, the kind he used when he didn't want to talk about it. "Something like that."

They started walking side by side, the steady rhythm of their footsteps a familiar beat on the pavement. The neighborhood was already alive with the usual morning chaos—tricycle engines revving, vendors shouting to attract customers, and jeepneys rumbling along the dusty streets. Connie loved this part of the morning, the in-between moments before the world fully woke up. It was like the universe was still deciding how the day would unfold.

"You're lucky," Aki said after a while, his voice quiet but sincere. "Living with your aunt, just the two of you. Seems peaceful."

Connie glanced at him, noticing the way his gaze stayed fixed on the ground in front of them. She knew what he meant, knew the weight of his words even though he didn't say much. Aki's home was far from peaceful. His house was enormous, practically a mansion, with high ceilings and walls lined with expensive art. His parents, both doctors, were successful, respected, and admired in the community. But the house felt cold to Aki, all marble floors and quiet tension. His older brother, Adrian, was the star of the family—charming, accomplished, everything their parents could want in a son. And Aki...well, he was always trying to catch up, to be noticed, but it never seemed to be enough.

"I guess," Connie said, shrugging. "But you know, Tita Flora's a little...much sometimes. She won't stop reading my star charts, and she thinks I'm destined for something big this year."

Aki chuckled. "Well, that's better than being destined to show up at every family event looking 'respectable' just to blend in with the furniture."

Connie smiled but stayed quiet. She didn't want to push him, didn't want to make him talk about things he clearly wanted to avoid. But she hated how invisible Aki felt in his own home, how his parents seemed to look right past him, no matter what he did.

They stopped at their usual spot, a small café tucked between a sari-sari store and a barbershop, the kind of place that was easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. The bell above the door chimed as they walked in, greeted by the familiar warmth of the space. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, and the soft murmur of other early risers drifted through the room.

Aki stepped up to the counter, ordering their usual—black coffee for him, iced coffee with a shot of vanilla for her. Connie leaned against the counter, watching as the barista prepared their drinks. The café had become their spot over the years, a place where they could sit and talk about everything and nothing, away from the noise of school and family.

While Aki paid, Connie found them a table by the window, her favorite spot. The sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. She stared out at the street, watching the world go by, people rushing to start their day, vendors setting up their stalls, jeepneys packed with passengers navigating the narrow streets. The familiar hum of life in their small town.

Aki joined her at the table, setting their drinks down. He leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of his coffee. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds coming from the soft clink of cups and the gentle buzz of conversation around them.

"So," Connie said, breaking the silence, "what's the big family drama this week? Your dad on your case again?"

Aki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's my brother, actually. He's giving some big speech at the hospital's anniversary gala next week, and it's all anyone's talking about at home. My mom's already planning this huge party, and my dad's making sure everyone important is invited."

Connie frowned. "And what about you? Do you have to give a speech too?"

Aki shook his head. "Nope. I just have to show up, smile for the family photo, and try not to embarrass anyone."

Connie rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous. You're not an embarrassment, Aki."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Tell that to my parents."

Connie hated the way Aki talked about himself sometimes, like he was constantly measuring himself against an invisible standard he could never meet. His parents had high expectations, sure, but Aki was smart, hardworking, and kind—everything anyone could ask for in a son. But to his parents, it seemed like he was always second best, always in his brother's shadow.

She wanted to say something, to remind him of how amazing he was, but she knew it wouldn't help. Not really. Aki had been dealing with this his whole life, and no amount of reassurance from her would change the way his parents saw him.

Instead, she reached across the table and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Pluto?"

Aki looked at her, his expression softening. He nodded. "Pluto."

The bell above the door chimed again, signaling another customer's arrival, but neither of them paid attention. For now, they were in their own little bubble, a quiet moment of peace before the chaos of the day began. 

And that was enough.

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