This is an edited version.
The cold September breeze sweeps across Jhoanna's face, making her shiver. She tightens her grip around her hot cup of coffee, relishing the warmth that offers a small reprieve from the chill. The young aspiring journalist lounges on the veranda of their apartment, savoring the stillness that is occasionally broken by the irregular hum of cars passing along Taft Avenue below. The night sky is clear, a stark contrast to the tangled thoughts swirling in her mind.
It's been almost a week since Jhoanna moved into the new apartment she shares with her short-tempered and elusive housemate, Colet. In that time, their interactions have been limited to curt nods when they cross paths in the kitchen or living room, and to Colet's usual "alis muna ako" whenever Jhoanna happens to be home during late afternoons as Colet leaves for wherever she spends her evenings. Though curious, Jhoanna doesn't bother to ask what Colet does for a living; she doubts her reserved housemate would invite her for a heart-to-heart conversation to narrate her life story.
A meaningful conversation between them feels as elusive as getting a warm welcome from her housemate. And it doesn't help that their schedules barely overlap; by the time Colet returns home, usually past midnight, the younger brunette is already fast asleep, snoring softly in her bed.
Jhoanna sighs deeply, taking a sip of her coffee. It's not that she's eager to befriend the older girl, but on nights like this, she finds herself wishing she had someone to talk to casually.
The thought causes a ripple of sadness to gnaw at her chest. Life in the university dorm has never been dull, and as much as she wishes things could return to how they used to be, she knows it's impossible.
Her thoughts drift to the encounter she had earlier that day with her cousin Sheena. Saying she misses her bubbly cousin is an understatement, but she can't ignore the guilt that weighs on her for unintentionally avoiding the younger girl.
***
Flashback: Earlier that day at the university campus
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft, golden hue over the DLSU campus as Jhoanna wove through the crowd in the ground floor hallway of Velasco Hall, making her way toward her Feature Writing class.
"Ate Jho!"
She stopped in her tracks when a loud and familiar voice rang through the hall. She turned around and saw her cousin Sheena beaming widely while waving at her.
"Ate Jho, hintay!" Sheena Mae yelled even louder as she jogged toward Jhoanna, prompting onlookers to turn and see who was shouting in a hallway where 'observed silence' signs were practically posted everywhere.
"Finally, nahuli rin kita!" Sheena exclaimed, breathless, her cheeks flushed from the short sprint.
"Sheena Mae... ano ka ba," The older girl called her out, gesturing toward the signs. "Lakas ng boses mo, ba't mo ba ako hinahabol?" Of course Jhoanna knew why.
"Eh kasi naman Ate Jho, kung hindi kita naabutan ngayon baka antagal pa natin bago uli magkita uli." Sheena managed in one breathe.
"Wala kana sa dorm. Bigla ka na lang nawala, di kaman lang nagpasabi, para kang naging bula." Her tone sulking as she looked to her older cousin, causing the latter's guilt to grow ten-fold.
"Shee... " Jhoanna paused as if finding the right words. "Sorry na, alam mo naman kung ba-". Her attempt to explain was cut short as Sheena started singing the chorus of Yeng Constantino's song "Babay."
