Anonymous Lines - Hambebe AU

Chapter 18

Maxine and Nicole were still teasing Shaine.

Maxine laughed, clearly enjoying Shaine's flustered state. "Because you're glowing, girl! So, how's it going with... what's the name again?"

Shaine sighed dramatically but couldn't suppress the smile forming on her lips. "Okay, fine. His name is Gabrielle," she said, almost shyly.

At the mention of the name, the whole table fell silent for a moment. Maxine and Nicole burst into laughter while Sage's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wait, what?" Sage said, glancing between Shaine and Gabrielle. "Did I hear that right? Gabrielle? As in... our  Gabrielle?"

Maxine leaned forward, barely containing her amusement. "Sabi ko na nga ba! Pareho sila ng pangalan!" She turned to Gabrielle, who was sitting right next to her. "Gab, you didn't tell us you had a long-lost twin."

Gabrielle felt her face flush, trying to laugh it off, but inside, her heart was pounding. This can't be happening. "Yeah, it's a common name," she said, forcing a chuckle.

Shaine quickly waved her hands in defense. "Hindi, hindi! I mean, obviously, it's not this Gabrielle," she stammered, glancing at Gabrielle. "My Gabrielle is a guy."

Gabrielle, who was now hyper-aware of every word Shaine was saying, felt a sinking feeling in her chest. It sounds too much like... No, she told herself. It's impossible. There's no way this Gabrielle could be her. Right?

Sage laughed, shaking her head. "Of all the names though, Shaine? Gabrielle talaga? That's hilarious."

"Yeah, Shaine!" Maxine added. "You're practically talking to Gab, just the guy version!" She elbowed Gabrielle playfully, but Gabrielle could only offer a weak smile in return.

Nicole, ever the skeptic, leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Okay, Shaine, but how sure are you that this Gabrielle is legit? I mean, come on, you've been talking for a while, and you still haven't met him in person?"

Shaine's blush deepened. "Well, hindi pa namin napag-usapan 'yung meeting up, but I can tell he's legit! We talk every day, and he's super nice, tsaka he even listens to the songs I recommend, like, tapos as I have mentioned earlier he's been watching the Enhypen videos I send him."

Gabrielle's fork paused mid-air hearing it for the second time and knowing what's the user Shaine's been talking to. Enhypen videos? I've been watching Enhypen videos because of Wonnie...

Maxine smirked, giving Shaine a knowing look. "So, kailan mo siya makikita in person? Are you gonna ask him out?"

Shaine laughed nervously, shaking her head. "No! It's not like that. We're just friends, okay? I mean, he's just someone I really enjoy talking to."

Gabrielle couldn't stay silent any longer. She cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. "So, you haven't seen a picture of him yet?"

Shaine blinked, a bit taken aback by the question. "Well... no, not yet. But it doesn't matter. I trust him, and we're just having fun chatting. It's not like I'm in a rush to see what he looks like."

Nicole and Maxine exchanged looks, clearly unconvinced but amused by Shaine's insistence.

"Gab, what do you think? Kilig-worthy ba yung Gabrielle ni Shaine?" Sage nudged her.

Gabrielle forced a smile, trying not to let the panic show in her eyes. "Well... sounds like he's making her happy, so that's good, right?"

Shaine beamed at Gabrielle, nodding. "Exactly! He just gets me, you know? It's so easy talking to him."

Gabrielle's heart pounded in her chest. She's talking about me. She has no idea, but she's talking about me.

Nicole, noticing how quiet Gabrielle had been, raised an eyebrow. "Gab, are you okay? You're unusually quiet."

"Yeah, you're not usually this quiet," Maxine chimed in, teasingly poking her side.

Gabrielle managed a weak laugh, shaking her head. "I'm fine. Just... listening."

Sage grinned, teasing her best friend. "Uy, baka si Gab ang kinikilig, ha?"

Gabrielle waved it off with a laugh, though inside, she felt like she was about to burst. "No, no! Just... enjoying the conversation."

But as the group continued to joke and tease Shaine, Gabrielle couldn't shake the feeling that this was no coincidence Shaine was talking about her. The more Shaine talked about her "friend" on X, the more it became clear. She wasn't talking to some guy. She was talking to her.

And now, Gabrielle was caught in the middle of it, unsure of what to do next. Should she tell Shaine the truth? Or let things stay as they were?

For now, all she could do was smile and nod, hoping that somehow, this tangled web wouldn't unravel anytime soon, Shaine was Wonnie, and the Gabrielle guy Shaine has been talking about is her.