As Lyra and Jona walked home from Jollibee, laughing and chatting, they spotted a few familiar faces approaching from the opposite direction. It was their group of friends—Cathy, Miko, and Ben—who were clearly on their way to hang out somewhere.
“Uy, Jona! Lyra!” Cathy called out, waving as they neared.
Jona grinned, nudging Lyra. “Oh, look who’s here.”
Cathy, always energetic, bounced up to them first. “Saan kayo galing? Jollibee na naman, no?”
Miko, who was a bit more laid-back, smirked as he gave them a casual nod. “Chickenjoy addicts, for sure.”
Lyra chuckled and shrugged. “Alam niyo naman kami. Hindi nakakatanggi sa Chickenjoy.”
Ben, who was always the quiet one, smiled shyly. “Sarap naman. We should’ve joined you.”
“We just finished, pero next time, sama na kayo,” Jona offered, smiling.
Cathy eyed them both suspiciously, grinning mischievously. “Hmm, parang may something, ah. Kanina pa ako may napapansin. Ano to, Jollibee date?”
Lyra blushed instantly, but Jona, always the smooth one, simply grinned. “Bakit, jealous?”
Cathy playfully gasped. “Ay! Jona’s so bold today! So it is a date!”
Miko laughed, shaking his head. “Grabe, parang ang saya naman ng lakad niyo. Kami papunta pa lang kina Cathy para mag-review for the quiz sa Science bukas. Gusto niyo sumama?”
Lyra exchanged a quick glance with Jona. They were still enjoying their post-Jollibee moment, but hanging out with their friends was always fun too.
“Sige, sama kami for a while,” Jona said, slipping her hand discreetly into Lyra’s for a second before pulling it away.
The group walked together, chatting about school, the Math quiz, and how much they weren’t looking forward to more exams coming up. Cathy kept teasing Lyra and Jona the whole way, but there was no malice in it—just the usual fun that came with being in their tight-knit group.
As they reached Cathy’s house, Miko nudged Jona. “Sana next time mag-Jollibee tayo after exams para ma-relax naman.”
Jona winked at Lyra. “Kahit wala pang exam, game kami ni Lyra.”
Lyra smiled, feeling grateful for moments like these—surrounded by friends, playful teasing, and the unspoken connection between her and Jona that felt deeper with each passing day.
For now, it was just another fun walk home with friends. But for Lyra and Jona, it was a reminder of how their bond, both as best friends and something more, continued to grow stronger with every step they took together.
As they settled into Cathy’s living room, the group quickly turned their focus to studying for their upcoming Science quiz. They pulled out their notes, textbooks, and pens, but it was clear that their energy was still buzzing from their earlier fun at Jollibee.
“Okay, guys! Let’s get serious,” Cathy said dramatically, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. “We need to nail this quiz tomorrow.”
Miko nodded, already flipping through his notebook. “Sige, let’s start with some questions. I’ll go first!” He looked at Lyra and Jona, a cheeky smile on his face. “Okay, here’s a tough one. What is the chemical formula for water?”
“Easy! H2O,” Lyra replied confidently.
Jona added, “But what do the numbers represent?”
“Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom,” Miko confirmed, giving her a thumbs up.
