I was jolted awake by a soft knock on the door, my body still heavy with sleep as I fumbled to open it.
Rubbing my eyes, I finally turned the knob and, to my surprise, was greeted by the cheerful face of our landlady.
“Good morning, Dae! I’m sorry to disturb you this early, but someone’s looking for a room, and I’d like to show her this one,” she said, her smile warm and inviting.
I returned her smile with a sleepy nod, trying my best to look presentable.
As she opened the door wider, a woman dressed in call center attire stood behind her, smiling politely at me.
I figured she must be the one replacing our old boardmate, who recently left to work from home.
I gave the woman a quick nod before retreating back to the safety of my deck bed, pulling down the makeshift curtain for a bit of privacy.
My body was still reeking of sleep, and the last thing I wanted was to be fully exposed to these strangers.
I let out a sigh, leaning against the wall as I tried to clear my head.
It's saturday morning, and as usual, I’d probably be left alone for most of the day.
What should I do?
Reviewing for my midterms or sleep the day away?
I glanced around for my phone, feeling around with my hand until I finally found it at the foot of my bed.
9:30 AM?
What on earth?
How did I manage to sleep in this late?
I checked my notifications and saw that my alarm had gone off at 7:00 AM, but I had absolutely no memory of turning it off.
Did I wake up and turn it off in my sleep?
No idea. I sighed again and tossed my phone aside, noting the lack of messages.
Yawning, I wrestled with the temptation to drift back to sleep.
But today was different — my stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten much last night.
Saturday was usually my lazy day, the day I’d spend completely in bed, skipping meals and drifting in and out of naps.
But today, my hunger was stronger than my sleepiness.
“Thank you, Dae,” came the voice of the landlady as she peeked into the room one last time before closing the door behind her.
I poked my head out from behind the curtain, offering a small smile in return, before sliding out of bed.
I walked over to our tiny table, scanning for something to eat.
Before I could grab anything, a familiar face peeked over the side of the upper deck — my boardmate and friend, Ate.
Ate was older than me by just a year, but in many ways, she felt like a big sister.
We shared everything, from meals to stories, and even though we hadn’t known each other for that long, it felt like we’d been friends forever.
“Who was that, Dae?” she asked as she lazily sat up.
“Probably the new boardmate,” I replied, rummaging through the cupboard.
I found a pack of pancit canton and immediately decided that’s what I wanted for breakfast.
“Are you having breakfast, Ate?” I asked, holding up the noodles.
She hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
“Sure, make some for me too,” she said with a grin.
I grabbed another pack and headed to the sink with the rice cooker in hand.
After filling it with water, I plugged it in and sat down, waiting for the water to boil.
“What are you planning to do today, Dae?”
Ate asked, her voice curious but lazy.
“Nothing much,” I replied with a chuckle, my plans (or lack thereof) clear.
She nodded, but there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Let’s go to that café after breakfast,” she suggested, her face lighting up as she spoke.
“I don’t have any money, Ate,” I said, laughing. “I was planning to sleep the whole day.”
“Come on, don’t worry about it! I’ll pay. Besides, the cakes aren’t even that expensive,” she insisted, flashing me that charming smile of hers.
How could I say no?
She was always like this, generous and sweet, never taking no for an answer.
I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to resist, but in the end, I gave in.
“Alright, fine. But what time are you heading home?” I asked, knowing she usually went home for the weekend since it's her day off.
“My driver’s picking me up tonight,” she replied, her eyes still glued to her phone.
Of course, her “driver” was her boyfriend, but she liked to joke about it.
After breakfast, we quickly got ready to head out.
Ate handed me a pair of her sunglasses.
“Wear these, it’s too sunny outside,” she said, dabbing some lip tint on her already perfect lips.
Ate was effortlessly beautiful — fair-skinned, slightly chubby, but always neat and well-dressed.
“No, Ate, it’s embarrassing. I can’t take your sunglasses,” I protested, still trying to fix my hair in the mirror.
She rolled her eyes at me, half-laughing.
“Stop being silly and just wear that. Let’s go already!” she said, practically dragging me out of the room.
When we finally arrived at the café, I was taken aback.
It was stunning — the warm glow of the lights, the cozy atmosphere, and the display of cakes and pastries that looked too perfect to eat.
As we sat down and enjoyed our food, I couldn’t help but think about Ate’s kindness.
How did I get so lucky to meet someone like her?
We hadn’t even known each other for that long, yet the bond we shared felt like one forged over years.
Ate wasn’t from the same place as me, and I didn’t even know her family, yet she treated me like I was her own sister.
It amazed me how life brought people together in the most unexpected ways.
She had such a generous heart, always willing to go out of her way to make sure I was okay.
How could I ever repay her?
She was one of those rare people who made me feel seen, understood, and loved.
I had many friends, but only a few I could truly call “home.”
And Ate was definitely one of them.
Sitting there, sipping on my drink, I silently thanked God for sending me someone like her — not just her, but all the friends who made me feel at home, who brought warmth and comfort into my life.
I was truly, truly blessed.
YOU ARE READING
POV
Non-FictionLife often presents itself as a series of hurdles, each one taller than the last. These hurdles, though daunting, are not meant to break us but to shape us into who we are meant to be. It is through our darkest nights that we gain the strength to fa...
