The living room smelled like instant coffee, sachet shampoo, and the faint scent of garlic from Sheena's failed lunch experiment. Aiah sat cross-legged on the floor, highlighter in hand, her notes spread out around her like sacred text.
She was trying—really trying—to focus on constitutional amendments.
But her roommates?
Didn't give a damn about constitutional anything.
Maloi flopped onto the couch dramatically, a pillow cradled to her chest.
"Ilang beses ka na bang sinundo ni Miss Mikha Lim? Kasi kung kami ni Jhoanna yung staff sa Lumière, may punch card na siya."
"I swear," Jhoanna added from the kitchenette, "if I see that SUV one more time, ako na yung magpapa-drive papuntang Alabang."
Sheena sauntered in, towel around her neck. "Teh, be honest. May girlfriend ka na ba o kami lang ang dinadala mo sa kasinungalingan mo?"
Aiah didn't look up.
She highlighted the same sentence. Twice.
"I am studying," she said flatly.
"You are deflecting," Maloi corrected, sitting up. "Also, you're wearing her shirt again. Hindi mo na nilalabhan 'yan, no?"
Aiah finally looked up, lips pressed into a line. "Pwede ba? Midterms na next week. Wala akong oras sa love life."
"Lies," Jhoanna said. "We saw you leave at 6AM on Friday. Glowing. Smiling. Mukhang freshly..."
"Boang!" Aiah grabbed a throw pillow and launched it. "Don't finish that sentence!"
The girls erupted into laughter.
Then Sheena raised a perfectly plucked brow and said, "Okay. Real talk. We're happy for you."
"Really," Maloi nodded. "You look... light. Parang for the first time, you're letting someone carry some of it."
Aiah paused.
Set down her highlighter.
The room quieted a little.
"Yeah," she admitted. "She's... good to me."
"And it's real now?" Jhoanna asked, voice gentler.
"It's real," Aiah said, a small smile curling at her lips. "Like, scary real."
"Then we want to meet her," Sheena declared, arms crossed. "Officially."
Aiah blinked. "What, like a meet the barkada thing?"
"Yes," Maloi said. "So we can assess."
"Assess what?"
"If she's good enough for you."
"She's a lawyer, Maloi."
"And I'm a Virgo," she shot back. "We all have roles to play."
Aiah laughed, burying her face in her hands.
"Oh my god."
"We'll be nice," Jhoanna promised. "Mostly."
"But we want to know the girl who's got you giggling like a Grade 5 crush and making lasagna on a weekday," Sheena added.
Aiah looked up again, cheeks warm.
"Okay," she said finally. "I'll ask her."
As if summoned by fate, there was a knock at the door.
The room went dead silent.
Aiah blinked. "Did someone order food?"
Everyone stared at her.
