Dykeinsectophobia
(Story also cross-posted on Archive of Our Own)
(THIS IS A JOKE STORY BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN ITS NOT WRITTEN WELL🥹🥹🥹)
Karl moves into his Tito Santi's old condo thinking it'll finally be his fresh start. New place, no parents hovering, no expectations breathing down his neck. He keeps telling himself kaya niya mag isa, even when the silence at night feels too loud and the bills start stacking up on the table.
He tries to make money writing about movies he loves. No replies. No luck. Just anxiety sitting in the background of everything he does. Then one night, a guy literally breaks into his apartment to hide. His name is Vlad. He's reckless, blunt, and shows up like a problem Karl does not have the energy to deal with.
This is a story about growing up when you don't feel ready, about pretending until the pretending starts to crack, and about the quiet fear of saying something true out loud. It's about love that sneaks up on you, not dramatic, not perfect, just real.
And sometimes, the hardest thing isn't falling for someone. It's finding the courage to finally say who you are.