The Line We Didn't Cross

Nagpasalamat ako nang maraming beses kay Joaquin sa pagsama niya sa akin sa Admissions Office, and for walking me to the garden after.

Nagpaalam na siya sa akin pagkatapos. I watched as his back slowly turned towards me, pero hindi pa man siya nakakalayo ng lakad ay lumingon ulit siya sa direksyon ko.

'We should hang out more.' he suddenly said.

Napakunot ang noo ko.

'You know... as friends?' dugtong niya.

Matagal lang kaming nagkatitigan, it took me a moment to process what he said. Tahimik lang din siya habang hinihintay ang sagot ko.

He's really offering to be my friend.

I guess we're really friends now?

***

Anna Dominique, a deaf girl raised in a sheltered environment, is about to experience independence for the first time as she enters university. Determined to adjust on her own terms, she begins navigating unfamiliar spaces, routines, and expectations. Along the way, she meets Joaquin Isaia, who unexpectedly speaks her language, making it easier for her to find her footing in a world that once felt out of reach.