Chapter 3: The Beginning of Something
Charlie lay on her bed that night, tired from all the walking and noise, her body ready to rest—
But her mind wasn’t.
She turned to her side, hugging her pillow.
Then to the other side.
Then back again.
She sighed.
“Bakit hindi ako makatulog…”
Her phone rested beside her, screen lighting up every now and then with random notifications.
Each time—
She checked it.
Quickly.
Almost automatically.
But it wasn’t him.
She frowned slightly, not fully understanding why she was even expecting anything in the first place.
“Matulog ka na nga,” she whispered to herself.
Still—
She waited.
Until eventually, without realizing it—
She fell asleep.
---
The next morning, the house was already alive.
Voices filled every corner, pots clanged in the kitchen, and the smell of food drifted through the air.
It was fiesta day.
“Charlie! Gising na!” her grandma called from outside.
She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the brightness of the morning.
Her grandma and a few neighbors were already busy cooking—preparing for visitors, relatives, and even people from the church who would stop by after mass.
Charlie sat up, stretching lazily.
Then—instinctively—
She reached for her phone.
Unlocked it.
And paused.
An unfamiliar number.
Her heart skipped.
She opened it.
Hi. Ako to, si Paul. Sorry kung late ako nag text. Naghanap pa kasi ako ng load pero sarado na yung mga tindahan. Nakapagpasaload lang ako sa tropa ko.
Charlie blinked.
Then another message.
Baka tulog ka na. Goodnight. Sana makita kita bukas.
And then—
Her phone buzzed again.
Good morning.
Nakabili na ako load haha. Happy fiesta!
Charlie didn’t realize she was smiling.
But she was.
Softly.
Quietly.
Like it just… happened.
Her fingers moved before she could even think.
Good morning. Happy fiesta :)
She stared at her screen after sending it.
Then—
His reply came quickly.
Kain ka na breakfast.
Charlie smiled again.
But this time—
She didn’t reply.
“Baka isipin niya excited ako,” she whispered, placing her phone down.
---
The day went by quickly.
She ate breakfast, took a bath, and helped prepare utensils for lunch. Plates, spoons, glasses—everything had to be ready.
Soon, visitors started arriving.
Relatives filled the house. Laughter, chatter, and greetings echoed everywhere.
“Charlie!”
Jamie and Felice arrived, smiling as always.
After eating lunch together, they stepped outside for some fresh air, walking along the familiar streets of their barangay.
Felice nudged her.
“Nag-text na ba si Paul?”
Charlie tried to stay calm.
“Hmm… oo.”
“ANO?!” Jamie reacted. “Anong sabi?”
“Wala lang… good morning, happy fiesta,” Charlie said casually. “Tsaka madaming message kagabi pero tulog na ako.”
“Grabe, may pa good morning agad?” Felice teased.
Charlie rolled her eyes.
“Wala lang yun.”
But deep inside—
It wasn’t nothing.
---
Time passed.
They went home again for dinner, then prepared to go out once more—to watch the evening show at the covered court.
After changing and freshening up, Charlie and Charity waited outside.
Soon, Jamie and Felice arrived, and together they walked toward the crowded court, filled with lights, music, and people.
As they got closer—
Charlie saw him.
Paul.
Standing with his friends.
She quickly looked away.
Pretending she didn’t see him.
And kept walking.
But she didn’t get far.
“Charlie.”
She felt a light tap on her back.
She turned.
Paul.
Smiling again.
“Hello,” he said.
“…Hi,” she replied.
“Bakit hindi ka nag reply?” he asked. “Tinanong kita kung pupunta kayo dito.”
Charlie frowned slightly.
“Ha?”
She quickly checked her phone.
And there it was.
His message.
Unread.
She looked back at him.
“Sorry… hindi ko nakita.”
“It’s okay,” he said easily. “Pwede ba sumama?”
Before Charlie could answer—
“OO NAMAN!” Felice said immediately.
Charlie sighed.
Of course.
---
They watched the show together.
Nothing too special.
But somehow—
It felt different.
Because he was there.
---
Later that night, as the crowd began to disperse, it was time to go home again.
And just like the night before—
Paul and his friends walked behind them.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just enough.
When they finally reached Charlie’s house, Paul stopped.
“I-text kita pag nakauwi na ako,” he said.
Charlie just smiled.
“Okay.”
---
That night, after brushing her teeth, Charlie lay in bed again, phone in hand, playing a game.
Then—
A message.
Andito na ako sa bahay.
She smiled.
Ang bilis ah.
Hindi na ako tumambay. Kumpleto na araw ko eh.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, smiling.
Talaga? Ang bolero mo.
Hindi ah, totoo yun.
And just like that—
They kept talking.
He asked her birthday.
Her favorites.
“Color?”
“Purple.”
“Music?”
“OPM.”
“Food?”
“Adobo.”
“Hobby?”
“Magbasa… tsaka maglaro sa computer.”
Then she asked him too.
“Black.”
“Kahit anong music basta maganda.”
“Kare-kare.”
“Badminton.”
The conversation flowed so easily.
Like they had known each other longer than just a few days.
They didn’t notice the time.
Not until—
“Ay, late na,” Charlie said softly. “Matutulog na ako.”
“Ah… oo nga,” Paul replied.
“I had a great day today,” she added. “Thank you… sa paghatid.”
“Thank you din,” he said. “Sa pag reply mo.”
There was a pause.
Then—
“Sana mas makilala pa kita.”
Charlie stared at her screen for a second.
Her heart—
Soft.
Light.
Different.
“Goodnight,” she typed.
“Goodnight.”
---
And that night—
For the first time—
Charlie Mari De Guia fell asleep…
smiling.