Yannie Ace RuizI don't know how long I've been staring at my cellphone screen. Every now and then, I tap it softly, patiently waiting for the following message from Josh. He mentioned earlier that he had something to do, but almost four hours had passed, and there was still no message from him. I've already returned from the market, completed other household chores, and had dinner, but he hasn't texted me again."Whose text are you waiting for, Ate?" suddenly, Yuri asked me. Apparently, she's been observing me for a while."Huh?""You've been staring at it for a while," she pointed out.I adjusted my sitting position and pretended, "I'm not waiting for any text," denying it to her. In a few moments, my cellphone quickly lit up and vibrated. I immediately grabbed it and checked. However, I paused abruptly and glanced at Yuri when I felt her still looking at me."Tss. She said she's not waiting for any text," she muttered softly, with a slight roll of her eyes. Then, she left my s
Yannie Ace RuizI woke up to the sound of my cellphone's alarm. With half-closed eyes, I groped for it beside my bed and turned it off. I stretched, a sweet smile forming on my lips as I opened my eyes. I was still very sleepy since I went to bed late last night. But as I remembered why I stayed up late, I couldn't help but smile.I got up and checked my phone. There was an unread text message. I opened it with a smile and read:From Josh Rain: Good morning (smiley emoji)I bit my lower lip as I typed a reply.To Josh Rain: Good morning, too (smiley emoji)"Ate? Are you okay?" I turned as I heard my brother's voice. It was James. He peeked into my room from the door."Huh?""I've been knocking for a while. You're awake, but you weren't responding. And... you're there, smiling at your phone," he remarked, puzzled."Huh? Oh... were you knocking? I didn't hear you," I responded, followed by a chuckle. I quickly got up from bed and tidied up the sheets."Mama said you should have
Yannie Ace Ruiz"He messaged, Yannie!" Veron exclaimed, handing me back my phone. I took it from her and feigned nonchalance. "What did he say?" Veron inquired. I had no choice but to open and check Josh Rain's message.Josh Rain: Hi! (smiley emoji)Veron and Ivory let out a slight scream. "He's handsome, Friend! But just to be sure, video call him!" Ivory suggested."Oh, right! Video call him, Yannie, so we can see if he really looks like his profile picture!" Veron seconded."Uh, what are you guys..." I started."Hey, what's going on?!" We all jumped as Jenny suddenly entered the room, followed by Jomar. My lips parted as if I had something to say to him, but I wasn't sure what."Friend, Yannie's texting a really handsome guy!" Veron enthusiastically informed Jenny. Jomar overheard, and his gaze intensified on me. I pursed my lips as if I wanted to tell him something, but I wasn't sure what."Oh, really? Let me see!" Jenny said, grabbing my phone again to check Josh Rain's so
Josh Rain MontezI forcefully tossed my cellphone onto the table, catching the attention of Ramil and Byron."Oh? What's wrong, bro?" Ramil asked."Nothing," I replied curtly."Nothing, but your eyebrows say otherwise," Byron teased.Ramil picked up my cellphone and started messing with it. I quickly grabbed it back, but he skillfully avoided me."Don't tell me you're in a bad mood because of Yannie Ace?" Ramil asked with a grin, holding my phone and inspecting its contents."Give that back!" I snapped."Yannie Ace?" Byron inquired."Yup, Yannie Ace, bro. Josh's new chick," Ramil explained to Byron."Ah, the textmate?""Yeah, that's her!"In the end, I successfully retrieved my cellphone from Ramil, swiftly hiding it in my pocket."So, a lover's quarrel?" Byron jokingly asked.I didn't respond and instead stood up, turning away from them."Hey, Josh! Where are you going?" Ramil called after me."To the library. I need to finish my plates," I replied lifelessly, continui
Yannie Ace Ruiz"I'll leave on the 23rd. My parents are sending me to Samar province to represent their company's foundation mission. I'll be there for ten days, and the signal there is quite weak. I hope to see you before that."I quickly opened my eyes, the repeated words echoing in my mind. It was already 1:00 a.m., yet I couldn't sleep as Josh's words kept replaying in my head. He mentioned in our chat that we should meet. When I first read it, I felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. I was both thrilled and scared. That's how I felt, which is why I didn't immediately respond to him. Instead, I changed the topic. However, before he went to sleep, he called me and uttered those words that are now troubling my mind.He'll be gone for ten days. For ten days, I won't be able to talk to him because there's no signal in the place he's going. And he wishes to see me before he leaves—something I don't know how to decide on.It's not that I don't want to meet him; I'm just he
Josh Rain Montez"Hey, Josh! Long time no see. I thought you wouldn't come?""What made you think that I wouldn't go?" I lazily sat beside Ethan and reached for the bottle of alcohol he was drinking. I poured some into a shot glass and downed it. I felt the warmth of the liquid hitting my stomach."Rica said you're a good boy now," Ethan grinned at me while pouring alcohol into a shot glass and taking a sip."Really? Are you a good boy now, Josh? That's why you weren't here during the last session," Rodnie suddenly joined the conversation, squeezing himself between Ethan and me. He sat down there."I was just busy these past few days because of our game," I replied, refuting their claims."Oh? Is that so? I thought it was because someone's prohibiting you," Rodnie said with a sly smile."What?""Hey, Josh! Why are you here?" We turned our heads when Sissy, accompanied by Sydney, came out of the kitchen. Ethan sweetly smiled at Sydney and gestured for her to sit beside him."Wh
Yannie Ace Ruiz"I really can't search for him," Jenny said while busy with her cellphone."Same here. Maybe he deactivated his social media account," Ivory added."Maybe," Veron said, then shifted her gaze to me. "You should try calling him on his cellphone if he's not responding to your texts," she suggested to me.I took a deep breath, biting my lower lip. It's been three days since Josh stopped talking to me. He hasn't been responding to my text messages, and he deactivated his social media account. I don't know how to tell him that I've decided to attend the 4SBLUE fandom gathering this Saturday and meet him. I didn't plan on changing my mind, but when I told Veron about it, they insisted that I should go. Honestly, I really wanted to attend and see him. However, I wasn't ready yet because I lacked confidence. I was afraid that he might see me differently in person. I mean, I won't pretend to be someone I'm not. Josh is handsome, famous, and comes from a well-off family. Even
Yannie Ace RuizI quickly checked my phone when it vibrated due to a received chat.Rica: See you, Yannie! Take care of you and your friend (smiley emoji)Me: See you, Ate. Take care, too.After replying to Ate Rica, I looked at myself again in front of the mirror in the ladies' room of the mall where Veron and I agreed to meet. I had just arrived and immediately headed to the restroom to check my appearance once more. Once I finished, I left and grabbed my phone to send Veron a message informing her that I was already here.Before I could type a message for her, her name suddenly appeared on my phone's screen. I quickly answered her call."Hello, Veron?""Yannie!""I was just about to text you. Where are you? I'm here—""Yannie, I'm sorry," Veron swiftly interrupted me from the other end of the line."Huh?""There's an emergency at home.""Emergency?""Yes. I'm sorry, Yannie, but I might not be able to make it. Honestly, I've already changed, but my mom needs me at our ea