CHAPTER 28

Chapter 28: The Future Unfolding

Weeks passed, and though our relationship continued to deepen, life around us kept moving. Classes were in full swing, and we balanced the demands of schoolwork with the joy of being together. Yet, there was a newfound sense of ease between us—no more hiding, no more pretending. It was as if the entire world knew what we were, and we no longer cared.

One afternoon, while we were sitting in the campus café, studying for our upcoming exams, I caught JM staring at me. His expression was soft, contemplative.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

He shifted in his seat, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup absentmindedly. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the future, Junno,” he said, his voice low and serious. “About us.”

My heart skipped a beat. I set my notebook down, giving him my full attention. “What about us?”

He met my gaze, his eyes steady, yet filled with something deeper—something I couldn’t quite name, but it made my chest tighten with emotion. “I don’t want this to be something that fades away when college ends. I want to keep building this—us. I want a future with you, Junno. Not just now, not just for the next few months. But for the long haul.”

His words hung in the air, and I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. The reality of what he was saying settled in, and for a moment, all I could do was look at him in awe.

“I want that too,” I said, my voice a little shaky but filled with certainty. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want to build a future with you, JM. No matter where we end up, as long as it’s together.”

He reached across the table, taking my hand in his, his fingers gently squeezing mine. “You have no idea how happy that makes me, Junno. I’ve been scared to say it, but I can’t imagine my life without you. You’ve become my everything.”

My heart fluttered in my chest as I smiled at him. “I feel the same way. You’re everything to me, JM.”

For a moment, we just sat there, holding hands, the weight of our words settling comfortably between us. Our relationship wasn’t perfect—no relationship ever is—but it was real, and it was ours. And that was enough for me.

Later that evening, as we walked back to my apartment, the streets of La Trinidad bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights, JM turned to me, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Junno,” he began, his voice tentative, “Have you ever thought about what comes after graduation? I mean, do you see yourself staying here, or...?”

I hadn’t really given it much thought. The idea of the future beyond school felt distant, like something I didn’t need to face just yet. But now, with JM asking, it suddenly felt more real.

“I don’t know yet,” I admitted, squeezing his hand. “I love Baguio. I love being here with you. But there’s a lot to think about—job opportunities, where I might end up. I guess I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

JM nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I get it. But whatever happens, I want us to figure it out together. Whether it’s staying here, moving somewhere else... as long as we’re together, I know we can handle it.”

His words were a comfort, a promise. The uncertainty of the future seemed less daunting when I thought about facing it with him by my side.

“I think we can handle anything,” I said softly, looking up at him. “Together.”

We reached my apartment, and before we went inside, JM paused, turning to me with a soft smile. “I love you, Junno. No matter what happens, that’s not going to change.”

“I love you too,” I replied, my heart full, my words simple but sincere.

And in that moment, as we stood together in the quiet street, the world felt right. We didn’t have all the answers, but we had each other, and that was more than enough.

As the days passed, the reality of the future loomed closer, but we took each day as it came. We studied together, spent time with our friends, and shared countless little moments that made our bond even stronger. The world may have been uncertain, but with JM by my side, I knew that we could face anything.

And so, as the semester drew to a close and the pressure of exams built, we leaned on each other. Our love grew deeper with each passing day, and we knew that no matter where life took us, we would always have a home in each other’s hearts.

The journey was just beginning. And as we stood on the edge of everything we had planned and everything we hadn’t yet imagined, I felt ready. Ready for the next chapter. Ready for the future, with JM by my side.