The next morning, Yeshin walked through the university gates with Crisantie and Yula. Her head ached from last night’s events—Xavio, his persistence, and Atasha’s growing wrath. She could feel the tension in the air, like everyone was watching her now.
“Bes, sigurado ka bang ayos ka lang?” Yula asked.
Yeshin gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Hindi ko alam, beh. I feel like something’s off.”
Crisantie leaned closer and whispered, “Alam mo ba? Kumakalat na naman yung chika na nilalandi mo si Xavio. Galing daw sa isang anonymous account. Parang ginawa lang para siraan ka.”
Yeshin’s stomach twisted. “Let me guess—Atasha?”
Yula nodded. “Alam mo na. Malandi pero marupok.”
Yeshin let out a long breath. She didn’t have the energy to deal with the drama. Not today.
---
Meanwhile, in the ECU Football Field
Xavio leaned against a goalpost, listening to Iro and another friend talk about the upcoming school event.
“Bro, you’re getting somewhere with Yeshin?” Iro asked, smirking.
“She’s hard to crack,” Xavio said. “But she’s interesting... more than I thought.”
“So you still using her to get Atasha back?” Iro teased.
Xavio looked away, silent for a moment.
“I don’t know anymore,” he muttered. “Maybe... maybe not.”
---
Back in class...
Huevon sat a few seats behind Yeshin, his eyes focused on her. He saw the way she kept checking her phone, her eyes narrowing at something.
After class ended, he approached her quietly.
“Yesh,” he called, his voice calm. “Nakita ko ‘yung post about you. Gusto mong ako na mag-report?”
Yeshin shook her head. “Wag na, Von. Mas lalo lang lalaki issue.”
“But Yeshin…” he hesitated, then finally said, “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Yeshin looked at him, surprised by the softness in his voice.
“Salamat,” she said, a small smile forming. “Alam kong nandiyan ka palagi.”
He smiled back, but deep down, his heart ached. Because he was always “palagi”—never the one.
---
Later that day, near the student council lounge...
Atasha, with a fake smile, approached Xavio who was walking alone.
“Xav,” she purred. “May time ka ba? Let’s talk. Like… old times.”
Xavio’s face was unreadable. “About what?”
“You. Me. Us.”
Xavio narrowed his eyes. “There’s no ‘us’ anymore, Atasha.”
“Because of that cheap girl?” Atasha snapped, her mask slipping.
“You left me, remember?” Xavio said coolly. “Now I’m just... exploring my options.”
Atasha’s jaw clenched. “Kung akala mong makukuha mo ako ulit by using her, you’re wrong.”
Xavio smirked. “Then why are you so affected?”
Atasha didn’t reply. She just turned around and walked away, fuming.
---
That night, in the campus garden…
Yeshin sat alone on the bench, headphones on, staring at the moon. Suddenly, a shadow approached. It was Xavio, holding two cups of hot choco.
“Stalker ka ba?” Yeshin asked, annoyed.
“Nope,” he said, sitting beside her. “Just a guy who likes moonlight... and maybe a bit of your company.”
She rolled her eyes, but took the hot choco.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly.
Xavio turned serious for once. “I don’t know. Maybe… I just want to be someone else when I’m with you.”
Yeshin looked at him, confused but curious.
In the shadows, hidden by a tree, Huevon stood silently… watching them. And behind him, a red thread—thin, glowing faintly—fluttered in the night breeze, connecting him and Yeshin.
But no one saw it.
Yet.
YOU ARE READING
The Red String Theory
RomanceThis story is about a female college student. Her mother told her about the Red String Theory but she doesn't believe it, because she doesn't believe in any theories or beliefs. Now, will she believes that the Red String Theory happens in life, when...
