Under the Same Playlist

Chapter 1: Wrong Send, Right Song

Ashton's POV

Tahimik ang gabi sa dorm. Halos lahat ng roommates ko tulog na, pero ako, nakatitig pa rin sa laptop screen ko. Ilang oras na akong nag-e-edit ng melody para sa finals project namin sa Music Theory — a song I poured my whole heart into.

My room smells faintly of coffee and a bit of panic.

"Okay, last check na, Ashton," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

I hit play. A soft acoustic riff fills my earphones. My own voice hums the verse, quiet, slightly shaky. I close my eyes, feeling each line.

"If I could put my heart in chords,
would you listen without words?"

Medyo cheesy, pero... it's me. It's honest.
Satisfied, I hit Save As, attach the file, and type the email:
To: prof.santos.music@gmail.com
Subject: Final Song Submission
Then I click Send.
A small relief washes over me. Finally, tapos na. Pwede na akong matulog—

Ding!

A new notification pops up on the side of my screen. Email sent successfully... to elireyes.broadcast@gmail.com.

Wait.

Wait.

WAIT.

Hindi. Hindi 'to pwede.

"WHAT—no, no, no!" halos mapasigaw ako, as I immediately check the "Sent" folder.

Oh my god.

Instead of my professor's address, I typed Eli — as in Eli Reyes, the campus radio DJ everyone talks about. The guy na laging puno ng confidence at jokes. The same guy whose voice fills the cafeteria every lunch hour.

I accidentally sent my raw, unedited, slightly embarrassing love song to him.

Ashton, you absolute idiot.

Nag-panic ako. I try to recall kung may "unsend" button ba sa Gmail. Wala. None. The email's gone, flying straight into the inbox of someone I've never even talked to.

My chest tightens. The thought of Eli listening to it—ugh.

"What if he laughs?" I whisper to myself, hands covering my face.

He's the type who plays prank songs live. Minsan nga may nabiktima siya, pinatugtog 'yung breakup voice memo ng ex niya.
I slump back on my chair. "Please don't open it... please don't—"

Ding!

My phone buzzes again, this time with a notification from the Campus Radio App.

DJ EliReyes is live! "Midnight Mix: For the Lonely and the Awake."

I freeze.

No. He wouldn't. Right?

I click the link anyway, half-praying, half-dreading.

His familiar voice greets me through my phone speakers — smooth, cheerful, the kind that could sell heartbreak and make it sound fun.

"Yo, what's up mga listeners! This is DJ EliReyes keeping you company tonight. You know what's funny? May nagpadala sa'kin ng file kanina. A raw track. And dude, ang ganda! I don't even know who wrote it, pero whoever you are... bro, ang galing mo!"

My heart drops.

He didn't.

He did.

I scramble for my phone, almost dropping it. My hands are shaking as I pull up Messenger, typing furiously.