Under the Same Playlist

Chapter 1: Wrong Send, Right Song

"Then you should start expecting it," he says gently.

"You're good."

For a moment, tahimik kami. Just the faint hum of background music and the sound of my heart beating louder than I want to admit.

He breaks the silence first. "So... do you always hang out here?"

"Sometimes. Mas peaceful kaysa dorm."

"Cool. I'll take note. Maybe I'll drop by again — with permission this time."

I raise an eyebrow. "Why would you want to?"

Eli smiles, leaning back slightly. "Wala lang. I like good coffee... and good company."

I look away before he sees me blush. "Smooth."

"Always," he says with a wink.

I roll my eyes but can't help laughing quietly.

"You're too confident, you know that?"

"Maybe. Pero at least I'm honest."

He stands up after a few minutes, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Anyway, may radio shift pa ako. But hey—"

He pulls out his phone and opens the Notes app. "Can I get your number? Promise, not for promo purposes."

"Why?"

"So next time may mali kang masend, diretso na sa'kin."

"Funny."

He grins. "Kidding. Pero seryoso rin."

I hesitate, then take his phone and type my number. "Don't abuse it."

"No promises," he jokes, walking away backward with that same playful smile.
When he disappears around the corner, I finally exhale — realizing my face has been red the entire time.

Eli's POV

I can't stop smiling the whole way to the radio booth. Stephen's exactly how I imagined him — tahimik, medyo awkward, pero genuine. The kind of person na hindi kailangang magsalita nang madami para maramdaman mo 'yung sincerity.

He kept avoiding eye contact, fiddling with his cup, but when he finally smiled? Damn. It was like watching sunrise through coffee steam.
Inside the booth, I put on my headset and start the 6 PM show.

"Good evening, mga ka-vibes! DJ Elireyes here, ready to keep your Friday chill and warm. You ever meet someone na parang quiet melody sa gitna ng ingay? Yeah... that kind of day today."

I smirk a little after saying it. My co-host glances at me suspiciously, but I just shrug.
While the next song plays, I check my phone again. Still no message from him. Figures.
So I type one first.

Eli: Hope you made it home safe. And don't worry, your secret's safe with me.

A few minutes later, the typing bubble appears.

Ashton: Thanks. And... about earlier, sorry if I seemed weird.

Eli: You weren't weird. You were just you. And that's kinda nice.

No reply this time, but I can imagine him hiding a smile behind his coffee cup.

Ashton's POV

Back at my dorm, I read his message again and again.

"You were just you. And that's kinda nice."

What does that even mean?

I throw my pillow over my face, groaning quietly.

There's something about Eli — he talks like everything's simple, like being seen isn't scary. Maybe that's why people love him on air. He makes everything sound okay.

And maybe... maybe I want to keep hearing his voice.

I grab my guitar, sit by the window, and hum a soft tune. A new one. Something lighter.

"I used to write for silence, but now it sounds like laughter."

I smile to myself.

Maybe some mistakes aren't so bad.

Eli's POV

End of shift. I scroll through my messages again, still thinking about Stephen.

My co-host pokes my shoulder. "Bro, bakit ka ngumingiti mag-isa?"

"Wala. May nakilala lang akong interesting person."

"Uy, love life na 'to!"

"Hindi ah!" I laugh. "Just... music stuff."

But deep inside, I know it's more than that.
There's something about Stephen that makes the world slow down — like a song you don't want to end.

As I lock up the booth, I whisper to myself,
"Let's see where this playlist takes us."