The office felt busier than usual.
Mondays always did.
By ten in the morning, Aiah had already revised three layouts, sat through a campaign briefing, and politely declined two separate requests to "just make it pop a little more."
She was beginning to understand that "a little more" could mean almost anything.
"Aiah."
She looked up from her monitor.
One of the account executives leaned over her cubicle.
"The client approved the banner."
Aiah blinked.
"Already?"
"Mhm."
"They actually liked your first revision."
She smiled.
"That's... surprisingly encouraging."
"It means you get to breathe for at least five minutes."
"I'll treasure those five minutes."
The account executive laughed before walking away.
Across the room, Bea looked over.
"Did I hear correctly?"
"The client approved it?"
Aiah nodded.
"They did."
Bea placed a dramatic hand over her chest.
"We're witnessing history."
Amelié peeked over her monitor.
"Quick."
"Take a picture."
"It'll never happen again."
Aiah laughed, shaking her head.
"You two have so much faith in me."
"We do," Bea replied.
"We just have absolutely none in clients."
By noon, everyone was ready for lunch.
"Outside?" Bea suggested.
Amelié was already standing.
"I'm voting yes before anyone suggests eating at our desks."
"I second that."
Aiah saved her files and stretched.
"I'm just happy someone else made the decision."
A few minutes later, the three of them were seated in a nearby Filipino restaurant they visited often.
The lunch crowd buzzed around them.
Plates arrived.
Conversations drifted easily.
One coworker talked about her younger brother starting college.
Another complained that her father still refused to believe graphic designers didn't spend all day "drawing cartoons."
"My dad still asks if I know how to fix printers," Bea admitted.
Aiah laughed.
"Does he know you don't?"
"I've stopped correcting him."
Amelié smiled.
"My mom still introduces me as 'the artist.'"
"That's cute."
"It's also inaccurate."
"What does she tell people you do?"
"'Something with computers.'"
The table burst into laughter.
Eventually, Bea looked at Aiah.
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Your family."
Aiah smiled.
"My parents are in Cebu."
"And you live with your aunt."
"Mhm. And my cousin."
"Do you visit often?"
"As often as I can."
"You must miss home."
"I do."
She stirred her iced tea gently.
"But they're only one flight away."
"And they call all the time."
"Especially my mom."
Bea laughed.
"Same."
"Mothers have a sixth sense."
"They always know."
"They really do."
The conversation moved naturally to lighter topics.
Favorite food.
Travel.
Weekend plans.
Amelié reached for her glass when Aiah's phone lit up on the table.
Her eyes happened to catch the screen.
"...Wait."
Aiah looked up.
"What?"
Amelié pointed at the phone.
"I wasn't trying to look."
"But..."
She smiled.
"...That's such a beautiful wallpaper."
Aiah glanced down instinctively.
The screen was still lit.
It was one of her favorite photos.
Khae stood behind her, both arms wrapped comfortably around her waist in an easy back hug.
She wore the oversized red jacket she'd brought during one of their trips.
Khae was smiling toward the camera.
Aiah wasn't.
Her eyes were closed, her smile bright and completely unguarded, as if she'd started laughing the exact moment the picture was taken.
It looked candid.
Natural.
Like someone had quietly captured happiness without interrupting it.
A notification sat beneath the photo.
Mom ❤️
Take care, anak. Love you.
Aiah smiled softly.
"Oh."
"One of our friends took that."
Bea leaned over just enough to see it.
"...Okay."
"I've officially decided your girlfriend has no business looking that good in a red jacket."
Aiah laughed.
"I'll let her know."
"No."
Bea pointed her fork at her.
"Please don't."
"She'll become even more confident."
Amelié nodded in agreement.
"I still don't understand how someone can be so pretty..."
"...and so handsome at the same time."
Aiah smiled.
"I've stopped trying to explain it."
Bea rested her chin on one hand.
"You both look really happy."
Aiah looked at the photo for another second before the screen faded to black.
"We were away that weekend."
"It became one of my favorite memories."
"So..."
Bea asked after a moment.
"Who's more romantic?"
Aiah laughed.
"That's a dangerous question."
"Answer it anyway."
She thought for a second.
"I think..."
"We're just different."
"How?"
"I'm more obvious."
"And Khae?"
Aiah smiled unconsciously.
"She notices things."
"The little things."
"The kind most people don't even realize."
Amelié sighed.
"I knew it."
"What?"
"She gives thoughtful gifts, doesn't she?"
Aiah laughed.
"Very."
"And she remembers everything."
"Almost."
Bea shook her head dramatically.
"I don't like competing with someone like that."
"You aren't competing."
"I know."
"I'm admiring."
"There's a difference."
Everyone laughed.
Bea looked genuinely curious now.
"So when are we finally meeting her properly?"
Aiah looked up.
"You really want to?"
"Of course."
"We barely got to talk the last time."
"And from everything you've told us..."
Amelié smiled.
"...we like her already."
Aiah laughed.
"I'll arrange something."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Bea nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"I have questions."
"Lots of questions."
"I'm suddenly worried."
"You should be."
Before Aiah could reply, her phone began ringing.
Baby ❤️
Bea's eyes immediately lit up.
"Answer it."
Aiah looked at the two of them.
"You both are enjoying this far too much."
"We absolutely are," Bea admitted without shame.
Trying not to smile too much, Aiah answered the call and lifted the phone to her ear.
"Hi, babe."
Her voice softened almost instantly.
Across the table, Bea slowly nudged Amelié.
Amelié grinned into her drink.
"Lunch," Aiah said. "What about you?"
She listened for a few seconds before the corners of her mouth lifted.
"...Mm-hm."
Another pause.
Aiah looked down at the table, smiling despite herself.
Then she laughed quietly.
"No..."
She listened again.
"...Baby."
There was another pause.
Aiah's cheeks slowly turned pink.
She glanced up only to find Bea and Amelié watching her with identical expressions.
Curious.
Amused.
Completely invested.
Aiah covered part of her face with one hand.
"...I'm having lunch."
A brief pause.
"...No."
"I'm not alone."
She sighed, trying very hard not to smile.
"I'm with Bea and Amelié."
Silence.
Then Aiah closed her eyes for a second.
"...No, they're definitely judging me."
Bea pointed at herself in mock offense.
Me? Never.
Amelié bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
Aiah listened again before letting out another helpless laugh.
"No, I'm not blushing."
She paused.
"...I'm not."
Another pause.
"Khae."
Aiah's voice dropped into the familiar tone she only seemed to use with her girlfriend.
"Behave."
She listened.
Then laughed again.
"You are impossible."
A longer silence followed.
This time, Aiah's expression softened completely.
"...I miss you too."
Bea slowly placed a hand over her own heart.
Amelié silently mouthed,
"She's gone."
Aiah shook her head fondly.
"Go eat your lunch."
"...Yes. I will tell them."
"I'll see you later."
She smiled one last time before ending the call.
For a few seconds, she simply looked at the now-dark screen.
Then she placed the phone beside her plate.
Silence settled over the table.
Bea was the first to speak.
"...We counted."
Aiah blinked.
"What?"
"You smiled six times."
Amelié nodded with complete seriousness.
"And laughed four."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Aiah covered her face.
"I don't remember doing that."
"Exactly," Bea said with a satisfied grin.
"That's how you know you're completely in love."
Aiah peeked at them through her fingers.
"You two are terrible."
Amelié smiled warmly.
"No."
"We're just very happy for you."
Aiah looked down at her phone again, unable to stop the small smile that returned.
"...Thanks."
Bea pointed immediately.
"There."
"What?"
"Seven."
Aiah covered her face.
"Please."
Amelié laughed first.
"That was adorable."
"I can't believe we just witnessed that."
Bea leaned back in her chair.
"I understand now."
"What?"
"The smiling."
"The glowing."
"The suspiciously good mood every Monday."
Aiah laughed.
"Do I really smile that much?"
"You do."
"Especially when she calls."
Amelié nodded.
"You smiled before you even answered."
Aiah blinked.
"...Really?"
"Really."
Bea smiled warmly.
Amelié reached for her drink.
"So..."
"When are we meeting this incredibly pretty, incredibly handsome Communication student?"
Aiah laughed.
"Soon."
"I mean it."
"We'll all have dinner together."
Bea pointed at her immediately.
"We're holding you to that."
"I know."
"And don't warn her."
"What?"
"We want to see if she's really as charming in person."
Aiah smiled.
"I have a feeling she'll do just fine."
Somehow...
She couldn't wait for the day the two worlds she loved most finally sat around the same table.