(LIZREI - You as Rei 😁)

Liz, a DLSU student, sits on her dorm balcony in Manila, the rain pouring relentlessly, mirroring the ache in her chest. Her phone rests beside her, screen dark, no new messages. Across the ocean, her best friend Rei is in Japan, chasing her dreams at an art school in Tokyo. The distance feels like a chasm, widened by the storm that drowns out Liz’s thoughts. She’s been in love with Rei for years, but the words never left her lips—too scared to risk their friendship, too hopeful to let go.

The rain reminds Liz of their last day together, months ago, sharing an umbrella under Manila’s gray skies, Rei’s laugh cutting through the downpour. Now, Liz is alone, shivering in the humid air, wondering if Rei feels the cold too, or if Tokyo’s bright lights have washed away memories of their late-night talks and stolen glances. She types a message—“Hey, u okay? It’s pouring here...”—but hesitates, thumb hovering over send. What if Rei has moved on? What if she’s just a fading echo in Rei’s new life?

Liz’s heart clings to hope, picturing Rei sketching in a cozy café, maybe thinking of her too. But the silence stings, and the rain blurs the city lights, like the stars Liz used to wish on with Rei. She could confess, risk everything, or stay quiet, holding onto the fragile thread of their bond. The choice is hers, but the storm keeps falling, and time feels like it’s slipping away...

Then out of nowhere...

TING!

“I miss u:(”

*A notification from her message app pops up. Lighting up her screen, aswell as her face.