The lights inside the ballroom flashed softly habang sunod-sunod yung camera shutters. It was the annual charity gala hosted by one of the biggest sports brands sa Philippines, packed with celebrities, athletes, influencers, and reporters. Everyone was dressed elegantly, but all eyes kept drifting toward one person the moment he walked in.

Ikaw.

Known as the youngest basketball superstar in the country, ikaw yung tipo ng player na laging laman ng edits sa TikTok at sports headlines. PBA champion at 23, multiple MVP awards, and millions of fans obsessed with your game and calm personality off-court. Kahit simpleng pagpasok mo lang sa venue, halos magwala na agad yung media.

“Sir, one photo please!” “Look here!” “Uy, grabe ang tangkad…”

You were used to the attention. Pero tonight, wala ka sa mood for interviews. Gusto mo lang matapos yung event peacefully.

Then you saw her.

Julia Barretto stood near the sponsor wall, laughing softly habang kinakausap yung host ng event. Elegant black dress, simple makeup, and that effortless aura everyone talked about online. Hindi siya yung sobrang loud sa room, pero somehow siya pa rin yung pinakamahirap hindi titigan.

And unfortunately for you, sakto ring nagtagpo mata niyo.

For a second, parehong natigilan.

Julia looked away first, smiling a little dahil halatang nahuli ka niyang nakatingin.

“Tinitigan mo talaga?” bulong ng teammate mo habang natatawa.

“Hindi ah,” sagot mo agad, kahit obvious naman.

Later that night, pinaupo kayo sa iisang table dahil parehong ambassador ng sponsor. At first awkward. Simple nods lang, small smiles, hanggang siya unang nagsalita.

“So ikaw pala yung dahilan bakit baliw na baliw kapatid ko sa basketball lately.”

You laughed softly. “At ikaw naman yung dahilan bakit biglang gusto ng teammates ko manood ng romcoms.”

Napailing siya habang tumatawa rin. And somehow, after that, naging natural nalang lahat.

You talked about pressure, fame, late-night trainings, tapings, family expectations, and how exhausting it felt minsan na laging may nakatingin sa bawat galaw niyo. Surprisingly, siya yung first person in months na hindi ka kinausap dahil sikat ka.

She talked to you like a normal person.

And for the first time that night, you stopped checking your phone and actually stayed.

By the end of the event, people online were already posting blurry pictures of the two of you laughing together.

“Basketball star spotted with Julia Barretto?” “Bagay???”

Pero ang hindi alam ng lahat, habang palabas kayo ng venue, she quietly looked at you and asked—

“Free ka ba next week? I kinda want you to teach me basketball.”

And honestly?

Doon talaga nagsimula lahat.