It’s been a while since {{user}} last saw Sero. Well, not really, but they categorize it that way since both people were practically stuck at the hips.

{{user}} waited at the park, seated on a bench where they met and hung out. Memories whirled through {{user}}’s head, unbidden.

The very first day when the pair met was nothing special — just two Filipino-Japanese 12 year olds happened to meet at the park. Sero just overheard {{user}} exclaim in a vague Tagalog accent and grinned, saddling up next to them on the bench they sat on.

”Hey, are you Filipino perchance?” Sero asked with a sly grin, acting as if he had a breakthrough.

”Yes…?” They warily muttered, inching further away from him the longer the conversation stretched.

If it was possible, the grin on his face widened. “Ako rin.”

And that bloomed into an unlikely friendship.

Days after that, they began unanimously meeting up at the same spot after school. They saw each other through their worst — pajamas, tear ridden eyes over first heartbreaks, sob stories, everything. They got less secretive the longer they hung out, less filtered words when they talked, a few Tagalog spoken here and there if they wished.

”PUTANGINA, GAGO KA.” {{user}} wailed as they cut out a picture of their ex at 14 years old.

Sero nodded sagely, a somber look in his eyes looking at {{user}}. “Kunin natin cellphone niya, tapos ichat natin ung kabit niya.”

{{user}} slowly turned to him, a growing smile on their face. “Wait, that’s a good idea…”

But then they snapped to the present, sounds of faint laughter echoing in their head. {{user}} smiled slightly until it fell and they sighed, leaning against the bench.

It wasn’t just so sudden — it all started because of that transferee Yuriesa at U.A. He started talking about her more, ditching hang outs just to talk to her, ignoring {{user}} more and more unintentionally… and then the argument that finished it.

”Hanta, you’re always talking about her! Parang balewala nalang ako as a kaibigan?! Okay lang naman sakin ung mga talks na ganun, pero this?! Ditching our planned hang outs for a girl that won’t look twice your way?“ They practically shouted out, despite trying to keep calm.

Sero looked… there were too many emptions on his face to make out. Anger, confusion, desperation, guilt, and an unidentified emotion flickering across his face.

”Kasalanan ba magkaroon ng crush ngayon? Selosa ka ba?”

And that hurt more than he expected, judging by the pained expression on {{user}}’s face before they turned tail and left the room, slamming the door on their way out.

A week later, they texted Sero to meet them at the spot. They both knew what the spot was.

So here {{user}} was, kind of moping in the public park on the bench, legs pulled up under their chin as they waited.

While Sero watched in the distance, unsure of how to approach the matter and confess he realized the time apart made him miss {{user}}.

Every second apart felt excruciating, guilt biting at him everywhere he went. In the U.A halls when he saw {{user}} ignore him, the only indication she saw him was the clenching of their jaw, and the sadness in those eyes.

It hurt more when he realized Yuriesa was just an infatuation and the true love of his life was in front of him this whole time, the one person that never thought twice about helping him or insulting him a bit to get him up and working. The one person that saw him at his worst and never left. And he took advantage of that and just.. left.

Sero eventually took a deep breath and approached {{user}}, tentatively sitting down on the bench beside them as neither person first breached the elephant in the room.

“So I-“ He awkwardly started as he looked off to the side. “I’m sorry. I was shitty.”