For the past few days, Kate had fallen into a new rhythm. She'd wake up to Frooze's sweet "good morning" or, on rare occasions, she'd be the one to send it first.
Their messages would stretch through the morning into the afternoon: little updates, mundane thoughts, memes that made her laugh, pictures of food or school halls from her end, and machinery and blueprints from his. It was simple, domestic almost—comforting in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
At night, they'd call. Sometimes they'd play Mobile Legends, sometimes they'd work on their own stuff in silence, but always on call. The sound of each other's breathing in the background had become familiar—strangely reassuring.
They weren't in a relationship. No official labels. Just… something in between. A situationship. And yet, it had started to mean something real to her.
By Wednesday afternoon, the sun was just beginning to dip. Kate had just gotten out of her last class with Riz, the day a blur of clinical lectures and paperwork. They strolled together toward the exit gate, chatting lazily about random things.
Kate's phone buzzed. She glanced down.
Frooze: "Dismissal na?"
She smiled, eyes softening at the message.
Riz, glancing over Kate's shoulder, spotted the caller ID and raised a brow. "My Hubby? Ooooh?"
Kate's cheeks turned bright red as she instinctively angled her phone away. "Shut up," she muttered, trying to keep her voice down.
Riz grinned, nudging her playfully with her elbow. "You're seriously naming him that now? Didn't you say you're not even together yet?"
"We're not," Kate said quickly, flustered. "It's just a... nickname. Joke lang."
"Mmhmm," Riz said with mock suspicion, clearly not convinced.
Still blushing, Kate answered the call. "Hey," she said softly, trying to keep her tone neutral despite her racing heart.
Frooze's voice on the other end came through warm and familiar. "Hey, baby. Dismissed ka na?"
Kate turned away slightly from Riz, smiling despite herself. "Yeah, kakalabas lang namin."
"Good. Kasi andito ako sa school mo."
Kate blinked. "H-Ha?"
"Nandito ako. Sa parking sa tapat ng chapel."
Her heart skipped. "Frooze?! You're kidding—"
"Nope," he said casually. "I just dropped off my stuff sa bagong unit ko—"
"Wait, what?!"
"Yung bahay sa tabi ng apartment mo. The one that I mentioned?. I already dropped my things there. I had to inspect the site here sa school today, so sinabay ko na."
Kate froze in place, mouth slightly parted as her brain scrambled to keep up.
"I remember your schedule. Dismissal mo today at 4pm, diba? Thought I'd pick you up."
She sputtered, already starting to panic. "S-stay ka dyan. Punta ako sayo."
She ended the call, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Riz was already staring at her with a sly, triumphant grin. "So. He's here?"
Kate nodded slowly, her expression dazed. "Yeah. He... remembered my schedule."
Riz let out a low whistle, crossing her arms as she smirked. "Girl. He's not even your boyfriend and yet he's pulling off full-blown boyfriend moves. I gotta admit, that's impressive."
"I didn't expect this," Kate whispered, biting her lip.
"Obviously," Riz teased, raising both brows. "Now go. My own jowa is already waiting outside. You better call me later and give me every single detail."
Kate blushed harder, nodding. "O-okay. I'll message you."
"Go, lovebird," Riz said, shooing her away with a laugh. "Huwag mo na patagalin pa."
Blushing furiously, Kate waved and hurried off. Her footsteps quickened as she neared the chapel parking lot, heart pounding like it was ready to escape her chest.
And then she saw him.
Frooze.
Leaning casually against the hood of his sleek BMW, gray polo slightly unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his forearms. Black pants. Hair slightly tousled.
And phone in hand, head bowed, like a goddamn magazine ad.
Some students passed by, throwing not-so-subtle glances at him. One girl even slowed down to take a second look.
Kate felt something flutter violently in her chest.
'At bakit sila tingin ng tingin sa kaniya? Baka makasapak ako mmmp.'
He looked up—as if sensing her presence.
Their eyes met.
His face lit up with a smile. He tucked his phone into his pocket and stood straighter.
Kate slowed to a stop in front of him. "H-hey," she breathed, trying to sound casual despite the way her heart was doing cartwheels.
He slid off the car smoothly and stepped closer. "Hey. Ready to go home?" he asked, voice low and easy, but there was a glint of something soft in his eyes—fondness, maybe.
Something warmer.
Through her peripheral vision, she noticed the students that had been ogling Frooze now looking at her with envy. Some even whispered.
'Ay may jowa pala.'
'Paldong paldo na ang mga nursing ah.'
'May time pa pala sila para sa mga ganyan?'
Kate resisted the urge to sink into the ground.
"You've been attracting a lot of attention," she muttered, unable to stop herself from glancing back.
Frooze followed her gaze briefly, then smirked. "Let them look," he said nonchalantly. "I'm here for one girl only."
Kate nearly tripped on air. Her cheeks flamed. She looked away, biting her bottom lip to suppress the ridiculous smile threatening to bloom.
He walked around and opened the passenger side door like a gentleman. "After you, baby," he added with a slight bow of his head, grinning.
Kate blinked, flustered beyond belief. She slid inside, mumbling a soft, "Thanks," as her heart did full somersaults.
He closed the door gently behind her and circled to the driver's side. Once seated, he started the car, stealing a glance at her.
"Missed me?" he asked with a playful smirk, hand resting lazily on the gear shift.
She rolled her eyes, failing to hide her grin. "Wow kapal mo ah."
He laughed, deep and genuine, the sound making her stomach flutter. "I'll take that as a yes."
"You're really working at our school now?" she asked, tone laced with surprise.
"Yup. Full site assignment. I'll be around until the project's done."
Kate swallowed hard. That meant weeks. Maybe even months.
"So, we'll be seeing each other often now," she mumbled, trying to sound casual. Her fingers twisted the hem of her skirt, a nervous habit.
"More than you think," he said with a wink. "You won't get rid of me that easily so bare with me."
Kate's stomach did another somersault. Her lips curled into a shy smile as she turned her gaze toward the window.
They drove in silence for a moment—a soft, sweet kind of silence. Comfortable. Almost... domestic.
And even though they weren't officially anything...
---
Frooze dropped Kate off at the front of her apartment with a teasing wink before driving off to the garage of his newly rented unit next door. Kate stood at the door for a second longer than necessary, the lingering feeling of his presence still heavy in her chest.
Inside, she let out a long sigh, kicked off her shoes, and went straight to her room to change into something more comfortable. The weather had been sweltering, and she had no plans of suffocating herself in a bra when she was just at home.
So, she slipped into her favorite pair of soft cotton shorts—short enough to make her legs feel free—and a very thin, almost sheer shirt. No bra. She stretched and let out a content hum as she padded barefoot to the living room.
She reached for her phone, expecting to see a message from Frooze. Maybe another one of his "I'm outside, open up" texts. But before she could even unlock the screen, there was a knock at the door.
Kate blinked.
A knock?
Si Frooze kaya yun?
Still in her house clothes, she crossed the room and pulled the door open without a second thought.
There he was.
Frooze, now in a casual white shirt and loose shorts, looking every bit the boy-next-door, stood on her doorstep holding a white pastry box.
"Frooze?" she asked, confused. Then she sniffed the air. "Is that... cheesecake?"
He didn't answer.
He was staring.
More specifically—his eyes were on her chest.
Kate's eyes widened, and she reflexively crossed her arms over her shirt. "I—uh—it's hot! I didn't think anyone else would drop by. And bras are basically lung prisons, so—"
Frooze cleared his throat and finally looked away, handing her the box. "It's for you."
"Thanks," she said quickly, cheeks now burning. She took the cheesecake and turned around, motioning him to come inside. "Pasok ka. Hindi ka naman siguro pumunta dito just to hand me cake, right?". Nauna na siyang pumasok sa loob papunta sa living room. Alam niya kasing susunod naman rin si Frooze sa kaniya.
And tama nga siya kasi narinig niyang nagsara ang door.
She bent over to set the box down on the living room table.
Behind her, she heard a low sound—like someone muttering under their breath.
"...Fuck."
Kate blinked, turning around. "Huh? Are you okay—?"
But he was already stepping forward.
His eyes were darker than usual. His jaw was tight, clenched so hard a vein ticked along the side of his face. His brows furrowed in a way that made her heart skip and pulse race—anger, frustration, and something deeper simmering beneath the surface.
She instinctively took a step back, but the edge of the table met the back of her knees.
She gasped softly, landing seated on the edge. The cool wood beneath her thighs did little to ground her as Frooze stalked forward and placed his arms on either side of her, palms flat on the table.
He caged her in.
The heat of his presence slammed into her like a wave.
The air changed. Grew heavy. Dense with tension.
Kate's breath caught. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
"W-what's your deal?" she asked, voice tight and shaky. "May nagawa ba akong kasalanan?"
He stared at her, his jaw visibly working.
"Why would you open the door like that? Wearing... that?" His voice was low and tight, barely held back. "What if it wasn't me? What if it was someone else who saw you like that?"
Kate's breath hitched.
Anong problema nito!? Why is he like this all of the sudden!? Medyo slow pa naman siya---
Wait.
Her eyes narrowed. Her lips parted.
"Frooze..." she whispered, heart slamming into her ribs. "Are you... jealous?"
His pupils dilated just slightly. His expression faltered. For a beat, his fierce facade cracked—and in that space, vulnerability slipped through.
He straightened abruptly, arms falling to his sides, and turned away, muttering under his breath.
Kate stared at him, wide-eyed.
Then—
"Oh my god. You're pouting…you're pouting!" Her voice broke into a laugh. "That's so cute, it's actually feels illegal."
He shot her a glare over his shoulder, but the intensity was gone, replaced by something sheepish.
"Mmmmp," he grunted, crossing his arms like a child caught stealing candy. "Sinong nagseselos? Me? No, hindi ako seloso. Maangas ako, remember?"
Kate grinned and stood, walking over to him with amusement lighting up her face. She flung her arms around his waist.
"Aww, Froozie," she cooed teasingly. "I didn't mean to. Ang init kasi! And I had a gut feeling it was you. That's the only reason I opened the door like that."
He exhaled, chin resting on her shoulder. His voice was quieter this time.
"You're way too easy-going sometimes, baby. Pasalamat ka ako 'yung kumatok—what if it was someone else? Some creep in the neighborhood? You're too damn beautiful for your own good. And that body…"
He let out a low chuckle, voice dropping.
"Shit, you could make this summer heat feel like nothing. Even I… kahit ako… the second I saw you like that, I nearly lost it. Took everything in me not to pull you close right there at the door and kiss the breath out of you."
Kate's entire body flushed. Her legs felt weak.
"Okay, okay! I'll go change! Stay here."
She practically sprinted to her room and slammed the door shut, heart beating like a war drum.
Outside, Frooze exhaled a slow, amused breath and sat on the edge of the table.
He ran his fingers over the spot where she'd been just moments ago.
"This girl is going to kill me," he muttered, and chuckled under his breath.