"Ugh… I'm so sleepy."
A long yawn escaped my lips as I pulled the blanket tighter around my body. The cold air slipping through the window made me shiver.
"Why is it so cold…" I muttered.
I seriously hate this kind of weather.
Even though I'm just here in Baguio Benguet, sometimes it feels like I'm living in another country because of the cold.
Back in Manila, the only thing I usually complained about in the mornings was the rain during June. But here in Baguio, it's not just rain—it's the cold, the fog, and the wind that feels like it passes straight through your bones.
Honestly, it's the worst combination when you have to wake up early.
And whenever you go outside, you always need to bring a jacket and umbrella. The weather changes so quickly that sometimes it's sunny in the morning, then raining an hour later.
For someone like me who grew up in Manila, this place feels completely different.
I'm used to heat.
Crowded streets.
Loud jeepneys and cars honking everywhere.
The smell of street food mixing with smoke from traffic.
Manila is noisy, chaotic, and always full of people.
But here in Baguio…
Everything feels quiet.
Too quiet.
Oh, right. I almost forgot to introduce myself.
My name is Samantha Dela Puerte, but everyone calls me Sam.
I'm twenty-one years old, a fourth-year college student, and I recently became the new girl in town.
Not exactly the title I imagined for myself.
And if you're wondering about my love life…
Well.
I have zero dating experience.
Yes.
Zero.
No boyfriend.
No romantic moments.
Nothing.
Sad life, right?
But to be fair, my life has never really been normal.
For as long as I can remember, it has always been just me and my older sister.
Jacky.
She's the reason I'm here in the first place.
Life changed a lot for us over the years, and somehow, we ended up starting fresh again—this time in Baguio Benguet. My sister now has her own family, including my adorable baby niece, Allison.
Because of them, this city slowly became our new home.
Which means…
New house.
New environment.
And soon—
A new university.
Honestly, moving here was never really part of my plan.
But Jacky said it would be good for me.
"A fresh start," she called it.
A chance to experience life outside the small world I had always known.
Still…
If I'm being completely honest—
I'm terrified.
I've only been here for two weeks, and I already feel a little homesick.
The streets here are wider.
The houses are farther apart.
There are too many trees.
Too much fog.
Sometimes it feels like I'm living inside one of those mysterious towns from a movie.
Quiet.
Cold.
And strangely beautiful.
I stepped outside onto the small terrace and hugged my jacket closer to my body. The fog slowly drifted through the streets like soft white smoke, covering the houses and trees.
For a moment, everything looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Maybe my sister is right.
Maybe this move will change my life.
And maybe this quiet city will be the place where my story truly begins.