Yuna's POV
I woke up right on time that sunday morning. No dead alarm clock betraying me, no groggy panic scrambling out of bed.
For once, the universe gave me a small gift—a clean, quiet start. I lay there for a moment, feeling the soft morning light peek through the curtains and warm my skin. It was like the day was giving me a fresh chance, a do-over.
I smiled—a real, slow smile—before finally pulling myself up. Breakfast didn't burn, the toast was golden instead of charcoal, and for once, nothing crashed, short-circuited, or disappeared into some black hole of lost chargers. I even managed a sip of coffee without spilling it everywhere.
Small victories, but they mattered.
Still, my head felt heavy, crowded with the leftovers of yesterday's chaos. So I slipped outside to the garden, that little patch of green infront of Tita Rosa's house near the gate.
The air smelled like wet earth, with a soft breeze brushing past the leaves and carrying the faint chirps of morning birds.
I sank down onto the wooden bench, its paint chipped and worn, and closed my eyes.
I let my breath slow, deep and steady, trying to wash away the tangled mess in my mind. For a few peaceful minutes, the world was quiet—just the rustle of leaves, the warmth of the sun, and the distant hum of life.
And then—footsteps.
I opened my eyes to see Kai strolling up with that familiar grin plastered across his face, like he'd been waiting for the perfect moment to show up and wreck my peace.
"Hey, disaster queen," he teased, plopping down beside me without an invitation.
"How's the chaos treating you today? Bet you can't even keep a stupid plant alive in this garden."
I groaned and rolled my eyes, but I couldn't keep the corner of my mouth from twitching. "Seriously? You're going to start with that again?"
Kai smirked, nudging me lightly. "I'm just saying. Last I checked, even a cactus lasts longer than your luck."
I shook my head and laughed, a little bitter, a little warm. "Yeah, well, some of us aren't born with a green thumb. I'm better at breaking strings than growing things."
He laughed too, that easy, teasing laugh that always made me feel like I was part of some private joke. It was maddening how much I secretly liked it.
"Don't worry," Kai said, eyes sparkling. "If this singing thing doesn't work out, gardening's always an option. Or you can just keep being a disaster—it's kinda your thing."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and smiled wider. It wasn't just the sunshine or the garden or the fresh air—it was him. Somehow, in the middle of all the mess, Kai's stupid jokes made everything a little lighter.
From inside the house, I heard Tita Rosa's gentle voice calling, "Kai, come eat! Don't scare the plants too much."
Kai groaned, pretending to be dragged to his doom. He stretched out like a cat reluctantly leaving its sunny spot.
"Fine, fine. I'm only here for the food, not your sparkling company, disaster queen," he teased with a smirk, throwing a wink over his shoulder as he shuffled toward the house.
Just before disappearing inside, he stopped at the door, turning back with a cheeky grin. Aunt Rosa was waiting there, arms crossed but with that warm smile only she could pull off.
Without missing a beat, Kai bowed his head slightly and reached out to take her hand. "Mano po, Tita," he said, his voice playful but respectful.
Aunt Rosa chuckled softly, pressing his hand to her forehead in the traditional Filipino gesture of respect. "Ay, you don't have to be so formal with me," she teased gently, ruffling his hair afterward like he was her own kid.
Kai grinned wider, clearly enjoying the attention. "Just making sure I keep my 'good guest' status," he joked.
I stayed on the bench, watching the scene through the garden window with a small, reluctant smile. Somehow, even when he was leaving, he made it feel like part of the whole chaotic morning—like a scene in a silly play where nobody really wanted to say goodbye.
Inside the house, Aunt Rosa was already waiting, her face soft with that quiet kind of love that didn't need loud words. She moved with gentle efficiency, sliding a plate piled high with pancit and lumpia in front of Kai, filling his glass with cold water, and then, with a mother's tender instinct, wiping a crumb from his cheek like she didn't want him to go hungry or forgotten.
Her actions spoke volumes — this was care, wrapped in little everyday gestures.
Kai caught those moments with a soft smirk and muttered, almost to himself, "Man, I'm lucky to get this kind of treatment," before digging in like the food was a treasure chest he didn't want to lose.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the garden window, the smoothness grounding me as a thousand feelings tangled inside.
Amusement fluttered with a pinch of something sharper—annoyance? Maybe a little jealousy?
Kai walked back outside with a plate piled high — Aunt Rosa's pancit noodles tangled with bright veggies and juicy bits of pork, and a few crispy lumpia resting on the side. He plopped down beside me on the garden bench, the sun warming our backs and a light breeze ruffling the leaves around us.
"You're way too serious, Yuna. You've gotta chill, or this competition's gonna eat you alive," he said, waving a lumpia like a tiny sword, as if ready to duel stress itself.
I gave him a sideways glance, trying not to smile. "Maybe your job is just to distract me."
Kai grinned, eyes sparkling. "Maybe it is. Someone's gotta stop you from turning into a giant stress ball before the big day."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help laughing. "So, you're officially my stress manager? Sounds fancy."
"Hey, don't laugh. Comes with some serious perks," Kai said between bites, nodding toward the food.
Just then, Aunt Rosa appeared at the door holding a big glass jug of sweet, cold calamansi juice. Her smile was soft, the kind that made the mess of the morning feel miles away.
"Drink up, you two. You'll need all the energy you can get for tomorrow."
I sighed, taking the glass Kai handed me. The juice was sharp, refreshing, perfect for cooling down the tension wrapped around my chest. Kai nudged me with his elbow, grinning like he had a secret weapon.
"See? The secret to winning isn't just talent—it's Aunt Rosa's cooking. We should bring her along as our coach."
I laughed, almost choking on my juice. "Team Yuna, powered by Pancit and Pancakes. Sounds like a winning combo."
Kai snorted. "Don't forget lumpia. That's the real power."
The garden grew quiet around us, the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling filling the space like a gentle pause from all the chaos inside. For a moment, everything felt easy.
From inside, I could hear Aunt Rosa quietly cleaning up, her voice low and gentle. "He's not bad… She deserves someone steady, even if he's a little annoying."
I glanced at Kai, who froze mid-bite, eyes wide as if he'd been caught red-handed.
"Annoying? Me? Never."
The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows in the garden. Kai kept poking fun at me, like a cat batting at a ball of yarn.
"You're way too tense. Relax or you'll turn into a giant ball of stress."
I smiled, feeling lighter than I had all morning. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I just need more lumpia and less worrying."
Kai held out his plate, eyes gleaming. "Then eat up. There's plenty more where that came from."
I smirked, taking another lumpia. "I know. I know from Aunt Rosa's kitchen."
He laughed, the sound easy and warm. And just like that, the chaos didn't feel so bad anymore.
To be continued...