Louise had been looking forward to her semestral break for weeks. After the relentless pace of college life in Manila and the stress and pressure that came as she struggled through her final year, a quiet return to her hometown of Dapitan City felt like a breath of fresh air. The laid-back charm and slower pace of life in Dapitan always provided the perfect counterbalance to her hectic academic schedule.

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One evening, Louise and her mom, Marisol, was spending a quiet night at home when the door bell rang. It was Louise’s aunt who had heard that they were in town and wanted to quickly stop by. Along with her aunt were four of her friends that were touring Dapitan. A spontaneous visit let to a night of drinks and conversation.

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Among them was one who was particularly curious about Louise’s personal life.

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“Louise, do you have a boyfriend?” She asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

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Louise shook her head, slightly embarrassed by the sudden attention. “No, Tita, I don’t.”

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Her face lit up with an idea. “Can I take a picture of you? I want to send it to my nephew, Brian. I think you two would get along.”

Amused and slightly flustered, Louise agreed. “Sure, Tita.”

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A month passed, and Louise had almost forgotten about the incident until she received a friend request on Facebook from someone named Brian Malig. Curious, she accepted, and shortly after, a message popped up.

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“Hi, Louise. My tita told me we would get along.”

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Louise smiled at the memory but felt a pang of uncertainty. She had been hesitant to continue the conversation, but something inside her nudged her to give it a try. “Maybe this will go well,” she thought.

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It didn’t. Their conversation was polite but uninspiring, ending with a courteous “take care.” And that was that—until one day, weeks later, Louise found herself wondering about Brian. She was scrolling through Facebook when she noticed a recent post from him. On a whim, she decided to message him again.

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“Hey, Brian. How have you been?”

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To her surprise, he responded almost immediately. They began to chat, discovering a shared passion for travel. This common interest sparked something new between them, and soon they were messaging each other daily. They exchanged stories of their favorite trips, dream destinations, and travel mishaps.

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Two months of constant conversation deepened their connection. Brian’s humor, warmth, and adventurous spirit intrigued Louise. She found herself looking forward to their chats more and more.

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“Maybe it’s time we meet in person,” Brian suggested one evening.

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Louise felt a flutter of excitement mixed with nervous anticipation. “I think so too,” she replied.