⚠️ DISCLAIMER: WORK OF FICTION ⚠️
This is a fictional story created for entertainment and educational purposes. All characters, names, organizations, events, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
Chapter 1: Freshie Year – The Delulu is the Solulu Era
Miguel Santos stood outside the gates of Universidad de Manila on his first day, wearing his brand new Penshoppe polo (on sale, ₱399), clutching his bag like it contained the nuclear codes. It didn’t. It contained three ballpens, one notebook, and the false confidence of every freshman who thought they’d ace college.
“Pare, san ka?” his high school friend Carlo texted.
“Nandito na ko gate. Ikaw?”
“Omw na. Traffic sa EDSA.”
Translation: Carlo was still in bed. “On my way” in Filipino college speak means “I just saw your message and I’m now panicking while brushing my teeth.”
Miguel’s schedule was what academic advisers called “balanced” and what students called “designed to torture you”:
- Monday: 7:00 AM – Calculus (who schedules math this early? Psychopaths, that’s who)
- Tuesday: 1:00 PM – Filipino (perfect nap time slot)
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (existence is pain)
- Thursday: No classes (but may project deadlines)
- Friday: 4:00 PM – PE (Volleyball, which Miguel sucked at)
The first week was orientation. Not the useful kind. The “sit here for six hours while people tell you obvious things” kind.
“Don’t do drugs,” said one speaker.
No budget for drugs, only budget for pandesal, Miguel thought.
“Study hard, play hard,” said another.
Study panic, sleep never, Miguel corrected mentally.
Chapter 2: The Dorm Life Chronicles
Miguel’s dorm room was a 3×4 meter box of dreams and instant noodles. He shared it with Carlo, who proved to be the messiest human alive. Their room featured:
- Two beds: One made (Miguel’s), one that looked like a crime scene (Carlo’s)
- One electric fan: The source of nightly negotiations
- A rice cooker: Their most prized possession, used for rice, noodles, soup, hotdogs, eggs, and one time, accidentally, underwear (Carlo was drunk and thought it was the sink)
- Shared closet: 60% Carlo’s dirty laundry, 30% Miguel’s organized clothes, 10% things they’d forgotten about
- The smell: A mix of Zonrox, Mang Tomas, and broken dreams
Their dorm had rules:
- No girls after 10 PM (everyone ignored this)
- No cooking in rooms (everyone had a rice cooker anyway)
- Quiet hours 10 PM – 6 AM (someone always played Mobile Legends at 2 AM)
- No alcohol (everyone had Red Horse in the ref)
The Dorm Mate Ecosystem:
- Rom 201 – Jerome: Nursing student, nagpapabebe sa girlfriend 24/7, voice messages pa. “Babyyy, kumain ka naaaaa~” echoed through the halls daily.
- Room 203 – The Gamers: Four IT students who smelled like Cheetos and Mountain Dew. They spoke in MOBA terms. “GG na buhay ko, na-ambush ako ni Ma’am sa recit.”
- Room 205 – The Rich Kids: Always had Grab deliveries. Everyone befriended them during exam week for study snacks.
- Room 207 – The Gym Bros: Nag-overnight sa gym, breakfast was protein shake, lunch was chicken breast, dinner was more chicken breast. Their room smelled like sweat and ambition.
- Room 209 – The Band: Guitarra hanggang 3 AM. Repertoire: Wonderwall, Tadhana, and more Wonderwall.
Chapter 3: The Academic Hunger Games
Miguel learned quickly that college was different from high school. In high school, teachers hunted you down for missing homework. In college, professors didn’t care if you existed.
First Reality Check: Calculus
Sir Rodriguez was a legend. Not the good kind. The “I’ve failed more students than I’ve passed” kind.
“Good morning class. Who can solve this?” Sir Rod wrote a problem on the board that looked like ancient hieroglyphics.
Silence. You could hear someone’s stomach growling.
“Nobody? Okay, recitation. Mr…” He scanned the room like a sniper. “Santos.”
Miguel’s heart stopped. He hadn’t opened the book. The book was still wrapped in plastic. The book was still at the bookstore because it cost ₱1,200 and he was using that money for food.
“Uhh… sir… can you repeat the question?”
“I haven’t asked it yet.”
The class snickered. Miguel died inside.
The Survival Strategies He Learned:
- Strategic Seating: Middle rows, slightly to the side. Front row = instant recit target. Back row = teacher thinks you’re troublemaker. Sweet spot = invisible zone.
- The Art of “Studied But Didn’t Understand”: Never say you didn’t study. Say “Nag-aral po ako sir pero nahirapan po ako dito.” Sounds better, same result.
- Photocopying is Caring: One person buys the book, everyone photocopies. Carlo’s book became the blockmate holy grail. They treated it better than their relationships.
- The “May I Go to the Restroom” Escape: Works twice per exam. Third time, teacher knows you’re cheating or have a medical condition.
- Group Study = Group Suffering: Eight people in one room, seven on their phones, one actually studying and explaining to everyone else. That one person? Always named Angelo or Maria. Every class had one.
Miguel’s First Exam Week:
Monday – Calculus exam. Pumped caffeine from Sunday 8 PM to Monday 6 AM. Walked into the exam looking like a zombie extra from Trese.
The exam had 50 items. Miguel confidently answered 12. Intelligently guessed 20. Randomly shaded 18 because the pattern looked pretty.
Result: 52%. Passing was 60%.
“Okay lang yan, may removal,” Carlo consoled him.
Removal exam was two weeks away. Covering EVERYTHING. Miguel cried pero tahimik para hindi halata.
Chapter 4: The Food Struggle is Real
Budget: ₱200 per day
- Pamasahe: ₱60 (three jeeps, one trike)
- Breakfast: ₱35 (Tapsilog sa kanto, less rice)
- Lunch: ₱80 (Canteen meal, may ulam na)
- Snacks: ₱0 (inuman ng tubig)
- Dinner: ₱25 (Pancit canton deluxe = two packs + egg)
- Emergency fund: ₱0
When money was tight (always), Miguel’s meal plan became creative:
Tier 1 – May Budget:
- Jollibee Chickenjoy (₱89, with rice)
- Mang Inasal (₱99, unlimited rice = lunch + take home dinner)
- 7-Eleven (₱45 for sandwich, ₱55 for siopao combo)
Tier 2 – Nagtitipid:
- Karinderya (₱60, bahala sila sa sahog)
- Street food (₱30, full na sa fishball at kwek-kwek)
- Ministop fried chicken (₱49, hindi KFC pero chicken din)
Tier 3 – Broke Era:
- Skyflakes with anything (water is free, imagination is unlimited)
- Lugaw sa labas ng campus (₱20, busog na)
- Carlo’s leftover anything
Tier 4 – Crisis Mode:
- Nag-aasar sa may birthday (“Bro, when’s your birthday? Libre mo naman kami”)
- Pumupunta sa org meetings kasi may free food
- “Mama, paubos na load ko, padala naman” (classic)
Miguel discovered the ultimate hack: BEFRIEND THE CANTEEN PEOPLE.
“Ate, extra rice lang.” Smile smile smile.
Ate gave extra-extra rice. Sometimes extra ulam. Ate was the real MVP.
The Canteen Social Hierarchy:
Different tables, different tribes:
- Engineering table: Nag-uusap ng math while eating. Weird flex.
- Nursing table: 90% girls, talking about clinical duties and cute doctors
- Mass Comm table: Loudest table, may camera palagi, documenting their “aesthetic” lunch
- Computer Science table: Laptop while eating, coding over fried rice
- Irregular students table: Most chill, eating alone in peace, unbothered
- That one table sa corner: Couples feeding each other. Everyone hated them pero secretly inggit.
Chapter 5: Enter Isabella
Miguel first saw Isabella during Foundation Day. She was with the Dance Troupe, performing that sexy modern dance number that made every guy’s jaw drop and every girlfriend insecure.
She wore ripped jeans, a crop top, had her hair in a messy bun, and looked like she just walked out of a K-drama. Miguel was wearing his “pambahay” shirt because wala siyang nilabhan, and looked like he walked out of bed (he did).
“Ganda,” Carlo whispered.
“Pre, wag ka na umasa,” Miguel said, but mentally was already planning their wedding.
Fast forward two weeks. God (or the university registrar) had a sense of humor. Isabella was in his Filipino class.
The Courting Era (But Make It 2025):
Miguel’s moves were subtle. By subtle, meaning obvious to everyone except Isabella.
Week 1: Liked all her Instagram posts. Even the one from 2019. Accidentally liked, panicked, unliked, liked again. Left it liked. Looked desperate. Didn’t care.
Week 2: Tried to sit near her in Filipino class. She sat front row. He sat second row. Close enough to smell her perfume, far enough to look not creepy.
Week 3: Their group was assigned a project together. Thank you, Ma’am Reyes.
“Miguel, Isabella, Jerome, and Kaye. Kayo Group 3,” Ma’am announced.
Miguel’s brain: INTERNAL SCREAMING
Miguel’s face: “Oh. Okay.”
First Group Meeting:
Location: Starbucks SM North (Rich kid Kaye insisted)
Miguel checked his wallet: ₱157.
One Frappuccino: ₱165.
Situation: Catastrophic.
“Guys, tara?” Jerome said.
“Wait lang, sama ako,” Miguel stalled. Texted his emergency contact: “MA, PADALA PLS EMERGENCY ₱200 ASAP”
They sat at Starbucks. Everyone ordered.
“Tall Caramel Frap,” Isabella said.
“Grande Java Chip,” Kaye flexed.
“Venti Iced Americano,” Jerome ordered.
“And you, sir?” The barista looked at Miguel.
Miguel’s wallet: cricket sounds
“Ahh… water lang. Diet ako.” Smiled through the pain.
Isabella looked at him weirdly. “Sure ka? Share na lang tayo?”
Miguel’s heart: Flatline
Miguel’s mouth: “Oh sige, if okay lang sa’yo.”
They shared a straw. This was basically marriage in college terms.
The Project:
Their topic: “Ang Epekto ng Social Media sa Modernong Panahon”
Translation: Copy-paste from 10 different sources, reword slightly, cite properly, pray prof doesn’t Google.
Miguel volunteered for:
- Research (Googling)
- Writing (Copy paste artistry)
- Layout (Canva free version)
Isabella: PowerPoint (Make it aesthetic) Jerome: Presentation (He had the confidence) Kaye: Contribution (Money for printing)
They met three more times. Miguel and Isabella exchanged numbers “para sa updates.”
Their text thread:
Miguel: Uy check mo draft
Isabella: Gabi na pala! Sorry late reply. Tingin ko okay na. Bago mo finalize, check mo grammar baka may wrong
Miguel: Sige! Ikaw okay ka lang?
Isabella: Oo naman. Bakit?
Miguel: Wala lang. Baka pagod ka
Isabella: Sweet mo naman
Seen zone for 3 hours
Miguel: [12:47 AM] Haha tulog ka na ba
Isabella: [8:23 AM] Sorry nakatulog ako haha oo tulog na ko nun
Every conversation was an emotional rollercoaster.
Chapter 6: The MU Stage – Mutual Understanding or Mutual Uncertainty?
After the project (which got 89%, salamat Isabella’s aesthetic PowerPoint), Miguel and Isabella started hanging out more.
Not dates. “Hangouts.” Important distinction.
Hangout #1: Food Court
“Tara lunch?” Miguel texted, trying to sound casual while his hands sweated.
“Sige. Sama si Kaye?”
“Ah… busy ata siya.” (He didn’t ask Kaye.)
“Ah okay. Tayo lang?”
“Y-yeah. Okay lang?”
“Sure! See you 12.”
Miguel arrived 11:45. Isabella arrived 12:23 (Filipino time, on schedule actually).
They ordered:
- Miguel: Chickenjoy with rice (₱89, splurging)
- Isabella: Jolly Spaghetti and Burger Steak (₱115)
“Sige ako na babayad,” Miguel said, trying to be gentleman.
₱204 total. His daily budget was ₱200.
This is fine. I’ll eat Skyflakes for dinner.
They talked about:
- Classes (boring pero safe topic)
- High school (getting personal)
- Families (she has two siblings, he’s bunso)
- Favorite movies (she liked romcoms, he pretended to also like romcoms)
“Bet mo ba Marvel?” she asked.
“Oo! Favorite ko Endgame,” he lied. He watched Endgame pero nakatulog.
“Same! Umiyak talaga ako kay Tony.”
“Oo nga eh.” He had no idea what happened to Tony. He’d Wikipedia later.
Hangout #2-5: The Escalation
They kept “hanging out.” Each time, more comfortable:
- Shared earphones listening to Ben&Ben (classic MU soundtrack)
- Studied together (more like, she studied, he pretended to study while looking at her)
- Watched movies sa phone sa covered court
- Bought street food together, she paid sometimes (gender equality!)
The Blockmate Investigation:
“Bro, kayo na ba?” Carlo asked, too loud in the dorm.
“Hindi pa,” Miguel said.
“Pero?”
“Pero… I think she likes me?”
“You THINK?”
“Ewan ko! Hindi naman kami nag-uusap about it.”
“Tanungin mo na!”
“Bro, scary. Baka mag-awkward.”
This conversation repeated 47 times.
Signs Isabella Maybe Liked Him:
- She laughed at his jokes (even the corny ones)
- She replied to his texts within reasonable time (1-3 hours, not 5-7 business days)
- She touched his arm once (accidental or signal?!)
- She asked him to meet even when walang reason
- She said “Ikaw?” when he asked what she wanted to eat (girlfriend behavior?!)
Signs She Maybe Didn’t:
- She talked about her crush (a K-drama actor, so not real competition, but still)
- She called him “Bro” once (friend zone?!)
- She mentioned another guy Jeremy from her org (THREAT LEVEL: ORANGE)
- She posted IG story with vague caption “Some people are just not meant for you 💔” (Was this about him? About Jeremy? About nothing?!)
Miguel was losing his mind.
Chapter 7: The Define-The-Relationship (DTR) Anxiety
Two months into their “hangouts,” everyone thought they were together except them.
“Uy mag-asawa,” Jerome teased in the group chat.
“Boo, di pa nga kami,” Isabella replied with laughing emoji.
DI PA. Not “Hindi kami.” DI PA.
Miguel analyzed this text for six hours.
The Almost-DTR Conversation #1:
After watching a movie (pirated, sa laptop, sa dorm lobby):
“Miguel,” Isabella said softly.
“Oo?” Heart rate: 180 bpm
“Anong oras na pala. Kailangan ko na umuwi.”
“Ah. Oo nga. Hatid na kita sa gate.”
MOMENT MISSED.
The Almost-DTR Conversation #2:
At Ministop, 11 PM, eating cup noodles:
“Masaya ako pag kasama kita,” she said.
“Ako din.” SAY MORE, his brain screamed.
“Lagi kang nandito.”
“Oo naman.” ASK HER NOW, his heart pounded.
“Salamat.”
“Walang anuman.”
MOMENT MISSED AGAIN.
The Actual DTR Conversation:
It happened accidentally. Of course.
They were arguing about pineapple on pizza (she: yes, he: no, relationship dealbreaker).
“Ang weird mo talaga!” she laughed.
“Ikaw ang weird!” he shot back.
“Eh ikaw nga—” She stopped.
“Ako nga ano?”
“Ikaw nga… ewan. Ang gulo mo.”
“Gulo? Paano?”
“Kasi…” She looked down. “I don’t know where we stand.”
There it was. The question. Floating between them like a bomb.
Miguel’s brain: MAYDAY MAYDAY
Miguel’s mouth: “Gusto mo ba malaman?”
“Ikaw kaya, gusto mo?”
“Oo.”
“Eh ano ba tayo?”
“Ikaw, ano gusto mo?”
They literally went in circles.
“Miguel, serious question.”
“Oo.”
“Do you like me?”
Nuclear question. Miguel.exe stopped working.
“Oo,” he whispered.
“Oo as in like-like or like as friend?”
“Like-like. As in… gusto kita. Yung totoo.”
Silence. Three seconds felt like three years.
“Ako din,” she said, smiling.
“Talaga?”
“Oo, tanga. Bakit mo akala lagi akong lumalabas sayo?”
“Kasi… friends tayo?”
“Oo friends tayo. Pero gusto kitang maging more than friends.”
“So… tayo na?”
“Kung gusto mo.”
“Gusto ko.”
“Ako din.”
“So… tayo na?”
“Oo na!”
They became official via circular conversation at Ministop. Romance was alive.
Chapter 8: The Relationship Learning Curve
Being in a relationship in college was different from MU stage. Now may expectations. May labels. May anniversary.
Month 1: Honeymoon Phase
Everything was perfect:
- Daily good morning/good night texts
- Lunch together (he leveled up to Mang Inasal unlimited rice)
- Hand holding sa campus (scandalous but thrilling)
- Changed relationship status sa Facebook (official-official na)
- His mom met her via video call (awkward but sweet)
They did couple things:
- Took aesthetic photos sa sunflower field (Antipolo, commute was hell)
- Binged Netflix shows (shared account from her cousin)
- Stargazed sa rooftop ng dorm (romantic pero may langaw)
- Made Spotify playlists for each other (he titled his “Para kay Isabella ❤️”)
Month 2: Reality Sets In
First fight: He didn’t reply for 4 hours because his phone died.
“Where were you?!” she texted (12 messages).
“Sorry baby, low bat,” he explained.
“You could’ve told me.”
“Patay na phone ko eh.”
“Before it died!”
“Oo nga sorry.”
“Okay lang.”
Spoiler: It was not okay lang. They didn’t talk properly for one day. Felt like death.
Month 3: The Balance
They learned:
- Communication is key (sounds cliché, actually true)
- Space is healthy (she had org duties, he had thesis panic)
- Jealousy is normal but trust is important (Jeremy from her org was just a friend, promise)
- Money problems are real (dating costs money they didn’t have)
The Budget Couple Date:
Fancy dinner? No money. Movie theater? Too expensive. Café hopping? Their budget said lol no.
Their dates:
- Tambay sa covered court (free, may bench)
- Food trip sa kariton (₱50 for two, busog pa)
- Window shopping sa mall (no buying, just vibes)
- Study dates sa library (actual studying: 20%, stolen glances: 80%)
But Miguel wanted to do something special for their 3rd monthsary.
Operation: Special Date
Budget: ₱500 (saved by eating Skyflakes for two weeks)
Plan:
- Picnic sa Luneta Park
- Home-cooked food (asked his mom to cook, brought Tupperware)
- Rented a picnic mat (₱100, si Manong sa Quiapo)
- Bought flowers (₱150, slightly tuyot pero Isabella won’t mind)
- Brought his speaker for music
Execution: Beautiful disaster.
It rained. Tropical Manila, bakit di siya nag-check ng weather.
Plan B: Covered waiting shed sa MRT station.
They ate lumpia and spaghetti sitting on the floor, watching people pass by, laughing at how ridiculous they looked.
“This is perfect,” Isabella said, leaning on his shoulder.
“Basang-basa tayo,” he laughed.
“Oo. But I’m with you so okay lang.”
Corny. But Miguel’s heart did that thing where it felt too big for his chest.
Chapter 9: The Sex Talk (Aka The Awkward Elephant)
Filipino college students don’t talk about sex. They giggle about it. Reference it in jokes. But actual conversation? Rare.
Miguel and Isabella had been together for five months. The topic kept appearing like a Final Boss they weren’t ready to fight.
The Group Chat Shenanigans:
Jerome: Bro tanong. Kayo na ba ni Isabella? 😏
Miguel: Oo na bro
Jerome: Yun oh. So??? 😏😏😏
Miguel: So ano
Jerome: Alam mo na yun bro
Miguel: Wala pa
Carlo: WALA PA?! 5 months na kayo!
Miguel: Tangina di ganun kabilis yun
Jerome: Bro nung kami 2 months pa lang
Miguel: Ikaw kasi advanced mag-isip
Carlo: Pero gusto mo?
Miguel: Ewan. Yes? No? Scary?
The Girl’s Side (as overheard by Miguel accidentally):
Isabella’s friends Kaye and Jen:
“Siz, 5 months na kayo ah,” Kaye said at the canteen.
“Oo?” Isabella said carefully.
“So… may nangyari na ba?” Jen whispered-shouted.
“Ano ba kayo! Wala pa.”
“Wala pa talaga or wala pa kasi walang opportunity?”
“Both? I don’t know. Hindi pa kami ready yata.”
“Or baka si Miguel hindi ready?” Kaye suggested.
“Baka. Or baka ako. Honestly? Takot ako,” Isabella admitted.
“Girl, normal lang yan!”
Miguel heard this while passing by. So she was also confused. Somehow that helped.
The Actual Conversation They Needed to Have:
It happened during a late-night video call.
“Miguel, can I ask something?” Isabella started.
“Oo?” He paused his Mobile Legends.
“Serious to ha.”
“Okay.” He closed the app. This was important.
“Where do you see us going?”
Loaded question. Miguel thought carefully.
“Honestly? I see us… lasting. Like, beyond college.”
“Talaga?”
“Oo. I mean, ayoko mawala ka.”
“Ako din.” She smiled, then serious again. “But… May expectations ba tayo?”
“Expectations?”
“Like… physically.”
Oh. OH. That.
“Uhh…” Miguel’s brain short-circuited.
“Sorry if too direct ako,” Isabella said quickly. “Pero I think we should talk about it? Kasi some people expect things eh. And I want us to be clear.”
“No, tama ka,” Miguel recovered. “Honestly? I never thought about it deeply. Like, yes naisip ko, pero I’m not expecting anything. If it happens, it happens. If not, okay din.”
“Same. Kasi… I’m not ready. Not now.”
“Okay! Totally okay. Me neither, honestly.”
“Takot ako,” she admitted.
“Ako din. Takot ako baka di ko magawa nang tama.” He laughed nervously.
“Miguel, literal na walang ‘tama.’ Kasi parehas tayong walang experience.”
“You… you don’t have experience?”
“Oo. Virgin pa ako. Is that okay?”
“Okay? Baby, ako din.”
They both laughed, tension breaking.
“We’re such losers,” Isabella giggled.
“Oo tayo nga. But we’re losers together.”
They talked more:
- About consent (important)
- About protection (very important)
- About timing (not now, but someday)
- About respecting each other’s boundaries
- About how it’s okay to not know everything
The Reality:
Most college students in the Philippines aren’t having wild sex lives. Some are. Most aren’t. The pressure comes from:
- Movies that show college as non-stop parties
- Friends who lie about their experiences
- Social media showing fake perfect relationships
- Peer pressure to “grow up”
Truth:
- Some students are sexually active (their choice)
- Some wait for marriage (their choice)
- Some wait for the right time (their choice)
- All are valid
Miguel and Isabella decided: when they were both ready, comfortable, and safe. Not because of pressure. Not because “dapat.” Because they wanted to and chose to.
For now? They were happy with:
- Stolen kisses sa covered court
- Make-out sessions sa quiet corner ng library (second floor, walang tao)
- Cuddles during movie marathons
- Hand holding everywhere
Physical intimacy isn’t just sex. It’s:
- Knowing her coffee order
- Him lending his jacket kahit siya yung nilalamig
- Her fixing his collar before presentations
- Him listening when she rants about her day
- Comfortable silence
- Trust
Chapter 10: The Academic Crisis (Because College = Suffering)
Second semester of third year was when things got real.
Miguel’s subjects:
- Data Structures (Prof who doesn’t believe in partial points)
- Software Engineering (group project from hell)
- Discrete Mathematics (why does this exist)
- Networking (actually interesting)
- Ethics (easy pero 7 AM class)
- PE – Basketball (he’s 5’6″, this is discrimination)
Isabella’s subjects:
- Constitutional Law 1 (so much reading)
- Criminal Law (fascinating pero stressful)
- Legal Research (thesis starter)
- Political Law (Prof talks for 3 hours straight)
- Legal Writing (perfectionist prof)
They barely saw each other. When they did:
“Kamusta?” he asked, looking like he hadn’t slept in days.
“Pagod,” she said, with matching eye bags.
“Same.”
“May time ka ba Friday?”
“May deadline ako eh.”
“Ako din. Saturday?”
“May exam Sunday.”
“Ah.”
Dating during exam season was just two zombies texting “Fighting!” to each other.
Miguel’s Group Project Nightmare:
Software Engineering required them to build a full system. His group:
- Miguel: The only one who codes
- Patrick: “Bro help naman, di ako marunong” (never learned, never will)
- Sarah: Tried but gave up
- Lance: Ghost. Appeared only on defense day.
Week 1: “Guys, meeting tayo Saturday para mag-discuss,” Miguel organized.
Lance: Seen. Patrick: “Sige bro, punta ako.” Sarah: “Okay!”
Saturday. Sarah showed up. Patrick said “Sorry pre, may emergency.” Lance: still on seen.
Week 4: Miguel coded 80% of the project. Sarah did documentation. Patrick made the PowerPoint (copy-paste from their documentation). Lance???
Week 8: Hell Week
Defense was Monday. Project was 60% done. Miguel pulled an all-nighter.
11 PM: Coffee #1 1 AM: Coffee #2, eyes burning 3 AM: Coffee #3, hands shaking 5 AM: Coffee #4, seeing code in his sleep 7 AM: Submitted. Zombie mode activated.
Defense Day:
Professor: “Mr. Santos, explain your system architecture.”
Miguel: explained perfectly
Professor: “Ms. Sarah, what database did you use?”
Sarah: “Ahh… MySQL po?” (Wild guess, correct answer)
Professor: “Mr. Patrick, explain the login authentication.”
Patrick: “Ahh… si Miguel po gumawa nun. But basically…” proceeded to bullshit for 2 minutes
Professor: “Mr. Lance, anything to add?”
Lance: “Wala na po ma’am, nasabi na po nila lahat.” (contributed nothing, took credit)
Grade: 88%. Equal for everyone.
Miguel wanted to scream. But that’s group projects. Welcome to injustice.
Isabella’s Law School Preview:
Meanwhile, Isabella was getting destroyed by case readings.
“How many pages ba?” Miguel asked over video call.
“250 pages. For one subject. For tomorrow.”
“WHAT.”
“That’s normal daw.”
“Baby, that’s insane.”
“Welcome to law school prep.” She looked exhausted.
Miguel wished he could help. But reading Supreme Court decisions wasn’t his forte. So he helped differently:
“Want me to deliver coffee?”
“You’re 30 minutes away.”
“So? Saglit lang yun.”
He grabbed two cups from 7-Eleven, commuted to her dorm, gave it to the guard (no visitors allowed), went back home. Total time: 1.5 hours.
She texted: “Thank you ❤️ Nakaka-appreciate ko talaga effort mo.”
Worth it.
Chapter 11: The Future Panic
Near the end of third year, everyone started panicking about The Future™.
Questions plagued them:
- What happens after graduation?
- Will we get jobs?
- Will our degrees matter?
- Are we even learning useful things?
The Existential Crisis Conversation:
2 AM. Miguel couldn’t sleep. He called Isabella.
“Hello?” Her voice was groggy.
“Sorry, gising ka?”
“Ngayon oo. What’s wrong?”
“Nag-iisip lang ako.”
“About?”
“Future. Tayo. Work. Everything.”
She was quiet. Then: “Ako din. Can’t stop thinking about it.”
“What if we graduate and we can’t find work?”
“We will. Baka mahirap, but we will.”
“What if… what if we drift apart?”
“Miguel.” Her voice was firm. “We won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Kasi we’ll fight for it. Both of us. Right?”
“Right.”
“Besides, you’re stuck with me. Forever na yan.”
He laughed. “Forever?”
“Oo. Wala ka nang kawala.”
“Okay lang sa’kin.”
Reality Check:
Their seniors graduated and shared the truth:
- Job hunting was brutal
- Some took jobs outside their degree
- Some went abroad
- Some continued studying
- Some took breaks to figure things out
- All were valid paths
One kuya told Miguel: “Bro, yung diploma? That’s just proof you survived. The real learning starts when you work.”
Comforting? Not really. True? Absolutely.
Chapter 12: The Little Moments That Matter
Between the stress, deadlines, and existential dread, there were perfect moments:
Moment 1: The Brownout Date
Brownout hit campus. No classes. Miguel and Isabella sat on the steps ng covered court, sharing one fishball order (₱20, sulit).
“Ang tahimik,” she noted.
“Oo. Rare.”
They watched the sky turn orange.
“Miguel?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being patient with me. Sa lahat.”
“Baby, dapat ako mag-thank you. You put up with my dumbass.”
“Perfectly imperfect dumbass, though.”
They kissed as the sun set. Walang music. Walang filter. Just them.
Moment 2: The Graduation ni Jerome
Jerome graduated ahead of them. They attended.
Seeing Jerome in his toga, Miguel realized: that would be them soon.
“Excited ka ba?” Isabella asked.
“Yes and no. You?”
“Same. Excited to finish. Scared of what’s next.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“Together?”
“Together.”
Moment 3: The Random Tuesday
Nothing special happened. They just had lunch. Shared jokes. Laughed about stupid things.
Isabella looked at Miguel and said, “I’m happy.”
“Just like that?”
“Oo. Random happiness. You?”
“I’m happy din.”
Sometimes the best moments aren’t grand gestures. They’re just… being together.
Chapter 13: The Lessons They Learned
If Miguel could tell his freshie self anything:
On College:
- Your grades don’t define you. 1.0 or 3.0, you’re still trying your best.
- Pero mag-aral pa rin. Walang magic, just effort.
- Professors are humans. Some are assholes. Most are okay. Few are angels.
- Group projects will test your patience. Embrace the suffering.
- Your degree is important but not everything. Skills + attitude matter more.
- That one subject you failed? You’ll survive. You’ll retake it. You’ll pass eventually.
On Friendship:
- Your college friends will be family. Choose them wisely.
- Yung mga kasama mo sa 2 AM lugaw sessions? Keep them.
- It’s okay if high school friends drift. People grow apart. Natural yun.
- True friends call you out on your BS. Treasure that.
On Relationships:
- Love in college is messy, complicated, beautiful, and worth it.
- Communication > Assumptions. Always.
- You don’t need money to show love. Effort matters more.
- Sex isn’t mandatory. Do it when BOTH are ready.
- Fights are normal. Ghosting after fights is not.
- Support each other’s dreams, kahit different paths kayo.
- “Tayo pa rin” is a choice you make every day, not just once.
On Money:
- Broke is temporary. Budget wisely.
- Pandesal is a valid meal.
- There’s no shame in being practical.
- Rich classmates will flex. Ignore them. Your worth isn’t your wallet.
On Mental Health:
- It’s okay to not be okay.
- Asking for help isn’t weakness.
- Your feelings are valid.
- Bad days don’t mean you’re failing at life.
- Rest is productive. Sleep matters.
On Growing Up:
- You won’t have all the answers. Nobody does.
- Adulting is just winging it with confidence.
- Mistakes are lessons. Bayad mo yun sa tuition ng life.
- Be kind to yourself. You’re doing better than you think.
Epilogue: Where Are They Now?
Miguel is finishing his fourth year. Currently stressing over his thesis, applying to jobs, and hoping he survives.
Isabella is preparing for law school entrance exams. Terrified but determined.
They’re still together. Not perfect. They fight about stupid things. Make up. Repeat.
But they’re learning. Growing. Together.
Their Future Plans:
Miguel: Get a job (hopefully). Help his family. Maybe save enough to take Isabella on a real date (not just food court).
Isabella: Law school (scary but exciting). She wants to be a public attorney. Help people who can’t afford lawyers.
Together: They don’t know. Long-distance if she studies in another city? They’ll figure it out. One day at a time.
Miguel’s Final Thoughts:
College taught him that:
- Life is messy
- Love is complicated
- Growing up is scary
- But it’s all worth it
He’s not the same kid who walked through those gates three years ago. He’s survived heartbreaks (academic and romantic), failed subjects, toxic group mates, and instant noodle overdoses.
He found friends who became brothers. A girlfriend who became his partner. A future that’s uncertain but possible.
To every college student reading this:
You’re doing great. Kahit hindi mo feel. Kahit ang hirap. You’re surviving. And that’s already winning.
Your story is different from Miguel’s. That’s okay. Write your own. Messily. Imperfectly. Authentically.
Love deeply. Study harder. Eat your vegetables (or don’t, Skyflakes works).
And remember: The struggle is real, but so is the growth.
Kaya mo yan. We’re all just figuring it out together.
Tapos na. O, sana may natutunan kayo. If wala man, at least natawa kayo. ‘Yan na yun.
This story is a work of fiction but based on the very real experiences of countless Filipino college students who survive on ₱200/day, unlimited rice, and pure determination. This is for everyone who’s still fighting, still dreaming, still believing.
To those currently in college: You’ll survive. Promise.
To those who already graduated: Alam nyo na yung hirap. Respect.
To those planning to enter college: Welcome to the jungle. Magdala ng Skyflakes.
THE END (But really, it’s just the beginning)
