Ayisha licked her chocolate ice cream, savoring the cold sweetness. She glanced at Simon beside her, just in time to see a faint smear of vanilla on his upper lip.
She snorted. "You've got an ice cream mustache."
Simon blinked, then laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Do I?"
She laughed too, shaking her head.
"Uy! Teh!"
Ayisha stiffened.
Someone shouted from a distance, already running toward her. Before Simon could react, Ayisha was pulled away.
"Te, ang tagal na nating di nagkita!" her friend exclaimed, then paused, eyes narrowing as she glanced at Simon. "Wait—who the heck is he?"
"I'm Simon," he said, stepping forward. "I'm Ayisha's—"
"Acquaintance," Ayisha cut in quickly.
Her friend frowned, clearly confused, but grabbed Ayisha's arm and dragged her a few steps away.
Simon stayed where he was, the word echoing in his head.
Acquaintance.
"Are you serious?" her friend
whispered sharply. "He looks like your boyfriend."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Ayisha replied, finishing the last bite of her ice cream.
"Oh! Babe, bat kayo nandiyan?" another voice chimed in.
A woman walked over and slipped an arm around her friend's waist.
"We're just talking, love," her friend said with a grin.
Ayisha grimaced. "Yuck," she muttered. "Wag nga kayong maglandian sa harapan ko."
They both laughed.
"By the way," the girlfriend added, glancing toward Simon, "your boyfriend's waiting."
"Boyfriend~" her friend teased, nudging Ayisha's arm.
They walked away hand in hand, still laughing.
Ayisha sighed and followed them back.
Simon was still standing where she left him, staring at the melting remains of his ice cream.
"Sorry for the wait," Ayisha said.
He shook his head, offering a thin smile. "No need to apologize, kid."
Her friend stepped forward and extended a hand. "I'm Sidney but you can call me Sid. I'm her best friend."
Simon shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"This is Ann, my girlfriend," Sid added proudly.
Ann smiled politely. "Hello."
"We have to go," Sid said. "We've got a date. Enjoy, you two!"
They left, fingers intertwined.
"Kadiri," Ayisha muttered, watching them go.
Simon chuckled. "You don't like LGBTQ?"
"No, I like it," she replied casually.
"I'm bi. I just don't like seeing my best friend act like that. She's like a different person. It's disgusting."
Simon burst out laughing.
She laughed with him.
They ended up resting at the park.
Ayisha sat on a wooden bench while Simon paced slowly before stopping in front of her. She looked up at him and smiled softly, naturally.
He sat beside her.
Leaves rustled beneath their feet. Children's laughter drifted through the air as they ran across the grass.
The afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the park, and a gentle breeze stirred the trees.
Simon leaned back, tilting his head toward the sky. He closed his eyes and breathed in.
Then, quietly—
"Am I just an acquaintance to you?"
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Ayisha froze.
She looked away, her fingers tightening around the edge of the bench. "I… actually don't know," she said flatly.
Simon's chest tightened.
That hurt more than acquaintance.
He nodded once, forcing a small smile, though the weight behind his ribs refused to ease.
They sat there in silence, the sounds of the park filling the space where words failed.