Chapter 4

The following days after that hangout with Ash felt like they existed in a different dimension-one where she could breathe easily, laugh freely, and not worry too much about what came next. Maya found herself looking at her phone more often, expecting to see a message from him, but she reminded herself to stay grounded. She didn’t want to seem like she was waiting for it-baka maging clingy pa ako, she thought. But deep down, there was that little flicker of hope, like a tiny flame that refused to go out.

It wasn’t just the excitement of getting to know someone new. There was something else, something deeper. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Every time they talked, whether about trivial things like their favorite ice cream flavors or more serious topics about their pasts, she felt... connected. As if she was finally talking to someone who didn’t expect her to be anything other than herself. No pressure. No pretenses. Just her.

But even with that, Maya knew she couldn’t let herself get carried away. Not yet. She’d been hurt before-by Alex, and by her father’s abandonment. Trust was something she had to rebuild piece by piece. And she wasn’t about to let herself fall too quickly.

Still, there was no harm in texting. Right?

The next message came a few days after their dinner date. Maya had just finished a meeting when she saw his name flash across her screen. Her pulse quickened, and she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.

𝗔𝘀𝗵: Hey, how's your day going?

Maya paused for a moment, letting herself just enjoy the feeling of hearing from him again. It wasn’t like he was constantly texting her, but every time he did, she couldn’t help but look forward to it.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Busy, as usual. You?

A minute later, his reply came.

𝗔𝘀𝗵: Same here. Been stuck sa back-to-back meetings all day. So, I need a little distraction. How about you, any fun weekend plans?

Maya chuckled to herself. Ash didn’t seem like the type to need distractions, but maybe it was that side of him she was beginning to appreciate-the one that wasn’t all business, the one that was just him.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Honestly, not much. Probably just catch up on some work and binge-watch my favorite series. What about you?

Ash’s reply was quick. He was the type to keep things moving in their conversation, Maya noticed, and it was refreshing. There was no awkwardness between them, no hesitation, just pure, unfiltered back-and-forth.

𝗔𝘀𝗵: Hmmm... I was thinking of checking out this new cafe. It's not far from you, actually. Wanna join me?

Maya raised an eyebrow at the message. A cafe? It didn’t sound too formal, but she couldn‘t deny the little spark of excitement that lit up in her chest. A casual hangout sounded perfect, especially after the busy week she’d had.

She wasn’t sure why, but the thought of seeing Ash again made her feel... something. Something she couldn’t quite describe.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Sounds nice. When were you thinking?

𝗔𝘀𝗵: How about tomorrow afternoon? I'm sure you could use a break from work.

She could practically feel the warmth in his words. Maya bit her lip, feeling her stomach flutter slightly. Tomorrow? It wasn’t too soon, was it? It wasn’t like it was a date, but still... there was that tiny part of her that wanted it to be.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Okay, tomorrow sounds good.

𝗔𝘀𝗵: Looking forward to it.

Maya put her phone down with a little smile. She was trying not to read too much into it, but the fact that he’d reached out for a casual meet-up felt like a small, encouraging sign. Nothing too serious, but definitely something worth exploring.

The next afternoon, Maya found herself standing in front of the cafe, a little early. It was a cute, cozy place-just the kind she liked. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and there was a soft buzz of conversation in the background. She glanced at her phone again, checking the time. Ash should be here any minute.

The cafe was busy, but not overly crowded. She chose a table by the window, feeling the sunlight warm her skin. It was a nice change after the usual rush of her daily life. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that had settled in her stomach.

And then, as if on cue, the door opened, and Ash walked in.

For a moment, time seemed to slow down. The way he looked in that simple black jacket and jeans, his dark hair just messy enough, his eyes catching hers- Maya felt a little tug in her chest. It was strange, how he could have this effect on her after just a few casual hangouts. She wasn’t even sure why it felt like this.

“Hey,” Ash greeted her, his smile easy and warm as always.

Maya stood up to greet him, fighting the sudden rush of heat in her cheeks. “Hey,” she said back, trying to sound casual. “You made it on time.”

Ash laughed and took a seat across from her. “I’m not that bad with punctuality, you know,” he teased.

They both ordered their drinks-Maya went for a cold brew, while Ash opted for something warm. It wasn’t a big deal, but for some reason, it made Maya smile.

“So, how was the rest of your week?”

Ash asked, settling into the conversation with that effortless charm of his.

Maya sipped her drink, then shrugged. “Same old, same old. Lots of work, but I’m surviving. How about you?”

Ash leaned back in his chair, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. The usual.”

They both chuckled, the easy rhythm of their conversation flowing naturally.

Maya found herself relaxing more than she thought she would, her initial nerves slowly fading. As they chatted, she realized how much she enjoyed his company. It wasn’t just the lighthearted conversations-they’d managed to talk about things that were a little more personal, too. Things that felt... real.

They talked about their favorite childhood memories, about their families, and Maya even shared a funny story about her mom making her wear embarrassing outfits when she was younger. Ash listened intently, laughing with her, making her feel like she was the only person in the world.

As time passed, Maya found herself looking forward to these little meetups, even though she kept reminding herself not to get too attached. But it was hard. It was hard when everything just felt so... easy.

And maybe that’s what scared her the most.