Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

A New Beginning with an Old Suitcase

"What seemed like

an ordinary day for Maeve would turn out to be the beginning of an extraordinary story."

~ ● ~

If there were a competition for having the worst luck in a single day, Maeve Quinn Ramos was certain she'd make it into the Top 3.

Not Top 1.

Because even though she considered herself unlucky, she still believed someone out there had it worse-like the poor guy who got hit by a falling durian while riding a motorcycle.

Or someone mistaken for a robber just because they were wearing a bonnet and a face mask while buying freshly baked bread.

At least... Her life hadn't reached that level. Yet.

"Ow!" Maeve winced as the handle of one of her suitcases slipped from her grasp and landed squarely on her foot. She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, then forced herself to smile.

"That was the third accident for this morning. That's progress."

The tricycle driver who had helped unload her luggage looked at her with concern.

"Are you alright, miss?" Maeve smiled.

"Yes, Uncle. I'm used to getting hurt."

The old man chuckled.

"Sounds like you've got quite a story behind that."

"I do... but I'll save the crying for later."

That made the driver laugh even harder. That was Maeve a twenty-one years old, a fourth-year student at Bulacan State University, a Dean's Lister, an academic achiever and one of the most respected students in her college.

Inside the classroom, she looked like the perfect student always earning top grades, always prepared for recitations, always carrying a notebook, and always submitting flawless projects.

But if you got to know her personally, you'd probably wonder how she ever became a top student considering the number of ridiculous things but she still managed to do that every single day.

Sometimes, she accidentally left her cellphone inside the refrigerator.

Another time, she sat through the wrong class for thirty minutes before realizing it wasn't even her subject.

And once again, she nearly got into a fight with a guy because she thought he'd stolen her tumbler and it turns out... they simply owned the exact same tumbler.

She spent three days dying of embarrassment afterward. Still, it was one of the many reasons people loved being around her. She was genuine, she was down-to-earth and most importantly... she knew how to laugh at her own mistakes. Maeve let out a long sigh as she stared at the condominium building standing before her.

Finally...

She had arrived in Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan. This would be her home for the next several months because her family's house wasn't actually that far away, but with internships, research papers, and her thesis taking up nearly all her time, moving closer to school was the most practical decision.

Her family wasn't wealthy but they weren't poor either and they lived comfortably enough. The kind of family that had to save money before buying new appliances. The kind that treated fried chicken as a special meal every payday.

Not perfect... but filled with love.

Her father worked as a jeepney driver and her mother earned a living as a seamstress. Growing up, Maeve watched her parents work tirelessly every day. Even as a little girl, she understood the value of education. She knew money didn't come easily, she knew every opportunity mattered that's why she worked hard, she studied diligently, stayed up countless nights, endured every challenge and now... she had become one of the top students in her program.

"Mae!"

She turned when she heard her mother's voice it was her mom while waving at her while carrying a plastic bag.

"Honey, you forgot these." Maeve blinked.

"Mom, I already ate. I have bread, cooked food, biscuits, money... and even my favorite bananas."

She sighed dramatically. There was simply no winning against a Filipino mother. So she accepted the bag with a smile.

"Thanks, Mom."

Her mother smiled warmly. "Take good care of yourself, okay?"

"I will."

"Eat your meals on time."

"I promise."

"And don't stay up too late." Maeve quietly looked at her. Both of them knew that promise was practically impossible to keep. Her mother shook her head.

"Suit yourself."

Maeve laughed. After a few more reminders and one last warm hug, her parents finally left.

For the first time in her life... She was completely on her own. She quietly looked around. The feeling was strange. A mixture of excitement and nervousness.

So...

This was adulthood the stage where you had to make your own decisions. Where no one reminded you to drink enough water, or who cook rice and or who will gonna wash the dishes. Maeve suddenly clutched her chest dramatically.

"Wait..." She looked up at the sky. "Who's going to cook rice for me now?"

A few minutes later, she finally stepped inside her new condominium unit. It was simple a small living room, a tiny kitchen, a bathroom and one cozy bedroom. Nothing luxurious, nothing fancy but it was enough.

More importantly... It was hers. She slowly looked around before smiling.

"Hello, new home.'' Silence. "No one's even answering."

She scratched the back of her head.

"Okay... I guess I'll have to keep the conversation going myself."

She started unpacking her belongings. But after only ten minutes... She found herself sitting on the floor.

Exhausted out of breath and completely out of motivation. She stared at the remaining boxes.

"Look at all of you."

It felt as though they were her mortal enemies.

"We'll continue this conversation tomorrow."

Of course... She ignored her own advice. A moment later, she stood back up and continued unpacking. As she worked, she couldn't help but think about the days ahead. A new environment, a new routine, a brand-new chapter of her life.

She had no idea what was waiting for her. She didn't know who she would meet, she didn't know what kind of challenges lay ahead but she was ready to face them all.

Because that's what life is.

No guarantees.

No script.

No spoilers.

You simply keep moving forward and sometimes... the most beautiful stories begin on days that seem perfectly ordinary.

Little did Maeve know that in just a few days, someone would turn her peaceful life upside down.

A man who would make her heart race. And one night... that would change everything.

One night.

One wrong decision.

And one bed...

That wasn't actually hers but for now... she had absolutely no idea and at the very moment, the only thing on her mind was figuring out how to open the last box without breaking one of her nails.

And for Maeve Quinn Ramos...

That felt like the biggest problem in the entire world after unpacking some of her belongings, Maeve decided it was time for a break. She lay down on her bed and stared at the plain white ceiling.

Silence.

Complete silence. It was the kind of quiet she wasn't used to. Back home, there was always noise, sometimes it was the television, sometimes it was her father cheering while watching basketball and sometimes it was her mother calling out because Maeve had forgotten another chore.

But here... there was nothing it just her... and the gentle hum of the electric fan. She let out a quiet sigh.

Turns out... she actually missed the noisy house. Smiling to herself, she reached for her phone several new messages from her friends were waiting for her.

Their group chat.

Nothing but memes and their endless nonsense and countless warnings telling her not to bring any boys into the condo.

Maeve shook her head.

"As if they're the ones who should be giving me advice."

She laughed softly but before she could continue reading, she heard a dull thud coming from the neighboring unit.

She looked toward the wall, another thud followed, then another. It sounded like someone was moving heavy furniture.

"Oh... did someone just move in too?" she murmured. She didn't think much of it. That was perfectly normal in a condominium.

Still...

For some reason, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that the person living next door would somehow become important in her life. She shook her head and laughed at herself.

"Maeve... stop watching so many K-dramas."

Chuckling, she set her phone aside. A few minutes later, she drifted off to sleep. She never saw the man who had just arrived in the unit next door. She never saw the tall young man with the serious expression quietly unlocking his door.

And she certainly had no idea...

That in just a few days...

Their worlds would collide.

In a way...

Neither of them could have ever imagined.