Once Upon A Wild Summer

CHAPTER 1 Louela Jane It had only been three days since my college graduation, but it already felt like weeks had passed. And today, I was finally heading back to our province for a one-month vacation—something I’ve been dreaming about since my final exams ended. My parents and younger sister, Luna, had already gone ahead the day after the ceremony. I stayed behind for a few errands—last minute apartment cleanups, farewell lunches with friends, and some final paperwork at the university. Now, seated comfortably on a bus heading to our province, I watched the scenery roll past the window with a heart brimming with excitement. I leaned my head against the window, the faint vibration of the engine lulling me into a hazy calm. I could’ve taken a flight. It would’ve been faster—just under an hour. But no. There’s something different, something nostalgic about taking the bus. The long hours, the quiet hum of the engine, the occasional stops in sleepy towns, the strangers seated besid

CHAPTER 3 Louela Jane The evening of the party had finally arrived. I was in my room, sitting in front of the vanity mirror, applying the final touches to my makeup. Just a bit more powder blush and some mascara, then I was good to go. I was halfway through curling my lashes when my phone buzzed on the desk. I reached over and checked the screen and groaned instantly. Seriously? Why is he calling me right now? I picked it up and answered without a hint of enthusiasm. “Why are you calling?” A soft chuckle echoed through the other end. ["Now that’s not how you greet your man, shorty.”] I cringed and rolled my eyes so hard I was afraid they’d get stuck. “My man? You mean ex. Maybe get it right.” He just chuckled, still as smooth and cocky as ever. [“Chill, shorty. Don’t you miss us?”] I gagged, dramatically shuddering at the thought. “Oh, please, Izek. You’re giving me goosebumps.” His laughter came louder this time, clearly enjoying himself. [“Damn. You never fail to m

CHAPTER 5 Louela Jane The night air was warm but breezy, carrying the scent of grilled meat and the faint hum of music coming from a speaker near the stage. I sat at a square wooden table right under a string of yellow fairy lights, their soft glow flickering like lazy fireflies above our heads. My friends—Jia, Therese, and Yanna—had just arrived a few minutes ago, and now we were all talking over cold sodas and paper plates of barbecue, lumpia, and spaghetti, catching up like old times. Not that we were totally out of the loop. We still talked often through Messenger, but there’s something about face-to-face conversations that just hits different. The noise, the laughter, the side glances, the exaggerated expressions and teasing. It felt like we were back in high school again, and for a moment, I forgot we were all adults now, trying to figure out life in our own messy ways. We fell into easy conversation, our chatter skipping from one random thing to another, some harmless gos

CHAPTER 7 Louela Jane The soft yet steady beat of the drums blended beautifully with the gentle strumming of Ivan’s guitar. As the melody filled the air, Luna took a deep breath and sang the first verse of My Wish by Rascal Flatts. “I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow, And each road leads you where you wanna go...” Luna’s voice echoed through the garden—soft, clear, and soothing. I didn’t mean to brag, but my sister really could sing. Her tone had this soulful lilt that made you want to stop and listen. And the song? Absolutely perfect for the moment. You could tell that they actually took time choosing it. I found myself smiling as I watched her sang, pouring every emotion into each lyric. Behind her, Jigs played the drums like it was second nature—light, precise, steady. And then… there was Ivan. His fingers moved skillfully over the strings, his guitar adding depth and soul to the song. His expression was calm, composed, but his body language spoke

CHAPTER 9 Louela Jane It’s been exactly one week since I came back to the province. Seven full days of fresh air, home-cooked meals, and catching up with my family and friends. Honestly? It’s been pretty chill. No deadlines. No stress. Everything was perfectly fine—well, except for one minor issue. Ivan. Yes, that boy. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels like he’s been at our house every single day since I got back. Sometimes, he’s here for their band practice with Luna—which was understandable, so I brushed it off. But then, he started coming over to use our Wi-Fi because, apparently, their internet suddenly stopped working. Like, bro, ever heard of mobile data before? Other times, he’d suddenly show up with a dish cooked by his mom, Tita Ynna, like he was some courier who just “happened to pass by”—except he wasn’t passing by. He was marching straight into our house like he lived here. And then there were times, I’d come out of my room to find him sprawled on