Let's dive into Part 4, —the story continues with morning light, new feelings, and the moment where fantasy meets reality. The spark between Yam and Franc is still alive, but now they’ll have to face what comes after the night that changed everything
I didn’t remember falling asleep. One moment Franc and I were sharing silence—the kind that says more than words. The next, I woke up to a soft stream of morning light trickling through my window like it was shy about being noticed.
My back ached slightly, thanks to my old mattress and a night spent curled into myself. I blinked, adjusting to the light. Then I saw him.
Franc was still there.
He was sitting upright now, shirt wrinkled, hair tousled in that unfairly sexy way. Eyes focused on something outside my window—as if the skyline held answers to questions he hadn’t dared ask yet.
“You’re still here,” I said, voice hoarse from sleep.
He turned, and his lips lifted just slightly. “Did you think I’d leave before the fan stopped spinning?”
I snorted. “That fan spins through typhoons, don’t test its loyalty.”
He chuckled and leaned back, cracking his neck like someone who’d slept on concrete.
“Thanks for last night,” he said softly.
“For the candy, the bed, or the rescue?”
“All of it,” he replied.
I got up and made us coffee—cheap instant stuff, but at least it gave our mouths something to do that wasn’t flirting. He watched me move like he was memorizing it.
We sat together again, mugs warm in our hands.
“What now?” I asked, surprising myself with how serious I sounded.
Franc didn’t answer right away. He just stared into the steam of his coffee like it was a crystal ball.
“You really wanna know?” he asked eventually.
“Yup.”
“I don’t know where I’m going next,” he admitted. “I wasn’t planning any of this.”
I nodded. “Neither was I.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled receipt, scribbled with something that looked like a phone number.
“This is all I had when I woke up,” he said, offering it to me. “I think it’s from the bar I blacked out at.”
I took it, squinting. “The handwriting looks drunk.”
He laughed. “So does my life.”
There was a pause.
“I don’t want to go yet,” he added. “But I probably should.”
That hit harder than expected.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because people like me don’t stay,” he said. “We drift. We crash into weird nights and kind strangers and leave before the real stuff starts.”
“Or maybe you just haven't met someone who asked you to stay,” I replied.
Franc looked at me.
Slowly. Carefully.
“I met you.”
Silence again. But this one wasn’t thick—it was soft. Like a blanket.
“You still want me to stay?” he asked.
I didn’t blink. “Yup.”
His gaze lingered.
Then he stood, took his mug, and walked to the window.
“What if I mess everything up?” he asked.
“Then we clean it,” I said. “You’ve already survived being hung upside-down like a human ornament. I think you can survive whatever this is.”
Franc turned.
Walked over.
Sat beside me again.
“Yam,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“If I stay... can we start over? Like, actually know each other—not just share candy and flirting?”
“I want that,” I said.
He smiled. A real one. No charm, no smirk. Just... warmth.
“Then I’ll stay,” he whispered.
And just like that, the morning stopped being just another Tuesday.
It became the beginning.
Of something neither of us could name yet.
✨ Want to keep going with Part 5 next? We can explore what Yam and Franc discover about each other, how they navigate real connection, and whether fate’s yamot gives them a break—or throws them a new twist. Ready when you are 🌻
🌀 Onward to Part 30—the chapter where everything Yam and Franc have built begins to ripple outward. Their studio isn’t just a refuge anymore; it’s becoming a movement. But with growth comes friction—and this chapter asks, What do you protect when the world comes knocking?The invitation arrived wrapped in palm leaves and tied with twine, a rustic charm that immediately caught Yam’s attention. Inside, the letter was written in elegant script, inviting him and Franc to curate a corner at the Sining sa Baybayin festival in Baler. The theme was “Spaces That Stay,” and the arts collective had chosen their studio for this special project.Yam read the letter twice, savoring each word. Franc, ever the optimist, exclaimed, “I think they just invited the studio to be famous.” Yam smirked, a playful glint in his eye. “Sir Spins-a-lot’s finally going mainstream,” he quipped, referring to their studio’s nickname among local artists. They both laughed, agreeing to take on the challenge.Their ide
🌿 Stepping into Part 29—the chapter where Yam and Franc turn dreams into doors. Their studio isn't just paint and poetry now; it's possibility. And that quiet hope they sketched during rainy afternoons? It’s ready to welcome the world.Yam and Franc had always been dreamers, their minds filled with visions of a world where art and emotion intertwined seamlessly. When they stumbled upon the idea of creating a sanctuary for those seeking solace and inspiration, they knew they had found their calling. They called it Tahanan Para sa Titig, a home for gazes, a place where the soul could rest and the heart could speak.The transformation of the side room was a labor of love. They spent days scrubbing the walls until they gleamed, painting the windowsills in vibrant blues and yellows that seemed to hum with life. A cozy beanbag nestled in the corner invited visitors to sink into its embrace, while a small wooden shelf held a curated collection of books—some penned by local writers, others b
🌧️ Welcoming you into Part 28—a softer moment between the crescendo. After the whirlwind of launches and spotlights, Yam and Franc find themselves craving stillness. This chapter isn't about doing—it's about being. It’s about a rainy day, a quiet reckoning, and the reminder that home isn’t a location—it’s what you come back to.It started with thunder.Low. Reluctant. Like a whisper that had spent too long holding back.Yam stirred from sleep, rolled toward the window, and watched fat raindrops coat the glass like someone painting peace with stormwater.Franc was already up, kneeling beside a stack of new canvases he'd left out the day before. He cursed softly, trying to shuffle them to safety.“Sir Spins-a-lot’s trying,” Yam mumbled, nodding toward the spinning fan. “But he’s no hero in a flood.”Franc smirked, setting the canvases aside, then walked to the bed, climbed in beside Yam, and tucked himself under the blanket.Neither of them spoke for a while.The rain took up the room.
🌟 Let’s drift into Part 27—the moment where Yam and Franc find themselves standing at the threshold of something unexpected: possibility beyond what they ever imagined. Their story, once a private rhythm between two hearts, now echoes in rooms they’ve never stepped into. But fame isn’t their goal—it’s connection. Let’s see what that brings. The email arrived on a Monday. Subject: International Literary Conference Invitation – “Love in the Margins” Yam stared at it. Then reread. A literary group based in Singapore wanted them to speak—together. About the power of storytelling, vulnerability, and queer love woven into everyday life. They’d found the book through a blog review that called it “a tender rebellion against silence.” Franc walked in mid-stare, setting down a bag of pandesal. “What happened?” he asked. “We’ve been invited,” Yam said, voice barely steady. “To do what?” “Speak. Tell our story. Abroad.” Franc blinked. “We’re exporting shelf chaos?” Yam laughed nervous
🌻 Continuing into Part 26, the chapter where the love Yam and Franc built begins to echo beyond their little home. The book they’ve written isn’t just about them anymore—it’s a mirror for anyone who’s ever loved imperfectly. And now, the world wants to listen. Let’s see what unfolds when private pages go public.The proof copy arrived in a brown envelope, slightly battered, as if the world couldn’t wait to get it there.Yam sliced it open slowly, hands trembling.Inside was their book.“The Art of Staying.”Cover: a sunflower. A crooked shelf. Two mugs—one chipped. And behind it all, the suggestion of a fan, mid-spin.Franc stared at it like it might whisper back.“Feels unreal,” Yam said.Franc flipped through pages. Some with artwork. Others with Yam’s poetry. Their story—wired beginnings and all—now bound in matte finish.“I think this book breathes,” Franc said.The small publishing house offered a launch event in the city—a cozy indie bookstore with warm lights and mismatched ch
🌈 Here’s Part 25,—where Yam and Franc begin to realize that coming home isn’t the end of the journey, it’s a doorway. Their love has held through chaos, growth, and separation. Now, the question isn’t “will we last?” but “how do we thrive?”Yam’s bags were still by the door when he collapsed onto the couch.Franc joined him seconds later, legs draped over the armrest like he’d never stopped waiting. Sir Spins-a-lot whirred above them, faithfully offbeat.They didn’t speak at first.Just breathed.Then Yam said, “You repainted the sunflower.”Franc nodded. “She deserved a second bloom.”Yam smiled, tracing the edge of the mural on the wall.“So do we,” he said.The days that followed felt like relearning routine.Yam noticed the way Franc tapped his fingers when making coffee, the way he hummed while folding laundry, the way he paused before sending a text—like every word mattered now.Franc noticed Yam’s quiet glances out the window, his laughter when reading old poems, the way he al