Chapter Text
Colet walked down the street slowly, taking her sweet time to get to work. It was a Monday after all, which no one was ever happy about. She didn’t see any need to tire herself out before she got to the office.
The streets were quiet, save for the occasional one to two words floating in the air. The only sound you could hear are car horns.
She narrowly misses someone almost colliding with her, and the other person bows profusely in apology, before running away.
She stopped by her favorite cafe first, knowing she needed a shot of espresso to get through today. It was going to be a long day after all.
As soon as she stepped inside, she was surprised to see her favorite songwriter at one of the tables, having his morning coffee.
She quickly made her way to the counter, pointing at the menu for her drink and pastry of choice, before waiting for her orders off to the side. All the while she was checking to see if he was still there.
On her way out, she approaches his table.
When he notices her, she quickly maneuvers her hands, using sign language to communicate with her idol.
“I’m a huge fan. I love your work. It’s so nice to meet you” Colet had signed with a shy smile.
He simply smiles, bowing his head in thanks, before agreeing to a photo with Colet.
She giggled happily as she walked out of the cafe, unable to believe she had been that lucky.
Most people had learned sign language as another way to communicate during these challenging times, ushering in a new era.
No one knows how all this happened. Or why even. It was the kind of thing that could either be explained by science or religion. Or both. Whatever it is, it changed the world when one day everyone suddenly became limited to speaking 300 words a day.
What would happen if you went over? You’d lose your voice. Then it would just come back the next day.
Everyone has some crazy theory as to why this happened, if it’s some secret government project, or maybe even the Illuminati. Some think it's aliens or the end times.
The Daily 300 podcast certainly liked to talk about it. Though the most interesting part of the podcast is how amusing it is when the host tries to formulate words to find loopholes and not lose his 300 too quickly. Or when he outright loses his voice in the middle of it.
Personally, Colet wasn’t too bothered. Of course it sucked that she couldn’t sing out loud absentmindedly to music anymore, but she was never much of a talker anyways. It’s something that people usually had a hard time getting used to when interacting with her.
Except her girlfriend. She always understood her.
Maloi was loud enough for the both of them, being the social butterfly that she is. She’s what most people would call “a pocket of sunshine’.
She’d wave to everyone on the street, make friends easily, and never had a shy bone in her body. She knew what she wanted and who she was, and she made damn well sure people knew about it.
Colet had to adjust at first to Maloi’s energetic nature, but over time she had grown to like it, love it even. And now here they were, together for 9 years.
Maloi had taken it hard when the whole 'watch your words' thing happened, that’s for sure. Colet had reprimanded her a couple of times for using up all her words, but she knew she couldn’t fault her girlfriend. It was her nature after all.
Given the chance, the girl could talk for hours. She loves expressing herself. And she loves connecting with people.
Her soul is pure and full of light. It’s why Colet loves her.
Lunch time came, and Colet lined up at the cafeteria to buy some food. Her phone suddenly buzzed, and she saw it was a message from her girlfriend.
Maloi: Uyab! Tignan mo oh ang cute cute ng pamangkin ko. Sabi ni Ate Aiah and Mikhs na parang pinaglihi daw sakin kase napaka kulit! Okay lang tuturuan ko sya maging OA kahit magiging nonchalant speaker sya by default. Okay yun lang. Happy Lunch ah. I love you my uyab!
Colet: I love you uyab. Ingat ka.
It seemed that messages or any other method of communicating was unaffected, leaving only verbal communication to have a limit. People had utilized it greatly at first, sending messages as much as possible. But at the end of the day, some things are just better said in person.
Colet personally was never the type to enjoy texting all that much. She was very focused as a person, not letting herself become too distracted when she was working on a task or a project. She was organized and efficient that way.
But mostly, she’s always been a woman of few words. She preferred taking action, and the same can be said when it comes to how she loves.
While Maloi shows her love through physical touch and words of affirmation, Colet is more about acts of service and quality time.
She wouldn’t say a lot, but Colet would constantly hang around her girlfriend, wanting to be as near her as possible.
She wouldn’t say a lot, but Maloi will never have to ask for a handkerchief or a bottle of water, because Colet makes sure to have a spare one she can hand over any time.
Colet has always been about what is essential, except when it comes to Maloi, because she is exceptional in her eyes.
As she got to the end of the line, she saw that the bowl that was given to her also came with what looked like the most perfectly looking dinosaur shaped chicken nugget.
She almost started ranting in excitement, celebrating this seemingly small thing. With how dreary the world has been, little moments of excitement like this can really make a day.
She took a photo and giggled, almost considering sending it to her girlfriend. But she doesn’t. She’d rather tell her at home, when they’re together and face to face.
In the afternoon, she’s called to the office for some kind of news. Colet’s nerves skyrocket, thinking that she did something wrong.
She fidgets in front of her managers, waiting for whatever they have to say.
But as it turns out, she did something right, because the next thing she knows, she’s getting a promotion.
“Ano po?!” Colet had shouted, before urgently covering her mouth.
Her bosses had laughed goodnaturedly, before showing her her evaluation document. She couldn’t believe how lucky today was. Colet felt like she was thriving.
She bows repeatedly, signing a “thank you” to her managers, her heart filled with gratitude.
Colet knows she’d love to share this to Maloi when they get home. This promotion cemented to her that she was ready for that next step that she’s been holding onto for so long. With this, she’d be able to start.
She’d finally be able to marry the love of her life.
Colet enters their apartment, a bit of a skip to her step as she thought about how lucky today was for her.
Meeting your idol, finding a perfectly shaped dinosaur chicken nugget, GETTING PROMOTED???
Safe to say it’s been a really good day for her.
But it didn’t stop there because Colet had been able to secure Adele tickets for her and Maloi. They both idolized the woman’s vocal prowess, and hoped to one day get a chance to meet her. Now it seems they were going to be able to watch her tour.
Colet’s patience and determination led to them getting some tickets, and she couldn't be happier to tell her girlfriend the news.
She freshens up before moving to the kitchen to prepare some dinner for them. Maloi is running late, her meetings ongoing still, which gives Colet some time to prepare their food.
Colet thinks of the promotion that she had just been given. The increase was massive, and the extra funds are exactly what she needs to finally propose to her girlfriend, as well as save for the next stages of their lives.
She wonders how Maloi’s day went. She can’t wait to hear all about it as soon as the other girl arrives. While she isn’t much of a talker, talking with Maloi every single day has been the highlight of her everyday life. She loves listening to her girlfriend.
Colet hears the front door open, and she smiles in excitement as she moves around in the kitchen.
“Uyab!” Colet shouts excitedly from the kitchen, her voice a bit strained as she had barely used it all day “I only used fifty-nine words today. The rest I saved for you” she beams.
She was met with only silence, and a few moments later, Colet starts to hear the distinct sound of sniffling. She doesn’t have to see her girlfriend to know that she’s undoubtedly pouting. She sighs, knowing there’s only one reason for this uncharacteristic lack of response.
Maloi had used up all her words again.
Colet turns around to find her girlfriend standing by the kitchen doorway, eyes brimming with tears, an apologetic look in her doe-like eyes. If the moment wasn’t so serious, Colet might have laughed at how adorable she looked, like a child that knows she did something wrong.
But alas, now was not the time to kid around.
Colet doesn’t say anything. She turns off the stove, putting everything she was going to cook back into the fridge. Then she walks up to the other girl, stopping in front of her and caressing her cheek softly. She wipes at the tears that have started to fall, kissing each eyelid, before moving down to peck her nose. Maloi’s face scrunches up adorably, and Colet just laughs softly.
Her eyes then move down, eyes tracing every detail of her girlfriend’s lips, even though she knows she’s memorized it so well that she can see it clearly even with her eyes closed. She swipes her thumb delicately to help stop the quivering of the other girl’s lips, before leaning down to kiss her.
The kiss is soft and gentle, but it tugs at Colet’s insides with the yearning she always feels for her beloved.
She pulls away, breathing deeply, before leading Maloi to the bed, so they could lay down and snuggle.
Colet stays silent, caressing her girlfriend’s hair, humming softly to her.
She makes no mention of the promotion she got today, or the fact that she met one of her favorite songwriters at a coffee shop. She doesn’t talk about the perfectly shaped dinosaur chicken nugget she got from the cafeteria at work, or the fact that she managed to secure a ticket to the Adele concert for her and Maloi.
She doesn’t talk about how great her day is.
Because all that is nothing in comparison to holding her lover like this at the end of the day.
Colet reaches over to play music from her phone. She only has so many words left, but she knows it’s enough for what she needs.
She presses her lips to the crown of Maloi’s hair, and begins singing softly.
When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
The storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love
As she finishes, she can feel Maloi’s breathing slowing down, as she begins to enter the realm of dreams.
She knows that in the morning, Maloi will attempt to apologize for using up all her words again. She’ll be unable to help herself and use 15 of them to tell Colet she loves her five times. She knows Maloi will pout, asking Colet to share about her day via text so that she’s up to speed. Colet knows she will do it, even if she dislikes texting.
Because she’d rather save her words for what matters the most. For who matters most.
As Colet slowly succumbs to sleep, she whispers “I love you” fourteen times, before she loses her voice.