Chapter Text
Ang tanging nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kanyang madilim na kwarto ay ang asul na silaw ng kanyang monitor at ng cellphone. It was past midnight, and the atmosphere felt suffocatingly heavy—thick with the bitter scent of instant coffee, sheer exhaustion, and the kind of isolation that only hits when the rest of the world is asleep. Sandrone stared blankly at her unfinished plate. The lines on the tracing paper were blurring together, her brain completely fried, completely stuck.
She knew she shouldn't do it. Every logical part of her brain—the prideful, stubborn side that usually kept her walls up—was telling her to just put her head down and suffer through the workload alone. But the fatigue was settling deep into her bones, eroding her defenses until she was too tired to maintain her standards tonight. She was lonely, she was frustrated, and she was incredibly weak.
Before she could talk herself out of it, her fingers moved on autopilot.
Sandrone sent a dropped location pin.
No context. No "hi." No explanation. Just the raw, cold coordinates of her new, unfamiliar place. It was their unwritten rule: no small talk, no asking how the other was doing. Just a quiet signal that she was ready to break.
It didn't take long for the screen to light up again.
Columbina: what
Sandrone: are you near me
Columbina: yes nasa bilyaran
Sandrone stared at the reply, her jaw tightening. Of course she was out. While Sandrone was rotting over schoolwork, Columbina was out there enjoying her life. She typed back with a sharp, aggressive tap on the screen.
Sandrone: could u buy me dutchmill strawberry, red bull and berocca
Columbina: kiss muna
Sandrone’s blood boiled instantly, her face flushing in the dark room. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha.
Sandrone: tanginang yan wag na
Sandrone: leche
She was about to lock her phone when the final message popped up, making her chest tighten with a familiar, infuriating heat.
Columbina: jk lang baby, before ako uwi I'll drop by
With a heavy, annoyed huff, Sandrone threw her phone face down on the mattress. She cursed herself under her breath, utterly pissed that she had yielded so easily, that the mere mention of that stupid term of endearment still made her heart do a pathetic little twitch. She rolled her eyes at the dark ceiling, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
She was angry at herself for replying. She was annoyed that she needed her. But as she sat back down in front of her desk, her ears were entirely strained towards the hallway, secretly, desperately waiting for the sound of footfalls outside her door.
Half an hour passed where the only thing that could be heard in the entire room was each of Sandrone's heavy sighs and the soft scratch of her pencil against paper. She was still buried in her work at her desk when, finally, a gentle and familiar knock broke the silence of the night.
She didn't even hesitate. She stood up immediately, pulling herself away from her plate, and quickly headed for the door. But even before she could touch the doorknob, she forced herself to look tough. She wrapped herself in her usual defense—a quick roll of the eyes, a raised eyebrow, and her arms tightly crossed over her chest.
When the door opened, she was met by a cold breeze from outside, along with Columbina's irritating face.
Her hair was messy as if she really had just come from the billiard hall, wearing nothing but a large t-shirt, and carrying a white plastic bag that made a soft rustling sound with her every move.
“Hi,” Columbina greeted cheerfully, as if she had forgotten that they hadn't exactly parted on good terms.
Sandrone didn't answer. She just met her with a grumpy glare, examining every angle of her ex's face while remaining blocked in the doorway. She was incredibly annoyed by the fact that even though she looked stressed and wrecked from schoolwork, Columbina still looked fresh.
When Columbina noticed that she had no intention of speaking, she gently stepped inside, slowly entering the room as if she didn't need a formal invitation. Sandrone's eyes followed her, but she didn't stop her.
Columbina stopped in the middle of the room. She didn’t immediately set the bag down; instead, her eyes began to wander. She looked at the bare, plain walls, the narrow bed pushed into the corner, the unfamiliar layout of the bathroom door, and the lack of clutter that used to define Sandrone's workspace. Everything about the space felt foreign. It didn't smell like the fabric conditioner they used to buy together. It didn't have the warmth of their old place.
The realization hit her like a sudden drop in temperature. This wasn't just a temporary place Sandrone was staying at to finish her schoolwork.
“Ah,” Columbina murmured, her voice dropping its playful edge for a split second as she turned her head back to Sandrone. “Umalis ka na pala sa apartment natin.”
The words “apartment natin” hung heavily in the cramped space.
Sandrone’s defense mechanisms flared up instantly. Hearing Columbina call that place "theirs" made something hot and ugly coil in her stomach. She snapped back, her tone sharp, biting, and calculated to wound.
“Why would I stay there?” Sandrone replied, her voice dripping with ice. She didn’t look away, holding Columbina’s gaze with a cold, nonchalant finality. “Para saan pa?”
Every word was like a swift slap. They were over. Sandrone had truly left her, and the fact that she had quickly packed up all her things from their old life without a word left a deep wound.
Pero si Columbina ito. She was too resilient, too stubborn to let her puppy-like exterior shatter over a single sharp remark.
Before Sandrone could notice the heaviness in her eyes, that wide, seemingly carefree smile reappeared on Columbina's lips. She tilted her head slightly, brushing off the pain as if it were nothing.
“Grabe, sungit. Binilhan na nga ng drinks eh,” Columbina teased, her tone turning warm and cheerful again as she tapped the plastic bag. “O, andito na yung drinks mo. Take a break, Sandy. Baka mas lalo ka lang magmaldita dyan sa ginagawa mo.”
Sandrone forcefully ignored the lingering tension in the air, deliberately shifting her focus toward the plastic bag Columbina had just left on the table. Pinilit niyang huwag tignan ang ex niya habang kinukuha ang dala nitong Red Bull at ang isang pack ng Dutch Mill. Her hands were slightly shaking from a mix of fatigue and unexpressed frustration as she cracked the tab open, the sharp hiss of the carbonation loudly cutting through the quiet room. She took a long, desperate gulp, letting the cold, artificial sweetness shock her system. She needed this. Kailangan niyang magising dahil marami pa siyang kailangang tapusin na plates, at wala siyang oras para magpatalo sa nararamdaman niya.
But the moment she wiped her lips and turned around to grab her Berocca, her jaw instantly tightened.
Columbina had already made herself completely at home. Instead of waiting politely by the door or standing up, she was now sitting comfortably right in Sandrone's workspace chair—the only decent chair in the entire room. She had her legs crossed, leaning back against the headrest like she owned the place, casually looking around at the cluttered drafting tools on the desk.
The irritation inside Sandrone flared up, hot and immediate. She was already drowning in school stress, her head was pounding from lack of sleep, and now Columbina’s presence was making it impossible to focus. Just seeing her sitting there, looking so relaxed and calm, was completely throwing Sandrone off her game. She couldn't think straight with Columbina occupying her space.
Stepping closer, Sandrone glared down at her, her eyes narrowing into a sharp, hostile look.
“Umalis ka na dyan,” Sandrone ordered, her voice laced with pure annoyance. It wasn't a request; it was a demand.
Instead of moving, Columbina just grinned. She looked up at Sandrone, totally amused by the hostility, and leaned back even further into the chair, intertwining her fingers behind her head. “Patingin muna,” she replied playfully, tilting her head toward the unfinished tracing papers on the desk.
Sandrone huffed, letting out a loud, frustrated breath. She was visibly irritated, her face turning a light shade of pink from sheer impatience. Mag-aala-una na ng madaling araw at wala siyang oras para sa mga ganitong laro.
Before Sandrone could even take a step back toward the safety of her bed, she completely lost her chance.
In a split second, Columbina’s arm shot out with effortless speed, catching Sandrone squarely by the waist. Before Sandrone could even process the sudden movement, Columbina yanked her backward, dragging her straight down into her lap.
Sandrone let out a sharp gasp as she hit Columbina’s lap, her back flush against the other girl’s chest. The sudden intimacy was blinding. Without giving her a moment to recover, Columbina buried her face deep into the crook of Sandrone’s neck, hugging her waist tightly, trapping her in a vice grip that left no room for escape.
“I miss you, Sandy,” Columbina whispered against her skin, her breath warm, her voice muffled but incredibly heavy with an honesty that made Sandrone’s heart do a violent flip.
Sandrone’s face flushed a deep, furious crimson, the heat spreading rapidly from her cheeks down to her neck. She struggled weakly, her hands automatically coming up to push at Columbina’s forearms, but it was useless. She was completely cornered, entirely trapped by the weight of Columbina’s grip.
“Para kang tanga kamo,” Sandrone snapped back, but her voice lacked its usual icy bite. It sounded breathless, strained, and pathetically vulnerable. She tried to squirm, trying to pull away from the suffocating warmth of the embrace, but Columbina’s hold was absolute. It was like trying to break through a steel wall.
Then, the atmosphere shifted.
The playful, puppy-like energy that Columbina usually carried around suddenly vanished. In an instant, Columbina’s voice dropped from that teasing tone to something much deeper, warmer, and undeniably commanding.
“Sshh. Manahimik ka na,” Columbina murmured, her voice vibrating right against Sandrone’s skin.
Columbina shifted slightly, tilting her head to press a soft, lingering kiss right along Sandrone’s jawline. Sandrone shivered, her entire body going rigid as Columbina's lips traced the sensitive skin of her neck.
“I missed this,” Columbina whispered, her fingers digging just a little bit firmer into Sandrone’s waist, establishing total control without even trying. “Namiss ko kung paano ka magsungit sa akin. Kung paano ka magalit.”
Sandrone tried to open her mouth to hiss another insult, to tell her to shut up, to call her gago or leche—anything to put her armor back on. But every protest that was supposed to come out of her lips slowly melted away. As Columbina’s thumb began to stroke slow, deliberate circles through the fabric of her shirt, Sandrone’s defense mechanisms completely shattered.
The angry words died in her throat, turning into soft, breathless whimpers instead. She lost her grip on her anger entirely, her hands stopping their weak pushing and instead weakly gripping Columbina’s sleeves for support, completely surrendering to the overwhelming gravity of her ex.
The sensory shift was dizzying. As Columbina shifted her weight, Sandrone found herself pushed backward, pinned against the rigid edge of her desk now. The sudden impact sent a jarring vibration through the wood, causing her metal drafting rulers and technical pens to rattle slightly against each other. The sharp, mechanical sound was a harsh reminder of exactly where they were, and it hit Sandrone's pride like a cold splash of water. A small wave of panic welled up in her chest. She was exposed, surrounded by the remnants of her hard work, and the vulnerability of the position was almost too much to bear.
Desperately trying to find her voice through the haze of her own rapid breathing, she tried to form words, her tone pleading but still visibly strained.
“Columbina... please wag dito sa desk,” Sandrone managed to squeeze out, her fingers tightening frantically against the fabric of Columbina's shirt. She was thinking about the hours she had poured into those tracing papers, the neat ink lines that could easily smudge, and how humiliatingly out in the open she felt right under the harsh glare of her desk lamp.
But Columbina didn't stop. She didn't even slow down. Instead, she just trailed her lips back up to kiss Sandrone’s jaw again, the slight curve of her smirk brushing directly against Sandrone's heated skin as she teased in a low, lazy murmur, “Why not?”
Sandrone gasps, her spine arching slightly as a shiver ran through her. Her hands flew up, abandoning their weak grip on the sleeves to lock around Columbina’s shoulders tighter, anchoring herself as her knees threatened to give out.
“Masisira yung plates ko, gago... please,” she choked out, her pride completely disintegrating. She hated how pathetic she sounded, hated using that word, but the threat of her engineering plates getting ruined combined with the absolute sensory overload of Columbina's hands on her waist left her with no choice but to beg..
Sandrone was completely breathless, her back hitting the sheets as Columbina came down over her, effectively trapping her between the narrow bed and the heavy weight of her presence. The mattress groaned slightly under them, but the sound was instantly swallowed by the loud, uneven rhythm of their breathing.
Even with the desk safely behind them, Sandrone’s pride stubbornly refused to die. Flushed, hyper-aware of how utterly undone she was, she immediately tried to look away, turning her head to the side to stare at the dark wall. She couldn't bear to let Columbina see the sheer desperation written all over her face.
But Columbina wasn't going to let her hide.
With a slow, deliberate movement, Columbina reached up, her thumb and forefinger catching Sandrone’s jaw. It wasn't a painful grip, but it was unyielding—gently but firmly forcing her chin back up to meet her gaze. When Sandrone’s eyes finally drifted back, her breath caught entirely.
The contrast was staggering. The happy-go-lucky, playful puppy who had dropped off her drinks half an hour ago was completely gone. In her place was someone intense, dark, and entirely in charge. Columbina’s eyes held a heavy, commanding weight that pinned Sandrone down more effectively than any physical hold ever could.
“Tingin ka sa 'kin, Sandy, please” Columbina whispered, her voice a low, steady plea that vibrated right through the small space between their lips.
Hearing that tone, Sandrone finally melted. The last bit of tension left her shoulders, her bratty resistance completely draining away under the sheer gravity of Columbina's gaze. Defeated, she let out a soft, shaky exhale and tightly shut her eyes, giving up the fight entirely. She remained completely pliable, letting out weak, helpless hums as Columbina’s hands moved to the hem of her shirt, effortlessly sliding the clothes away into the dark.
Even without her clothes, Sandrone tried her absolute best to keep her walls up. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya habang nakahiga sa gulo-gulong kama, her chest heaving as she glared up at the girl hovering over her. She was determined to be difficult. Kahit na nanginginig na ang buong katawan niya sa lapit ni Columbina, ayaw niyang ibigay dito ang kasiyahan na makitang sunod-sunuran siya.
"Ayaw ko pala," Sandrone hissed, her voice a sharp, irritated rasp as Columbina’s fingers lightly traced the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. "A-ayaw ko nga."
But Columbina didn't even flinch at the harsh words. Instead, she just let out a soft, patient chuckle, handling Sandrone with a mix of immense gentleness and absolute authority. She was setting the pace entirely, refusing to let Sandrone’s attitude ruin her focus.
"Ang sungit naman ng baby ko," Columbina murmured, her voice dripping with warmth as she deliberately leaned down to press a soft kiss right on the heated skin she was just touching. "But you're so beautiful when you're mad. Ang ganda-ganda mo, Sandy."
"Shut up gago," Sandrone snapped back, turning her face away, but her voice cracked on the last syllable.
Columbina knew exactly what Sandrone liked—every single shortcut to making her lose her mind. She deliberately took her time, using her fingers to lightly feather across Sandrone's skin, teasing just enough to make Sandrone’s hidden desperation show, but never giving her enough to satisfy the ache. It was agonizing. Sandrone wanted to command her, wanted to yell at her to just get it over with, but every time she opened her mouth to order Columbina around, her body betrayed her.
"Columbina... d-do it properly," Sandrone tried to demand, her tone trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as a sharp gasp escaped her.
Columbina just smiled down at her, her eyes dark, intense, and completely in control. She didn't speed up. She kept the pace frustratingly slow, catering entirely to Sandrone’s pleasure but strictly under her own terms.
"Ang hirap mo naman paamuhin," Columbina teased soft and low, a helpless but deeply fond sigh leaving her lips as she leaned down to bury her face in Sandrone's neck. "Pero sige lang. I can do this all night."
That was the breaking point. Sandrone weakly clutched at the loose sheets beneath her, her fingernails digging into the fabric before she quickly shifted her grip to lock tightly around Columbina’s shoulders. She buried her face in Columbina's neck, hiding her expression because she couldn't stand how much she was enjoying losing all control.
"Good girl," Columbina whispered praise against her collarbone, her touch suddenly becoming firmer, deeper, delivering exactly what Sandrone’s body was begging for. "Ang sarap mo kapag ganito ka ka-amo, Sandy. Tignan mo, you are so soft."
Hearing those soft praises only made Sandrone feel warmer, weaker, and completely helpless. Her stubborn defenses completely collapsed, and the sharp, biting remarks she usually relied on were entirely reduced to quiet, needy whimpers in the dark room, unable to direct anything anymore as she let Columbina completely have her way.
The room felt suffocatingly hot, the air thick with the sound of Sandrone’s uneven breathing and the quiet friction of their bodies against the mattress. She was entirely at Columbina’s mercy now, her pride hanging by a thread, completely unraveled by the slow, agonizing pace.
Columbina paused for a split second, her hand resting heavily on Sandrone's hip. A small, teasing smirk played on her lips as she looked down at how worked up her ex already was.
“‘Di ko pa nga tinatanggal shorts mo eh, makaungol ka naman dyan,” Columbina whispered, her voice full of playful mischief.
The teasing remark hit Sandrone like a splash of cold water. Ang tindi ng inis na bumalot sa kanya—she was already so vulnerable, and Columbina just had to laugh at her. Her defensive, maldita side flared up immediately, trying to claw its way back through the haze of pleasure.
“Gago ka talaga,” Sandrone snapped, her face burning hot as she tried to shove Columbina’s shoulder away. Nagsungit na naman siya, turning her head back to the wall with a sharp huff. “Umalis ka na nga lang kung aasarin mo lang ako. Nakakabwiset.”
Columbina just chuckled softly, not moving an inch. She loved this part—loved how easily Sandrone got irritated when she was needy. But seeing the glossy, frustrated tears starting to prick at the corners of Sandrone's closed eyes, Columbina finally decided to stop the teasing. The playful puppy look vanished, replaced by that heavy, focused intensity that always made Sandrone’s knees weak.
Marahan niyang hinawakan ang panga ni Sandrone, forcing her to look back up.
“Okay ‘di na, hindi na ako mang-aasar,” Columbina murmured, her voice turning incredibly soft, almost soothing as her thumb stroked Sandrone’s flushed cheek. She leaned down closer, her lips brushing against Sandrone's ear. “Saan mo ba gusto, baby? Saan mo gustong hawakan ko?”
Sandrone choked on a small, frustrated breath, her fingers desperately knotting into the sheets. She hated that she had to say it, hated that Columbina was making her voice her desperation out loud.
“A-alam mo naman kung saan, gago…” Sandrone muttered, her voice trembling, her maldita exterior completely collapsing into a whimper. “Sige na, please,”
“Gusto ko marinig sa ’yo. Sabihin mo sa’kin, Sandy,” Columbina commanded low, her fingers moving down to the waistband of Sandrone's shorts, tugging them down slowly, deliberately. “Saan mo gustong ipasok? Saan kita papasukin?”
“D-dyan… please. Inside po,” Sandrone pleaded, giving up completely. She arched her back into Columbina’s touch, entirely submissive now. “Sige na, Bina… hindi ko na kaya.”
Columbina let out a dark, satisfied hum, finally stripping away the last of Sandrone’s clothes. The shift in energy was immediate as Columbina pinned her legs down, taking absolute charge of the space between them.
“God, I missed this so much,” Columbina whispered, beginning to touch her properly, finding the exact spot that made Sandrone’s eyes roll back. “Tignan mo nga 'yan, nanginginig ka na agad. Dami mo pang sinasabi kanina.”
“A-ahh! Bina, wait—” Sandrone gasped, her voice completely broken as Columbina pushed two fingers inside her with an unyielding, rhythmic pressure. Her hands flew to Columbina’s shoulders, her fingernails digging deep into the skin.
“Tangina, Sandy, wag mo ngang kagatin yung labi mo. Let me hear you.” Columbina murmured, leaning down to trap Sandrone’s lips in a messy, heavy kiss before pulling back to stare straight into her blown-out eyes. She picked up the pace, her thumb grinding hard against Sandrone’s clit, completely ruthless with her pleasure. “Tangina, kabisado pa rin kita. Parang kahapon lang tayo huling ganito. Who’s my good girl? Hmm?”
Sandrone was completely shaking, her mind entirely blank from the overload of sensation. Her identity as the cold, cynical mechanical engineering student was entirely gone; she was just a needy, breaking mess under her ex.
“M-me po…” Sandrone cried out, sobbing into the pillow as she clutched Columbina’s back, her thighs trembling violently around Columbina’s waist.
“Good,” Columbina praised fiercely, her voice thick with genuine satisfaction as she drove her fingers deeper, pushing Sandrone right over the edge. “Gagi, nanginginig ka na talaga. Sige na, baby... Let it go.”
Sandrone’s entire body went rigid for a few breathless seconds, her fingers knotting fiercely into the messy sheets before she completely slumped back into the mattress. The world was spinning, her breath coming out in short, uneven gasps as the adrenaline slowly began to drain, leaving her limbs feeling heavy and completely useless.
Columbina didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, she shifted her weight, settling down closer while keeping one heavy leg hooked over Sandrone's waist, refusing to let go of the proximity just yet. She leaned over, her messy hair brushing against Sandrone's cheek as she buried her face back into the crook of her neck.
“Good job, Sandy,” Columbina murmured, her voice dropping into a soft, breathless praise that felt incredibly intimate.
She pressed a slow, lingering kiss right against the pulsing vein on Sandrone’s neck. Sandrone’s eyes shut tight, the darkness behind her eyelids a welcome relief from the blinding glare of the desk lamp across the room. But Columbina wasn't done showing affection. With a slow, lazy tenderness that completely contradicted how ruthless she had been just seconds ago, she began tracing her way up.
Columbina’s lips pressed another warm kiss to the side of Sandrone's neck, then another on the sensitive corner of her jaw, her voice a continuous, low murmur against her skin. “Ang galing ng baby ko... Sobrang sarap mo talaga.”
She kept kissing her way up, moving to the soft skin beneath her ear, whispering endless, quiet praises that made Sandrone’s chest tighten with a familiar, terrifying warmth. Sandrone couldn’t even find the strength to give a sarcastic comeback or push her away. She just lay there with her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly, completely helpless as Columbina showered her in a sweetness she had no defense against.
The exact second the adrenaline faded and their breathing began to slow down to a normal rhythm, the shift in the room was instant. All that heavy, suffocating warmth from moments ago suddenly felt suffocating in a completely different way. The physical proximity—the sticky friction of their skin, the tangled sheets, the sound of Columbina’s heartbeat right against her ear—suddenly felt way too loud.
Sandrone’s armor snapped right back into place.
Without saying a single word, she immediately untangled herself from Columbina’s hold. She rolled over to the very edge of the narrow bed, turning her back completely to her ex. Her face went entirely blank and nonchalant again, the soft, vulnerable whimpers from earlier thoroughly locked away behind a familiar wall of icy detachment.
She reached out, grabbing her phone from the nightstand. The harsh, artificial blue light immediately illuminated her face as she unlocked the screen, instantly burying her post-orgasm vulnerability behind a mindless wall of scrolling through text messages and notifications, acting as if nothing had happened at all.
“Uwi ka na, late na,” Sandrone muttered coldly, her eyes never leaving her phone screen. Her tone was sharp and dismissive, a total 180 from the girl who was begging in this exact bed just minutes ago.
Columbina didn't get offended. She was used to this; it was part of their dance.
Instead of backing away or getting hurt, Columbina just shifted on the mattress, propping her head up with her hand as she leaned on her elbow. Her messy hair fell loosely over her face, but it couldn't hide the soft, satisfied grin stretching across her lips. She looked entirely happy-go-lucky, completely unfazed by the sudden icy silence or the blunt rejection.
She reached out with her free hand, lightly tracing the small of Sandrone’s exposed back with her fingertips. “Can I stay here?” Columbina asked, her voice cheerful, warm, and entirely cozy.
Sandrone didn't flinch away from the touch, but she didn't look back either. She just let out a quiet, defeated sigh, her thumb continuing to swipe down on her phone screen.
“Okay, wag ka lang maingay,” Sandrone replied, her voice back to its usual masungit murmur.
Columbina just hummed happily in response, shifting closer to wrap her arms around Sandrone’s waist from behind like a giant, content puppy, completely comfortable with the fact that the cycle was set to repeat all over again.