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The glow of Maia’s laptop screen illuminates her face, casting dancing shadows across the small New York apartment. Rain streaks down the window, mirroring the melancholy mood clinging to her like a damp blanket. It's her birthday, and she’s officially another year older, a milestone she’s experiencing thousands of miles away from home.
For months, she has been living her dream—a photography project documenting the vibrant street art scene of New York City. The work is challenging, exhilarating, and creatively fulfilling, but the distance... the distance is a heavy weight. She misses the familiar chaos of their family dinners back home, the comforting warmth of the Manila sun, and most of all, Cassiopeia. Phone calls were scheduled across brutal time zones, video chats were prone to lag and dropped connections, and hugs were non-existent.
All day, notifications had pinged on Maia’s phone. Happy birthday wishes from family group chats flooded Messenger. Cousins and friends back home posted embarrassing photos on Facebook, coupled with heartfelt messages. She smiled, a pang of homesickness hitting her hard. She appreciated all the love, she really does, but there’s one message she has been desperately waiting for, one that hasn't arrived.
It's almost midnight.
She closed her laptop with a sigh, the unanswered question hanging in the air: Bakit hindi nagpaparamdam si Cassi? It has been a week!
Maia paced the length of the living room, a path worn smooth by weeks of solitary confinement disguised as a temporary assignment. The apartment, usually a bright, if somewhat cluttered, space filled with camera equipment and scattered prints, felt muted. The vibrant colors of Maia’s latest project lay ignored on a table.
She promised herself that she wouldn't overthink it. Cassiopeia is probably just busy. Maybe her phone died? Maybe she was planning a surprise? But as the hours bled into evening, and evening into late night, the knot tightened, cold turning to ice. A seed of doubt has already taken root, whispering insidious possibilities. Has the distance been too much? Has she met someone else? Has the spark… faded?
She called her best friend, Ami, back in Manila. The phone rings a few times before she answers, "Maia? Late na diyan hindi ba? Are you okay?"
"Birthday ko pero…," she uttered, the words coming out in a small, choked voice. "Hindi pa din nagpaparamdam si Cassi.”
Ami is instantly alert. "What? That's not like her. Sinubukan mo bang tawagan or i-message?"
“Oo pero hindi siya sumasagot. Hindi na niya siguro ako mahal kaya hindi na niya ako kinakausap no? Kahit nung mga nakaraang video calls namin parang distracted siya and ang lamig niya sa akin.”
She explained her fears, her anxieties, the feeling that the distance is slowly eroding their relationship. Ami listened patiently, offering words of comfort and reassurance. "Huwag ka munang mag jump to conclusions, Mai," she reassured, "Maybe her phone died, or maybe she's planning something big. Alam mo naman kung paano yun lalo na pag special day mo."
Ami's words helped a little, but the worry still lingers. The call ends with promises to video chat later, but the knot in her stomach remains.
The minutes tick by with agonizing slowness. Each chime from her phone sends a jolt of anticipation through her, only to be followed by disappointment.
11:55 PM.
11:56 PM.
11:57 PM.
Hope dwindles with each passing second. She resigned herself to a lonely birthday, a silent testament to the growing chasm between her and Cassiopeia. Maybe this is it. Maybe this is how long-distance relationships end – not with a bang, but with a whimper.
At 11:58 PM, just as she was about to switch off the lights and crawl into bed, defeated, a knock echoed through the apartment.
Maia's heart leaps into her throat. Sino naman ang bibisita ng ganito ka-late? She cautiously approached the door, peering through the peephole.
Her breath catches in her throat. Standing there, illuminated by the dim hallway light, is Cassiopeia, with her shoulder bag and a large suitcase leaning precariously behind her.
Her girlfriend looks… exhausted. Her hair is slightly disheveled, her clothes are wrinkled, and there are dark circles under her eyes that were tired, yes, but also sparkling with... what was that? Relief? Affection? And the smile on her face… that smile is the most beautiful thing the ginger-haired girl has ever seen.
Maia just stared, mouth slightly agape, tears brimming in her eyes. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't another result of her over-dramatic imagination running wild. Cassiopeia was standing on the other side of their door. In New York.
Cassiopeia leaned against the doorframe, taking a large, gasping breath. Their chest rose and fell rapidly. They looked utterly exhausted, like they’d run a marathon, or perhaps flown across the world on a whim.
They glanced past Maia into the apartment, then back at Maia’s stunned, tear-stained face. A slow, tired grin spread across Cassiopeia's lips.
"Made it," Cassiopeia panted, pushing a stray strand of hair off their forehead. "With two minutes to spare."
They straightened up, their tired eyes softening as they looked properly at Maia. The grin widened, warmer this time, reaching their eyes.
"Happy birthday, sinta."
The words, simple and heartfelt, shattered the fragile dam of Maia’s composure. Anything resembling dignity evaporated. A strangled sob escaped Maia’s throat, this one not of sadness, but of overwhelming shock, relief, and pure, unadulterated joy.
"Sinta?" Maia whispered, not quite believing it was real. Her hands came up to cover her mouth, trembling.
"Hi," Cassiopeia said softly, taking a small step forward. "It’s me."
Maia didn't hesitate. She practically lunged forward, throwing her arms around Cassi, burying her face in the slightly rough fabric of the brunette’s travel clothes. The scent of her girlfriend – familiar, comforting, tinged with airport and airplane – filled Maia’s senses. It was real. She was real. Here.
Cassiopeia stumbled back slightly under the force of the embrace, dropping her shoulder bag, but her arms came up instantly to hold Maia tight. She squeezed hard, murmuring comforting sounds into Maia’s hair.
"Hey, hey," Cassiopeia whispered, swaying slightly with Maia clinging to them. "It's okay. Nandito na ako. Pasensya ka na medyo natagalan, pero nandito na ako."
Maia just held on, sobbing into Cassiopeia’s shoulder. All the fear, the loneliness, the dramatic despair of the day melted away, replaced by a flood of love and sheer, impossible relief. The universe, it seemed, wasn't ending after all.
After several long moments, Maia finally pulled back, still keeping a death grip on her girlfriend’s arms. The smaller girl's eyes were red, her nose running a little, but her face was now alighted with a joyous, disbelieving wonder.
"You're... you're here?" Maia stammered, voice thick with emotion. "In New York? Cassi, bakit... paano...?"
Cassiopeia chuckled softly, the sound raspy with fatigue. "Surprise?"
Maia stared at the taller girl, then at the suitcase behind her, then back at Cassiopeia's exhausted face. The pieces clicked into place. The silence. The lack of messages. It wasn't forgetting. It was this. This impossible, wonderful, utterly Cassiopeia-esque gesture.
“You... you traveled all the way here?” Maia asked, tears welling up again, but happy ones this time. "Para sa birthday ko?"
"Hindi ata ako papayag na ma-miss ito no!” Cassiopeia said, their quirky grin back in full force. "I don’t think enough ang video call this time."
Maia let out a half-sob, half-laugh. "Akala ko... akala ko nakalimutan mo na ako! Akala ko... ang layo kasi..."
"Oh, Maia." Cassiopeia gently cupped Maia's tear-streaked face in their hands. Their thumbs wiped away a tear. "Never. Never, ever." Their eyes, tired as they were, conveyed a depth of reassurance that silenced all of Maia’s fears. "Gagawin ko ang lahat para sayo. HR logistics have nothing on international travel secrets."
Maia leaned into the touch, the rough calluses on Cassiopeia's hands a comforting contrast to their soft skin. "Pero... paanong?"
Cassiopeia sighed, a sound of utter weariness. "Took some juggling. Ginamit ko yung naipon kong vacation leave, pulled a few strings. My boss thinks na I'm on a silent retreat. Had to make sure na you didn't suspect anything, which meant radio silence for the last couple of days. Hardest part, honestly."
Maia's lower lip trembled. "Mas mahirap pa sa seventeen-hour flight?"
Cassiopeia grinned. "Almost. Mahirap nga lang na makita yung cute worried face mo sa soc med updates mo. It was killing me! Grabe pagpigil ko na mag-message na sayo."
Maia swatted lightly at Cassiopeia's arm, a watery smile finally breaking through. "Ugh, nakakainis ka! I was worried sick. Akala ko pinagpalit mo na ako no, muntik na ako magplano ng dramatic exile kasama mga camera ko.”
"Sabi na the drama levels would be peaking eh," Cassiopeia chuckled, pulling Maia back into a gentler hug. This time, Maia sank into it fully, breathing deeply. This was home. This was the anchor they hadn't realized they were drifting away from.
"Pumasok ka na nga, kulit," Maia mumbled into Cassiopeia’s shoulder, a wealth of affection and disbelief in their voice. "I’m sure pagod ka."
Cassiopeia finally released Maia, stepping back just enough to grab the suitcase. "Konti lang," she muttered, her voice heavy with fatigue. She dragged the suitcase across the threshold into the apartment. It scraped slightly on the floor, an ordinary sound that felt profoundly significant in the quiet space.
Maia closed the door behind them, leaning against it for a moment, just watching her girlfriend standing there, suitcase in hand, in the middle of her New York living room. It was surreal. It was the most beautiful birthday gift imaginable.
"So," Cassiopeia said, dropping the suitcase with a thud that echoed gloriously. They rubbed their tired eyes. "Got any of that fancy New York coffee? Or late na ba?"
Maia rushed forward, grabbing Cassiopeia's hand. "I have everything you need. A shower, coffee, food, a bed... and me. I have me."
Cassiopeia’s tired smile widened, reaching those kind, familiar eyes. "You is good. You is definitely good." They squeezed Maia's hand. "Happy birthday ulit, sinta ko. Sorry, I was late."
"You weren't late," Maia said, their voice thick with emotion again. "You were perfectly on time."
They led Cassiopeia further into the apartment, leaving the suitcase by the door for now. The apartment suddenly felt less lonely. With Cassiopeia’s presence filling the space, it felt, for the first time in months, a little bit like home. And Maia knew, with absolute certainty, that no matter the distance, no matter the time difference, their heart was exactly where it needed to be.