My name is Jane, and I truly dislike men. As my mom always says, they’re all about looks. The moment they see a beautiful or sexy girl, they start courting her right away and once they get what they want, they leave. Just like that. They use you, and when you’re no longer useful, they throw you away like trash.

“Girl,” Bell said my friend since I transferred to this school. She’s pretty and kind, though completely foolish when it comes to love. She gently bumped into me. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I didn’t know I’d find you here.”

I only smiled faintly.

“A book again… sigh, your life is really boring,” she added, holding the book. “Why don’t you try coloring this instead?”

Suddenly, the girls erupted into chaos screaming and running toward the front of the stage.

I covered my ears; the noise was unbearable.

I looked at Bell, trying to figure out what everyone was so excited about. When she turned, she saw four boys standing on the stage.

“Ow!” she said, tapping my arm.

“Look, Jane! They’re so handsome!” Bell exclaimed, almost unable to believe what she was seeing.

I didn’t even bother to look. I walked away staying there any longer would only hurt my ears.

I headed to the canteen and bought a sandwich and a cold chocolate drink. After that, I sat at a table by the side and began reading my book. It felt as if a quiet bubble formed around me. From time to time, I could still hear laughter and screams from the stage, but I tried my best to focus. Little by little, I sank into the story, forgetting the noise and chaos of the campus.

When I finished reading, I stood up and prepared to leave. But in an unexpected moment, I accidentally spilled my drink onto the cup of a boy sitting at a nearby table.

“Oh sorry!” I said quickly as I grabbed the glass.

Instead of getting angry, he simply smiled. He was fair-skinned, with a Korean-like face and style. His hair was neat, clearly styled with effort, yet it still looked natural. His smile was handsome and cute, and there was an air of kindness about him.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” he said, still smiling.

Not wanting any unnecessary drama, I decided to walk away, even though a small spark of curiosity lingered about who he was.

I headed toward the library, but I noticed that students were still buzzing about the popular boys on the stage, and new waves of noise were beginning to rise across the campus.

After class, Mom called and hurried me to come straight home. I didn’t know why, so I quickly grabbed my bag and rushed out of my room.

But, unexpectedly, I bumped into the same guy I had collided with in the canteen.

“Oh sorry!” I said quickly, continuing to walk.

“Ohh, you again,” he said, a smile on his face. I didn’t answer him because I was in too much of a hurry. He just smiled, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and quietly walked off in the opposite direction.

I continued on my way home. I quickly crossed the streets of the campus, passed by the small shops and stalls on the side, until I finally reached the gate of our house. I took a deep breath and reached for the door, leaving behind the chaos of campus.

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I really hadn’t expected the scene before me.

“SURPRISE!” Mom and Aunt shouted, and there was Joe my younger brother, whom I hadn’t seen in seven years.

I immediately hugged Joe, barely able to believe it. It all felt like a dream. It was as if I had been waiting for this moment for so long, and now, here he was, right in front of me. I felt the warmth of his hug, the sound of his laughter, and the simple joy I had missed for so long.

“Jane… it’s been so long since we last saw each other,” he said, his voice slightly trembling.

I couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears streamed down my face as I hugged him tighter.

“Joe… I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered.

Mom and Aunt smiled, clearly happy at our reunion. It was as if the entire house was suddenly filled with light and laughter, and the sadness of the past days vanished, even if just for a while.

Inside the house, laughter echoed in every corner. Mom and Aunt busied themselves with preparing food, while Joe kept retelling stories of his past seven years.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his stories, especially how amazed he was at the simplest things around the house from the old sofa to the tiny potted plant by the window. The kitchen filled with the aroma of our favorite dishes, and the clinking of plates and cutlery sounded like music, making everyone’s hearts lighter.

“Mom, your adobo is amazing!” Joe said, clearly enjoying it.

“You already know that, my son,” Mom replied, laughing.

I sat beside them, smiling as I watched. Each laugh, each burst of joy seemed to warm my heart, temporarily washing away all the exhaustion and stress from school and campus life.

The next morning, I was the first to wake up in the house. It was only three in the morning, and everything was quiet. The cool air outside danced lightly with the moonlight streaming through the window.

I slowly fixed my hair and dressed in a simple outfit for the kitchen. Then, I began preparing breakfast. I opened the fridge and took out some ingredients: eggs, bread, and milk. As I heated the pan, I chopped some vegetables and started cooking an omelette the aroma quickly filling the house. Nearby, I warmed the milk and toasted the bread until it turned golden brown.

While cooking, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath and momentarily relax in the morning silence. The quiet and the simple tasks I performed gave me a sense of calm I rarely felt.

Once everything was ready, I set the plates on the table, ready for Mom, Aunt, and Joe to wake up.

When Mama, Aunt, and Joe woke up, they immediately went down to the kitchen and instantly noticed that everything was already set on the table.

There were plates of sautéed vegetables and eggs, golden-brown toast next to steaming hot milk, and a small bowl of fruit for each of us. The aroma of the food I’d prepared filled the kitchen, and I could

see the surprise and delight in their eyes.

“Jane, you did so well!” Mama said, admiring the neatly arranged dishes.

“Really! It smells amazing!” Aunt added, smiling.

Joe immediately ran to his plate and began eating, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “Thanks, Ate Jane! I’m so happy!”

While we were eating, I noticed a piece of Joe’s toast had fallen off his plate. He quickly picked it up, examining it in his hand with a laugh.

“Ate Jane, look! It’s like a tiny spaceship!” he joked, spinning the toast around. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Really? Looks like it’s ready for your space mission,” I replied, smiling.

Mama and Aunt also smiled at our little joke, and the kitchen was filled with laughter.

Afterward, Joe came over and suddenly hugged me. “Thank you, Ate Jane. Your breakfast is amazing! I’m so happy you’re here.”

I smiled and held

his hand. “Me too, Joe. I’m really happy to be with you.”

After we finished eating, Aunt and Joe got dressed for their outing. As they were getting ready, I couldn’t help but feel the pangs of missing my brother again.

Before they left, I hugged Joe tightly.

“I missed you so much, Joe,” I whispered, feeling the warmth of his body in the embrace.

He smiled at me and pulled a small pouch out of his pocket. “Ate Jane… I made this for you,” he said, handing me a tiny bracelet he’d crafted himself. Simple, yet every detail carried his effort and love it had my name engraved inside, along with a few tiny charms he knew I liked.

Tears of joy welled up in my eyes.

“Joe… this is amazing! Thank you!” I said, reaching out to touch his cheek.

“Promise me, Ate… even if I’m far away sometimes, you’ll always wear this bracelet. So you’ll always remember me,” he added, smiling.

I couldn’t help but hug him again before they left. With just a simple hug and a small bracelet, I felt the bond between us a memory of love, though I didn’t know when we would meet again.

Jeo waved before he got into the white van. Aunt smiled softly and said goodbye, closing the van door and watching it drive away. I clutched the bracelet he had given me, my fingers trembling, and tears streamed down my face. I missed my brother so much again that I couldn’t stop crying.

Mom came over, wrapping her arms around me. “I know, Dear… I know you miss him,” she whispered, stroking my hair gently. Her warmth made the ache in my chest a little easier to bear, but I still couldn’t let go of the bracelet, the small metal circle now heavy with all my longing.