Sids reclined on the soft grass under the large acacia tree, his arm casually covering his eyes. The breeze was light that day, making the leaves rustle like a gentle tune that only he could hear. Sunlight peeked through the branches in patches, creating moving shadows on his face.

He took a deep breath. So peaceful. A rare feeling.

Until—

“I’ve found you,” called a voice he recognized.

He shifted his arm and squinted against the light.

There, slightly bent over him, was Epoy, his hair messy from the wind, holding a sketchbook with a moon design on the cover close to him. He looked down and smiled.

Sids blinked, surprised for a moment—then returned the smile.

“You always manage to find me,” he said, his voice soft but warm.

Epoy sat down next to him on the grass, their knees almost touching, the sketchbook resting on his lap. They remained quiet for a while, watching birds fly through the sky like gentle arrows.

“They seem so free, don’t they? ” Epoy said softly, his eyes following the birds above.

“Yeah. ” Sids followed his gaze. “It’s like they have no other place to go but wherever the breeze takes them. ”

“And the wind today… it feels just right. ” Epoy leaned back on his hands, letting the wind mess up his hair even more.

Sids observed him then.

Truly observed.

The way his eyelashes danced when he closed his eyes. The slight curve of his lips as they turned up a bit. How completely relaxed he appeared—almost like he was part of the sky.

At that moment, Sids didn’t want to look away.

He didn’t attempt to.

Epoy turned to him while talking and stopped when he noticed how Sids was gazing at him.

“What’s up? ” he chuckled lightly, a bit shy.

Sids blinked. “Oh, nothing. You just look… radiant or something. ”

Epoy blushed and glanced away, but the smile remained on his face.

—

As they sat together in that moment of tranquility, a memory surfaced in Sids’ mind.

The Balete tree.

The one located at the center of the school, tucked away behind the old auditorium where hardly anyone went. Some said it was sacred. Others murmured that it wasn’t. Regardless, Sids had always felt something special when passing it. Like it was keeping a secret just for him. Like something—or someone—was waiting.

He hesitated.

But something in his heart urged him: Take him there.

So, he did.

—

The afternoon sun had begun to lower as they arrived at the tree.

It was enormous—roots thick and twisted like sleeping snakes, trunk so wide that five people couldn’t span it. Vines hung from its branches like tattered curtains, and the air around it felt. . . still.

Not dead. Not frightening.

Just… waiting.

Epoy stepped forward, instinctively holding onto his sketchbook more tightly.

Sids stood next to him. “Do you feel that? ”

Epoy nodded. “It’s like the air feels heavier. But also… comforting. ”

They walked around the tree slowly, examining every carved line and every knot in the bark. At one point, Epoy reached out and touched the tree.

And something changed.

A feeling connected them—not in a physical way, but it was very real. It was like a string stretched tightly between their hearts.

Sids took a deep breath.

Epoy moved back, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Did you feel that too? " he quietly asked.

Sids nodded. "Yes. "

For a while, they both stayed silent. The birds had vanished. Even the air was still.

Then, the wind started again, but this time it felt different—like a gentle touch against their skin.

Epoy looked at Sids, his eyes searching for answers. "What does this mean? "

Sids gulped. "I’m not sure yet. But. . . I believe we're meant to discover it. "

And the tree stood behind them—old and quiet.

Waiting.