In our latest series, #SimpolQuicks: Why you? we explore the unique qualities and insights that set individuals apart.
This series captures the subtle flavors of emotion and memory—stories that simmer in the background of daily life and stay with you, like the scent of garlic on your fingertips.
I wonder why it’s always you.
I’ve been trying my best to keep my distance, to build some kind of invisible barrier between us. But no matter what I do, I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s the little things—your smile, the way you talk, how your eyes dart when you’re thinking, the softness of your hair, and yes, even your nose. Especially your nose.
It didn’t hit me all at once. Feelings, I’ve learned, are quiet passengers. They sneak in, settle, and only announce themselves when the space you used to fill suddenly feels too quiet. It was during a long drive home along Katipunan, windows slightly down, the air thick with early evening stillness—that’s when I knew. I kept asking myself: Why you? It could’ve been anyone. But somehow, it’s you. It’s always you.
Every time you walk into the café near campus or take the seat across from me in our org meetings, I feel my nerves fray a little. But it’s a sweet sort of unraveling. You calm me down just by being there. And I’ve noticed my moods shift with yours—when you say you’re stressed, I find myself silently rooting for you, offering you the better part of my baon without saying why.
Whenever I see something funny, a post, or even a quick TikTok that reminds me of your laugh, you’re the first person I want to send it to. Even when the room is noisy—espresso machines hissing, tambay voices carrying—I hear only your voice when you speak. And when I’m with you, it’s easy to be real. To drop the filters.
I’ve wanted to say something. To love you in daylight, not just in these imagined conversations. But I get scared. What if you don’t feel the same? You rarely initiate, but when I message you first, your replies are fast, thoughtful—like you’ve been waiting. Are you shy, too? Or is your heart already elsewhere?
You probably don’t know this, but you inspire me. You’re the reason I’m trying harder in school. You carry yourself with this quiet confidence—sharp, kind, hilarious without trying. You’re the kind of woman people remember even after she’s left the room.
Maybe that’s why I love you.
Editor’s Note:
This story reflects a love that thrives in the ordinary—in group chats, coffee runs, car rides, and the shared weight of unspoken feelings. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the most profound connections are the ones we’re still gathering the courage to name.
