I just arrived at Cebu Pier Tres. The salty breeze hit me as I stepped off the ferry, my suitcase dragging behind me. Cebu Pier. College is starting soon, and for the first time, I have to live on my own—my first real step into independence.
Exciting? Yes. Terrifying? Absolutely.
Being away from my family feels strange, but what's even harder is finding a place to stay. I need to save money since my family isn't well off.
I came to Cebu for a good education, and the University of San Carlos was the best school for my course. No wonder the tuition fees were so jaw-dropping! Thankfully, I got a scholarship, so at least my parents wouldn't have to sell a kidney to afford it.
I clutched my phone, scrolling through my messages for any updates on an apartment. But still, no luck.
📌 Landlord 1: "Sorry, fully booked."
📌 Landlord 2: "Strict curfew. No visitors allowed."
📌 Landlord 3: "16k per month, excluding water and electricity."
SIXTEEN THOUSAND?! Who did they think I was—a CEO?!
I groaned and stuffed my phone back into my pocket. Great. So now I was homeless.
I had searched everywhere—Facebook, Google, even asked around—but every decent apartment was either:
1. Too expensive
2. Fully occupied
3. Run by a landlord stricter than a military general
This city was not built for broke college students like me. I inhaled deeply, reminding myself why I was here.
Education. A good future. A better life.
As I looked around, taking in the sight of the busy city, my thoughts drifted to my biggest concern—food. Back home, I had my mom's delicious home-cooked meals. But here? I already knew it would be a cycle of instant noodles, canned goods, eggs, fast food, and whatever the nearest roadside eatery had to offer made my stomach growl.
My phone suddenly rang, and it was my father calling.
"Hello? Sweetie, have you arrived?"
"Papa! I just got here at the pier, but I'm scared... What if I mess up? What if I do something that will completely ruin my dignity?" I whined, nervously biting my nails.
"Oh, come on! What dignity? You don't even fold your own clothes properly!"
"Papa, I'm serious! I have to live on my own now! What if I starve? What if I forget to do my laundry and end up smelling like a fish market? What if—"
"Sweetheart, calm down! Breathe! You sound like you're about to explode."
"Ugh! This is so hard! I have to think about rent, food, school—everything! What if I fail?"
"First of all, you won't starve. I'll make sure you have enough money for food—just don't spend it all on milk tea and fast food, okay? Second, don't forget to do your laundry, or else people will think you're a walking fish sauce factory."
"Papa!"
"Listen, sweetheart. Living alone is tough at first, but you'll figure it out. Just focus on your studies and don't get distracted by nonsense. I sent you there to learn, not to find a boyfriend, okay?"
"Wow. That escalated fast."
"I'm just making sure! And sweetheart, call me often, okay? Even if it's just to complain about your burnt rice or missing socks."
"I don't even know how to cook rice yet..."
"Exactly. That's why I'm worried."
"Ugh! Fine, I'll call you. Just don't cry when you miss me too much!"
"Me? Cry? Please. You'll be the one crying in a week when you start missing home-cooked meals."
"I hate that you're right."
"Of course, I'm always right. Now go find a place to stay before you start panicking again."
"Alright, Papa. Bye! And tell Mom I miss her—I know she's busy right now."
"Bye, sweetheart. I'll tell her. Take care, okay? And remember—don't let your laundry pile up!"
I sighed, already missing my dad's jokes and the way he always found a way to make me laugh—even while teasing me.
I hanged up my phone and texted my friends.
📌Trio Bombayugh (group chat)
📩Me: Guys, I just arrived in Cebu!
📩Xia: Wow, you're a big city girl now! Don't get lost, okay?
📩Zam: Be careful! I heard some old apartments there are haunted. You might end up sharing a room with an extra tenant asking for justice.
📩Me: WHAT?! Zam, shut up! I'm already nervous as it is!
📩Xia: It's true! I had a friend who rented an apartment. Every night, someone knocked on their door… but when they checked, no one was there.
📩Me: STOP. I'M GOING BACK HOME.
📩Xia: Hahaha, you're so easy to scare! Anyway, good luck finding an apartment! Don't pick one that's too cheap… the rent might include water, electricity, and a restless soul as part of the package!
📩Me: I hate you both.
I couldn't stay with my friends since their apartments were too far from USC. Even though we were in the same city, Cebu was huge—and we probably wouldn't even see each other that much.
Which meant… I was on my own.
So I called Xia for advice.
"Post in a Facebook group, duh! Or maybe someone's looking for a roommate. Don't just scroll and lurk—do something! You're such a baby," she answered in an icky voice. I can imagine her eyes rolling right now.
I rolled my eyes, but she had a point. Step one of living independently: don't be shy.
"Go, girl! You won't end up homeless today. Just trust the process!"
"Trust the process," I muttered. Right. Easy for her to say—she wasn't about to sleep at the pier tonight.
But I had no choice.
So, with a deep breath, I opened Facebook, typed out my desperate plea for an apartment, and hit Post. Fingers crossed.
📌 Facebook Post:
"Hello everyone! I just arrived in Cebu and can't find an apartment. I have nowhere to stay for the night since I'm new here. If anyone is looking for a roommate or knows of an available place near USC, please let me know! I'm willing to share the rent!"
A few minutes later, my phone lit up with a message.
📩 New Message:
📩Anonymous: Hey! You can share with me since I'm alone in my apartment and looking for someone to split the rent.
Oh, thank God!
📩Me: Oh, okay! How much is the share?📩Anonymous: 10,000 pesos? Is that okay? Water and electricity are already included—no extra bills!
📩Me: 10,000?! 😭
But I really needed a place to stay.
📩Me: Wait, I'll ask my parents first if they agree.
📩Anonymous: Okay, I'll wait!
I quickly called my dad.
"Hello, sweetheart! What's the update?"
"Papa, I found an apartment… but it's expensive. 10,000 pesos per month!"
"10,000?! Sweetheart, is that an apartment or does it come with land?"
"Papa, water and electricity are included!"
"Ahh, I see. Alright, that's fine. Losing you would cost me more than that."
I laughed. "Papa, you're so dramatic."
"Just make sure you're safe, okay? I'll tell your mom about it later"
"Yes, Papa. Thank you, love you!"
"Love you too. And don't spend all my money on milk tea, okay?"
I hung up and quickly replied to my soon-to-be roommate.
📩 Me: "Okay, deal! I'll move my things later. Is that okay with you? I have no place to stay for the night since I'm new here. I'll sort everything out when I arrive. Just send me the address!"
📩 Anonymous: Sure! See you later!
With that settled, I stepped off the pier, dragging my suitcase behind me.
Car horns screamed from all directions, people rushed past in waves, and everything moved at a speed that made my head spin.
Then I took a deep breath. Great. That was one problem solved.
But when I stepped outside the pier's gates, a new problem hit me like a truck.
Where the heck do I get a taxi?!
📌 Trio Bombayugh (Group Chat)
📩 Me: Guys, how do I get a taxi here?
📩 Xia: Girl, just wave your hand! You're not in a remote province anymore!
📩 Anna: Or use Grab if you have money. But if you don't, start praying.
📩 Zam: Or just ride a jeep! That's how you experience the real Cebu!
📩 Me: I don't even know how to ride a jeep!
📩 Xia: Then good luck, sis. Hope you don't end up in the river floating.
I stared at my screen. Are these even my friends?!
Absolutely zero helpful advice. Ugh. I sighed and stuffed my phone into my pocket. No choice—I had to figure this out.
I followed the flow of people along the railing, dragging my suitcase over every uneven crack in the pavement. My eyes darted around, looking for taxis.
Then, just as I reached the sidewalk, it happened.
"Miss! Miss! Need a ride?"
Before I could react, three men who were suspiciously enthusiastic and very much in my personal space closed in around me.
One guy, wearing an old cap and a toothy grin,
"Where are you going, miss? Come on, miss! I'll carry your stuff!"
Another guy, sweaty and way too close, pointed at a van parked nearby.
"Taxi? Come here I'll take you to a taxi!"
They wouldn't stop. I tried to ignore them, but they just kept pushing like I had no choice. I barely took two steps before someone suddenly grabbed my bag.
"Kuya, I can handle it!" I protested, gripping it tighter.
"I got this, miss. I'll take you to a taxi!"
Before I could even process what was happening, the guy was already walking ahead with my bag! I had no choice but to follow him. He led me to a taxi, put my things inside, and then turned to me with his hand out.
"Alright, miss. Just for coffee."
I blinked. Wait… what? I thought he was just being kind
"Uh… how much, kuya?" I asked hesitantly.
"Well… just 1K."
1K?! I almost choked. Was he serious? But the way he stood there, waiting expectantly, told me he wasn't joking.
I hesitated, but in the end, I gave him the money. Damn, that was expensive! But I was too tired to argue.
As soon as he left, I flopped into the taxi and grabbed my phone.
📌 Trio Bombayugh (Group Chat)
📩Me: Guys. I think I just got Scammed.
📩Xia: Wait, what happened??
📩Me: Someone "helped" me find a taxi… then he asked for 1K. Is that normal?
📩Zam: GIRL, WHAT—NO WAY!!!
📩Me: I wanna cry. You guys didn't warn me
📩Xia: LMAO I forgot, well welcome to Cebu! Consider it your initiation fee.
I feel bad for my parents. With a deep sigh, I messaged my dad.
📩Me: Dad… I think I got scammed.
📩Dad: What happened?
📩Me: A guy helped me get a taxi, then asked me for 1K.
📩Dad: Oh my, child. That's part of living independently. Expensive lesson, huh?
📩Me: DAD, MY WALLET HURTS.
📩Dad: It's okay, I'll pay you back. Next time, don't just give away money, okay?
📩Me: I promise, never again.
After that, I slumped against the seat, exhausted. The taxi ride would be three hours long. And my brain refused to relax.
I glanced at the driver. What if he was part of the scam?
I checked the door handle. What if the lock didn't work?
I stared at the road. What if he suddenly turned down a dark alley and I ended up on a true crime documentary?
I wanted to rest, but paranoia kicked in. What if I got kidnapped?
With a lot of thoughts I just decided to opened my phone, blasted music, and mindlessly scrolled through TikTok. One video caught my attention:
"Ways to avoid getting scammed in Cebu"
OH, NOW YOU SHOW UP?! WHERE WERE YOU 10 MINUTES AGO?!
I groaned and threw my head back. The driver glanced at me in the mirror.
"Miss, you okay?" He asked
I forced a laugh. "Haha… yeah. Just… learning life lessons."
He nodded, clearly unfazed by my suffering. Somewhere between my internal meltdown and my tragic TikTok discoveries, my eyes grew heavy.
The last thing I remember before dozing off was my phone slipping from my hand and the haunting memory of my lost 1,000 pesos. Before I knew it, I was out like a light.
When I woke up, my heart jumped in panic.
WHERE AM I?!
I frantically grabbed my phone and checked Google Maps.
Oh. Almost there.
I clutched my chest, letting out a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Thank God I wasn't kidnapped."
The driver side-eyed me through the rearview mirror, clearly wondering what kind of person he was dealing with.
For the rest of the ride, I glued my eyes to the screen, watching the little arrow on Google Maps inch closer and closer to my destination.
Please, just let me get there alive.
Finally, the taxi stopped. I stepped out, stretching my aching limbs, and gazed up at the apartment building. It was big. Too big.
I hesitated. What if I got the wrong place?
Then it hit me. I never even asked for my roommate's name.
Panic flashed through my brain like a siren. Oh my god, I just traveled three hours for a complete stranger.
Hoping to fix my mistake before things got weird, I quickly typed a message.
📩 Me: Hello, I'm here. Can you come get me? I might be at the wrong apartment… or lost…
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.
📩 Anonymous: Okay, stay there, bro.
…Bro?
I blinked at the screen.
Did she—Did she just call me bro?
I mean… Maybe that's just how she talks? Yeah. Yeah, that had to be it.
Shrugging off the weird feeling in my gut, I paid the taxi (yes, properly, this time) and dragged my stuff toward the entrance.
I waited. And waited.
"Why is she taking so long?" I muttered, shifting from foot to foot.
The exhaustion from my journey weighed on me. My eyelids drooped. My legs ached. I just wanted to collapse into a bed and disappear.
I sighed, about to text again, when—
I heard footsteps approaching
I straightened up, rubbing my tired eyes as the gate creaked open, and I looked up…
…to see a guy.
A GUY?!
My eyes widened.
Tall. Not a girl. DEFINITELY NOT A GIRL.
A messy hair had that effortlessly cool look, like he just woke up but still somehow pulled it off. His sharp jawline could probably cut glass, and don't even get me started on his eyes. Were they brown? Hazel? And those lips—OH MY GOD. Perfect. Kissable. Is this even real life?!
I snapped back to my senses quickly and darted my eyes to my phone looking at his last message
📩 Anonymous: Okay, stay there, bro.
BRO... BRO...BRO?!? WAIT. DID I JUST TEXT THE WRONG PERSON?!
"You're a guy?!"
"You're a girl?!"
We both shouted at the same time, pointing at each other like we had just discovered aliens existed.
My brain went into full panic mode.
"Oh my God, I thought you were a girl!" I blurted, running my hands through my hair in frustration.
HOW DID I NOT THINK TO ASK?! HOW. ARGHH.
I clutched my face in pure regret. "Oh my God! I should have asked! I'm so stupid!"
The guy groaned just as dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "Well, same here! I thought you were a guy!"
For a moment, we just stood there, both of us drowning in awkward silence.
"So…" he cleared his throat, crossing his arms. "Is this canceled? I mean, I can't share an apartment with a girl."
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out. "As if I'd do something to you!"
He squinted at me like I was some sort of suspicious creature. "Yeah, maybe you will do something to me."
I gasped so loud I nearly choked on air. "WHAT THE HELL WOULD I EVEN DO TO YOU?!"
He smirked, amused. Oh, I hated him already.
"Relax," he sighed, shaking his head. "Here's the deal. I'll help you find an apartment for girls. But if there's really nothing, you can stay here for the meantime. There are two rooms anyway. Just… don't peek into my room."
THE AUDACITY?!
I scoffed, grabbing my suitcase dramatically. "You're so full of yourself!"
Then I stomped my way inside like a Disney villain.
"Hey, aren't you gonna carry your stuff?" he called after me as I stomped inside.
I turned around with the most deadpan stare. "You're a guy. You should carry it."
He let out an exaggerated groan, scratching his head like I'd just asked him to solve world hunger. "It's your stuff. Why should I carry it?"
And then, without another word, he just walked inside.
WITHOUT. MY. BAGS.
I stood there, jaw hanging open in betrayal. This man had no manners. None. Zero. Negative manners.
"Freaking idiot!" I grumbled under my breath before stomping back to grab my suitcase. But the universe must've decided to double my suffering because—
BAM! I went flying. Face-first. Into. The. Ground. For a second, I just lay there, processing my life choices. Then I heard it.
Loud, unforgivable laughter. I slowly turned my head, glaring so hard at him that I might have developed laser vision.
"You jerk!" I whined dramatically, clutching my throbbing nose. "This is your fault!"
"How is it my fault that you're clumsy?" he wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes.
I gasped, deeply offended. "Oh, you think that's funny??" I snapped, rolling my eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
Still snickering, he strolled over—finally acting like a decent human being—and picked up my bags.
I dusted myself off, crossing my arms as I glared daggers at him. But then—
He walked right past me. With my luggage. Like I wasn't even there.
"Tch. So dumb," he muttered under his breath.
"Hey, idiot! Give that back!"
He scoffed, so smug it made me want to throw something at him. "Forget it, I already wasted my time on you. And now you want it back? Ugh, girls."
My fists clenched. I was going to kill him.
With murder in my heart, I stomped after him, but he disappeared inside like a villain escaping the scene. I glanced at my bruised arms and sighed. Great. This was going to be one hell of a living arrangement.
I stepped inside, slowly shutting the door behind me. My eyes wandered around the place, and immediately, my jaw almost dropped.
So beautiful… Wait. This was a guy's apartment? Impossible.
Everything was spotless. Organized. So well put together that I had to double-check I didn't accidentally walk into a model home.
The furniture had a sleek, modern feel—gray tiles, white and light gray walls, and sharp black accents. The air smelled like lavender. Lavender. Either he was hiding a secret maid, or this man had god-tier cleaning skills.
I stepped further inside, my gaze darting suspiciously across the living room. The dark gray couch sat against the wall, looking firm but expensive. In front of it, a small wooden coffee table held exactly one coaster and a vase in the middle. One coaster. No empty mugs, no loose socks, not even a remote thrown somewhere stupid. Nothing. My room back home looked like a tornado had an emotional breakdown in it.
I eyed the kitchen, which seamlessly blended into the living space. A black marble countertop separated the two, looking so smooth and polished that I could probably see my own reflection if I leaned in. The stainless steel appliances gleamed under the warm lights, like they had never been touched.
The fridge was huge and modern, standing against the wall like a silent guardian of snacks. A few magnets and a grocery list were stuck to it, the only hint of humanity in this disturbingly perfect space.
Then my eyes landed on the counter. A single white bowl. Holding exactly three apples and two bananas. I squinted at it.
"Okay, now you're just showing off," I muttered under my breath.
The walls weren't cluttered with random posters or cheesy inspirational quotes. Just a few framed black-and-white paintings, making the space look classy but not boring. A flat-screen TV was mounted on the opposite wall, turned off, reflecting the soft glow of the ceiling lights.
I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure a guy lives here?"
He shot me a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I waved my hand around. "This place is too clean. Where's the mess? The random socks? The pizza boxes? The gaming setup that takes up half the living room?"
He scoffed. "What, did you expect me to live in a cave?"
"Honestly? Yes. Or maybe you're gay," I said, narrowing my eyes in suspicion.
He rolled his eyes and motioned for me to follow him up the stairs. The second floor had a short hallway leading to the bedrooms. As we passed one door, I noticed it was slightly open. Curious, I peeked inside.
Neatly made bed. White sheets. Soft gray blanket folded at the edge. A small wooden nightstand stood beside it, holding a lamp and what looked like a journal. Everything about this place screamed, 'I have my life together.'
I let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, at least the place is comfortable."
He shot me a smirk. "Aw, does the princess approve?"
I whirled around, glaring at him. "Shut up."
I turned just in time to see him pointing lazily at the room I just peeked in
"That's your room," he said. Then, with a completely straight face, he added—
"There's a ghost in there."
I froze mid-step. "Excuse me, what?"
He didn't answer. Didn't even look back. Just casually strolled toward his own room like he hadn't just dropped a horror movie plot twist on me.
My throat felt dry. "Wait, are you serious?!"
My gaze snapped back to the door he pointed at. My room. Suddenly, it felt darker. Colder.
I shivered, hugging myself. Nope. Absolutely not. I was not about to spend the night in a haunted bedroom.
"Hey, wait! Do you have a band-aid?" I called after him, remembering the bruises on my hands. My nose still stung from my fall earlier, and knowing my luck, I probably looked like I just got into a bar fight.
A loud dramatic sigh came from his room before he stomped out and yanked open a drawer near the couch.
"Tch. So careless," he muttered under his breath, tossing a box of band-aids at me.
I barely caught it before it smacked me in the face. Rude. I ripped one open, sticking it onto my scraped palm. But I still couldn't shake off what he said earlier.
I peeked back at the creepy door. The air suddenly felt too quiet. Like the ghost was already waiting for me, whispering, "Come in… I've been expecting you."
I gulped. Nope. No way.
I grabbed my bag and plopped down on the couch. "I'll just sleep here."
He peeked out of his room and smirked. "Wow. You're so gullible."
I glared at him. "Damn it! Fine! I'm gullible!" I threw my hands up, stomping toward the haunted room. "But if I get dragged into the underworld tonight, it's on you!"
He just chuckled, shaking his head. "Good luck with your new ghost roommate."
I grumbled, snatching my bags. Fine. If there was a ghost in there, I'd just have to fight it.
As I stepped into the room—
HELLO?! Did I just walk into a luxury hotel suite? Or am I in some kind of Pinterest-approved, aesthetic condo unit for rich bachelors? Because excuse me, why is it this clean???
The walls were the perfect blend of white and light gray—so minimalist yet expensive-looking. Like, who lives like this? A catalog model? A robot? A vampire with OCD? Even the furniture? Still gray. Everything. Gray. This whole place had a color palette stricter than my high school dress code. Did an interior designer curate every single thing here? Does he have a secret cleaning lady who comes in like a ninja?
Oh my god. Maybe he wasn't lying about the ghost.
I turned to the bed—OH. WOW. The sheets? Crisp. The pillows? Fluffy. The blanket? Folded so perfectly, it looked like a hotel staff had just prepped it for a millionaire's nap.
"He did this?" I muttered, skeptical. I don't believe it. This level of neatness? From a guy? Suspicious. Maybe it came like this, and he just never used it.
I walked over to the bathroom and pushed open the door.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL—THERE'S A BATHTUB?!
I almost screamed. A whole bathtub. Not just a sad little shower, but a full-on spa experience. And speaking of showers—excuse me, WHY does this shower look like it belongs in a five-star hotel?! It has a rainfall effect?! Does this place come with room service, too?!
I checked behind the mirror, half-expecting to find a list of services:
✔ Breakfast in bed
✔ Complimentary spa treatments
✔ Free therapy session for dramatic newcomers
Where am I?? Now I just wish he won't find an apartment for girls. I'll just stay here for my entire college life. I don't care about my guy roommate anymore because wow, the 10k was very worth it.
I let out a deep sigh, walking over to the window. I pulled back the curtains and
OH. MY. GOD. THE VIEW.
City lights stretched out before me, glittering like something straight out of a K-drama. The kind where the main character has a deep realization moment while staring at the skyline. I should've brought wine for the full dramatic effect.
Cue the emotional monologue.
I sighed. So this is my life now. My first time away from home. No one to greet me with, "Have you eaten?" or "What do you want for dinner?" No more random hugs from my parents every time I get home.
Ugh, why is independence so hard?
I flopped onto the bed and damn. It's so soft. Not just soft feels like it's hugging me back. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. So this is what it feels to sleep like super rich??
I could get used to this.