May 2nd, 2024 — 10:00 AM
Aurora Central Hub, Quezon City
Angel balanced a coffee cup in one hand and a folder of boring-but-necessary fiber optic procurement forms in the other as she made her way through the humming halls of Aurora Central. Around her, project managers buzzed, engineers called out updates, and on the main display screen, the real-time boring status of TBM Aurora blinked in satisfying green.
Matthew walked just a few steps behind her, tablet in hand, stylus tucked behind his ear, still half-lost in the morning tunnel briefings from Subic. He hadn't noticed yet that Angel had slowed her pace intentionally.
"So," she said without turning around, "when are we getting married?"
Matthew stumbled.
It wasn't dramatic—no flailing arms or spilled coffee—but his steps faltered just long enough for her to grin over her shoulder.
"You okay back there, Borja?"
He cleared his throat. "I—uh, what?"