Chapter 15 – The Whisper on the Tower
Namsan Tower glittered against the night, surrounded by tourists clicking selfies, couples hugging over the railing, and laughter echoing in the open air.
Erica held onto Jepoy’s arm tightly. “Ang daming tao.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry, hawak kita.”
They reached the section covered with love locks. Thousands of them in every shape, rusted or shiny, were clamped onto the fence.
“Wow,” Erica said, hearing the clinks as she brushed her hand over them.
He handed her a heart-shaped lock. “Here. Let’s leave one. For friendship.”
She took it, tracing the surface. “You sure?”
He nodded and began etching with a marker. “J + E. Friends.”
They fastened it together. Then Jepoy leaned in, barely audible, “Pero sana lovers din.”
Erica’s fingers froze.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“Ah… sabi ko… ang lamig ng hangin.”
She didn’t push it.
But that night, the lock they left held more than their names—it held a secret wish Jepoy was too scared to say aloud.
Later, on their way down, Erica whispered, “If I could see the view, what would it look like?”
Jepoy described it to her slowly—city lights like scattered stars, couples wrapped in warmth, the tower glowing like a lighthouse.
And in between, his hand never left hers.
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