I know you,anak. I know you because you’re just like me. You’ll probably try this immediately, and I hope it works for you as it did for me and your Lolo… but here is a secret. Our love didn’t come from the stars or a spell, but the choices we made every day. That’s where the truest magic comes from. Sometimes I think the bravest thing we can do is to trust in our own magic. I know you will.Hinihigugma ta ikaw, apo.I love you.
When Onny looked up from the letter, she felt something shifting inside her, like a window slowly opening up to let in a light she’d ignored. In the brightness it cast within her, the dark unknown became a little less dark, and Onny saw the choice laid out before her. She still believed in magic. She still believed that the stars illuminated the steps before her… but they didn’t choose her path. Only she could do that.
Onny glanced at the clock:
10:43P.M.
There was still time,she thought, shooting to her feet.
There was still time to make her own magic.
Onny found Byron Frost in the half darkness of her mother’s greenhouse. Surrounded by the lush, shadowy greenery of Corazon’s rare flowers, Byron looked as poetic as his name. He was standing alone, toying with the telescope.
“Boo,” she said.
Byron jumped, uttering a curse before he looked up and saw her approaching. “Onny?”
“Nope. Batman,” said Onny. “Surprise.”
She moved through the aisles in the greenhouse, drawing close enough that she could see the moment when shock melted from his features, replaced with an icy blankness. His jaw clenched, and he raised one cocoa-dark eyebrow imperiously. “What are you doing here?”
“It’smyhouse,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Fair point. I’ll go—” he said, moving past her.
Onny moved without thinking. She placed her hand on his chest, trying to ignore the slow shiver of heat that wound up her arm when she touched him. “Wait.”
He stilled. The lights outside the greenhouse had finally turned on, but his back was to it, turning his face almost inscrutable. Even then, Onny could still feel the intensity of those molten silver eyes. And she could feel the rise and fall of his chest, the taut, almost angry stillness that went through him right this second.
“You…” started Onny, before faltering. “You still have my love potion ingredients.”
Byron made a scoffing sound, then stepped back sharply. “Seriously, Diamante?”
“Those were hard to source!” said Onny. “Obviously I want them back.”
“Of course, to seal the cosmic deal with Alexander—”
“It’s not for him,” said Onny.
Byron stilled. “What?”
Onny took a deep breath before repeating, “It’s not for him.”
“Strange,” said Byron with a faint sneer. “Did the stars change or something? You know they’re technically dead, right? One could argue you’re being controlled by ghosts.”
Honestly, sometimes she really detested Byron Frost. Onny grabbed the front of his Dr. Frankenstein costume.
“Diamante?” he asked, all trace of sarcasm vanishing from his voice as she drew him closer. This close, she could smell the woodsmoke clinging to him. She could see his throat bob uncertainly, his lips parting. “What exactly are you—”
Onny kissed him. At first, it was nothing more than a warm press of her mouth crashing onto his. And then… it wasn’t. Byron Frost made a sound of impatience. His hands went around her waist, drawing her closer, deepening the kiss. Sensations flitted through her, and it was like the force of Byron’s kiss was translating every feeling to a poem. A kiss that tasted like minty Tic Tacs one moment was now a kiss that tasted like silver and snow, and Onny felt lightheaded, breathless with wonder.
Byron drew back, breathing hard.
He clasped her hand to his chest, staring into her eyes. “What was that?”
“Humans call it a kiss,” said Onny. “But if you’re unpracticed, we can do it again.”
“I’m serious, Diamante. I’ve wanted to do that for so long… since, like, the day you glared at me and told me my aura was the color of sad tears,” said Byron, laughing a little. “I need to know now if this was a pity kiss or—”
