The set lights were almost blinding.
Cleo shifted in his chair and smoothed down his pale blue shirt for the third time. Riz sat beside him in a navy blazer and black jeans, bouncing one leg in an attempt to hide his nerves.
"Three minutes," a producer called. "You're both naturals. Just be yourselves."
Cleo gave Riz a side-glance. "Myself is sweaty."
Riz grinned. "Good. Then I won't look alone."
The host, a poised, polished woman named Miss Ara, smiled warmly at them as the countdown began. "You boys ready? This episode's already gone viral. You're the country's golden boys—engineering and architecture's dream team."
Cleo chuckled. "No pressure, huh?"
**3... 2... 1...**
The lights shifted. The theme music faded. Cameras zoomed in.
"Magandang gabi, Pilipinas! Tonight, we have two of the country's brightest minds joining us. Top 1 in the national architecture board exam and top 1 in engineering, both from the University of Santo Tomas. And—yes, I said *and*—they're also a couple."
The crowd off-camera cheered.
Cleo and Riz smiled, hands subtly laced together out of sight.
"So," Ara began, turning to Riz, "how does it feel to make history—not just academically, but as a couple who came out so publicly and proudly?"
Riz took a breath. "Honestly? It feels surreal. We didn't plan on both topping the board exams, let alone being on national TV. But we've worked so hard, not just for our careers—but for *this*. For us. And it means the world to be seen."
Cleo nodded, voice quieter but firm. "We came from different disciplines. We started out as rivals, believe it or not. I think I rolled my eyes at Riz every day for our entire freshman year."
The audience laughed.
"But somewhere along the way," Cleo continued, "we realized we weren't just competing—we were *challenging* each other to grow. Riz made me better. In every way."
Ara smiled. "That's beautiful. And now, what's next for the two of you?"
Cleo was about to answer when Riz cleared his throat—and stood.
Cleo blinked. "Wait—where are you—?"
Riz turned to the host. "Miss Ara, would you mind if I borrowed thirty seconds?"
The cameras cut to her surprised but excited expression. "Be my guest."
Riz turned fully to Cleo now, eyes brighter than any studio light. His voice, when it came, was calm but full of feeling.
"Cleo Santiago," he said. "We met because we had to. We fell in love because we chose to. And every day since, I've chosen you again and again. Through deadlines, through doubts, through first kisses behind library shelves and whispers in lecture halls."
Cleo's lips parted slightly. His hands trembled.
Riz pulled something from his pocket—a small, matte black ring box—and got down on one knee.
The audience gasped. Cleo's breath caught.
"You were my greatest rival," Riz said, eyes glassy, "but you became my greatest love. And now that we've built our foundation—our life—I want to start the next chapter. Not as your competition. Not just as your partner. But as your *forever.*"
He opened the box. A simple, elegant silver ring sat inside, shaped like a band of interlocking gears.
"Cleo, will you marry me?"
Cleo stared, silent for a heartbeat.
Then he stood, chest heaving, and whispered just loud enough for the mics to catch:
"Yes."
Riz slid the ring onto his finger and Cleo pulled him into a kiss—soft and real and trembling with joy—as the crowd erupted.
Even Miss Ara had to dab her eyes.
---
Later, the clip would go viral. Hashtags would trend. Netizens would call it *the proposal of the year.* But for Cleo and Riz, in that moment, nothing mattered but the way their hands fit together—and how their futures, long ago drawn on separate blueprints, had merged into one brilliant, beating design.
....And fireworks explode.
---------------------------
End of Chapter Twenty Three