Prologue: Swipes and Smoke

Mark, a chubby yet charming mestizo nursing student, never expected a simple swipe on Tinder would lead him to Jeronimo - a moreno, mixed-race heartthrob with quiet eyes and a past he's still healing from. Both studying at Western Leyte College of Ormoc, they find comfort in late-night chats, shared lectures, and stories of old wounds. As Jeronimo opens up about his ex, Mark wonders - is he just a rebound, or could he be the remedy Jeronimo truly needs?