𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬: “Hinges of Our Quiet Conspiracy” by Hayden Jam R. Recto

Layout by: Reynald Tan 

Published by: Francen Anne Perez

Date Published: January 26, 2026

Time Published: 1:42 PM

Category: Poetry 

Theme: The Beauty of Mutual Discovery 

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒆..

I learned your arms before I learned your silence,

how they fold around me on the way home,

how the night loosens when you hold me

like nothing in me is misplaced.

There’s a kindness in the way you touch the world—

gentle, careful,

as if you’re always afraid of breaking something

that only wanted to be held.

I think that’s when I knew.

Not all at once,

but slowly,

like my heart teaching itself your name

without asking permission.

We are closer when it’s just us—

no noise, no witnesses,

only the bus humming beneath our feet,

only my heartbeat learning a new rhythm

whenever your shoulder finds mine.

I want you the way hearts recognize each other

before words catch up.

I know we are still learning each other,

still discovering the shape of what we are,

but every night feels like an answer

we’ve both been quietly choosing.

The friendship already shifted the moment

we fell without pulling away,

the moment staying close felt more honest

than pretending we hadn’t crossed the line.

Some feelings don’t ask for permission—

they arrive,

and suddenly everything familiar

means more.

So this isn’t a question anymore.

It never really was.

We felt it the same night,

let it live between us,

and didn’t run.

If this ruins the friendship,

then it was already love—

because we fell,

knew it,

and chose each other anyway.