Every generation has its own version of romance. For Gen Z, it isn’t always about grand gestures or dramatic confessions. Sometimes, it’s a hallway glance in high school, a mutual follow on social media, a conversation that never got past “hi,” or a message you kept typing but never sent.
It’s the kind of connection that lives in the “what ifs”—the people you almost knew, the stories that almost happened, and the feelings that somehow stayed with you long after graduation.
If any of these sound familiar, you might just be in your “Hi, Hello” era.
1. You still think about your high school crush… even years later.
You’ve met dozens of new people since then, but somehow your mind still goes back to that one person from high school.
Maybe they sat a few rows away from you. Maybe you only crossed paths in the hallway between classes. Maybe you only knew each other through quick smiles and the occasional “hi.”
Nothing happened. You never dated. You barely even talked.
Yet every now and then, you still catch yourself wondering how they’re doing and what would’ve happened if one of you had made the first move.
2. You’re both waiting for someone to make the first move.
You check your notifications more often than you’d like to admit.
Maybe they’ll reply first. Maybe they’ll message after seeing your story. Maybe they’ll greet you on your birthday. Maybe they’ll finally ask how you’ve been.
So you wait.
The funny thing is… they’re probably waiting for you, too. Two people hoping the other person makes the first move usually leads to one thing: silence. And before you know it, weeks become months, months become years, and the conversation you imagined never actually begins.
3. You realized saying “Hi, hello” is easy—keeping the conversation alive is the hard part.
Anyone can say “hi.” The real challenge comes after.
What do you say next? How do you keep the conversation going without sounding awkward? Without looking too eager? Without wondering if you’re being left on read? Some of the best stories never happened because both people got stuck after the greeting. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t introducing yourself—it’s finding the courage to continue.
4. Everyone has a “Katie.”
Maybe your person’s name isn’t actually Katie.
Maybe it’s Miguel. Sophia. Josh. Andrea. Or someone whose name you never even learned.
“Katie” represents that one person almost everyone has—the one who quietly stayed in your heart despite the years. The one who became your greatest “what if.” The one you held onto not because you shared a love story, but because you never got the chance to write one.
Sometimes, all we remember is a smile, a voice, or the feeling they left behind.
And sometimes, after years of wondering, finally learning their name feels like finding the missing piece of a story you’ve been carrying all along.
5. You’ve finally accepted that every great love story starts with a simple “Hi, Hello.”
Not every love story begins with fireworks.
Inspired by the familiar high school crush trope, the song follows someone who keeps meeting the same person through different stages of life—from high school to college and beyond. Each reunion starts with a simple greeting, but fear, timing, and hesitation always get in the way. Until one unexpected encounter finally gives them the courage to say more than just “hi, hello.”
Known for his work as a performer, actor, and one of the country’s fast-rising digital creators, AJ Colico, artist from iMe Philippines, continues to explore relatable stories through his music—stories that remind listeners that some of the biggest moments in life begin with the smallest words.
If you’ve ever had someone you couldn’t quite forget, someone you almost confessed to, or someone whose message you kept hoping would appear on your screen, “Hi Hello” might just feel like your story.
“Hi Hello” by AJ Colico is now available on all major music streaming platforms.
#iMePhilippines #HiHello #AJColico #rubyspreciousmoments
