Fuelled by our inner hopeless romantic, a crush can make the smallest things seem enormous in our heads. From a glance that lasts a little longer or a sudden unexplainable sensation in your stomach, Wilbert Ross turns the fluttery, slightly embarrassing rush into his latest single “Paruparo.”

Written and composed by Ross and co-produced with Butch Bantog, the track follows the dizzying progression of a crush from becoming tongue-tied in someone’s presence to carrying thoughts of them into your dreams.

Its most physical: “May parang paru-paro sa tiyan ko, ano ba ’to?”

Ross writes about the moment attraction makes you lose your composure, opening with “Kapag ikaw na ang nagsasalita, Napapanganga, natutulala sa’yong ganda ako’y handang maging tanga.” 

The essence of being captivated was well-written, even looking foolish becomes part of the giddy rush. The crush follows him home and into his sleep and into his daily daydreaming: “Ikaw ang nasa isip; Maging sa panaginip.” 

What starts as a moment of being completely taken by someone gradually becomes the soundtrack to an entire day.

Ross also captures how quickly infatuation can alter your mood. “Buo na ang araw ko; At dahil ’yon sa iyo” turns the crush into a source of uncomplicated happiness, where the mere thought of someone can make an ordinary day feel lighter.

The paru-paro at the center of the chorus ties all of these feelings together. Butterflies are an easy metaphor for falling for someone, but the song works because Ross treats the sensation literally: the nerves, excitement, distraction, and uncertainty all arrive at once. 

Ross’ warm vocals sit against an acoustic-led arrangement that keeps the track feeling buoyant. It remains close to the fluttering first stage of attraction, when you’re still figuring out whether what you feel is a passing crush or something that might grow.

Ross takes the very familiar feeling and gives it a melody that understands how exciting, distracting, and occasionally ridiculous it can be to fall for someone.

Sometimes, you don’t need a complicated love song to explain what’s happening. You just need to figuratively have paru-paro in your stomach and have no idea what to do about it.