Chapter 9
1661 Words
In just a blink of an eye, I was back in the present. I looked at Therese and Nicole. Nothing seemed different with them. Nicole was still staring at Therese. While Therese was looking at my hand holding the picture frame.
I cleared my throat and pretended to look at the picture frame. Meaning, the time stopped here while I was in the past. I used to only watch such incidents in movies. I never thought I would experience this myself today.
There were things that were very impossible in the eyes of people. But the truth, it was really happening. Maybe, it was one of the things I should be thankful for because I experienced it personally.
I could truly say there was a reality in every fantasy. I looked at the picture frame. If Irene and Therese were the first I saw in my memories, they were my first friends.
The question was...
Why was Therese the only one here with me? I also didn’t see at Brent’s party some of those in the picture frame.
"Hey? What are you saying?" I heard Nicole's voice in my mind.
I ignored her question and spoke to Therese. "I still remember that you and I were the first who became friends, and suddenly, Irene comes into the picture."
I saw the bitter smile on Therese's lips.
"Did you see that? It was shown to you?" Nicole asked in frustration. "Why wasn't it shown to me? It's unfair!"
Therese looked at me. Various emotions could be seen in her eyes. "You said it yourself that let's not talk about them anymore. But here you are, reminiscing."
It was like my sanity would left me any minute now. Why it didn't just show me the whole thing what happened back then?
“This is what you always think of, Alliyah,” Nicole said.
I couldn’t help but secretly looked back at her because of the way her tone.
“That everything shall not be rushed. Just like in your situation. It's letting you see the whole story gradually and for you to see each event. One more thing, you're still lucky because it was shown to you. As for me, I've been in this situation for years, but I still don't remember a single thing about me."
I suddenly felt pity when Nicole disappeared like a bubble. I want to tweak myself. So insensitive of me.
"So when you asked me who lived there in the abandoned house, I thought you had really forgotten about them. Even Adelaine you don't seem to know her. I just thought, maybe you've moved on. That's how you really are. You don’t want to confine yourself to trouble and loneliness. So maybe you have moved on that fast. I hope I'm like you. Because up until now, what happened then still haunts me."
I could do nothing but stare and be stunned by what Therese said. How about Adelaine? Do I knew her? What really happened then? Why let me see that memory with Irene? I knew one of these days it will show me the memories with the others in the picture frame.
The question is...
What does that have to do with me being killed?
Or maybe one of them killed me? Shît! Why it didn't cross my mind? The female nerd in the abandoned house and Adelaine were part of my past. And at least, little by little I remember something.
It looked like I need to write it down in my notes. I looked at the picture frame again. A woman with glasses was next to Irene. Was she our nerd classmate from the abandoned house?
I faced Therese once again. "You said, that nerd who lived in that abandoned house is our classmate from college?"
"I thought you were just pranking so I lied and I really waited for you to say 'you're a liar'. But you're really serious so I just zip my mouth."
I had to think of an excuse so that Therese wouldn't notice that I really didn't remember anything. "Because they say, when something gives you so much trauma... you just forget about them."
But to my surprise, Therese bursted into tears. Crying with so many miseries. I didn’t know she was feeling anything heavy. I couldn't remember what really happened then that still haunting her up to this day. I always see her smiling and she was a bubbly girl. So it was surprising to see her like this. "I really thought you'd be mad at me too after what happened... but of them all, I am the only one you believed in."
I really wanted to cuss now. I had no idea what really happened back then. I wanted to ask more questions but I restrained myself. I held her hand to calm her down but suddenly the surroundings changed again.
My room disappeared again and I saw a mob of students. Everything turned black and white again and I felt like a wild soul for the second time around. I was standing in front of the canteen and I could clearly see Irene, Therese, and my former self — Bailey, sitting with food in front of them.
I approached them as they happily chatted. When my nerd classmate suddenly approached— the one in the picture and the one who lived in the abandoned house we were passing through.
"Oh, Eulyn? Is there a problem?"Bailey asked. I am really kind to everyone. I always smile at everyone. But someone didn't like the kindness I was showing.
I looked at my nerd classmate. So her name was Eulyn. The one that is next to Irene in the picture. We all looked at Eulyn and waited for what she would say. She adjusted her glasses before answering. "Don't wait until the break time is over. Miss Marycole has an announcement."
"Okay, we'll follow you after this," Bailey replied smiling. Seemed like I really wanted to agree with what Nicole said. I was smiling all the time. Didn't my cheeks got swollen back then for always smiling? I wanted to punch myself, big time!
A few moments later, the three of them began to walk. They arrived and it was only a few minutes when Miss Marycole started her announcement. "Okay, class. Before you graduate in junior high school, there will be a recollection outside the school."
The whole class started to make noise because of the excitement.
"Inline to that, we need you to group yourselves into seven. The other sections will do the same. The numbers assigned to our section are groups 1-5."
I was just listening and watching as well. I didn't find anything strange.
"I already have the list," Miss Marycole had started announcing the group members.
"Alliyah, Irene, Therese, Eulyn, Zhaila, Dhelia, and Ellen are the members of group five."
So we had a picture together because of the recollection? I saw them standing up one by one and they were the ones in the picture.
"Group yourselves now, class. Choose a leader first and I will give him or her the guidelines of the do's and don'ts, and the things that you are allowed to bring and the things that are restricted."
And they were already talking. I approached Bailey's, group— my group.
"Let's just make Eulyn our leader," I said— Bailey said, "She can do this kind of job because she's our class president."
Everyone nodded in unison. Miss Marycole approached our group. "You're all women? If you want, the others can remove themselves and I will replace them with men."
"We're fine, Miss," Irene said and everyone nodded again. There seemed to be something wrong. If she had already listed the groups, it meant she knew that there were only women in our group.
I immediately looked at Irene. Her smiles were strange. I remembered what Therese said. That I was angry with Irene. What could be the reason? I could put her under my list of suspects.
I caught Miss Marycole looking at Irene with a meaningful look. If Irene was the one who killed me, was Miss Marycole her accomplice?
"So, these are the ones we need to bring..." Eulyn was sorting through what to bring when Irene suddenly raised her hand.
She immediately caught the attention of everyone in the group.
"Maybe Alliyah will take care of bringing the foods and snacks?"
Was Irene after my money? I immediately turned to Bailey. You should say no! Say no—
"Sure, no problem!"
Jeez! I was a great idìot back then! If only Nicole was here, she would have been laughing at that sight! And maybe she would say, "See? Watch how stupîd you are!"
I took a deep breath. I looked at Therese who was already frowning. I then remembered her crying earlier. She said she was the only one I had believed in. But I also recalled what she answered when I asked her what she didn’t like about me.
My life was so perfect and that might be the reason why our friendship would break down. Was she jealous of me? I didn't want to accept it but it seemed like little by little I wanted to believe that it was possible that she was the one who killed me.
"We'll take care of the equipment and things to bring, as long as you take care of the foods and snacks," Irene said and everyone agreed.
"Sure!" Bailey replied smiling.
For heaven's sake! I really wanted to punch you Bailey— myself basically.
"I'll just take Therese's part," Bailey said. Did I had a plan to be a politician back then? Or a social worker perhaps.
"Ah, yes, that's right!" Irene agreede. "After all, she can't afford anything."
My eyes widened. I immediately looked at Bailey with a prayer that she would defend Therese. But she just smiled. I just smiled! Stûpid me!
- Writer
