Forget Me Not

Chapter One

KAYLA Alcantara couldn't help but yawn loudly while she was leaning on her hand, listening to Brennen's boring speech in front of the Filipino class. She was seated in the front row beside the guy, which is why she got distracted.

She just snidely glared at her classmates when she glanced at her. Fortunately, their teacher, Mrs. Gener, who is over sixty years old, seemed to be very bored and tired, standing by the door with her hearing already weakened.

She looked at the round wall clock above the blackboard. It felt like five minutes took forever before the bell finally rang. That was their last class.

It was the second day of returning to school after almost a two-week semestral break. The seat next to her was vacant. Melissa hasn't come in yet, and the last time she spoke to her was on the last day of the second quarterly exam. She has been absent for two days now, which slightly worries her. In the four years that she has been classmates with Melissa, she rarely takes an absence unless she's sick.

But it's concerning that there's still no news about why she hasn't come to school. Even her boyfriend, Rico, hasn't heard anything and can't reach Melissa on her cellphone. Even Kate, who was Melissa's best friend, also had no updates about her. The last update on Melissa’s f*******: was from the previous semester.

It seemed like everyone had their own vacations, and they only reunited when the new school year began.

Kayla couldn’t help but remember the way Melissa’s eyes darted around nervously on that last day before the break, as if she was carrying a heavy burden that she didn’t want to share. It had been a brief moment, but now it gnawed at Kayla’s conscience. Had she overlooked something important—a silent plea for help from her friend? The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth as she absentmindedly twirled her pen.

Kayla's thoughts were interrupted when a sparrow perched on the window right beside her. It was the closest she had ever seen this sparrow. She always thought they were elusive creatures.

However, that one seemed to be watching him. The bird’s eyes are half-closed as if gazing at her. She decided to reach out her hand, wondering if it would fly away or naturally stay gentle.

But, Kayla was startled when the bird suddenly made a chilling sound. Its wings opened as if it was about to attack.

She stepped back from the bird. Even Brennen paused in his speech. The whole room filled with the small yet spine-chilling cry of the bird. It was the first time she heard such a bird's cry. Everyone turned their gaze in the direction of the sparrow.

In a moment, the sparrow flew into the classroom. It was flying around as if looking for a place to perch or to exit again. Some students attempted to shoo the bird away. Even Mrs. Gener got worried and waved the bird away with the book she was holding.

However, the sparrow accidentally hit the rotating ceiling fan. Each part of the bird scattered and its dismembered body was carried to different parts of the classroom by the forceful spin of the fan.

A chilling and nauseating scream erupted from some students as they were hit by some parts of the bird. The foul and crimson blood from the bird stained their white uniforms.

Kayla abruptly stood up when the head of the sparrow landed on her armrest. She covered her mouth, feeling as though something tightened in her stomach, making her feel like she might vomit. The bird's beaks were agape, and its eyes seemed to be staring at her.

Some of her male classmates, on the other hand, just laughed at the incident. Rico's laughter stood out above everyone else's as if it was some sort of hilarious prank on him.

Gilbert stood up and went to the switch on the ceiling fan, turning it off. After a few moments, everything became calm again.

“Someone is going to die...”

Kayla turned around to see who had spoken those words from behind her.

Mark Agregado grew his gaze. "Someone will die. Someone will die," he repeatedly said in a weak voice.

“Weirdo,” she said to him even though she couldn't explain why she felt a slight shiver. Mark is often quiet and mostly alone in their section. She wonders if this person has friends on campus too.

Earlier that day, Mark had been acting even stranger than usual. Kayla recalled catching him scribbling symbols on the edge of his notebook—circles within circles, lines cutting through letters, symbols she didn’t recognize. When she asked him about it, he only gave her a vacant look and mumbled something about protection. At the time, she thought he was just being his usual odd self, but now the memory unsettled her even more.

The ringing of the bell captured her attention. But before everyone dispersed, Mrs. Gener spoke in front of the class.

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Class, don't forget to pray before going home," she said with a trace of concern evident in her expression.

"Why, ma'am?" asked Irene before the teacher completely left the classroom.

Mrs. Gener paused at the door for a moment. "We, the elderly, have old beliefs or superstitions that when a bird enters a room..." she hesitated as if unsure whether to continue. "Something bad will happen."

"Will theren't be something good to happen right away? Couldn't it be that the bird’s lover just left, and that's why it died by suicide?" Gilbert jokes, followed by laughter from their classmates.

"Anyway, let's just pray," the teacher said before continuing on her way out.

Kayla couldn't be easily convinced by superstitions. However, at that moment, she couldn't explain why she felt an ominous feeling within her.

She set aside the bad feeling and quickly tore two pages from her spiral notes, placing them on top of her armchair with the bird. She organized her belongings and hurriedly went after Rico, who was already outside. She wanted to ask him again about Melissa. Perhaps he had some news about her.

However, she was prevented from approaching Rico when she noticed that he was talking on his cell phone in the corridor. Beside him was Kate.

"Eww, that's disgusting..." Irene said from behind, cringing as she used her handkerchief to wipe off the blood that splattered on her sleeve.

"Actually, what happened was more exciting than Brennen's speech," Gilbert joked. He received a playful slap from Brennen.

"s**t, dude, what happened to your nose?" Gilbert pointed at Brennen. Everyone looked at him.

"Huh, why?" Brennen asked, puzzled by everyone's reaction. Everyone stopped walking except for Rico, who was still busy on his cell phone, and Kate, who didn't leave his side.

"Your nose has its period, dude," Gilbert said, laughing.

"Eew," Irene grimaced. "I have a napkin here. Do you want it?"

Kayla quickly pulled out her compact from her bag and handed it to Brennen so he could see himself.

"Oh, s**t," Brennen exclaimed as he wiped the underside of his nose with the back of his hand.

However, everyone's attention to Brennen was quickly diverted as Rico's cell phone clattered to the floor in the corridor. All eyes turned towards him.

Curious, they approached Rico, but he seemed frozen in place. Kate also had a puzzled expression on her face.

Kayla noticed Rico's trembling lips. She knew he was usually the toughest among their group of friends, but at that moment, he seemed on the verge of tears. His paleness was very noticeable.