Avenger From The Past

Chapter Three: Reunion

5:00 AM – Monday

Today was the day of the reunion. That was why Lara woke up earlier than usual. She had already packed her things the night before, and now she was simply waiting for Allison to pick her up. They decided to use Allison's car since Lara no longer had a personal driver.

The reunion would be held on an island in the Visayas. According to the information given by their former class adviser, they would meet at a pier and then ride a boat together to the island.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na rin si Allison. Napansin niya na akma na sa sitwasyon ang outfit ng kaibigan kaya naisipan niyang biruin ito. Hindi na kasi masyadong bulgar ang suot nito, hindi katulad ng suot nito no'ng nag-shopping sila.

"May normal ka palang damit?" biro ni Lara.

"Ha-ha, funny."

Natawa na lang siya sa naging reaksyon ng kaibigan.

"Kuya Jun, paki lagay naman po ng mga ito sa likod ng sasakyan," Allison instructed her driver, who immediately followed.

Nang makapasok sa sasakyan ay agad pumaling si Allison kay Lara saka nagtanong.

"Are you ready, Lara-girl?"

"Isla? Seriously? How much do they miss each other to rent an entire island for a three-day reunion?" Lara complained.

"I know you don't really want to come to this reunion," Allison replied, "pero puwede ba na sulitin mo naman kahit paano?"

Lara simply shrugged.

The drive to the pier took nearly four hours. By the time they arrived, most of their former classmates were already there. Kuya Jun was still unloading their luggage when one of their classmates noticed them.

"Oh my God, guys! Ms. President and Allison are here!"

All eyes turned toward them.

"Sila Ms. President nga," another classmate greeted.

Lara felt every stare. The title made the air feel awkward. Naging class president lang siya sa loob ng maikling panahon dahil sa biglaan niyang pag-alis ng bansa, kaya hindi niya masyadong tanggap na tawagin siyang 'Ms. President.

"Hi, everyone!" Allison greeted cheerfully, noticing that Lara doesn't have any plans on greeting them back.

"Hi, Allison. Naghahanap ka ba ng boyfriend, I'm single by the way," Aries said with a grin. Kilala si Aries sa pagiging playboy nito ma mukha namang dinala pa rin nito hanggang sa pagtanda niya. Isa na rin ito sa dahilan kung bakit iniiwasan siya ni Lara at Allison noon.

"Walang may pakialam, Aries."

"Ms. Castañeda and Ms. Brequillo, please place your things inside the boat," called Mrs. Bautista, their former class adviser.

Binulungan muna ni Allison si Kuya Jun na ipasok ang mga bagahe nila sa loob ng boat bago nito tuluyang lapitan ang dating guro.

"Mrs. Bautista, my golly! Ikaw ba talaga 'yan? Parang hindi ka naman tumanda!"

"Bolera," the teacher replied, clearly pleased. "Pero natutuwa akong makita kayo dito."

"Aalis na ba tayo? Kanina pa tayo dito—tanghali na," reklamo ni Kate, habang naka-angkla sa braso ni Terrence.

Naaalala niya ang dalawang iyon. Si Kate ang class secretary at madalas niya itong makaaway dahil hindi ito dumadalo sa mga meeting dahil mas pinipili nito na sumama kay Terrence para gumala. Hindi siya makapaniwala na silang dalawa pa rin hanggang ngayon.

"Nope, we're still waiting for two more—" Mrs. Bautista stopped mid-sentence when she saw two figures approaching. "Oh, ito na pala sila."

Lara saw them.

The last two people she ever wanted to see again.

The two people who betrayed her.

"My gosh, is that Chase? Grabe, ang gwapo niya pa rin hanggang ngayon," rinig niyang sabi ng isa sa mga babae nilang kaklase.

"Back off, girls. He's mine."

Agatha Ramirez.

The number one b***h of their class. The same girl who stole Chase from Lara. Yes, Lara and Chase once had something—until she discovered he had only been playing with her.

Habang papalapit ay napansin ni Lara na nakatingin sa kaniya si Chase. Hindi naman ito nakalampas sa paningin ni Agatha kaya mas lalo nitong hinigpitan ang pagkakakapit kay Chase.

"Bagay na bagay talaga kayong dalawa, isang guwapo at isang maganda," Lorie commented. She used to be shy and quiet, but she seemed different now.

"I know, right?" Agatha smirked. "Hindi cheap ang ganda ko 'no—hindi katulad ng iba d'yan. Hindi porke nakapag-aral sa ibang bansa, akala mo kung sino ng maganda kung umasta."

She emphasized the word "iba" that didn't escape Lara's ears.

"Agatha, stop," Chase muttered.

Lara raised an eyebrow. She knew that comment was directed at her. She may not have been ready to see them, but it doesn't mean that she did not came prepared.

"Can we go now, Mrs. Bautista? I can't wait to see the b***h— I mean, the beach," Lara said sweetly, flashing an innocent smile.

"Calm down, girls. Before we leave, let's do a roll call."

Mrs. Bautista pulled out a sheet of paper and began calling names one by one.

"Everyone was present—except Trisha, who hadn't confirmed her attendance."

-

Flashback

It was Friday night.

Trisha was busy drowning herself in alcohol. Her boyfriend had cheated on her, and this was her way of coping. She swayed her hips on the dance floor, holding a glass in her hand, trying to forget.

Agad siyang tumakbo papunta sa banyo nang makaramdam ng pagsusuka. Pumasok siya sa isa sa mga cubicle at doon sumuka. Pagkatapos ay pasuray-suray siyang pumunta sa lababo para maghilamos.

"Enjoying yourself?"

She froze.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, startled.

"Nothing," the voice replied calmly. "Just trying to forget what you did."

Bago pa siya ulit makatingin sa kausap ay nakaramdam siya ng malakas na hampas sa ulo niya.

Trisha woke up with excruciating pain. She groaned as she felt warm blood trickling down her neck.

"You're finally awake."

Dizzy and disoriented, she forced herself to look around.

Nasa isang rooftop siya. Nakaupo siya sa malamig na sahig habang mahigpit na nakatali ang katawan. Ang taong nasa harapan niya ay nakasuot ng itim na damit at itim na gloves. Walang emosyon na mababakas sa mukha nito habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Nasaan ako? Anong gagawin mo sa akin?" Tears streamed down her face as fear consumed her.

"Don't cry, Trisha."

Lumapit ito sa kaniya saka mariin na pinunasan ang luha niya.

"Let's just do a little reminiscing, shall we? Naaalala mo ba kung anong sinabi mo sa mga tao na 'yon?"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi. Pakawalan mo na ako, parang awa mo na," she begged while tears falling from her eyes non-stop.

"Then I'll make you remember."

The person moved behind her and pressed firmly against the wound on her head.

"AAARRRGHHH!" she screamed, hoping someone would hear.

"How about now? Naaalala mo na ba, kung anong nangyari dahil sa pinagsasabi ng mapanulsol mo'ng bunganga?!"

Rage flared in their eyes. They grabbed her arm and twisted it violently.

"AAAAHHHH!" The bone snapped.

The memory came rushing back. Naalala niya na kung anong nagawa niya nang dahil sa galit.

"Patawarin mo ko! Hindi ko sinasadya! Nadala lang ako ng galit—hindi ko alam na gagawin nila 'yon sayo!"

Sweat, blood, and tears mixed on her skin as she pleaded desperately. Even in her condition, she still hoped she would leave this place alive.

"Galit?! That's your excuse?!" mas lalong sumiklab ang galit sa mga mata niya dahil sa narinig. "Kung gano'n... ipapakita ko sayo kung ano'ng kaya ko'ng gawin nang dahil sa galit."

Puno ng galit. Kinaladkad siya nito papunta sa dulo ng rooftop

—at tinulak siya.

-

End of Chapter Three