THE DARK SIDE

CHAPTER FIVE: THE UNEXPECTED RETURN

The Unexpected Return

The biting wind whipped through Lucks' hair, sending a shiver down her spine. Baguio. Even after all these years, the city still held the same beauty, an atmosphere, a constant reminder of the past she desperately tried to forget.

She'd planned this trip for months, a much-needed escape from the monotony of her life in Manila. The thought of hiking through the pine forests, sipping hot chocolate in a cozy cafe, and maybe even rediscovering the spark she'd lost somewhere along the way.

But fate, as it often did, had other plans. Yes, here she was but it wasn't for a leisurely vacation. A frantic call from her Ninong made her jumped to her car and drive to this city after handing over her cases to Jess, her assistant in her law firm.

She can still hear the urgency in her Ninong's voice, laced with a desperate plea. "Lucks, I need a favor," he'd rasped, his voice trembling. "Eric is in trouble and he really needs someone he can trust right now."

Lucks gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white. She'd vowed to never return to this city. This place had left a dark and deep hole in her heart. Now, here she was, back in the city that held the ghosts of her early twenties.

She stepped out of her car, the familiar weight of dread settling in her stomach.

The crisp mountain air doing little to soothe the turmoil churning in her gut.

Across the street, the stark white letters of the "Baguio City Police Office" loomed, a chilling reminder of the uncertainty that awaited her.

"You can do this Lucks. It's been 10 years. He probably won't remember you." she whispered to herself, her voice a bit shaky.

She tightened her coat and strode towards the precinct. Her steps echoing through the floor. With a deep breath, she pushed the glass door, taking in the domineering atmosphere. She smelled a brewing coffee mixed with something mettalic.

"Atty Lucks Querove, counsel of Eric Green. I need to see my client now." Lucks firmly stated and flashed her ID . The police woman at the front desk hesitated. Her guess was that Eric is already being bombarded with questions at this moment as she noticed the woman's eyes darted on a room which says "interrogation room".

She didn't wait for a response, she strode straight to the room which says 'occupied'.

She tried to steady her racing heart. She held a deep long breath before she burst through that door.

"That's enough officers, I need to talk to my client."

ATHENZ blinked, his breath catching in his throat. Lucks. Lucks Querove. Standing there, looking impossibly more beautiful than he remembered. Ten years. It had been ten years since he last saw her, ten years since the bitterness had settled deep within him, a constant, aching reminder of the way she vanished from his life without a trace.

Two months before graduation. Just like that, she was gone. No goodbyes, no explanations, not even a single text. Just... gone. The world had tilted on its axis, his carefully constructed future crumbling like a sandcastle. He had barely scraped by that semester, the weight of her absence heavy on his chest, threatening to drown him.

Every morning, he'd wake up with a flicker of hope, imagining her sitting on their usual spot in the classroom, a mischievous glint in her eyes. But the hope dwindled with each passing day, replaced by a gnawing fear. Was she okay? Was she hurt? Kidnapped? The fear consumed him, threatening to unravel his sanity.

Then, he saw her mother on campus. She was processing Lucks' transfer papers. Transfer to Manila. A last-minute decision, she said. His heart plummeted. He asked why, his voice trembling with a mixture of hurt and desperation. Her mother shrugged, a sympathetic look in her eyes. "She didn't say much, Athenz. I think... I think she thought you'd break up."

The words echoed in the silence, a cruel reminder of the chasm that had grown between them. She thought he'd break up with her. Why the hell would she think that? That's why she left. She didn't want him in her life.

And now, here she was, standing before him, a ghost from the past, a haunting reminder of what could have been.

"Officers?" her eyes met his and he wish that was longing he saw in her eyes. But it was gone in a bit. He tried to wipe it off, that can't be true. Her stare told him she already knew that they'll cross paths but no surprise is written in her face.

He turned his back and walked out of the room. Brent following him with a puzzled expression.

"You know her?" Brent asked for confirmation.

Athenz sighed, and looked at him, maybe Brent deserved to know.

"She's my ex," Athenz started and sighed again, "she walked out on me 10 years ago without any word, not even a goodbye."