A Trip to Japan Confession

Alex stood in front of a club where their supposed class reunion is to happen, is happening, seeing how all these colorful lights and loud music had started rolling. She observed the exterior of the building one more time, with a sigh to released her overwhelming nerves she set her foot for the entrance. As she made her appearance, the fun inside the club seem to halt for a second. Her classmates back in high school stared as if they were seeing a ghost. She stared back at them, trying her best to remain unbothered despite how she wanted to just run for her car and leave. "Alexha? We didn't expect--We--I..." As far as her memory entails, that's Shelly Francisco. A groupmate for a research project back then. "Yeah. Hi." Alex waved her hand, giving them an akward smile, an unintentionally funny frown on her face. She hoped they didn't notice how her whole body was shaking with how uncomfortable the situation is. "Alex!!" Everyone's attention spun from Alex to the boy shouting while scurrying his way out of the podium where the DJ stood. "Alex!! I thought you were joking when you said you'll be attending this year's reunion." The boy excitedly grabbed her by the shoulder for a brief hug, his other hand holding a glass of champagne. "Long time no see to you too, Shawn." Alex humurously patted Shawn's back. "Wait, you knew Alexha was coming and you didn't tell us?" Maze Alcantara, an old seatmate and a friend of Alex as well. "Well as I just blurted out, I thought she was joking!" Shawn said, his hands on a surrender gesture trying to convey that, truly, it's not entirely his fault. Maze had just rolled her eyes because she can't really argue with that. "Anyway! Alexha, welcome to the party! We missed you." Rina Angeles, Alex's very first friend back in high school. The girl gradually made her way to where Alex is and gave her a small but very warm hug. "Missed you guys too." Alex had replied, wrapping her arms around her best friend reciprocating how she genuinely misses them as much. "Alright people! Let's get back to party!!" Shawn shouted with all enthusiasm and it successfully willed the crowd into partying again, lights going crazy and music getting louder and louder. While the majority of the crowd had been distracted, Alex's old classmates had made their way to her, greeting and giving her thumbs up. They gathered around a VIP table on the club's second floor—private enough to chill, but still close enough to catch all the action happening downstairs. A waiter handed them drinks they've specifically ordered. "So, how's Japan?" If Alex isn't mistaken, that's Jayla Gonzales. Her old competition. "Fine." She replied curtly. If Jayla was surprised, Alex didn’t really care. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask, why so many people? I’m pretty sure there are only like forty-something of us in the class." Alex asked, taking a sip of her tequilla. "Alexha, did you not read the invitation?" That's Fate Mendoza for you, her tone challenging Alex to dare lie to her. "I did." Alex shrugged, setting her glass down. She crossed her arms over her chest, playfully raising an eyebrow over her friend's direction. "I see, you're older now but your mind is still of a child." Fate bantered. Alex chuckled defensively. "Hey! I didn’t read it thoroughly, but I did skim through it." Fate grinned, “You just proved my point.” She lifted her glass at Alex, gave a quick gesture of cheers, then happily downed the rest. Alex smiled and asked, “But seriously, though?” steering the conversation back on track. Shawn leaned against the railing, watching the people downstairs. “It’s the whole batch from our year—like all ten sections,” he said. “Wow, that’s a lot...” Alex said, trailing off a bit shocked. No wonder the whole club was booked just for this event. As the night wore on and her classmates' gossip shifted away from her, Alex slowly drifted out of the conversation. She focused on sipping her drink, eyes scanning the room for the one person, the real reason she even showed up. She thought about asking her friends, but she didn’t want to invite any questions she wasn’t ready for. She let out an exhausted breath, dejected. She'd give it another hour. If the person she came to see still didn’t show, she’d take the hint, let it go, and quietly slip out. Just like that, an hour had passed and still, no sign of the person she was hoping to see. Guess that was that. She finished the last of her drink, stood up with a quiet sigh, and started saying her goodbyes, trying not to let the disappointment show. "Can't you really stay for a little longer?" Shawn asked, making the sadness in his voice obvious. “I’m sorry, I still have work to do. I mean, I’m here for a business trip, not a vacation,” Alex said with a light laugh, trying to play it off as a joke. But the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She wasn’t sure if the disappointment on her face was because of the limited time, herself, or the fact that the real reason she came hadn’t shown up. Maybe all of it. Maybe none. Either way, no one noticed—and that, at least, meant no one would ask. "Alright, message us when you get home." Shawn reminded, a gentle smile on his face. “Just like old times,” Alex said, giving a playful finger salute. She smiled warmly at the group one last time before slowly making her way out of the club, a flicker of memories lingering in her eyes. Once she stepped outside, the Christmas breeze wrapped around her like a gentle comfort, calming her overwhelmed mind as if it understood exactly what she was feeling. Like it knew how badly her heart wanted to burst out of her ribcage, how she just wanted to let the tears fall and cry it all out. She fought hard to hold back the tears, picking up her pace toward her car. Just as she was a few steps away, a voice called her name and it all but stopped. "Alex?" Alex’s head whipped around faster than her racing heart, her eyes chasing where the voice had came from. And there she was, panting hard as if she'd ran just to get to her, still wearing that nurse uniform of hers, "Pia." Alex breathed out, barely more than a whisper. She couldn’t believe the reason she’d come was now right in front of her. "Hey. Running away from me?" Pia Lana Bernardo, Alexha Castillo's first love. “Hi.” Alex couldn’t help the foolish grin that tugged at her lips, or the unspoken love dancing in her eyes. “I waited. I thought you weren’t coming,” she said, her voice steadier now than it had been just moments before. “Yeah… sorry about that,” Pia replied, walking closer. “My boyfriend was being an ass, as usual.” Alex felt a flicker of surprise—but it wasn’t really a surprise. Pia had made it clear six years ago that she was into men. There was nothing Alex could do except nod, her excitement fading into a dull, polite stillness. She stood there, more out of old friendship than anything else, just going through the motions. All she really wanted now was to be alone, to quietly slip away without making it awkward. “I see,” she said, her voice flat, all the warmth from before gone. The sudden shift in mood caught Pia off guard, making her stop a few steps short of reaching Alex. “Is something wrong?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice. “Not at all. I just... I’d like to call it a night. I’m pretty tired,” Alex replied. She winced at how cold it sounded, harsher than she’d meant, more defense than fatigue. Pia nodded slowly. “Then I won’t keep you,” she said softly. She hesitated, the word lingering on her tongue before she finally let it out. “Good night... love.” Hearing the old endearment stirred something soft in Alex, just for a moment. “Good evening, Pia,” she replied, a faint, bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. If Pia felt shocked, hurt, or even disappointed that Alex didn’t return the term of affection, Alex wouldn’t know. She’d already turned away, not giving her the chance to say anything else. Once she was inside her car, she started the engine and drove off—never looking back. She couldn’t. She knew that if she did, everything she’d spent years holding together would come crashing down.