Whispers of Deja Vu

Episode 5

BACK TO PRESENT...

"Neil! Stop the car!" Keiffer shouted at their driver, Neil.

"You fools! We're almost there! Look, they're right ahead!" Neil shouted back. Keiffer could only facepalm, unsure how to explain the situation to his friend.

"If we don't stop, Alex will get hurt! Ugh! Why is this happening? Everything feels like déjà vu," Samantha said, dizzy with confusion.

They heard another gunshot, making everyone nervous again. Especially Nicole, who was terrified that if Alex didn't stop, the accident from before might happen again. She couldn't bear to witness such a tragedy again. It felt like nothing could prevent what was about to happen. No matter how hard they tried to stop it, nothing worked. It seemed as if fate had planned it all.

With no other idea in mind, Nicole took a deep breath and looked seriously at Alex, who was following behind them.

"IF YOU STOP... RIGHT NOW... I WILL MARRY YOU!" Nicole shouted at Alex with all her heart.

"Oh my gosh," Samantha gasped.

"W-what?" Alex asked, confused. He heard what Nicole said, but he wanted to hear it again, clearer this time.

"ARE YOU DEAF? I SAID IF YOU STOP RIGHT NOW... AND STAY THERE... I'LL MARRY YOU TODAY, TOMORROW, OR ANY DAY YOU WANT!" Nicole shouted, ensuring Alex, Neil, and their other friends could hear her.

She was certain about what she was saying, without a hint of regret or doubt, only love and concern for Alex.

She couldn't fathom the possibility of losing him again, not after everything they had been through together. The depth of her love for him was overwhelming, eclipsed only by the haunting memories of his past struggles. Witnessing his pain before had shattered her heart, and the mere thought of history repeating itself tore at her soul.

"So please, just stop." Nicole pleaded with Alex, tears falling from her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Alex immediately pulled over to the side of the road. He didn't understand what was happening but decided to follow his girlfriend's request. He couldn't help but smile, overjoyed by what he had just heard. It was probably the happiest day of his life.

Seeing Alex stop, everyone in the car breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed into the car.

"That was all it took to stop him? Unbelievable!" Keiffer exclaimed.

Samantha immediately threw her arms around Nicole. "We're both engaged! I'm so happy—though I'm also a little scared right now. But still... I'm really happy for you guys." Her voice trembled with a mix of excitement and fear.

Nicole hugged her back tightly. "Thank you... but Sam, this isn't over yet."

Keiffer sat up, scanning the road ahead with tense eyes. "Is it over? Are we safe now?" His voice was laced with doubt. "I don't get what's happening, but I can't believe everything from before is happening again."

Nicole swallowed hard, her pulse hammering in her ears. "I don't know if it's over... but as long as Alex is safe, I think—"

Keiffer suddenly cut her off, his voice low and uneasy. "What if Alex isn't the one in danger this time... but us?"

Nicole's stomach dropped.

Samantha gasped, her hands clutching her chest. "Oh no!" Tears welled in her eyes. "This is my fault... I'm sorry, guys! If I hadn't—"

"Love, don't say that," Keiffer said quickly, his grip tightening around her hand.

"No, it's not your fault, Sam," Nicole said firmly, trying to steady her own breathing. "Fate and time are messing with us. But if we really are next... we need to be ready."

Keiffer clenched his fists. "We dodged this once—we can do it again. We're not going down that easy!"

Samantha suddenly turned toward Neil. "Neil, stop the car! Just let the van go!"

"What?!" Neil snapped, gripping the wheel tighter. "Sam, your stuff is in there! We can't just let them take everything!"

But before anyone could argue, Neil's eyes widened as he saw what was unfolding ahead.

The barangay officers were already firing at the van's tires. But then—

BANG!

The van's windshield burst open, and the thieves inside started shooting back.

"s**t!" Keiffer shouted as a bullet barely missed them.

Neil swerved violently, dodging the gunfire. "GUYS, GET DOWN—NOW!" he yelled.

Samantha let out a sharp scream as she and Nicole ducked, gripping onto the truck's metal frame. Keiffer pulled Samantha close, shielding her with his body.

Nicole's heart pounded as the echoes of gunfire surrounded them.

And in that moment, she knew—this wasn't just some twisted déjà vu.

This was a fight for their lives.

Gunfire rang out, relentless and deafening. Neil saw one of the barangay staff take a hit to the arm, but despite the injury, the man gritted his teeth and fired twice—both bullets hitting the van's tires. The van swerved violently, struggling for control.

Then—CRASH!

The staff's motorcycle slammed into the van, unable to stop in time.

Neil's breath caught in his throat as he watched the motorcycle and its rider get thrown into the air. Time slowed. The twisted metal, the limp body—it was all hurtling straight toward them. His heart pounded as he gripped the wheel, a cold sweat breaking out across his skin.

"No, no, no—"

The motorcycle hit the ground hard, scraping and sparking as it slid right into their path. Neil slammed the brakes, but it was too late.

BANG!

The impact sent their car spinning out of control.

Screams filled the air.

Samantha clung to Keiffer, her fingers digging into his arms. Nicole's hands locked onto the metal frame in front of her, her breath caught in sheer terror.

The world outside became a blur of lights, metal, and screeching tires. Neil fought the wheel, muscles straining as he tried to stop their deadly spin.

The edge of the road was getting closer—too close.

Then—JOLT!

The car slammed to a stop, its front wheels teetering dangerously over the edge of a steep drop.

For a split second, everything was silent.

The distant wail of sirens echoed in the night. No one moved. No one breathed.

They were alive—but just barely.

Keiffer was the first to speak, his voice shaky but steady. "We... we made it. We're alive."

The first aid responders were already tending to them, checking for injuries. Samantha winced as a medic wrapped her wrist, while Keiffer pressed an ice pack against his bruised arm. Nicole had a scrape on her forehead, and Neil groaned as he stretched his sore shoulder. They were battered, aching, and shaken—but nothing was broken, nothing too serious.

Samantha wiped away her tears. "I thought... I thought it was the end."

They carefully stepped out of the car with the help of the responders, their legs unsteady but their hearts still pounding from the close call. As they stood by the roadside, watching the flashing lights of emergency vehicles fill the night, a deep, unspoken bond settled between them. They had faced something terrifying together—and they had survived.

Neil let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "I can't believe we survived that."

Keiffer, despite his sore body, smacked him lightly on the head. "We told you so many times to stop, but you didn't listen, you dimwit." His voice was teasing, but his eyes held nothing but gratitude. "But still... thank you, bro. You saved us." He patted Neil's shoulder, and Neil nodded, a shaky grin forming on his face.

Nicole, still trying to steady her breath, turned to her friends—then her eyes caught sight of Alex.

He was running toward them, his face pale, his expression frantic. The moment their eyes met, everything else around her blurred.

"Are you okay now?" Alex's voice trembled with worry as he reached her.

Before she could answer, he pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her like he never wanted to let go. She felt his body shaking against hers.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

Nicole closed her eyes and held him just as tightly. "You'll never lose me," she murmured. "Not now, not ever."

Around them, emergency responders took control of the chaotic scene. The stolen van was finally stopped, the thieves apprehended. The sound of sirens and distant voices filled the night, but in that moment, all that mattered was the fact that they were still standing, still breathing—together.

As the sun set, casting a warm glow through the hospital window, the group sat together in the same room, still processing everything that had happened. The steady beep of the monitors and the occasional footsteps of the nurses filled the quiet air. They had been admitted for CT scans—just in case—but thankfully, none of them had suffered any major injuries.

Keiffer groaned, rubbing his temples as he sat up in his hospital bed. "I swear, fate is messing with us. How is it that every time we're all together, something completely insane happens? Do we have some kind of chaos magnet attached to us?"

Samantha let out a weak laugh, shifting slightly under the blanket draped over her. "Maybe we should stop hanging out," she joked, though the relief in her voice was clear. "Or at least stay away from moving vehicles."

Nicole, lying on the next bed with an ice pack on her forehead, glanced at Alex, who was seated beside her, still holding her hand. His grip was firm, like he was afraid she'd disappear if he let go.

"We're fine," Nicole whispered, squeezing his fingers. "We made it through."

Alex exhaled, finally allowing himself to relax. "You scared the hell out of me, Nics."

"You and me both," Neil muttered from his bed, wincing as he adjusted his position. "I think I lost ten years of my life from that crash."

Nicole glanced at Alex, who still holding her hand. He met her gaze and grinned.

"You did promise to marry me," Alex reminded her playfully.

Nicole groaned. "I was desperate, okay?"

"But you meant it," he teased.

She sighed, unable to hide her smile. "Yeah, I did."

Keiffer clapped his hands together. "Great! So, wedding planning tomorrow?"

Nicole threw a stray pebble at him. "Shut up."

As laughter echoed among them, the weight of their near-death experience lifted, leaving only the warmth of friendship and the certainty that no matter what fate threw their way, they would always face it together.

The end.