Back to Reality

Airi found herself standing in front of her former high school alma mater. After the therapist advised her to face the ghost of her past, she decided to go back to where it all started.

Her shoulders dropped heavily at the sight. Though the school remained lively with its new hundreds of students, her high school memory flashed back like it only happened yesterday.

She bitterly smiled seeing a group of girls teasing each other as they passed by her when they entered the gate. They talked about their crushes. Their giggles echoed that of her friends’ every time they teased her with Jiro. A group of boys tailed them, and their boisterous laughter filled the air, especially when they talked about their favorite band.

There were familiar faces of teachers entering the school premise. Some of them were the ones she used to see but had never been their mentors before. Others were those who used to be practice teachers conducting their practicum. But what made her smile even more was seeing her former batchmates in their faculty uniforms.

‘Who would’ve thought those students who used to ditch their classes would end up as teachers? Destiny is indeed amusing.’

A sense of pride had awakened in her. Feeling proud for her former schoolmates. But that didn’t last a few minutes when she remembered her fate.

“Riri!!!” Merry’s shrill, excited voice stopped Airi’s daydreaming. Rushing footsteps from behind made Airi gently shake her head while smiling.

‘Merry hasn’t changed a bit. She's still loud.’ 

She looked at her friend and gave her a querying smile. Her eyes welled when she saw her wearing a nurse’s uniform, but her ID lace was that of CHNS. “You work here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I would love to, but I can’t.” she took her arm and guided her as they went on campus. “I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear anything about this place yet.” She scanned Airi’s face. “But your sudden appearance on such short notice tells me you’re healing.”

“Going back is part of the healing process. That’s at least what the therapist told me… so, I’m back!”

“Missed this place?” Merry grinned. “You were a frequent visitor here.”

Airi scoffed as they stepped into the clinic. “I know. It all started on the first day of our freshman year.”

Sadness pinched her soul once more. The feeling of longing instantaneously enveloped her, filling the emptiness in her heart. She walked to the window and watched the students passing by. Nothing changed a bit. Across from the clinic was the library beside the rows of mabolo trees. The benches under them, where they used to stay while waiting for their next class, were still there.

The pathway where Celina bullied her was the same, though the trees along it had grown taller.

“The day I was bullied by Celina right on that path still haunts my dreams,” she said. She just heard Merry’s sigh and the clinking medicine bottles as she arranged them. When she looked at her, Merry’s frowning face welcomed her. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to go somewhere after school. And it’s important that you come.”

“Why?”

“You’ll find out later.”

*

The school day ended with Airi emotionally exhausted after Merry made her say hi to their former teachers. Every classroom they visited gave her a glimpse of the past, hitting her with a fatal blow of guilt and longing for times she couldn’t relive.

As they stepped out of campus, a white van waited for them. Merry’s husband was in the driver seat.

“Is this your ride?” she asked Merry.

“Yep! You like it?”

She nodded. “Although it’s a bit huge for you.”

“I occasionally bring it for long drives with family. I don’t drive this to work.”

“Remind me where we’re going.” Airi glanced at her luggage, hinting that she should find a place to stay first.

“Oh, I know just the place. How long will you stay here?”

“I don’t know for as long as I can endure all the negative emotions and be healed, I guess.”

They got in the van, and Tofer said, ‘hi.’ She just nodded to him. They had known each other since childhood. Their communication was also consistent, especially when Merry called her, so there was no need for a long tête-à-tête.

“I already found a job for you,” Merry said.

“I won’t stay here for long,” she protested.

“You’ll never know. Anyway, it’s a freelance writing job. It’ll be over before you know it.”

Tofer pulled over in front of a traditional Filipino restaurant. Stepping inside pulled her into a state of nostalgia.

The ambiance gave off the memories of her childhood while running in a rice field with her friends. The dining place sat amidst a vast field. So, the smell of hay and fresh air mixed with the icy breeze pacified her chaotic mind. It wasn’t a typical restaurant built with concrete and metals. It was a mansion-sized bahay kubo constructed using bamboo and other hardwood, roofed with nipa.

Its structure and design were very close to her heart. It resembled an archetypal style of accommodations in which people in their village resided when only a few could afford to own concrete houses. The walls were made from woven bamboo. What served as windows was the wide gap between the halfway-built walls from the roof.

“Hey,” Merry nudged her. “Tissue?” She handed a packet to Airi.

It was only then that she noticed her face was damp with tears.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t realized how much I’ve missed a place like this until now.” While she was wiping her tears away, Zai-zai waved at them.

She was seated with two men on a lone table near a window.

As they got closer to their friend, Airi stared at the guy seated beside Zai-zai. And when she recognized him, her knees wobbled as she scanned the place…looking for a specific face. That guy was Ravi, Jiro’s cousin. Seeing Ravi might also mean seeing Jiro because they were always together.

“Relax, Ri. It’s just me,” Ravi said when they were closer. “You looked like you’ve seen a stranger.”

“I—I was just stunned. You look different… more manly. No offense.” He couldn't believe that the Ravi who used to speak high-pitched had changed into a muscular man. The thought that it was simply his way of feasting his eyes on attractive men with protruding biceps made her secretly smile.

Ravi chuckled. “The girl inside me is asleep in crowded places like this. I’m just being careful with paparazzi.”

She nodded. Indeed, their family was the most respected household not only in their town but also in their province. He couldn’t afford to tarnish their lineage once people found out the skeleton in his closet.

Airi wanted to ask about Jiro, but Ravi cut her thoughts.

“You’re a published author, right? I have read some of your novels. I’m quite impressed!” he said, pulling a book and a fountain pen from his duffle bag. “Don’t mind the bag. I just came from the gym.” He put Airi’s romance fantasy novel on the table and pushed it towards her. “Please sign this. I’m a fan.”

She meekly smiled. Despite coming from a notable family, Ravi remained simple and down-to-earth. She took the book and the pen, signed it with a dedication, and handed it back to him.

“Who would’ve thought that the girl who made herself remarkable during the first day of class is now a renowned multi-genre author, hiding under a pseudonym?" Then he glanced at the man next to him. “This is Attorney Zeke Ferrer. We came here with a proposal.”