3 Chapter 2
"It could've been a high school reunion," Zoe starts in a soft tone before suddenly taking it up a notch, "It could've been a COLLEGE reunion--"
"Too early for that, hun," Felicity quickly retorts, adjusting her thinly rimmed black glasses with much gusto.
"It could've been ANY fucking reunion…" Zoe continues in a warning tone, now glaring at the youngest girl in the group, "And we would've been actually mentally and emotionally prepared. But no. It HAD to be this one."
Though she seemed calm about it last night, it only took a bit of time before Zoe had fully realized what the reunion meant. Reuniting with people from their past. All of them. Not handpicked ones according to their whim. There were awesome people from their childhood, but also condescending ones, who they had a bit of a fallout with. And sure, she isn't one to back down from any confrontation. But at the same time, she didn't want to cause a scene. She'd rather not go altogether than attend and pretend like everything's okay between everyone.
Meanwhile, quietly sitting out on the current escalating conversation is Megan. It's no question that she could feel Zoe's burning rage coursing through her own system, but all she could really do is stare into nothing. She's more of a silent rager. Either that or the absurd situation hasn't sunk in on her completely yet.
Thankfully, they're hanging out in a cool place, in contrast to the hot-headedness currently circulating the majority of the trio. After the sudden email, they decided to gather in their favorite coffee shop in Greenbelt the next day. Hip and laid-back, it's the mall that counts as halfway for both southern and northern residents of Metro Manila.
"A reunion with shitty people from Ras Tanura?! REALLY?!" Zoe exclaims as she throws her hands up, almost knocking over her coffee on her gym bag.
"To be fair, not all of them are shitty. Just three… or four…" Felicity offers the obvious people in mind, though she becomes a bit unsure by the end of her statement.
"Four???" Zoe shoots her a cross look, wondering who on earth could be the fourth person.
"Three and a half?"
"I'm not your fucking professor, Fae. You can't just give me a random answer."
"Just saying," Felicity counters making a face while admiring her newly done nail art. She's starting to get bored with their mildly hostile exchange. It isn't long until she remembers who's most affected by the recent turn of events, so she directs her eyes at Megan. "Seeing your first love for the first time in a billion years when you had absolutely no closure before you parted ways must spell nothing but disaster."
Megan remains unfazed on the outside, but her heart couldn't help but skip a beat at the thought of him.
"You meant Jared when you said four?" Zoe questions.
"I mean… he's not a saint so…" Felicity retorts with a forced smile while mockingly tapping her nails on the table.
Gradually coming on with a headache, Megan decides to intervene. "Why are you guys even arguing? Both of you obviously don't want this reunion to happen."
The other two open their mouths to defend their own stances, only to realize that she actually has a point.
"It's not like we can stop it anyway." Megan folds one arm across her chest and plays with the straw in her drink with the other. "As long as we don't directly interact with those three, I'm sure we'll be fine."
"What about Jared?" Felicity pipes up.
Megan directs a questioning gaze at her. "What ABOUT Jared?"
"Clearly, you're not over him," she points out both in a teasing and serious tone.
"It's been TEN years," Zoe argues for their friend.
"And I'm not stupid," Megan adds.
"You can be sometimes," Felicity surmises.
Megan immediately glowers at her, letting her eyes do all the cursing. If it had been the Megan from a few years ago, she would've gone all out on Felicity. Or at least ended her with just one snarky statement. But alas, she's learned the art of glaring. She likes to think that one glare from her can kill anyone with a weak soul.
Which, apparently, Felicity has, so she suddenly asks about something else. "How long has it been again since the incident?"
Completely unrelated to Jared, what they like to refer to as 'the incident' was the official downfall of their group of childhood friends. It's something they barely discuss, especially after so long. And one word to describe it? Messy.
"Six years," Zoe responds as if in a trance, her brain taking a trip down memory lane.
"Ah, the infamous 2010 incident," Felicity says in the same tone.
It's been a while since Megan has thought about it. She was 17 at the time, Zoe would've been 19, and Felicity 13. Every summer, they would meet up with the gang in the Philippines and catch up. More than half of them were studying in the States, so it was a big deal when they all flew in during summer vacation. But last 2010, everything was put to an end. In a flash. All it took was one statement and it's as if everyone forgot what it was like to be friends.
"Speaking of the devil…" Felicity breaks the silence when she spots a newly created chat in her Messenger.
The other two turn to glance at her and then exchange looks before grabbing their own phones and seeing what the fuss is all about.
Megan, Felicity, Danica, Zoe, Lacey, Logan, and 4 others
Active
Naia Baniaga: Hey guys!
"Well, SHE'S got some nerve," Zoe sasses without a thought as the messages continue to flow in the chat.
Naia Baniaga: So, I know that we haven't talked in forever, but I feel that the reunion this coming summer is a great opportunity for us to rekindle our friendships!
Odell Lumaban: Hear, hear!
Logan dela Vega: We were thinking we could have a reunion of our own before the actual reunion with the 'rents. Batangas sound any good?
Jacob Ocampo: I'm in
Jared Ocampo: Sure
Felicity Bautista: No fights though, right?
Naia Baniaga: Of course not! We're all past that incident, aren't we?
Zoe Torres: Idk. ARE we?
Megan Villavieja: I'll pass. I don't really feel like it.
Zoe Torres: That about sums it up
Danica Garcia: :(
Lacey dela Vega: It won't be any fun without you, ate*!!!! :((((
Megan Villavieja: You'll find a way.
"What exactly are you playing at, Felicity??" Zoe questions warningly. She knows her friend is a bit on the eccentric side, but not the psychotic. Just a few minutes ago, she was against getting involved with these people. Or at least, some of them.
"Oh wow. No nickname," Felicity replies slightly frightened. She avoids the older one's piercing gaze and plays around with her curly ponytail nervously. That is until she comes up with an excuse. "I don't know… it looks like they already paid for it, so it's not like we're the ones on the losing end."
Zoe scoffs at her poor improv skills. "That's total bullshit and you know it."
"OKAY FINE..." Felicity frowns as she continues in a completely serious tone, "I just… if I'm being honest, I just want world peace…"
Zoe couldn't help but smack her head out of frustration.
"OW-UUHH!!!"
"Well stop fucking around!"
Before Felicity can protect her pride, Megan explains calmly, "She means that she wants to just get it over with. Resolve what was left hanging six years ago."
"She actually nailed it," Felicity confirms. "I'm not asking for all of us to be friends again… I just don't want any ill feelings left lying around."
Megan's voice comes out harsh and cold. "That's still not enough."
Logan dela Vega: You're not even going to be there, Lace
Lacey dela Vega: Well she didn't know that until you said it
Odell Lumaban: Wait then what are you doing in this chat?????
Lacey dela Vega: I just thought it'd be fun. I'm STILL part of the squad you know
Jared Ocampo: We're definitely not a squad
Lacey dela Vega: Yes we are. We're just not the squad GOAL
Logan dela Vega: Anyway, it's too late. We already booked the villa
Danica Garcia: He's actually not lying
Logan dela Vega: Stop peeking at my screen
Zoe Torres: Alright, I'm in
Felicity Bautista: ARE YOU GUYS TOGETHER?!?!?!
Logan dela Vega: Alriiiight ate! Awesome!
Logan dela Vega: Well, we didn't want to make it official until we arrived, but yes. Dan and I are dating.
Danica Garcia: Shut up.
Danica Garcia: We're taking the same flight to Manila.
Lacey dela Vega: Without meeeeee :(
Logan dela Vega: Dumb enough for summer school so
Odell Lumaban: Heading to NAIA**… eeeeeyyyyy ;)
Felicity Bautista: HAHAHAHAHA that never gets old.
Naia Baniaga: Ha-ha
Jacob Ocampo: Well, you gotta want in now, Meg. You're wasting precious money.
"Well, he ain't LYING," Felicity comments snippily as she shares a fake smile with Megan.
The older girl's jaw clenches at her condescending tone. "Is it really necessary to give in and act all fake and chummy with them?????"
"No, but--"
"Then I don't want to do it."
Felicity sighs before calmly continuing, "Think of it this way, Meg. You may just get the closure you deserve after all these years."
"I agree with her. For once," Zoe finally speaks up after keeping silent for an oddly long time.
Megan's eyes dart back and forth between her two friends as she ponders about her current dilemma. Felicity was right. If she agrees, she would have a fighting chance of getting the closure she needs. If she refuses, she may just have to stay hung up on him.
Not that she's been pining for him for ten years in a Helga***-esque sort of way. It's that weird hopped up feeling she gets whenever his name is mentioned. Or nights when she's left all alone with her thoughts and her brain decides to kick up the nostalgia reel in like a bitch.
They were best friends. Actual best friends that had weird inside jokes, that shared an intimate, blurred sort of platonic bond, and felt each other's presence like a wave of adrenaline or electricity. As cheesy as it sounds, she knew that was real. But after all these years, she never could really figure out what went wrong with them. Or perhaps she knew, it's just that her memory chooses to suppress it with all its might.
Megan Villavieja: Eh still no
Logan dela Vega: Well… if you change your mind, we leave on July 15 and come back home on the 22nd.
Odell Lumaban: Also, no plus-ones for this one
Felicity Bautista: You've got to stop making it obvious that you lead a sad and lonely life.
Odell Lumaban: HEY! My bf's staying in nyc, okay????
Logan dela Vega: You mean the bf you broke up with a week ago?
Odell Lumaban: No
Naia Baniaga: Oh right. You broke up with him a week ago, got back together the next day, and THEN broke up again two days later.
Odell Lumaban: Actual dicks.
Logan dela Vega: Thanks for clarifying that, airps****
Naia Baniaga: Stop calling me that
Zoe Torres: If it helps, I think most (if not all) of us are single
Danica Garcia: I'm not
Logan dela Vega: YOU WERE CHEATING ON ME?!?!?!? *shocked emoji*
Logan dela Vega: Ow! That really hurt!
Danica Garcia: You deserve it
Logan dela Vega: Stop glaring at me!!!
Lacey dela Vega: And supposedly, I'M the youngest in the group
Here's one of the many unspoken rules with ex-pats (especially Filipinos): those of the same nationality and their families stick together. It does not matter whether you're living in a big city in Europe or a small town in Saudi Arabia, if you're Filipino, you all ride or die in this foreign country 'til fate separates you. Or maybe if for some fucked up reason, you decide to stab each other in the back, you can just forget each other's existence. There's drama within the community too, especially with the parents. But hey, when the group is being attacked as a whole, you best believe they'll forget that bullshit and stand by each other.
This was definitely the case for the group of friends, who shall be referred to as the RT kids. Each generation had a name for themselves. The previous one was the Aramco brats, which isn't as appropriate as it sounds because most of the children from that era were not snooty in any way. If anything, the RT kids were much brattier. Children born from the year 1991 to 1999 were included in this particular group. Admittedly, there were several that came and went during their childhood years. But the solid ten that remained until 2006 were considered as (kind of) official carriers of the brand, RT kids.
Logan dela Vega: HOY***** how are you a part of our group if you were born in 2000??? Begone, pesky vermin!!!
Lacey dela Vega: HOY! KUYA******! I was born in 1999!! Sabit******* life is the best life!
Lacey dela Vega: Who's dumb now, bobo********?
Odell Lumaban: Haha gago*********
Danica Garcia: Tanga**********
Felicity Bautista: OY OY OY OY OY OY
Felicity Bautista: You forgot tarantado***********
Naia Baniaga: I'm dead at this convo
Odell Lumaban: Well the joke's dead now, airps. Are you happy with yourself?
Naia Baniaga: F you
Zoe Torres: Maingay************
Felicity Bautista: Opo************** ma'am
Logan dela Vega: Heard that? That's the sound of victory
Zoe Torres: You're still fucking stupid, Logan
Odell Lumaban: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA
Felicity Bautista: HAHAHAHAHAHA SDFGHJKDJSJDBJKAD
Logan dela Vega: Ateeeee!!!
Zoe Torres: You don't know your own sister's birthday? Come ON
Although the group of childhood friends all grew up in one place, there came a time when they had to go their separate ways and spend their high school years elsewhere. The first to go was Zoe during 2004 and then Megan in 2006 for the Philippines. Felicity was the last to leave in 2012. The others followed in their respective years but were shipped off to the great Land of the Free.
Bear in mind that social media was already starting its slow, progressive course during this time. Facebook, Myspace, Friendster were just some of the only ways of communicating with friends from abroad. There was even the legendary MSN and Yahoo! Messenger. Their generation was practically the little pioneers of all things internet and modern technology.
So, what happened?
Naia Baniaga: Alright, alright settle down
Jared Ocampo: See you guys on the 15th
Jacob Ocampo: Or most of you at least
Naia Baniaga: See you!
Naia Baniaga: My flight's next week
Odell Lumaban: Same
Odell Lumaban: Race you to yourself then? :>
Naia Baniaga: Really
Logan dela Vega: Hey, it's not our fault you were named after our fuckin airport
Naia Baniaga: It's pronounced NA-YA.
Odell Lumaban: Eh… still NA-EE-YA.
Felicity Bautista: It's a classic name. Can't possibly replace it with anything else.
Odell Lumaban: THANK YOU
What always happens… they grew up.
Zoe lets out a long sigh as she tilts her head at Megan. "So, you're really not going, huh?"
"I don't want to waste my time with people that don't matter," The latter answers simply.
"Ouch!" Felicity jokes with a fake gasp.
Megan casts a knowing look at her, trying her best not crack a smile or a laugh then and there.
"And here I was… hoping you'd bite on the first love card," Felicity teases even further.
"There are other things I should be worrying about." Megan rolls her eyes, despite feeling a bit conflicted deep down. "…like my job."
"Amen, sister." Zoe throws her hands up in surrender.
Felicity furrows her eyebrows and makes a face. "Can't relate."
The two older girls snort at her snippy statement and burst into infectious laughter, despite their current situation.
How has life managed to become even shittier this time?
