7 Chapter 6

Summer, 2016

"So, we'll see you soon," Jared says, sharing a small smile.

He, Jacob, and Megan were standing just outside the restaurant to say their goodbyes. The Ocampo parentals, on the other hand, were busy taking selfies by themselves a few feet away from them.

Lunch didn't go as bad as Megan thought it would. Although there were moments when she and Jared would awkwardly meet eyes and try to start up a conversation of their own. And once in a while, Mrs. Ocampo would swoop in, attempting to salvage the overwrought exchange. Megan had no idea if it was on purpose, but judging how sharp a Filipino mother's instincts are, it was definitely deliberate.

Jacob could certainly sense the tension between the two. Which he understood since it's been forever since they last talked. He knew that they drifted apart before Megan left for the Philippines, but he never got to know why.

The only person who was completely clueless in the table was Mr. Ocampo. He would hum in agreement every now and then, but he didn't talk unless he was knowledgeable enough about the topic at hand. Also, his Facebook feed was a lot more interesting than the chatter surrounding him.

Eventually, Megan started to ease up compared to the Uber ride she had with Jacob. The way everyone was acting (well, except Jared) reminded her of way back when they were kids. It felt so familiar that it actually managed to calm all the red alerts ringing in her brain the moment Jared walked in the restaurant. Which brought them to a somewhat friendly atmosphere after lunch.

Megan frowns and rolls her eyes at Jared. "Never falling for that."

"Megaaaaaaaaan!!! Please, you have to come!!" Jacob whines with a pleading yet adorable pout to match. "It's not like you'll be stuck with those three alone."

Jared merely nods in agreement. His younger brother can definitely take care of all the persuading in this situation.

"You have us! And Zoe and Fae and Dan!" Jacob adds to his previous plea.

"I know… I just—" Megan couldn't help but sigh, knowing he's got her right where he wanted. "I'll think about it."

"Progress!" The young boy grins in pure delight.

"It wouldn't be the same without you," Jared manages to add rather coolly.

"Great closing statement," Jacob whispers to and nudges his brother, his mood even better than before.

Megan chuckles and shakes her head at the sight. "Thanks for today." She finally bids adieu with a small wave to them and their parents a bit far back.

"It was good seeing you." A warm smile graces Jared's face as he returns her wave.

"More than good. It's great!" Jacob chirps, bouncing in excitement.

With that, Megan walks away and proceeds to get lost in her own thoughts about lunch. Did she really get through that in one piece? God, she could hear heartbeat everywhere. Like this big gong chasing her and banging close to both her ears. She's sure that it will eventually turn into some weird, deep siren.

"Oh Meg," Mrs. Villavieja greets, briefly tearing her eyes away from the TV.

Megan merely shares a small smile as she enters the house.

"Your tita Jackie told me about your dinner," the older woman says, which prompts Megan to freeze in place.

"Yeah, it was good," she manages a decent reply.

"You have outing daw*. When?" Her mother probes further.

Megan is tight-lipped for a while before she mumbles, "I don't know." She tries to escape the seemingly innocent situation by walking as quickly as possible.

Mrs. Villavieja suddenly catches up to her and blocks her way. "What do you mean, you don't know? You're not going?"

"I just don't see the point," Megan answers simply.

"But it's a reunion, my dear! It will be a lot of fun!!" Her mom's eyes seem to glow at the concept. Clearly, she had no idea how her own child felt about the whole ordeal.

"Ma, I've got my job to think about and my—"

"Anak…" Her mother sighs deeply. "You've done enough."

Have I? Really?? Megan can only stare at the sad woman in front of her.

Mrs. Villavieja nears her and holds her hands tightly. "You've done enough for our family. It's okay. We're okay. Your ate's in Abu Dhabi and they will soon move to the States. Let her help us."

"I don't—"

"You're so young yet you give all of your hard-earned money to us."

Megan can see her mom's tears are about to fall, which in turn makes her well up a bit too. "It's fine. I WANT to help. I want to—"

In a flash, her mother's eyes pierce through hers. "It's time that you think about yourself now, Megan. It's okay to be selfish."

"But—"

"Your dad and I will be fine!" She emits the widest, most genuine grin Megan has ever seen in her twenty-two years of existence. "Marian can take care of us for a couple of years."

Megan could only sigh as they fall into a seemingly endless pit of silence.

"Anyway, even if you don't want to go to the outing, I already said yes for you," Mrs. Villavieja states half-jokingly, "I'm kicking you out of the house come July 15."

Megan takes this as her cue to finally roll her eyes. Typical. "I'm not a child, mom. I'm a full-grown adult."

"Then why are you not acting like one???? Ha???" She scowls at her daughter. "Hay nako. Batang 'to.**"

Megan only purses her lips in an attempt to keep mum as she stares at the ground. She really was just waiting for this to be over with already.

"Bahala ka na nga,***" her mother mutters under her breath.

Heaving an internal sigh of relief, Megan tries to leave without another word.

But Mrs. Villavieja changes her mind and pulls her daughter's arm, stopping her from moving any further. "I also cut several friends out of my life when I was your age. Without an explanation. Even if it was a relief, a part of me still hurts, because... I never got to listen to what they had to say. To their side of the story. And before I knew it, I was too old to have the right to ask them. And vice versa. I'm not asking you to be friends with them again, Megan. I'm asking you to at least get out of it clean. With closure. No what-ifs. Because that will haunt you for years."

Silence fills the room yet again.

Why exactly was her mom so hopped up on this reunion? It's not like she was attending it. Sure, she knew about what happened back then, because Megan practically shared everything with her. But that didn't validate forcing Megan to do what she didn't want to do. "Ewan****," she murmurs before her mother finally lets her arm go.

When she gets into the safety of her bedroom, she immediately takes her phone from her bag to distract herself from the tense conversation she's just had.

Jared Ocampo: Megatron

Megan blinks at the old nickname right before her eyes for a few minutes before mustering the courage to reply.

You: Red

She lays on her bed, just staring at the device and waiting for his message. When even was the last time she was this nervous??

Jared Ocampo: Got home safe?

Well…we wouldn't be having this conversation if I didn't but… Her thoughts are condescending, but her body reacts otherwise as she squeals like an overjoyed groupie.

Jared Ocampo: That was a stupid question. Of course, you got home safe.

You: Hahaaaa. Was just about to say.

You: You okay there?

Jared Ocampo: Yeah, just out of sorts I guess

Jared Ocampo: How many years has it been?

You: Too many

You: Otherwise, we wouldn't be this awkward through chat

Jared Ocampo: I think we did a fair job at lunch

You: I guess…

Megan could feel the jitters crawl all over her. The conversation is dead, isn't it? What else was she supposed to say? How's life? I might still be in love with you?

Jared Ocampo: Lol you don't sound v convinced

Jared Ocampo: We'll get better

Jared Ocampo: We still have the reunion

Jared Ocampo: Really hope you can still make it

An unrecognizable noise comes out of her mouth, somewhere between a sigh and a scoff. And she has to try her best to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Although she couldn't lie to herself completely. Now that she undoubtedly knew he wanted her there, she couldn't help but think twice about going.

It doesn't take long for her to make up her mind. And even if she'd regret saying it, the message has already been sent, crystal clear.

You: At this point, I think I don't actually have a choice.

Jared Ocampo: See you then :)