Unexpected Encounter

It was already 12 in the afternoon when Rayzel received an email from her school alumni saying that she is gradually invited to the Class of 2000-2001 reunion which will be held at Bai Hotel on the weekend. This will be a two days and one night stay, so everyone is encouraged to bring a couple of clothes and other necessary things for the stay.

I snapped out when I heard my phone ringing and looked into the screen to see who the caller was, to my surprise there's already 20 missed calls from the same person. I sighed, I didn't realize I've been spacing out for too long and didn't notice her call.

"Yes? Rayzel speaking, how can I help you today?" I answered, teasing the person on the other line.

"What the heck, Ray! I've been calling you a hundred times already, where have you been!?" I moved my phone away from my ears, she's yelling again!

"Ouch! Mika, lower down your voice. For God's sake." She berated. Mika is my longtime bestfriend, we've been friends since we're high school and I knew why this woman called me. We knew almost everything about each other.

"Have you received an email from our school alumni? Have you read it? What's the plan?" She asked one question to another. I was right! She called me because of the email, and I rolled my eyes to the thought.

"Yes, I've read it and I don't plan on going. That's just a waste of time. I'm too busy for that game." I replied casually as if I wasn't affected just a while ago.

"Come on, dude! Don't be the old maid that you are!" I teased. I can only imagine how she looked like right now teasing me... That my bestfriend is clearly having fun.

"Shut up, Mika!" I blurted out and exhaled loudly. And took the glass of dark coffee on my table and took a sip. I'm now inside a well-known cafe in town, and I was sitting in my favorite spot here which is right at the corner only few people would pass by, I was facing the calm blue sea and was reading into my emails in my laptop when I noticed the mail from our school alumni.

"Hellooooo? Earth to Rayzel… Rayzel to earth?" Mika called my name over the phone. I wasn't able to hear everything she said. I'm spacing out...AGAIN.

"I'll think about it." I sighed, I don't think this friend of mine would stop nagging me about this, she knew why I'm hesitant to go to that reunion and still wants me to attend. What a cruel friend.

"No more thinking about it. We will go whether you like it or not. You don't have to be scared of him, it's been ten long years, Ray. Face him and ask him if you want to." Mika said without breathing.

"Who says I'm scared?" I replied, rolling my eyes as if my bestfriend could see it. I have been waiting for the day that our path would finally meet again and been wanting to punch him in the face.

"Alright! Alright! You.are.not.scared. Haha." Mika replied, stressing each word one by one. "Anyways, I have to go, Ray. I still have a meeting to attend to. Byeeee take care!" She hang-up without letting me answer her goodbye.

Mika owns a well-known clothing brand in Manila, where most of the well-known people are one of our clients, even some of the business tycoons, artist and even daughters of millionaires. She is currently managing the clothing brand that her parents gifted to her on her 18th birthday, she managed to make it the most well-known clothing brand of all time while I myself is currently looking for a job and sometimes help her with some of her clients. I am also one of the shareholders in her company but I don't really take credit to that, for now.

I am Rayzel Faith Fuentes, 25 years old. My life was once in the highest, we once belonged in the richest family but my father ruined everything. He gambled all our money and had an affair with a different woman and left us. My mother became ill because of loneliness, affected by what my father did. We sold everything that we have in order for us to be able to pay my mother's hospital bills and eventually lost everything together with my mother. So basically, I am alone in this lifetime and have nothing left in me. Well, I still have my apartment, my car and my share to Mika's company and that's it. My life experience made my heart turn into stone.

Suddenly, I heard two girls conversing just one table away from mine. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop but they are too loud not to notice.

"So how's your sudden meeting with your ex? Ayeeee!" The girl with short hair teased the girl with a sulky look.

"Oh! He still looked appealing to me just like before." The girl with a sulky look giggled.

"So are you back together now?" The girl with short hair asked with a teasing voice. "Is your heart doing fine now? I know what you've been through."

The girl with a sulky look sighed and replied, "You know what? Our hearts, even if it is broken from a million pieces, it would still beat the same again, it would still be able to love again, whole-heartedly." She was smiling genuinely.

I choked in my own saliva after hearing what she said. I exhaled hard and rolled my eyes 'Love my ass!'. I closed my laptop and quickly stood up as I don't have the mood to stay here any longer. I went straight to the door and before I could step out of the cafe, I felt a strong aura of someone in my peripheral vision. I shook my head at the thought. It is impossible, this world is not that small for us to suddenly encounter here in this instance. I went straight to my apartment and lay down on my bed without changing my clothes and fell asleep instantly.

Days have passed very quickly and today is the day of our class reunion. Of course, Mika was really excited about this, she's been calling since this morning telling me to prepare all the things I needed. The event will be held in the Bai Hotel around the Makati Area so it wouldn't be hard for us to go there. I'll just tug along with Mika to save gas, I am not that rich enough and I don't have the energy to drive my own old car. It is said that this Hotel is owned by one of our classmates. She offered it as her treat for everyone. What a generous person! She must've married a rich guy. The bitter me is acting up again.

*Beeep! Beeeep!*

"Rayzel! Lets go! Hurryyyy!" A pink car's window pulled down that was owned by my bestfriend, and her head came out of it with a wide smile on her face. How can this girl be this hyper!

"Alright! Alright! Why are you so excited and so loud, Mikz!" I said as I walked towards her car. I am wearing a floral dress paired with a white sneakers and a black Ray-Ban.

"I'm sorry, duuhh!" She replied and rolled her eyes at me. Once I'm done putting my luggage into the car trunk, I quickly went inside her car as she started the engine and maneuver.

We've been traveling for an hour now and my heart is beating so fast that I couldn't explain. I'm thankful enough that Mika turned on her radio and she was singing her heart out. I can't seem to relax, I kept on thinking over that bastard. I don't know what I would say to him once we see each other, I don't know how I can act confident when I couldn't even be proud of myself. I don't even have a job to start with for god's sake!

We arrived at exactly noon time, as we entered the hotel entrance the staff greeted us with a warm smile. The entrance of the hotel looked grande and elegant, with a white and gold chandeliers, and the front desk was flashing elegance. There were people sitting on the waiting area couch. I did not have the luxury to pay attention to the people sitting there as we went straight to the front desk and took the key card and our luggage was brought by the staff as they accompanied us to our hotel room.

Mika and the staff went inside our hotel room first as I kept on scrolling into my phone while I was walking. Suddenly, I felt a large hand tapping my shoulder so I automatically grabbed the hand as I bent down and released all my strength as I pulled the hand and threw the person that was behind me into the front of me upside down.

"Shit!" The guy groaned aloud and twisted into the floor as he created a loud thud.

P.s Give this book a review and a comment! Suggestions are definitely accepted for my better writings! Love you all :)