Home / All / The Reunion / Chapter 1

Share

Chapter 1

last update Last Updated: 2021-07-12 11:13:26
 

Summer, 2016

 

Megan exhales dejectedly before quietly muttering, “It’s not always going to be like this, right?” Her entire face stoic, some would describe it better as lifeless.

The scene surrounding her is completely different from the youthful and vibrant playground she used to enjoy. All she hears are the blaring horns of random cars and the occasional ambulance siren. Not even a whisper of air to comfort her during this trying time. What’s she to expect? She’s in the middle of Makati on a blazing hot time of day. Not that a couple of hours would make any difference anyway. The Philippines’ weather could literally be the center of a boiling volcano.

Zoe follows and stands next to the familiar slouching figure, fanning herself with what looked like important folded documents for work. “Well, it shouldn’t be,” she replies to the younger one’s question, even if it was rhetorical.

Another day at their crappy job meant another dilemma to top off their existing—albeit wavering—stack. They’re really just trying to get through the year at the Godforsaken company. They haven’t been lucky looking for better work. It almost feels impossible finding any—let alone the right one—for them.

Megan has called in sick about five times just to go to interviews while Zoe went absent for a whole week to try her luck on walk-ins. But what’s most agonizing is the waiting game. No, not the waiting game of whether a new company hires you or not after that interview. Not at all. It’s the waiting game that happens right after you hit the send button on your resume and cover letter. The absolute nightmare of it all.

Though being stuck in a toxic work environment is much worse. So, it’s better to just move on and get it over with while you can.

When did life start getting so shitty?

A familiar hum from Megan’s pocket interrupts the two friends’ long silence. “What do you want?” she answers her phone with a snippy tone, knowing exactly who it is.

“Ah, so I see you haven't heard,” the female on the other line deadpans.

Megan could almost hear Felicity’s all-knowing smirk as she purses her lips in annoyance. She chooses not to say anything out of spite.

“Some of us have to work, you know!” Zoe crows this time, so that the conversation between the two isn’t completely dead.

“It's nothing urgent,” Felicity says in the most nonchalant tone possible, “Just call me back when you check your personal email.”

“Whatever,” Megan replies before abruptly hanging up.

Not at all fazed by her usually cold attitude, Zoe asks, “Ano meron?1” She found it a bit suspicious that Felicity would call out of nowhere at this hour. Either she’s bored out of her mind instead of finishing coursework or she’s got something up her sleeve and she just couldn’t wait to get Megan riled up.

If it’s Felicity you’re dealing with, a combination of both could be a plausible theory.

Megan shrugs, playing with her already messy hair out of habit. In Megan language, it typically means that she couldn’t be bothered about anything at the given moment. “Something about an email.”

“Email??” Zoe furrows her eyebrows confused and wonders what it could possibly be.

Megan turns to her and watches as Zoe bites her nails, clearly going deep into thought. “It’s probably a chain letter. Who the fuck knows with Fae…”

The older female abruptly stops and lets her nails free from her habitual dental wrath. Realizing that the situation couldn’t be that big of a deal, she snorts, knowing Megan’s statement to be true.

“Well, if you have enough time to chitchat, I think you also have enough time to get the fuck up back to work,” a familiar male voice bellows in Tagalog.

Megan’s jaw instantly clenches as she avoids eye contact with her boss and folds her arms across her chest. The key, at least to her, is to tune him out until he goes away.

In contrast, Zoe, stands her ground and glares up at him. “It’s lunch time, sir.”

“You don’t get paid to eat lunch this long. You get paid to sell goods and services efficiently,” the stocky man berates before glaring right back at her, “What was your name again? Aren’t you in the acquisitions team or something??”

Megan suddenly walks away from the scene, not being able to take any more of his condescending voice.

Zoe frowns at her friend’s actions, but knows this is her cue to exit as well. Instead, she gives the despicable guy her best glower before following Megan inside their office building. Her own boss is the devil straight from hell, but she forgot about how much of an asshole Megan’s is. How they managed to stay in the company for almost a year will continue to astound her.

“Are you kidding me?” Zoe catches up to her friend, clearly still irritated.

“We’re leaving soon anyway. We’ll get back at him on our last day,” Megan calmly reassures her friend, though her expression remains impassive.

A bright smile of approval graces the older girl’s face as she latches onto Megan’s arm in delight. “Ah, you truly are a mini-me.”

 

 

“Anak!2 My Meggie!”

As Megan enters her humble abode, she instantly spots her glowing (it’s from the sweat, no big deal) mother grinning widely. Seemingly floating in her dark blue duster dress, she continues to glide around the kitchen, only sparing her daughter that one smile and glance.

Megan starts paying attention to the aroma that’s filling the room, knowing well that her mom must be cooking her favorite Filipino dish. And just in time. She’s extremely exhausted from her travel. What’s supposed to be at least a 45-minute bus ride from Makati to Alabang turned into two excruciating hours.

It’s nothing new. An ordinary Friday in Manila always means outrageously heavy traffic. A PAYDAY Friday, on the other hand, PLUS light to moderate rain in Manila means the apocalypse. Though if she’s being completely honest, it might as well be the end of the world every single God given day in the country in terms of traffic.

She pouts, reliving the horror in her mind again. “I’m so tired,” she thinks aloud as she slumps on their living room couch, next to her dad. Instinctively, she leans against his shoulder and sighs heavily.

“Which is why I made your paborit3 for dinner,” her mother chirps with delight.

“Adobo?4” Megan drools, knowing the answer to her question.

“The one and only.” Mrs. Villavieja winks.

A giddy smile forms on Megan’s lips as she closes her eyes and softly hums a random tune. If there’s anything that keeps her going, it’s her parents, her family. Since her older sister is abroad for work, she has her parents all to herself and they spoil her rotten. At the age of twenty-two, that's not too shabby. The spoiling, of course, isn’t as bad as when she was a kid, but sometimes it does come to a point where she thinks she might be their favorite daughter.

“What happens if I move out?” she teases in a sweet and singsong tone.

“Then, you never get any adobo from me,” her mom responds in the same exact manner, only she cackles by the end of it.

“Ah, the reason why I married you,” Mr. Villavieja finally speaks, chuckling at his wife’s slightly immature behavior.

Megan could only make an unimpressed face in reply, though she saw it coming when she thought of joking about the idea.

One thing to know about Filipinos (maybe even Asians in general) is that they don’t really move out of the house unless they’re completely comfortable doing so. Naturally, Filipino-Americans (often referred as Fil-Ams) are the exception to this rule. They apparently give no fucks and want to immediately move out of their respective homes. What horror.

This fact makes plenty of middle-class Filipinos in their 20s grateful that it’s almost not socially acceptable to move out at the age of 18… or even right after you graduate college. If you want to live on your own at an early age, then so be it. You’re free to do so. But if you loved living in the comforts of your own home and your parents loved having you, then there’s no reason for you to force yourself out of that harmonious situation.

 

Sandbox5 PH

Active

 

Zoe Torres: So… I’ve checked my email…

Felicity Bautista: And??

Zoe Torres: Yeah, Meg’s definitely not gonna like it.

Felicity Bautista: HAHAHAHAHAHA called it

Megan Villavieja: The fuck are you trying to pull

Felicity Bautista: HEHEHEHEHEHE

Felicity Bautista: HOHOHOHOHO

Felicity Bautista: HIHIHIHIHIHIHI

Felicity Bautista: HUHUHUHUHU

Megan Villavieja: …………..

 

Megan rolls her eyes at the sudden flood of teasing messages in their group chat as she checks her email.

 

From: Ingrid Baniaga <ingrid_pb@yahoo.com>

To: Naia Baniaga <naia.b@gmail.com>, Zoe Torres <torreszoe@gmail.com>, Megan Villavieja <megan.villavieja@gmail.com>, Danica Garcia <dan_garcia@gmail.com>, Jacob Ocampo <jacobocampo@gmail.com>, Jared Ocampo <jaredtocampo@gmail.com>, Logan dela Vega <logan.dv@gmail.com>, Odell Lumaban <odell_lumaban@gmail.com>, and several others.

 

Date: Fri, June 17, 2017 at 8:30 AM

Subject: The Reunion

 

Hello fellow parents, and kids!

 

It’s finally time! I’m proud to finally announce that the RT reunion we’ve all been anticipating will be held on July 24, 2016, at the activity center near the Ocampo residence (address should be attached later on in this email).

 

Plus-ones are welcome for each family, so feel free to bring a special guest of your choice. Get ready to catch up with old friends, reminisce timeless memories, and just all-around great fun!

 

Address: Hidden Valley Activity Center, Chital Street, Santa Teresa Village, Poblacion, Makati City, Metro Manila

 

Can’t wait to see you there!

 

Yours truly,

Ingrid Baniaga

 

For a while, Megan’s mind goes blank. The word, "reunion", circulating in and out of her head like the buzzing of an annoying bee. Surely, this isn’t happening and she’s just stuck in a horrific yet easily dismissed nightmare.

And before she knows it, she’s back on the group chat she has with just a couple of her childhood friends.

 

Sandbox PH

Active

 

Zoe Torres: Hey Megs, you still alive?

Megan Villavieja: FOR FUCKS SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Felicity Bautista: There she is –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related chapters

  • The Reunion   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. Sure, she isn’t one to back down from any confrontation. However, causing a scene at the reunion doesn’t sound very pleasant. She’d rather not go altogether than attend and pret

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 3

    “Told you Megan wouldn’t be down with it,” Logan mumbles under his breath as he pointedly looks at Danica sitting right next to him.Being the very culprit of the reunion in Batangas, she isn’t in the least fazed by his actions. It’s not like she’s been planning it for years. But when Naia mentioned that her mom was planning a big RT reunion a few months ago, it got her thinking. She’s always wanted the people involved in the 2010 incident to reconcile in some sort of way. Granted that she sides more with Megan and the others, she still doesn’t want any bad blood within the group. The RT community is quite small, much less the Filipino RT community. There’s no way they weren’t going to at least bump into each other at some point in time. Prime example would be the Dela Vegas and Villaviejas. Both are close family friends, since Mr. Dela Vega is Megan’s godfather.“I never said it was going to be easy,” Danica claims, raising an eyebrow his way, “Besides, she has every right

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 4

    Blindingly bright fluorescent lights, full-on blasted air conditioner, and complete silence.This always seems to be the case during her job interviews. If the HR didn’t want to see her right away, they would make her wait awhile before officially coming in and finally interview her. She had no idea whether this was some sort of mind game they played with potential employees, but nonetheless she went with it. But of course, it still doesn’t erase the fact that she’s completely terrified and wishes it would end soon. It doesn’t matter whether she’s gone to one or a hundred job interviews, they still continue to torment her. What, with some of the unexpected questions they ask according to the type of company they run.“Sorry, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long.”Megan snaps out of her breakdown of a trance and looks up at the unfamiliar face before her. “It’s fine.” Different from the pleasant woman from HR minutes ago, a slim and somewhat attractive man stands

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 5

    Fall, 2004The bursting sound of crashing waves instantly woke Megan up with a jolt. She lifted her head up, allowing her eyes to take in the surroundings once more. Indigo and starry sky paired with the glistening moon above the beautiful beach that always made her feel at home. She looked to her right and caught Jared staring into the dark and seemingly bleak horizon.Right. She’d been taking a nap on his shoulder again. This was becoming a normal occurrence, thanks to the number of times she had done it. Whenever he detected she was feeling sleepy, he’d offer his shoulder as some kind of sacrifice and she would gladly take it.“How long have I been out?” she asked.“A couple of days,” he deadpanned.She made a face at this and stayed silent.“A few minutes. I’m not sure,” he then answered seriously.She stretched and sighed in contentment, slowly starting to feel refreshed from the brief slumber.“You sure you got enough rest?”She yawned, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 6

    Summer, 2016“So, we’ll see you soon,” Jared says, sharing a small smile.He, Jacob, and Megan are standing just outside the restaurant to say their goodbyes. The Ocampo parentals, on the other hand, are 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 by 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 was Mr. Ocampo. He would hum in agreement e

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 7

    “HEEEEEEEYYY!!!” Jacob comes running to the girls standing near the entrance of Greenbelt.The day of the much awaited road trip slash reunion in Batangas finally arrives.Their big group of friends are divided into two teams: team north and team south. As the name of both teams lead, those who are in team north live in or near northern Luzon and vice versa with team south. Team north is usually composed of the Ocampo brothers, Danica, Zoe, and Naia. While team south has Megan, Felicity, Logan, and Odell. And since Batangas is in the south, the two groups decided it would be better for them to go to the resort on separate rides and just meet there.After Jacob, and Jared (from inside the car, since he’s the designated driver), exchange greetings with Danica and Naia, Danica immediately inquires, “Where’s Zoe?” She assumed the older girl would already be with the two brothers since they live really close to each other.“Couldn’t make it, unfortunately. Has some kind of model

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 8

    Between spring and summer, 2006All she could see, or chose to see, was his incredibly dark pupil. But it’s been several minutes (she assumed), that she’s starting to wonder how the two of them got stuck in this situation. Though several thoughts ran through her mind, she remained still, not wanting to back down. If she was going to lose, she was going to do it gracefully.“Okay. How LONG are we going to be doing this?” Megan finally broke their silence, albeit refusing to break her stare.“Until you lose,” Jared answered in his usually cool tone. Deep down, he was actually close to giving up.Megan frowned at his seemingly solid resilience. “You wish.”Almost immediately, he blew towards her eyes.She instantly squinted and scoffed, “Cheater.”“I never said I planned to win fair and square.” He flashed her an innocent grin.“Har-har.” She made a face and rolled her eyes at his smug expression.“Okay. Can you two, for just one second, stop flirting?” Jacob prot

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12
  • The Reunion   Chapter 9

    Summer, 2016“Right…” This is all Megan can muster after they took a little trip down memory lane.She must’ve regressed those last few moments they had together during the past few years. She knows that she suffered a whole lot right after it happened. Not only was she plagued by the difficulties of adjusting to a new country and school, she was also drowned with negative thoughts regarding her first love.And now that she’s remembering every detail like it had happened yesterday, she’s once again filled with regret and guilt. Regret, because she could’ve just straight up asked him what his feelings were despite risking ruining their friendship. And guilt, because in Jared’s perspective, it must’ve been so out of the blue. A surprise attack, like the Trojan horse.“I did have feelings for you, you know.” Jared’s words snap Megan back to reality. “So, I was crushed when you suddenly broke it off like that.”Did I hear that right?? “...what?” she says confused and a

    Last Updated : 2021-07-12

Latest chapter

  • The Reunion   Footnotes

    1 “What’s up?”, “What’s happening?”, “What gives?” in Filipino. Depends on the situation. In this case, it’s the first question.2 Child3 Favorite pronounced the “Filipino” way. Not really the direct translation of the mentioned word.4 One of the most well-loved dishes in the Philippines.5 A nickname for Saudi Arabia for some of the kids who grew up there6 Filipino for “big sister”. Used as a sign of respect for a woman older than you. Or when a girl is older than you, but not old enough to be your aunt hahaha. Depends on the situation and the way you were raised.7 Acronym for Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Our main airport in the Philippines and Manila.8 Well-known character from Hey Arnold! Only 90s kids can relate jk9 Short for airport10 A way of saying “Hey”, but in a more boisterous, and annoying/condescending way11 “Big brother”. Like Ate, it is used as a sign of respect and when a guy is way older than you, but not old enough to be your uncle.12 Get cau

  • The Reunion   Epilogue

    It takes a few weeks for Megan to transition into moving from her family home to Jacob’s apartment. Rather emotional too. She’s never been one to deal with moving well. Even though as a kid, she and her family moved thrice in Ras Tanura. In the same neighborhood, to be fair. The point is she never liked change. At least at first, she didn’t. Deep down, she knows it’s a way for her to grow as a person. After exchanging goodbyes and see you laters with her family in the main lobby, Megan heads up to the thirty-third floor of the condominium. She turns the lock on the all too familiar door she’s seen about ten times, maybe even more. Lo and behold, her newly furnished home welcomes her. She spots a couple of stuff that aren’t hers in the living room and kitchen.Now that she thinks about it, she hasn’t had the pleasure of meeting her new roommate during her tedious move. Either he would come and leave his things a couple of days after her or even a few hours. If she was paranoi

  • The Reunion   Chapter 18

    “Hey, old sport,” Jacob greets in a distinct Leo DiCaprio voice.Megan can only sigh in response.“Tired already??”“You know how exhausting all the greetings can be.” She lets out another long exhale from the mano session after mano session with all the other parents just a few seconds ago. “And that’s not even going to be the end of it just yet.” They’re both aware that lots of other titas and titos will come later. Filipino time, as they say. You have to be at least thirty minutes late after the designated time for the event (in this case, the big reunion) to start. A concept that is beyond any person that has a sane mind in this country.“Look on the bright side: you have me,” Jacob offers humorously.Megan rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him playfully. “I must say, you clean up really nicely, Mr. Ocampo.”“Why, thank you, Ms. Villavieja. I clean myself.”She furrows her eyebrows at him for a bit, feeling confused at his statement. And as their eyes me

  • The Reunion   Chapter 17

    Before her eyes have even gathered enough energy to open, Megan feels the entire right side of her body ache. Was she sleeping on this one side the entire time?? The amount of alcohol she consumed really must have taken a toll on her. She’s usually a chaotic sleeper, so staying on one side for that long is indeed unusual. She then slowly blinks her eyes open. And they’re immediately met by an all too adorable Kei, deep in slumber. Megan bites her bottom lip to keep herself from beaming. She takes the time to study his features. It isn’t at all surprising that his eyelashes are long and thin (most men have pretty eyelashes they don’t deserve). All it needs is some good and mascara, and those eyelashes will be an instant envy among plenty of women. Then, there’s his nose. Defined yet childlike. Defined in a way that there’s some pointedness to it. But childlike in a way that it’s subtle and hidden to the “naked” eye. And his lips? The unmistakable highlight of his face. It’s

  • The Reunion   Chapter 16

    Summer, 2016After aimlessly running and walking around the resort grounds, a distressed Megan suddenly returns to the villa, unaware and uncaring of her surroundings.“Heeeeyyy Mega—” Naia greets as Megan continues to walk past her, up the stairs, and straight to her room without a word.“Okay...” Naia sulks, but calls out, “Rude! But good night!” She ends up mumbling to herself, “What’s her problem?”Right then, the front door of the villa opens again and Jared enters. “Of course, I’m happy you’re here, Zo. It’s just that the timing couldn’t be worse,” he softly says.Zoe huffs and closes the door behind her. “I know. But it just looks like you aren’t happy to see me at ALL.”“I AM, okay?” He kisses her forehead tenderly and looks her straight in the eyes. “More than you know.”She is silent for a bit, stunned by the unexpected gesture of affection. “Okay,” she whispers with an understanding nod.“Well, that explains Megan’s entrance,” Naia deadpans, interrupt

  • The Reunion   Chapter 15

    Summer, 2012“Boo!”Zoe rolled her eyes, knowing exactly who it was. “Where’s Jake?”“Avoiding you,” Jared quipped snottily.“Ha-ha. Seriously.” She folded her arms across her chest and shot an unimpressed look at him.“Running errands with tita,” he replied with a casual shrug, “So, it’s just you and me today.”“Greaaat. This should be fun.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.Ever since the Ocampos moved to Canada two years ago, the two brothers slowly lost touch with the rest of the gang, except Zoe. Jared and Jacob were the ones who did most of the visiting in the Philippines, while their parents hung on back in Canada. And since Zoe lived so close to their family home in Manila, they naturally spent more time with her. There were moments when it would be the three of them. But on others, like now, it would just be Zoe and Jared. Strangely, it had never been just Zoe and Jacob.“Should I text Meg?” Zoe teased.Maintaining a straight face, Jared responded w

  • The Reunion   Chapter 14

    Summer, 2016Megan flutters her eyes open, initially perplexed that she’s met by a snoozing Jared. She has to gather all the energy in her body in order not to guffaw at his face. Despite being cool and composed when awake, Jared is certainly the opposite when sleeping. It’s as if his mouth just lets go of all inhibitions. Gaping pretty wide, Jared’s vital entrance also happens to moonlight as a flowing river.Was this dude my ACTUAL first love?? Megan thinks to herself as she shakes her head. She then gets up to prevent herself from waking the deep sleeper up.Her feet decide to take her outside, all the way to the restaurant of the resort. And as she eats her breakfast, she can’t help but recall what happened last night. After the agitating confrontation with Naia, Megan went straight up to her room to try and sleep everything off. She tossed and turned for hours before realizing that it was no use. So, she headed downstairs and found Jared also awake. He was pla

  • The Reunion   Chapter 13

    Summer, 2010For some odd reason, Naia felt a sudden, eerie chill down her spine, which snapped her back from her vague daydream into reality. She hadn’t been able to think straight ever since Megan’s heated message in their group chat. The same went for Logan and Odell. Though in her case, she grew rather more resentful of Megan, while the two guys felt guiltier as time passed.But that didn’t exactly stop them from going on the promised trip to Palawan. “Well, this sucked worse than I thought,” Odell remarked at the absurdity of their vacation.The first few days were great as all three of them attempted to mask their guilt and sadness with nature and food. But now that it was drawing to a close, everything just crashed on them like a high-tide wave. This was definitely not how any of them envisioned their last night in one of their home country’s paradisiacal islands.While they weren’t legal to buy any alcoholic drinks themselves, Logan’s father made it his mi

  • The Reunion   Chapter 12

    Limbo.That is one word to describe the situation everyone is swept up in Batangas. A couple of days pass and the two divided parties don’t spare a word to each other, not even a glance. Megan always made an effort to not to be in the same room as Naia. Although she would give short answers to some of Logan and Odell’s trivial questions. Which meant that they were somewhat in the clear. Naia, on the other hand, remained seemingly unshaken about all this. Even if deep down, her pent-up anger was slowly starting to surface.As for Felicity, Jared, and Jacob, they’ve managed to keep themselves neutral despite the tension. They feel slightly uncomfortable that they’ve been caught up in the middle like bugs in a spider web, but they were hoping that the two girls would patch it up soon.And Danica, the most neutral of them all? She briefly went out on an adventure of her own. Friends she had met during her previous travels were suddenly in the area and she told the rest she wou

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status