Partner

The bus finally stopped, and I stretched my arms, relieved to be away from home even for just a few days. The school trip was supposed to be a breath of fresh air—a chance to escape from everything, especially Edward and Cole.

Three days of peace. No fake smiles. No walking on eggshells. Just me, my classmates, and a normal school trip.

I slung my bag and a hand carry over my shoulder and followed the rest of the students as we stepped off the bus. Hindi naman ako nagdala masyado nang damit, at gamit. This is just a 3-day vacation for me. We were at some nature retreat, the kind with hiking trails, lakes, and a bunch of outdoor activities I wasn’t particularly interested in. But it didn’t matter. As long as I was far from that suffocating house, I was fine.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh pine, and let my shoulders relax.

“So, where’s our cabin?” one of my classmates asked as they gathered around the teachers, waiting for room assignments.

“Dapat maganda yung view,”