Summer, 2016 “THAT’S what she’s mad about?” Naia questions as she shares an incredulous look with Odell and Logan.The villa they were staying in has grown awfully quiet since the confrontation several minutes ago. While Odell and Logan decided to stay with Naia in the living room, the rest were either trying to keep a neutral fort up or siding with Megan in their respective bedrooms.“I mean…for us that seems to be the case.” Odell shrugs as he continues, “But the wound is deeper with you.”The tall girl scoffs annoyed and plops down on the couch. “So typical.”Odell squints his eyes at her impatiently. “How??”“She’s always been like a baby. Always played the victim,” she says while rolling her eyes.“I don’t really think so,” Logan disagrees, looking back on some of the moments the two friends have shared with each other. “Are you really not going to admit what you actually did wrong?”“What’s to admit when there’s NOTHING??” she exclaims defensively.“Oh, w

 Summer, 2010 For 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

 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

 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

 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