Chapter 23
Maya arrived at their usual lunch spot, stopping in her tracks as she took in the ridiculous amount of food spread out on the table.
May extra fries, dalawang boxes ng pizza, may isang buong plate ng chicken wings, at may isang malaking bowl pa ng pasta.
It was enough to feed five people, maybe more.
"Woah," Maya pulled out a chair, settling down as her eyes scanned the feast before her. "We're having a feast now?"
Walang sumagot.
Instead, Zoe grabbed a slice of pizza at walang pasabing isinubo kay Maya.
"Eat," Zoe commanded, her voice firm as she gave Maya a pointed look.
Maya frowned, chewing hesitantly. "Wait, wait, wait. Bakit ang daming pagkain?"
Zoe shrugged, casually taking a bite from her pizza. "Celebration."
"For what?"
"For Kairi not being a dumbass anymore."
"Hey," Kairi muttered, finally speaking up from behind her sunglasses. Kanina pa siya tahimik na kumakain.
"Bakit ka naka-shades?" Maya finally asked, tilting her head.
Bago pa makasagot si Kairi, hinawakan ni Zoe ang kamay ni Maya na may hawak ng pizza at itinaas ito sa tapat ng bibig niya. "Just eat."
Maya groaned but took the pizza anyway. Hindi na siya nagtanong pa, alam niyang wala rin siyang makukuhang matinong sagot. Instead, she just ate, eyeing the way Zoe kept dumping more food onto Kairi's plate kahit punong-puno na.
Kairi finally raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Eat," Zoe said again.
"I already have enough."
"Kumain ka pa."
Maya watched, amused, as Kairi sighed before finally relenting. Kumuha na lang si Kairi ng isang fork ng pasta, shaking her head. "You're annoying."
"You love me."
"Debatable."
Maya grinned, realizing something. Whatever happened earlier today, whatever dragged Kairi into that dark place—she was back now.
They weren't talking about it, but the way they acted, the way Zoe was making sure Kairi was eating, the way Kairi was playing along—it was clear.
Alam nilang okay na ulit sila, na magiging okay na ulit ang kaibigan nila.
Maya chewed on her food, then said, "By the way, lucky niyo today."
"Why?" Zoe asked, mouth full.
"Classes after Miss Herrera's were cancelled."
Both Zoe and Kairi blinked.
"Bakit cancelled?" Kairi asked.
"Something about a school admin meeting. The teachers had to attend, kaya no choice sila but to let us go early," Maya explained.
Zoe leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head. "Damn. Good day."
Kairi scoffed, stabbing her fork into another piece of chicken. "Lucky day for you, you mean."
"For us," Zoe corrected.
Maya rolled her eyes at their antics, pero hindi niya mapigilang mapangiti. Magkakasama na ulit sila—eating together, kwentuhan, asaran.
This was good. This was normal.
And for the first time in a long while, things finally felt okay.
Miss Herrera closed her book, exhaling a slow, measured breath. She pressed her fingers against her temple, trying to ease the persistent headache that had been nagging her since this morning.
She barely got any sleep last night.
Or the night before that.
In fact, she hadn't been able to sleep properly since Friday evening.
At kagabi? Mas malala. Ilang beses siyang nagpalit ng posisyon, pilit hinahanap ang antok, pero wala.
Kahit anong gawin niya, hindi matahimik ang isip niya.
It was like something heavy had settled in her chest, refusing to let her rest.
She didn't want to acknowledge it. Didn't want to ask herself why.
So instead of fighting it, she had given up at around 4 a.m., dragging herself out of bed to prepare for work.
Pinilit niyang mag-focus sa routine, hoping na baka sakaling gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.
Pero heto siya ngayon—nakaupo sa loob ng isang tahimik na silid-aralan, pagod, antok, at hindi makapag-concentrate.
The silence around her was suffocating.
Miss Herrera sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Maybe she just needed—
"Good morning, Miss Herrera."
She blinked.
Standing by the door was Zoe, hands casually shoved into her pockets.
Miss Herrera frowned slightly, confused.
Zoe? Early?
She tried to remember if there was ever a time Zoe arrived this early, pero wala siyang maisip. Baka hindi niya lang napansin before, lalo na't matagal-tagal na rin mula noong ganito siya kaagang dumating sa school.
"Good morning, Zoe," Miss Herrera greeted, straightening in her seat. "Why are you early today?"
Zoe simply smiled, tilting her head slightly. "May kailangan lang pong gawin, Miss."
Miss Herrera raised an eyebrow at that, waiting for her to elaborate, but Zoe didn't say anything else. Before she could ask further, may isa pang dumating sa may pinto.
Alice.
She walked in with that familiar smirk, eyes flicking towards Zoe. "So, are we talking or what?"
Zoe didn't say anything. She just turned and walked out.
Alice followed.
Miss Herrera watched them leave, frowning slightly.
Something about that interaction...didn't sit right with her.
Napakagat siya sa loob ng pisngi. Naalala niya bigla iyong nangyari noong Friday—ang galit sa boses ni Zoe habang nakasunggab sa kwelyo ni Alice. The sharp tension between them, like a fire ready to ignite at any second. Pero si Alice? Kalma lang, as if she knew exactly how to push Zoe's buttons.
Miss Herrera tightened her grip on her book.
For a moment, gusto niyang pigilan si Zoe, tanungin kung anong binabalak nito. Pero hindi naman ito kagaya ng Friday. Zoe didn't look angry. Wala iyong tension sa balikat niya, wala iyong gigil sa mata niya. She looked—calm.
O kahit papaano, mas kalmado kaysa dati.
So, Miss Herrera let it go.
Alice barely flinched. "What the fuck—"
"Shut up," Zoe muttered, eyes sharp. "You're fine."
Alice rolled her eyes, looking unimpressed. "You're the one who wanted to talk, so maybe don't start by—"
"I said shut up."
Alice's smirk faded slightly.
Matalim ang titig ni Zoe, parang gusto niyang suntukin si Alice right then and there. "Layuan mo na si Kairi. No more of your games."
Alice scoffed, tilting her head like she was amused. "Oh? And what if I don't?"
Mas humigpit ang hawak ni Zoe sa balikat ni Alice. "Then, I'll make you."
Alice smirked, but there was something darker behind her eyes. "You think you're better for her, huh? You think you know what she needs?"
"I know she doesn't need you."
Saglit silang natahimik.
Then, Alice chuckled, shaking her head. "Funny. Kasi every time she felt like shit, sino ang pinupuntahan niya? Ako."
Zoe clenched her jaw. "Yeah? And what did you do, Alice? Tinulungan mo? O lalo mong nilubog, para lang bumalik siya nang bumalik sayo?"
Alice didn't answer.
Zoe exhaled harshly, forcing herself to stay calm. "I'm not playing this game with you. Ikaw at si Kairi? Tapos na. No more bullshit."
Alice studied her for a second, then—without warning—hinawi niya ang kamay ni Zoe mula sa balikat niya. "Whatever."
And just like that, she walked out.
Zoe stood there for a moment, fists clenched, forcing herself to breathe.
The classroom was filled with the soft rustling of pages as students flipped through their books, following along as Miss Herrera discussed the theme of the short story assigned to them.
Walang usual na bulungan, walang pasimpleng asaran sa likod—everyone seemed to settle into the rhythm of the lesson.
Nakatayo si Miss Herrera sa harap, ang isang kamay hawak ang libro. At ang isa naman ay may marker. Tuloy lang siya sa pagpapaliwanag ng theme ng story na binasa nila. The discussion should have been smooth—routine, even—but something kept pulling her attention away.
Kairi.
For weeks, parang multo lang si Kairi sa classroom. Physically present but mentally absent. She never took notes, barely followed along, and spent most of the lectures staring at nothing like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
But today? Miss Herrera almost didn't recognize her.
Maayos ang upo ni Kairi, hawak ang ballpen habang tuloy-tuloy na nagsusulat sa notebook niya. Minsan, sisilipin niya ang libro sa harap niya, magbabasa saglit, tapos babalik sa pagsusulat—parang seryosong nag-a-analyze ng material.
Miss Herrera tightened her grip on her marker. It was throwing her off.
Pinilit niyang ibalik ang focus sa lesson. "So, considering the protagonist's internal struggle, what do you think the author is trying to say about regret?"
Hinayaan niyang gumapang ang tingin niya sa classroom, expecting the usual tahimik na estudyante na iiwas sa eye contact. Pero bago pa siya makapaghintay, may isang kamay na biglang umangat.
Kairi's hand.
Napatigil si Miss Herrera. Tama ba ang nakita niya? Nagtaas ng kamay si Kairi?
It took her a second too long to respond, pero sa huli, natawag niya rin ang pangalan ni Kairi, her voice measured but hesitant.
"Kairi?"
Tumayo si Kairi at inayos nang bahagya ang uniform niya. Her expression was neutral—calm, even.
"I think the author is saying that regret isn't just about the past. It's about the choices we make after. The main character keeps dwelling on what he lost, but the thing is that he never moves forward. He lets his past dictate his future instead of learning from it."
Miss Herrera felt something heavy settle in her chest.
It was a good answer. A really good answer. And Kairi said it so smoothly, so surely, like she had spent a lot of time thinking about it.
Miss Herrera cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. "That's...a strong interpretation. Yes, the protagonist's biggest flaw is his inability to move on. Instead of growing from his mistakes, he traps himself in them. That's an important lesson."
Nagtagal ang tingin niya kay Kairi nang ilang segundo—ilang segundo na mas mahaba kaysa dapat. Pero hindi umiwas ng tingin si Kairi.
Until Miss Herrera turned back to the board, gripping her marker a little tighter.
Kairi was finally pulling herself together. Finally.
But why did it feel like something was off?