Two Worlds

Chapter 17: Come Back to Me

One Year Later

"Nakita niyo na ba jowa ko?" Molly asked Sadie and Gael, who just shrugged their shoulders.

"Nasaan na kaya yun?" Molly muttered, worry creasing her forehead.

"Baka nabusy lang. Sabi niya diba, imimeet niya yung client nila," Sadie replied, trying to reassure her.

"Eh kaso malilate na tayo sa flight natin," Molly said, glancing anxiously at her watch.

Meg had a book signing that morning, and her friends, Cali, Jade, and Shannon, were there to support her. The bookstore buzzed with excitement as people lined up to get their copies signed, and Meg was all smiles as fans took pictures with her.

After the book signing, Cali greeted her with a playful grin. "Celebrity ka na ngayon, myboi!"

"Aalis na nga ako para tignan yung project na beach resort eh," Meg said.

"Yung project ba talaga? O baka naman nagbabakasakali kang andun siya?" Jade teased, winking.

"Diba tapos na yung project na yun?" Shannon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, may mga pinapacheck lang si client," Meg explained, her eyes betraying a hint of something more. Jade, Cali, and Shannon exchanged knowing looks, their silent understanding filling the air.

"Meg! Akala ko hindi ka na dadating," Molly called out when she finally spotted her in the bustling airport crowd.

"Pwede ba naman yun?" Meg replied, her eyes twinkling as she flashed a mischievous smile at Molly.

Later that night, Jade, Cali, Shannon, and Meg arrived at their hotel in Boracay. The tropical paradise welcomed them with the soothing sound of waves and the faint scent of salt in the air. They were accompanied by the other members of LUNA, except for Aliya. The group had been planning a comeback for months, but they kept postponing it because Aliya had been missing in action for over a year now.

As the night deepened, Meg found herself unable to sleep. The sound of the waves called to her, and she decided to take a walk along the shore. The moonlight cast a silver sheen on the water, creating an ethereal glow that made everything seem dreamlike.

As she walked, lost in thought, a figure in the distance caught her eye. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Aliya? She quickened her pace, the soft sand shifting beneath her feet. The figure was standing near the water's edge, its silhouette strikingly familiar.

"Aliya?" Meg called out, but the wind swallowed her voice. She walked faster, almost breaking into a run, her pulse racing with a mix of hope and desperation. As she drew closer, the figure seemed to vanish, dissolving into the night air.

Breathing heavily, Meg reached the spot where she thought she had seen Aliya. She looked around, but there was no one there. The beach was empty, save for the gentle waves lapping at the shore. She felt a pang of disappointment, a sharp reminder of the emptiness that Aliya's absence had left.

"Aliya..." she whispered to the night, her voice barely audible over the sound of the sea.

"Meg!" a familiar voice called out behind her. She turned to see Molly approaching, concern etched on her face. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito? Bumalik na tayo sa hotel."

Meg nodded slowly, casting one last glance at the empty shore before turning back. "Akala ko kasi..." she started, but her voice trailed off, the words hanging in the air.