Past Island: Regrets and Guilt (Past Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 13: Friendship

Remy's Point of View

The relief of seeing Jax’s familiar face after the ordeal with the Riget was overwhelming. Sa ngayon, pakiramdam ko eh magiging ayos din ang lahat, like the island’s eerie magic couldn’t touch us as long as we were together.

Siguro kung hindi ako tinulungan ni Jax, hanggang ngayon siguro eh nagpapaloko pa din ako dun sa Riget na yun.

And now, as we moved away from the cliff and deeper into the forest, I couldn’t help but think back to how we had all met and become friends and cared about each other this much. It seemed like a lifetime ago, yet those moments had forged bonds that even this cursed island couldn’t break.

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It was during our first year at Diam University that we all met. I remember it vividly, probably because those days were so carefree compared to now. We were young, eager, and full of dreams, unaware of the personal battles we’d each face in the years to come.

Si Jax ang una kong nakilala sa kanila. We were assigned to the same dormitory and ended up being roommates. Naaalala ko that on the very first day, I walked into our room to find him arranging his collection of comics on a shelf.

“Remy Bautista" I said, extending a hand. 

Jax turned around, smiling widely. "Jaximux. Nice to meet you, roomie."

We bonded over our shared interest in comic books and late-night snacks. Jax was easy going and always ready with a joke, which made him popular quickly kahit first year palang. 

Kalaunan ay nakilala naman namin sina Darren and Ashton. Darren was in my history class, a serious guy with a deep fascination for ancient civilizations and their impact on modern society. I found him intimidating at first, paano ba naman eh ang intense niya eh HAHAHAHAHAHA. well Jax, with his usual charm, managed to bring out Darren’s lighter side.

Ashton, on the other hand, was a transfer student who arrived a few weeks into the semester. He was quiet and kept to himself, pero isang araw, when Jax and I were having a debate kung sinong superhero team ang mananalo, he joined in. Turns out, marami din pala siyang alam about comics and movies, and before we knew it, he was part of our little group.

Raiver and Killua came into the picture through different paths. Raiver was part of the university’s debate team, and I met him during one of the intercollegiate meets. His sharp mind and quick wit were impressive, but what really struck me was his genuine interest in others’ opinions, even when he didn’t agree on it.

Killua, the last to join, was a mystery. He transferred to Diam University in our second year, and there were all sorts of rumors about him. Some said he was running from a troubled past, others thought he was a genius who got bored of his old school. When I finally met him, it was through Raiver. Killua had this aura of resilience and strength, probably because of everything he had gone through. Despite his quiet demeanor, he fit right in with our group.

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As Jax and I walked through the dense forest, pina-alala ko sa kanya yung mga memories na yun. It felt good to reminisce about the simpler times, to remind ourselves of the bonds that had brought us together.

“Naaalala mo ba yung time na we pranked the dean with that fake ghost in the library?” Jax asked, laughing.

I chuckled. “How could I forget? We nearly got expelled for that.”