DON'T CHEAT ON ME!

CHAPTER 5: Vacation

Patricia's POV:

It was a lazy Saturday morning, and the Manila air was unusually quiet. The streets outside our apartment were alive with their usual weekend hum-tricycles zooming past, kids playing basketball on makeshift courts, and the occasional bark of a stray dog. I stretched lazily on the couch, scrolling mindlessly on my phone when Jordan's voice interrupted.

"Babe, you're coming with us, right?"

I looked up to see him standing by the window, his dark eyes locked onto mine. He had that casual tone, but there was something in his expression-a kind of plea he didn't fully voice.

"Going where?" I asked, sitting up.

"To the province,"

Jordan replied, crossing his arms.

"Dave and I are heading back to the old house.

"You know, sem break and all, we need to take some vacation. Thought you'd want to come for a change of scenery."

Dave, who was leaning against the kitchen counter munching on an apple, chimed in,

"Yeah, you should totally come. It's like, the perfect getaway. Beaches, fresh air, lot of tress and no Wi-Fi to rot your brain. Just vibes."

I raised an eyebrow. "No Wi-Fi? Sounds like torture."

Jordan chuckled, walking over to me.

"Come on. It'll be fun. Just the three of us. We need this, don't you think? A break from everything here."

He wasn't wrong. The semester had been draining, and the idea of escaping the city for a while didn't sound so bad. But I knew there was more to this trip than just a casual getaway.

"It's not just a trip, is it?"

I asked, watching his face closely.

Jordan's playful demeanor faded slightly.

"It's... it's been years, babe. Since graduation. Since they-"

He paused, his jaw tightening.

"It just feels like the right time to go back."

Dave's voice broke the tension.

"Yeah, it's been too long. Besides, the place is just sitting there, empty. Feels like we should at least check on it, you know? Plus.,"

He added with a smirk,

"..Jordan's dying to show you where he peaked in high school."

Jordan shot him a look.

"I didn't peak in high school, as*hole!"

"Sure you didn't," Dave teased.

"Remember that time you tried to impress the girls from Section B and ended up face-planting into the sand? Classic Jordan move."

I laughed, shaking my head.

"Alright, fine. I'll come. But if it gets too creepy, I'm out. No ghost stories or weird midnight rituals, okay?"

"Deal!"

Jordan said, leaning down to kiss my forehead

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The drive to their hometown was long but surprisingly peaceful. The bustling cityscape slowly gave way to winding roads lined with lush trees and small nipa huts. The air smelled cleaner, fresher, as if the memories of their childhood were carried in the breeze.