Game of Memories

Prologue

It's been five years since I left my hometown—five years since I walked away from everything and everyone I knew. The day I graduated senior high school, I packed a worn-out backpack with some clothes and the little money I had saved. Then, I left without looking back.

I never thought I'd return. Not until I got the call about my grandmother's passing.

And now, here I am, staring out the road as I drive past from the airport to the town I once called home. The rain falls gently outside, as much as i loved rainy days, yet I can't enjoy it. Memories of the past rush back, and my stomach twists with nerves. If it weren't for that phone call, I'd have never come back.

Funny how bad luck has a way of dragging you back to places you swore you'd never go back.

When the house I grew up in comes into view, I feel a wave of emotions—none of them good. But I push them back, hiding them deep where they can't reach to me. I tell myself to stay calm, to act like it doesn't bother me. I won't let the people here see me as weak.

As the car comes to a stop, I step out, trying to act indifferent.

Home.

It's a strange word, isn't it? It's supposed to mean safety and happiness, a place where you feel loved and at peace.

But for me, it's just a place full of memories I'd rather forget.

As I step into the house, the room falls silent. Every conversation stops, and every pair of eyes turns to look at me. The air feels heavy with unease, but I pretend not to notice. I tell myself I shouldn't feel hurt by these people anymore, though deep down, their reaction still stings. I want to believe it's just the sadness of losing someone we all loved, but I know that's not the whole truth.

Ignoring the tension, I walk straight to my grandmother's coffin, keeping my focus there and trying to ignore the stares.

"Alexis, salamat naman at dumating ka," Uncle Miguel says, but his voice tells me he doesn't mean it. A sharp ache in my chest reminds me how fresh the wounds still are.

He is out of his mind if he actually believed I would give him respect, especially after everything that happened within these very walls five years ago.

He grabs my arm tightly, leaning in to whisper in a harsh tone, "Huwag kang magpanggap na walang nangyari, Alexis."

I pull my arm away from him and take a step back. Meeting his eyes, I say firmly, "I'm not afraid of you anymore."

And I really wish that I wasn't.

I wake up, the morning sun barely peeking over the horizon. Of course, my first night back in this awful town had to come with nightmares. I shouldn't have expected anything different. Nightmares aren't new to me, but somehow being here has made them worse.

Getting out of bed in the small beach house I rented, I head straight for the bathroom. A hot shower is exactly what I need after that dream. As the steam fills the room and the water pours over me, I feel my body begin to relax. I scrub away the lingering tension from the nightmares that haunt my sleepless nights. Once I'm dressed, I set out for the day.

I find myself wandering the town, walking streets I used to know by heart, past places filled with childhood memories. For a brief moment, it feels peaceful—like the tiny good pieces that still remain could somehow heal the years of pain. But the feeling doesn't last. My thoughts quickly drown in negativity again.

As my thoughts overflow, I keep my head down, staring at my feet. I don't want to see anything that could make me think differently about this place. No, I'd much rather go on hating this town forever.

Suddenly, I crash straight into someone. It feels like slamming into a wall, and I stumble, falling toward the ground. Before I can hit the pavement, strong arms wrap around my waist, stopping my fall just in time.

Well, I guess my luck isn't completely terrible today.

"Are you okay, Miss?" a deep voice asks.

It takes me a second to realize the voice belongs to the arms still holding me. My cheeks heat up as I open my eyes, ready to thank whoever saved me. But the words catch in my throat when I meet the most beautiful chocolate-brown eyes I've ever seen. My mind blanks, and for once, I'm completely speechless.

"Miss?" the man says again.

"Oh! Thank you," I blurt out, my voice awkward and shaky. "I'm so sorry for running into you."

The man smiles, and I suddenly notice the rest of his face—handsome, with a bit of scruff on his jaw and a bright, wide grin. "No problem at all. It's not every day a beautiful woman crashes into me," he says, his voice smooth and warm.

His words make me blush even harder. My brain finally catches up to the fact that his arms are still firmly around my waist, holding me against his solid chest. My cheeks burn as I look up at him again, embarrassed.

The man chuckles softly, clearly amused. He helps me to my feet and carefully lets go of me. "I'm Clyden Vallejo," he says, still smiling.

The name hits me like a ton of bricks. I freeze, staring at him in shock.

"Clyde?" I whisper, barely able to hear my own voice.

Of course, my luck is terrible. The handsome man standing in front of me is none other than Clyden Vallejo—the same Clyde I knew five years ago.