Class Reunion: Section Rose

Chapter 1: Invitation

Michiko's POV

It's 1am and I'm still in front of my computer, finishing my paperworks para sa job ko. I'm currently(actually, I'm just filling up my father's current position) the CEO of my father's company so I gotta do all his works since he's in a bad condition right now. Someone's gotta take care of the company, you know. And being the only heiress of the Akiyama Corp., I gotta take action. Besides, training din ito para saakin dahil in the near future, ako na ang mamamahala ng kompanya.
Ive been sitting in the same position for the past 5 hours and I'm starting to have body aches. I feel so sorry for my dad. He has to go through all these stress in order to keep the company going. I'm quite amazed considering he's been the President of the company for years and everything's still going too well. Well, not until he fainted few weeks ago and had to be in the ICU for 10 days para makarecover.

Iginalaw ko ang ulo ko para mastretch naman ang mga muscles ko sa leeg when suddenly, a pair of muscular arms wrapped into my body. My husband, Hide Anthony Kato. He planted a kiss on my neck which brought a smile to my face. "Baby, gabing gabi na. You need to rest." He said to me. "I can't. I have work tomorrow." Pagtawa ko. "Stress na stress ka na dahil sa work na yan these past few weeks. You know you don't have to push yourself. Everyone in your dad's company is doing their best para hindi ka mahirapan specially your Tito Gab." Medyo inaantok pa ang boses nya. I sighed.
"Mahal, you know na sooner or later, baka magretire na si daddy at ipamana na saakin ang company, hindi ba? I need this. Experience din to. It'll make me do my job better as the next head of the company, don't you think?" sagot ko sakanya at hinalikan sya sa pisngi. "You're doing okay, Michi. All I'm saying is that you don't have to push yourself too hard. Nakakasama yan sa health mo." Worried na sabi nya. "I need to do my best para sa company, Hide. I need to make my parents proud and specially you." Hinimas himas ko yung braso nyang nakayakap saakin. "But we're already proud of you, Michiko. Hindi mo na kailangan pang may mapatunayan saamin." Napangiti akong muli sa sinabi nya. Hanggang ngayon eh napakasweet paren ni Hide saakin. We met in High School nung 4th year kami. We've been together for 5 years and married for 2 years. Walang pinagbago ang pagmamahal nya.

I decided na tama si Hide. We stayed in the same position for about 15 more minutes. Ako, nagtatype sa laptop ko while he's hugging me from behind. Because of that, mas lalo akong na-determined na tapusin yung ginagawa ko. After I finished, I saved it and emailed it to my uncle who's helping me right now sa mga gawain sa company. He's the Vice President kase. I closed my laptop.

"Let's go to sleep, shall we?" Malumanay na sabi ko sa asawa ko. "Finally." I heard him chuckle behind me before he picked me up at dinala sa kama na shine-share namin. He spooned me and kissed my cheek before we dozed off to sleep.

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"Excellent, Michiko! I'm proud na ang next na magmamana ng ating kompanya ay ikaw. You never fail to make me proud. You're young, but you're brilliant! Just like your father!" Masayang komplimento ng aking Tito saakin. Based on how happy he looked, I'm 100% sure na satisfied sya sa naipasang paperwork ko sakanya three days ago. Nginitian ko lang sya. I'm quite satisfied with my work too. Thanks to my wonderful husband for giving me the determination para galingan ang trabaho ko. And for looking after me when nakakalimutan ko nang alagaan ang sarili ko dahil binababad ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho.

Matapos noon ay lumabas na ang Tito ko para umattend ng isang meeting. Hindi na daw ako kailangan sa meeting room but I know it's just his way of telling me na pwede na akong magpahinga. He's aware kung gaano ko pinagtuunan ng pansin ang trabahong ito. I'm quite thankful na he's trying his best para mabawasan ang mga responsibilities na nakapatong sa mga balikat ko.

I took a deep breath at isinandal ang ulo ko sa headrest ng malaking swivel chair. Tomorrow, babalik na muli si daddy sa kompanya. He's been away for the past 2 months and now, he's fully recovered. Which is good. Also, I'll be able to relax na and probably spend more time with Hide. But that doesn't mean na I don't have anything to do with the company anymore now that my daddy is back. I'd still be here but not that often. I'd be my daddy's underling. He'll teach me kung paano ko mapagbubutihan ang pagmamanage ng kompanya and also help him with his works. I actually enjoyed the time I've spent working for the company even though it's stressful. It makes me feel good about myself lalo na't pag may naa-achieve ako.

My phone buzzed. It was my husband. He texted me saying na nasa baba na sya ng building, waiting for me. Tumayo na ako at lumabas para kitain si Hide.

"Hello babe." Bati nito saakin sabay halik sa mga labi ko. "Hi." Bati ko pabalik at ngumiti. "Saan mo gustong kumain?" He asked. "I was thinking about having French." I grinned. French cuisine is my most favorite of all. The baguette, the garlic bread, pastries and more. They're just amazing!
"French Restaurant, it is." Sambit naman ng asawa ko at nagdrive na paalis.

Inilabas ko yung cellphone ko at nag surf sa Facebook. A few minutes later, I felt the vehicle stop. "Babe." Napatingala ako ng marinig kong tawagin ako ni Hide. Naka redlight pala kami. "Hm?" I asked. "Naalala mo pa ba si Claire?" Tanong nyang pabalik. Nagisip naman ako. "Baby, marami akong kakilalang Claire. Which one?" I giggled. "Claire Reymonte." The moment Hide said the name, something triggered inside of me. It wasn't such a nice feeling. A vision of a girl crying suddenly appeared in my mind.

Woah. What was that?

Claire Reymonte? The name is familiar yet I couldn't remember who it was.

"Your best friend from High School? 4th year tayo." Pag explain ni Hide. High School? 4th year? I was in Section Rose nung high school kami. Kasama ko si Hide. We went to a school named Academia de San Rafael.

Though the thing is I don't remember 4th year high school that well. I would sometimes get flashbacks but they're all so blurry. Everytime someone mentions 4th year high school, may kakaibang feeling akong nararamdaman. The girl in my vision. Was that Claire? Teka, may nangyare bang masama nung 4th year kami? I can't seem to remember. Everything seems so faded. I could clearly remember anything except nung 4th year kami which is weird.

"Not really. What about her?" I asked. "I met her today. Hindi na nya ako maalala but when she heard my name, she immediately asked if nasa Section Rose daw ba ako. I said yes and we chatted. Isa syang attendant sa hotel kung saan ginanap yung seminar namin kanina. She said na nagayos daw silang mga iba pa nating classmates ng reunion." Sabi nito. Reunion, huh?

"I'm thinking... You know? Since you're free na and you don't have to work your ass off daily..." Napatawa ako sa sinabi nya. He chuckled too. "I'm thinking of us attending Section Rose's Reunion? I mean it would be cool if magreunite tayo sa mga friends natin dati, right? I don't remember any of them.. Though it would be fun if magkita kita ulit tayong lahat." He smiled at me. Tumango naman ako. Not that exciting but if Hide says so. I remember him hanging out with all the guys in our class all the time(though I don't remember any of them anymore) so it must be exciting for him na makita muli mga kaibigan nya. Kailangan kong makabawi kay Hide and if he wants to go to this reunion, then sure.

"Sounds like a good plan, mahal." Nakangiting sabi ko. Although I'm not really interested.

"Talaga? I gave Claire our emails and she'll send us an invitation later on. This Saturday na ang reunion. Nasa invitation daw ang venue." Excited na excited na sabi ni Hide. "Sounds nice, baby. I'm excited." I laughed.

Though something deep inside me is telling me na mali ang ginagawa ko. That I shouldn't come to that reunion whatsoever.

But hey, it's just a reunion, right? What's the worst that could happen? I could remember na nung 4th year kami, something terrible happened. Though I'm not sure what it was. Maybe that's why I'm feeling like this? Nagkaaway away ba kami ng mga classmates ko dati?

Whatever that problem was, all of us had probably forgotten all about it. 7 years is a long time. It shouldn't matter by now.

But why is it that something's telling me not to go?