The QED Four

Chapter 1: The Unusual Reunion

Lorelei

    The scorching heat touches my skin making it pinkish. The rough winds of May play with my waist-long straight black hair. Ah, I will surely have hard time dealing with the knots on it later, so I decided to put it in a bun and put my shades on- It's like the disguise I always put on whenever I visit my previous school in Manila. I laid my eyes on the place in front of me. 
 
  I hit the entrance and came to halt as my eyes run over the crowd. From where I stood I could see couple hugging after not seeing each other for a long time, some families are crying not wanting to let go of some of their members, while some are so damn happy. I could see the lines of the people waiting and waving pieces of paper with some names on it.

"Welcome back Lori." someone behind me talked, so I turn around and met his warm gaze.He gave me quick hug as soon as I face him.He hasn't change even a bit. A smile formed on my lips before I speak his name.

"Al..." How I miss this guy beside me. It's been what? Almost three years eh?

"You have no idea how much I miss you! Antagal mong hindi nagparamdam tapos ni 'Hi' ni 'Ho' wala kaming natanggap mula sa'yo. And you have no idea how much they miss you." I don't know what to reply and so I just smiled at my childhood friend... Or maybe I just don't want to entertain the thought.
---
    I slowly open my eyes as I felt a hot touch of air on my face. For a moment, I held my breath and felt stoned as my eyes met Alistair's. He is only inches away from me and I could feel his warm breath touches my cheeks. My heart's palpitation is amazingly fast and unsteady... and that's kinda weird.

"Glad you are awake. Let's go?" still as gentleman as he is, Alistair rushed out of his car and immediately turned to open the door of the passenger's seat for me.

I cleared my throat before I say "thank you" to my childhood friend. The scene just a moment ago is so weird that I can't even look straight to his eyes. What's happening on me, really?

   The uneasy feeling I had got doubled as I laid my eyes on the building in front of me. This seems familiar to me. I felt my mouth slightly opened as my eyes flinched when I read the metal sign on the gate.

What the!!!

Why would he bring me in this place? Is he freaking serious?!

---
    For a moment or two, I wanted to step back and run away from this place. Is this an emotional torture or what?

"Al?" I look at my friend, questioning him what the hell am I doing here in this place. He opened the gate and turn around to face me. I'm waiting for any possible-and reasonable-answer but he just smile and walk inside.

    I don't know where did I get my courage to even take a step inside. I just found me and Alistair standing in front of an enormous wooden door, looking intently at it, as if waiting for it to sprang open on its own.

"Are you ready? They don't know that you are coming, but I'm sure they will be glad." They? Al spoke as if ensuring me that it would be just fine.

"I've got no plan in coming but you---" my words cut short as a lady wearing pink tank top and creme shorts open the door. Unlike Alistair, she changed a bit.
Her mouth slightly opened as she recognized me. I notice her eyes starting to well up. Soon as she got her suddenly-shaken consciousness, she gave me long tight hug as if we are the bestest best friend. Awkward.

"Jaime, what is the noise all about you disturbed me from--" a man in black v-neck shirt came to the scene. His irritated look suddenly shifted to something you could call as "shock"- if that's a normal thing to him.

   Then I thought their look upon seeing me awhile ago is something that is not comprehensible, but I'm sure that the looks on my face right now is implying a whole lot state of shock than their's.

As he came back to his senses, he immediately drop a piece of paper with some numbers on it on the floor. He strode pass across the living room as if he has an imaginary race with someone. He pushed the lady a little to give a space for him and when we are facing each other he gave a long and tight hug. It is as if he never want to let me go.

"Loki..." I muttered lowly as I felt something weird with my palpitations. It's faster and so unsteady than what I felt awhile ago with Al. Plus the fact that this man is still hugging me tightly.

My sight then became blurry and my breathing became heavy. I feel my knees weakened causing me to give my weight to the man who is still holding me.

"LORELEI!!"

"LORIE!!!"