When In Baguio

PROLOGUE

I'm silently staring at the Burnham lake that was surrounded by fog. I watch how people enjoy riding their boats despite the cold and foggy weather.

I suddenly felt a pang in my chest when some of the memories that I already buried in the past keeps on flashing in my mind. I heave a sigh, I came here to relax and find comfort, but then, the cold breeze that was giving a chill to my entire system and making my emotions calmed was immediately replaced by my past's anguish. Five years have passed since I left this city and moved to Canada. Five years have passed since that 'incident' happened, leading our life to crumble into a mess.

I was abused by my parents when I was just a child. Since then, I have already believed that the universe, the world, and this city don't want me to live, the world hates me. That's what I believed in until I met them. We were all the exact opposites, but still, we became comfortable with each other, we always fool around, we laughed, traveled, and enjoyed each other's company. They made me realize a lot of things. They made me feel something.

Those are the happy memories that became sad whenever I think about it. Memories that are engraved in the season that I am struggling to forget, memories that keep on pulling me back to my old self. I slightly shake my head, trying to clear my mind and stop thinking about them. I turn my back and walk away—a group of student's laughter filled my ears. I look back at them, and I saw them tease each other; some try hard to make a wacky face. I suddenly remember him. One of them looks in my direction, confused why I am looking at them. I smiled at her sadly and started to move my legs.

Maybe going back here was a mistake. Everything here in the city brings me back to the past. I look at the cloudy sky, and it's getting darker and darker, I checked the time in my wristwatch, and it's already five pm. I place my hands inside my pocket to make it warm. The traffic lights turn their color to green, people are already crossing the road. I was about to cross the road too when someone suddenly grabs my shoulder.

My heart is racing so fast, and it's getting harder for me to breathe. Everything stopped for a second as I looked at the one who grabbed me. The moment our eyes met, memories started to fill my mind again. Our smile, laughter, corny jokes, childish arguments, and then his smile, his eyes... His eyes caused me to feel all these mixed emotions.