No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 19: A Process of Reflection

A PROCESS OF REFLECTION

“Mabuti naman at maayos ang pagpasok mo rito kanina. Akala namin ay pagkakaguluhan ka na naman,” sabi ni Gerald habang sinusubuan ng pagkain si Kristen.

Rhian was just bowing while sitting at the table with her friends. She didnʼt respond to what Gerald said, although she was also thinking about Vahnʼs confrontation with the media and whether she should face them herself. “Nasa labas pa rin kanina ang media, sino ang naghatid sa iyo kanina?” tanong naman ni Jennifer.

“Oh right, we saw you get out of the car in the parking lot when we were still inside the van,” sabi ni Lance.

She just shook her head and still didnʼt answer their questions. She just wants to focus on what she eats first. “Si Detective Vahn Fernandez ba?” sabi ni Nikki.

“You know what? You donʼt have to keep it a secret from us if you are staying at his rest house. Itʼs okay with us as long as youʼre safe.” She held her friendʼs hand. “Weʼve missed you, you know that?”

Rhian was stunned when she ate her food. She raised her head to look at her friends, and she just smiled a little and nodded. “You donʼt even know how much I miss you. Iʼm sorry if... I told you that yesterday,” she said sincerely.

Ibinalik na niya ang kaniyang atensyon sa mga kaibigan at hindi na ito iniiwasan kapag nasa loob sila ng school. Naisip niya rin kanina na hindi naman niya kailangang iwasan ang mga ito, lalo naʼt mayroong pagkakataon na baka mayroong mangyari sa kanila tapos wala siya.

“Oh, by the way, ʼyong short film pala natin noong nakaraang linggo. It passed and we will present it properly in the auditorium,” sabi naman ni Lance. “Haist, kabadong-kabado kami eh. Wala ka kasi...”

Napangiti na namang muli si Rhian saka ipinagpatuloy ang kanilang mga kinakain. “Manghang-mangha ang lahat sa short film natin. Tinalo ʼyong short film nila Sarah,” sabi ni Kristen sabay natawa sila ng mahina.

“The most essential thing is our performance and grades, not to compete with others, okay?” sabi niya sa mga ito.

“Well, kapag naka-graduate na tayong lahat at naging isang ganap na tayong director, film producer, or film cinematographer, kailangan na nating makipagkompitensya,” sabi ni Nikki. “Alam niyo ʼyon, matagal ko nang pangarap na gumawa ng isang pelikula na itatampok sa MMFF.”

Habang nagkukuwentuhan ang magkakaibigan, hindi naman maiwasan ni Rhian na magsarili ng kaniyang mga iniisip sa kaniyang kinabukasan maging sa kaniyang pangarap na maging isang ganap na film producer, director, published author, and scriptwriter.

She knows that all of that is slowly coming true, but what if one day she suddenly disappears from this world? What if there are people who want to stop her from everything he wants to achieve in life, especially after what happened to her? Was it planned, intentional, or just a coincidence?

She knows that everything has a limit, but she doesnʼt know what to do if that day comes—if she will accept the truth or if her mind will continue to believe in a fictional scenario.

“Are you okay?” She frowned slightly when she heard Vahnʼs voice, and she didnʼt realize that Vahnʼs car had stopped in front of the rest house.

“Since sinundo kita, hindi ka man lang nagsalita, maging sa biyahe,” pagpapatuloy nito.

“Sorry about that. My brain is just too messed up,” Rhian said without looking at him.

“You know, if you just relax yourself, you wonʼt be overthinking all the time,” sabi ni Vahn. “How will you recover your memory if you overthink things too much?”