CHAPTER 3

Sen found himself alone at the Picnic Grove. He was running fast, as if chasing something. He looked ahead and saw what he was chasing- it was the figure of a man. The figure was a bit hefty, but well built, has brownish hair and fair complexion. He was running faster now, almost catching up to the figure. The man turned around to reveal a familiar face… Van!

“Honey” a female voice screamed out.

Sen startledly opened his eyes. He spent a minute or so trying to adjust to his surroundings. He was in his own bedroom. It was just a dream, but it seemed so real!

“Hansen” Cristina Pastor-Nichols screamed again. She knocked gently at the door.

Hansen got up from the bed and opened the door. Cristina, dressed in a red empire-cut dress, entered the room.

“Honey they’re here.” She said as she planted a kiss on Hansen’s lips.

“They?” Hansen looked puzzled. An instant later it hit him. Today was June 14, 2015. The seventh year anniversary of PDA Season 2’s Dream Night. As it has been their tradition, the fifteen participants of the competition (sans the two quitters) always gathered at the date to celebrate the event that started their bonds.

He immediately threw off his shirt and rushed to the shower.

“Who’s there?” he shouted out to his wife.

“There’s Liezel, Laarni, The Malundas, Bugoy, Bea, Miguel and Apple, and Poy. Inakand Sheng are on their way.” Cris replied. “And so is Van.”

Hansen turned off the shower. “Who?”

“Van. Van Pojas?”

“He is coming?” Hansen asked stepping out of the shower. He rushed to the bedroom.

“You’re dripping!” Cris exclaimed. She immediately grabbed a towel from the closet and proceeded towards her husband.

“Never mind that, how did you know?” Hansen persisted.

“Laarni gave me his number, so I sent him a message.” Cris explained as she wiped his back.

“And he replied?”

“Yeah.”

Somehow a bitter pang hit home. Hansen had been sending messages via text and e-mail to Van, but no reply came. When Cris gave birth to their daughter Cristina Louelle, Sen sent Van a message, hoping that the latter would show up for Louie’s christening. Sen waited the entire event, but not even Van’s shadow came close to the venue.

“I’ll be going down now. I’ll see you in a bit.” Cris planted a kiss on Sen’s lips. She then tossed the towel down the hamper by the door and left.

Sen sat down on the edge of the bed. Van is coming, he though to himself. Somehow a tingling sensation rose from his loins. Never had he felt like this in a long time.

Eversince he got married to Cris, nothing excited him anymore. He saw his life as if he had already lived it. For him, it was more a marriage of responsibility than out of love. In the years they were dating before, he never felt truly happy. He was longing for something else- one that he could not find in Cris. He was set to call of his relationship with Cris then, but she got pregnant.

Van is coming, he smiled. He did not notice he had an erection.

* * *

Outside 63 Colombia Street, East Greenhills, a black Ford Expedition was parked. The lights of the mansion were lit. Small chatter and the sound of people singing could be heard. Inside the Expedition, Van Pojas took a puff of his cigarette. He was nervous as hell.

“Why did I agree to this?” He told himself. It had been a week after he got an unexpected message in his cellphone from Cris Nichols, inviting him to their seventh reunion. The message sent shockwaves down his spine. Hansen will be there, he thought. Initially, he was to reply in the negative. Oh what the hell, he realized. He erased his typed message then replied: OK, I’LL BE THERE.

He had been outside the Nichols’ residence for almost an hour. Unsure whether to push through or not. He had seen some of his fellow scholars go in. Thankfully, they have not noticed him.

“Eh! Bahala na.” Van exclaimed as stepped out of the car. He threw the cigarette butt to the ground and walked towards the Nichols’ gate.