Eliz's POV
Tomorrow is the 21st anniversary of Cortejo Campus, and we're still debating whether we should celebrate given the recent turmoil.
I talked to Grandpa Sev, and we had a meeting to discuss our plans. Organizing an event like this requires careful consideration.
"Are you sure, Grandpa? Isn't this dangerous?" I asked him.
"That's what I thought too, but it wasn't just my decision; the entire campus agreed. Besides, I know nothing bad will happen," Grandpa said.
"How can you be so sure? We don't know what our enemies are thinking; they could attack at any time," I said seriously.
If something bad happens again, it won't just harm the students but also the reputation of our school, so we need to discuss this carefully.
In the end, we decided to go ahead with the celebration. All the parents and students agreed about the upcoming anniversary celebration.
To ensure safety, Grandpa Sev will station police inside and outside the school. Also, he hired a hundred bodyguards. Cool, right?
Even though I have doubts about this plan, I have no choice. So earlier, we informed all the clubs and organizations to start planning.
"Elie!" I was startled when I heard that name.
Elie. Only one person calls me that. I looked around and, sure enough, there she was. Even though I was a bit shocked to see her here, I ran towards her.
"Carrie! What are you doing here? When did you come back?" I asked in rapid succession and hugged her.
Caira Montemar, but sometimes I call her Carrie, my best friend since elementary school. I missed her so much.
"I just arrived today, then I found out you study here, so I came. God, I missed you!" she said.
"So did I. I never thought we'd meet again," I said.
We were classmates from grade 1 to grade 6, but she left the Philippines because they had to take care of their business in Canada. I was so sad then because we were like sisters.
"How are you? I heard you received death threats?" she asked worriedly, making me sigh.
Grandpa told me to reduce my interactions with my friends to avoid getting them involved. But I don't think I can do that.
"Yeah, don't worry. Grandpa is handling it," I said.
"Uh, Eliz, I actually came here because I have something to tell you," she said seriously, so I gave her my full attention.
You see, Carrie rarely gets serious. She's a bit crazy sometimes. And when she is serious, it means what she’s going to say is urgent.
"What is it?" I asked, and she took a deep breath.
"Cairo is back," she said, shocking me. I didn't know what to think.
Cairo is back...
Cairo is back...
Cairo is back...
Cairo is back...
"W-what...C-cairo?" I stammered in disbelief, and memories of our last meeting flooded my mind.
FLASHBACK
I was at the park where Cairo and I were supposed to meet. I had been waiting for almost thirty minutes, feeling worried because he had never been late for our meetings. I hoped nothing bad had happened to him.
It was past six in the evening when I saw a shadow approaching, and I knew it was Cairo.
"Cairo!" I shouted and ran towards him.
I hugged him tightly, but something felt off. He gently pulled away and faced me.
"Eliz..." he said, his face blank.
"Cairo? Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Eliz...I'm leaving," he said, and I was puzzled.
"Where are you going?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
Please, don't let this be like in the movies. I can’t handle that.
"You don't need to know. I came here to tell you...I'm stopping my courtship and you should forget about me," he said, and my tears started to fall.
Even though I clearly heard what he said, I didn't want to believe it.
"W-why, Cairo? Are you tired of me? Did I do something wrong? What's the problem?!" I cried, hitting him. He grabbed my hands and looked at me as if he didn't know me.
"There's nothing wrong with you. I'm the problem. So please, go home and forget that Cairo ever existed in your life," he said lifelessly, looking straight at me.
His eyes weren't like before, happy and full of love. I couldn't see any emotion. What’s wrong?
"Is that it!? Cairo, I love you and I can't lose you!" I fell to my knees in front of him, overwhelmed by the pain.
"No matter how much you beg, I won't change my mind. Don't make this harder..."
"...I can't love you anymore...Goodbye," he said and turned away.
I stood up to follow him, but he just pushed me away, disappearing quickly like a bubble.
Cairo Montemar. The first man my heart loved, who also became the first to break it. The man I made my world, who now shattered my life.
I kept crying, not caring about the pain from his push. These wounds were nothing compared to the pain in my heart.
"Cairo!!!" I shouted, hoping he would come back. I kept thinking this was all a dream, but it wasn't. No matter how many times I opened my eyes to reality, he was really gone, the man I loved.
******END OF FLASHBACK******
Because of the intense emotions in my heart right now, I didn't know what to think.
I stood up, feeling the world spinning. I couldn't take it anymore, and everything went dark.