The midday sun filtered through the acacia trees that shaded the school campus. Laughter echoed from the open court, blending with the distant cheers and thump of lively music. Students buzzed with energy, sprinting across the grounds with flags and banners, participating in the school’s intramurals.
Rainan stood quietly beside Angelo just outside the faculty room, watching the festive chaos unfold. They hadn’t spoken much since arriving, and even now, the silence hung comfortably—neither heavy nor awkward, just quiet.
Mrs. Dimaculangan had welcomed them warmly earlier, her voice rich with joy and surprise, her energy as vibrant as Rainan remembered. She had gone off to help the faculty with the rest of the program, leaving the two of them behind for a while.
Rainan glanced sideways at Angelo, who was now focused on the students at play. “It’s strange,” he murmured. “Everything looks smaller than I remember, but the feeling’s the same.”
Angelo nodded slightly. “Some things don’t change.”
A group of students ran past them, one nearly crashing into Rainan before bowing in apology. The familiar energy of school days sparked something in Rainan—nostalgia, maybe, or just a sense of something once lost and slowly being rediscovered.
They were eventually invited by a faculty member to help out with one of the game booths. With not much else to do, they agreed. Rainan took charge of calling out participants while Angelo distributed snacks to the winners. Their words remained few, mostly small comments here and there.
“Still bad at giving directions,” Angelo said at one point, after Rainan misread the name on a sign-up sheet.
“You’re one to talk,” Rainan replied, raising a brow. “I ended up at the wrong building earlier because of you.”
A chuckle escaped Angelo. “You still blame people too fast.”
Their exchanges were brief, but something had softened between them. The edges weren’t as sharp. And that alone was enough.
As the sun slid westward, they found a quiet spot under a tree near the old flagpole. It was the kind of place where students would usually sit during breaks, shaded and breezy, tucked just enough from the busy campus.
Rainan leaned back slightly. “I used to sit here a lot,” he said, gazing at the tree branches above them. “I’d sketch, think, try to imagine how my life would turn out.”
Angelo looked at him, then followed his gaze upward. “Did it turn out the way you imagined?”
“Not exactly,” Rainan said honestly. “But I chased what I thought I wanted. I tried to make it worth something.”
Angelo nodded but didn’t speak. There was a quiet understanding there, even in the silence.
“I know I left suddenly,” Rainan added, his tone gentle but sincere. “And I know it wasn’t fair to a lot of people. Especially to you.”
Angelo looked at him, unreadable. “You had your reasons.”
“I did,” Rainan said. “But that doesn’t mean I handled things the right way.”
A breeze rustled through the trees, and in it, something unspoken seemed to pass between them. Time. Distance. Unfinished conversations.
They sat for a few more minutes before the bell rang across the grounds, signaling the end of the program. Rainan stood, brushing off his hands. “We should probably head out.”
“Yeah,” Angelo agreed, pushing up from the bench.
The drive home was quieter, but not awkward. A local radio station played softly in the background, and the windows were half-open, letting in the afternoon breeze. Rainan occasionally glanced at Angelo, noting the way his features had matured, yet still carried something familiar.
When they arrived at Rainan’s house, Angelo parked just outside the gate.
“Thanks for today,” Rainan said, turning to face him. “I didn’t expect to… enjoy it this much.”
Angelo offered a small smile. “You’re welcome.”
There was a pause before Rainan added, “And thanks for driving me. For everything, really.”
“Just don’t make it another five years before you show up again.”
Rainan chuckled. “I won’t.”
He stepped out of the car, giving Angelo one last look before heading toward the front door. As he reached the gate, he glanced back—and there he was, Angelo still watching him, a faint smile on his face.
Something had shifted between them. It wasn’t sudden, and it wasn’t loud. But it was there.
And as Rainan closed the gate behind him, he felt it—a flicker of something healing.