MARIAH'S POV
I was in the middle of packing my things, trying to convince myself that this whole trip was a good idea.
I didn't even want to join the class outing. If it were up to me, I'd stay home, lock my doors, and avoid everyone for the rest of summer. But something in my gut told me—better safe than sorry. If I didn't come, who knows what kind of rumors or problems I'd walk into when I got back?
I shoved a few clothes into my bag, along with two bikinis—though I doubted I'd actually swim. I threw in an extra set, just in case.
The past few days had been… quiet, surprisingly. No fights between Merida and Lexi. No tension between Hiro and Shawn; they even managed to talk without throwing fists. For the first time in weeks, Class 12-A wasn't a war zone. But somehow, that felt even more dangerous. Like the calm before the storm.
"Mariah? Nag-iimpake ka pa ba, iha?"
"Opo!" I answered, glancing over as Manang stepped inside my room.
She immediately took over, as she always did. She started folding some of my clothes neatly into my travel backpack, tucking in a bottle of Off lotion "para iwas lamok," she said. I couldn't help but chuckle. She was always so protective, even over the smallest things.
Then she packed some snacks and bottled water—even though I knew our class had already pitched in for groceries. She hated the idea of me relying on anyone, even my classmates. "Hindi porke may-ari ng kung anu-ano sina ganito, sila na lang palagi ang sasagot sa lahat," she muttered under her breath. Typical Manang.
When she finally left, I hopped into the shower, scrubbed off the day, went through my skincare routine, and dried my hair.
I tried to sleep early, but no matter how many times I rolled over, sleep wouldn't come. So I turned on my smart TV and scrolled through Netflix, eventually landing on Death of Me.
It was about a couple on vacation who find a disturbing video—showing the husband, Neil, killing and burying his wife, Christine. They spiral into confusion, uncovering a nightmare of curses, rituals, and storms. In the end, Neil dies, the storm hits, the entire island perishes… except Christine, pregnant and left as some sort of sacrifice.
By the end, I was staring blankly at the screen.
What if something like that happens to us on this trip?
I shook my head and let out a quiet laugh. I really need to stop watching movies like this before traveling. With that, I finally forced myself to try and sleep.
⸻
The next morning, I woke to my alarm blaring. Again.
I blinked at the clock. 7 AM?!
Panic shot through me. Our call time at the airport was 7 AM. Departure at 8.
I grabbed my phone—missed calls and unread messages flooded my screen. Fantastic. I was officially the only one missing.
In a blur, I showered, threw on denim shorts, a laced bra under a zip-up jacket, grabbed my packed bag, and bolted downstairs. It was already quarter to eight by the time I left, the family driver rushing me to the airport.
When I finally arrived, sure enough—I was the last one. Everyone else was lined up, waiting, their expressions a mix of relief and annoyance.
Minutes later, the boarding announcement echoed through the terminal, saving me from their stares. We filed into the plane.
The energy was… loud. They were all giddy, laughing, chattering like kids on their first field trip. It felt surreal, seeing everyone act so carefree, as if the past month of tension never existed.
By the time we landed in Palawan, three vans were waiting for us, loaded with supplies—food, drinks, and everything else we'd need. I half-expected the boys to drive, but apparently Mia's parents had forbidden it. Instead, they allowed us to handle the boats for the final stretch.
Mia and some of Lexi's guy friends knew how to operate the small bangkas, so we had no problems crossing to the island.
The moment my feet touched the sand, I paused, taking in the view.
The island was stunning—turquoise water, soft white sand, and a line of rustic kubos scattered along the treeline. Completely deserted, completely private. For a moment, I forgot how much I hated being here.
Carefully, I stepped off the boat, clutching my bag tightly to keep it from getting wet. Of course, not one classmate offered to help me. Typical. I trudged up the beach, grimacing at the sight of my now-dirty sneakers. Why did I even wear rubber shoes to a beach trip? Should've worn flip-flops.
We decided to use the kubos instead of the tents we brought. There were four, each big enough for four people, with two beds apiece.
Assignments went like this:
Kubo 1: Mia, Lexi, Missy, and me.
Kubo 2: Merida, Kisses, Cynthia, and Sandra.
Kubo 3: Hiro, Zeke, Hardin, and Skylar.
Kubo 4: Connie, Shawn, Derick, and Shinzou.
When I stepped inside our kubo, I was… honestly impressed.
A mini-sala greeted us at the entrance, leading to a short hallway. The two bedrooms were separated only by curtains—like those makeshift partitions in hospital wards. There was a small CR, a back exit, and a wooden veranda with a table and chairs.
Lexi grabbed the remote on the table and clicked a button. Cool air filled the room instantly. Air-conditioning. Not what I expected at all. I thought this would be one of those "roughing it" type of trips, but this? This was almost comfortable.
"Mariah, hindi ka ba maliligo?" Mia's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I shook my head. Nope. I may be eighteen, but I still can't swim. I don't even know why I agreed to this trip. If anything happens on the water? I'm done for.
They changed into swimsuits and left, laughing as they went. I stayed behind, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
I told myself I'd nap, but sleep still wouldn't come. Instead, I just listened to the faint sound of the waves outside and the distant chatter of my classmates, wondering—not for the first time—if coming here was a mistake.
I decided to kill time by browsing the internet. Maybe scroll through Instagram, distract myself from the fact that I was here.
But of course—no signal.
Perfect. Out of all the things that could've failed me on this trip, it had to be the one lifeline to the outside world. How was I supposed to survive three whole days here without it? No social media. No messages. No distraction. Just me… and them.
I sighed and rummaged through my backpack for flip-flops. There was no way I was walking around this island in sneakers. Thankfully, Manang had packed a pair. Lifesaver, as always.
I didn't bother changing my clothes; I was already dressed. I stepped outside, only to squint at the blinding sunlight, before retreating back inside to dig out my sunblock. I slathered it on my arms and legs—anywhere my clothes didn't cover—then grabbed my phone and headed out again.
The scenery was stunning. The water sparkled beneath the sun, the soft white sand stretching endlessly in both directions. It felt like paradise… if paradise came without Wi-Fi.
I started snapping photos—shots of the shoreline, the waves, the empty beach. The only problem was, none of them had me in them.
So I propped my phone against a rock, angled it just right, set the timer to ten seconds, and sprinted into frame before it clicked. Over and over, until my legs ached.
"Need a hand?"
I turned. Lexi was there, walking toward me with an easy smile. Without waiting for an answer, she plucked my phone from its perch and adjusted the angle. "I actually love photography," she said, her voice light. She glanced at me and smirked. "Go on. Pose. You looked so pitiful doing it alone."
So I did. Awkwardly at first, then more naturally. I even unzipped my jacket, leaving just my laced bra, not caring if she thought anything of it. She didn't comment, just kept taking the photos.
At one point, I lay down on the warm sand, the tide creeping up to chill my skin. When I finally scrolled through the shots, I was… shocked. They were good. Really good.
Lexi grinned. "You think that's free?"
My stomach tightened.
"That's not for free, babe. Your turn. Take mine." She handed me her phone and immediately struck a pose, effortless and confident.
She made it easy. Lexi had that kind of body—lean, tall, flat-chested but graceful, the kind you saw in high-end swimwear ads. The kind that made you feel a little small standing next to her.
Still, I took the shots. Anything to keep things civil. She'd been oddly nice to me all day. Too nice. And with no fights between her and Merida lately, the entire class felt… strange. Peaceful, but in a way that didn't feel right.
After our impromptu photoshoot, I retreated beneath the shade of a coconut tree, watching as everyone else buzzed around, setting up food.
"Guys, lunch!" Hiro's voice rang out, calling us all to the long table beneath another tree.
We ate buddle fight style, sharing dishes laid out on banana leaves. It felt oddly primal, all of us sitting there, digging in with our hands.
Merida groaned loudly. "Ugh. How am I supposed to eat like this?"
I rolled my eyes. Even Cynthia, who usually had something to complain about, was eating quietly.
Mia shot her a look. "If you don't want to eat, cook your own food. Can you even do that?"
Merida scoffed, muttered something under her breath, and started eating.
After lunch, I slipped back into the kubo, changed, and collapsed on my bed. Sleep claimed me almost instantly.
⸻
By the time I woke, the sun was dipping low. The glow of a campfire flickered outside, voices and laughter rising with the smoke.
I washed my face, stepped out, and wandered along the shore. The air was cooler now, carrying the sharp scent of salt. For the first time that day, I felt… calm.
"Mia! I heard there's a cliff-diving spot here?" Hiro's voice shattered the peace.
"Yes. Let's go," Mia replied instantly.
I stayed quiet. There was no way I was joining. Watch them jump one by one while I stood there like dead weight? Not happening. I couldn't even swim.
"Guys, let's move! Cliff-diving time!" Hiro called, and within seconds, everyone scrambled to follow. Everyone except me.
"Mariah, don't be such a killjoy. Come on," Kisses said, grabbing my wrist before I could protest.
I wanted to argue. But being dragged along was better than spending the next three days invisible. At least this way, I wouldn't die of boredom—though, judging by the way this trip was going, boredom might not be what killed me.
The hike was long, winding up what felt like a steep hill behind the beach. My legs burned by the time we reached the top. When I finally looked over the edge, my stomach lurched.
The drop was massive. The ocean below looked impossibly small, impossibly far.
"So… who's going first?" Hiro asked, grinning.
Were they serious? Were they really about to toss someone just to "test" it?
That's when I noticed Merida leaning toward Shawn, whispering something. He nodded. They exchanged a look with a few others.
And then—arms. Strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me off my feet.
"Wait—no! No! Please! Don't!" My voice cracked as I pounded my fists against their back, kicking, thrashing.
Laughter. That was my answer.
And then… nothing beneath me. Just the sound of rushing wind, the cold bite of air as I plummeted.
"Enjoy, bitch!" Merida's voice cut through the chaos, distant but clear.
The next instant, the ocean hit me like concrete, swallowing me whole. Icy water rushed over my skin, into my ears, my nose. My body locked up in shock.
I sank.
The salt burned my eyes when I opened them, darkness closing in around me. My arms flailed, my legs kicked, but no matter how hard I moved, the surface stayed out of reach.
My chest ached. My lungs screamed. I need air. Please. Air.
I pushed harder, kicking, thrashing, fighting against the weight dragging me down. But my body was tiring fast, each movement weaker than the last.
If I hadn't skipped those swimming lessons…
I remembered my mother's voice, sharp and unrelenting.
"Mariah, you need to take this lesson."
My voice screaming back, "I DON'T WANT TO!"
The sting of her slap. The picture frame shattering. The countless mornings I ditched the lessons, hiding at the mall instead.
And now? That choice was pulling me under, inch by inch.
If someone asked me my greatest regret, I wouldn't even hesitate: skipping those lessons.
My strength slipped away. The surface blurred above me, distant and unreachable.
I guess this is it.
I closed my eyes.
The last thought that clawed its way through my mind before the darkness swallowed me was simple, desperate, almost childish:
Please. Someone. Save me.